March 2013 – CU-CitizenAccess.org

This dot-density map shows the demographic changes across a 16-county region in Central Illinois. It was designed by Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, Alex Bordens and Kyle Bentle from the Chicago Tribune and Hoy Chicago. It netted a Society of News Design award this year.

CU-CitizenAccess, Hoy Chicago net awards

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:March 27, 2013
Post category:Article Immigration

Our collaborative work with Hoy Chicago in last year’s Midwest Chronicles gained high honors recently. The project took a look at the deep demographic…

Read more about the article Health officials put restaurant inspection placard system on the table

Contributed/C-U Public Health District

A picture of a proposed color-coded placard that indicates compliance with local public health ordinances. Public Health officials are looking at ways to make inspection results more public.

Health officials put restaurant inspection placard system on the table

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:March 27, 2013
Post category:Article Food Public Health

By Kevin Huebschman/For CU-CitizenAccess.org A proposal to require restaurant owners to post a color-coded placard based on their latest health inspection results has raised…

Flickr Creative Commons/dbking

Weekly RoundUp: Justice

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:March 27, 2013
Post category:Article Justice

The United States Supreme Court is hearing arguments this week over the constitutionality of the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act. The Defense of…

Read more about the article Weekly RoundUp: Immigration

File Photo / CU-CitizenAccess.org

Arturo Zendeja speaks with a customer at his restaurant in July at his restaurant, El Taco Tako, 202 S. Chestnut St., Arcola, Ill. Zendeja and his wife, Maria, moved to Arcola 12 years ago. Arturo is a native of Cadereyta Jimenez in Mexico. They are part of a growing Latino population in the area, which is known for its broomcorn.

Weekly RoundUp: Immigration

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:March 18, 2013
Post category:Article Immigration

A delegation of immigration experts from Russia are scheduled to visit Champaign-Urbana this week through the US-Russia Civil Society Partnership Program. They are guests…

Read more about the article Weekly RoundUp: Housing in America

The News-Gazette

The News-Gazette/ A house in the 200 block of Green Street. A new regional housing study shows that owning a house is out of reach for one in three Champaign County residents.

Weekly RoundUp: Housing in America

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:March 13, 2013
Post category:Article

By CU-CitizenAccess.org staff Affordable housing continues to be an issue as America struggles to climb out of the recession. While younger investors see housing…

Read more about the article Frustration grows with community garden’s lack of water

Danielle Shepherd

Steve Heiss and Erin Harper/Founders of CU-Garden

Frustration grows with community garden’s lack of water

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:March 13, 2013
Post category:Article Neighborhoods

By Emily Siner/For CU-CitizenAccess.org After three years and $7,000 spent, founders of a nearly completed community garden in Douglass Park say their idealistic vision…

Read more about the article Jail mental health system sparks debate among county officials

Amy Harwath

Alan Kalmanoff, Executive Director of the Institute for Law and Policy Planning

Jail mental health system sparks debate among county officials

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:March 11, 2013
Post category:Article Justice

By Amy Harwath/CU-CitizenAccess.org The transition for mentally ill inmates from the Champaign County jail to community services is seriously hampered by a lack of…

Read more about the article Weekly Roundup: Healthcare

Photo provided

Avicenna Community Health Center/ A patient has her blood pressure and temperature checked

Weekly Roundup: Healthcare

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:March 5, 2013
Post category:Article Health Care Public Health

This year will see more effects from the Obama administration's Affordable Health Care Act. Here is what's trending in the news on health care,…