July 2013 – CU-CitizenAccess.org

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.

Food served in Champaign County nursing homes and extended care facilities pass inspections

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:July 31, 2013
Post category:Blog

By Acton Gorton/CU-CitizenAccess - Some good news for retirees living in Champaign County nursing homes: none of the in-house kitchens and dining facilities have failed health inspections in the past two years.

The best scoring nursing home is Heritage Rehab and Health Care Center, located at 1315B Curt Dr. in Champaign, with an average score of 93.5 points.

Read more about the article Weekly RoundUp: Pensions

Justin Brockie/Flickr Creative Commons

Illinois State Capitol Building

Weekly RoundUp: Pensions

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:July 30, 2013
Post category:Article Public Funds

Illinois lawmakers’ paychecks aren’t in the mail yet, but according to one report by Illinois Public Media, the legislature's special committee on pensions may…

Read more about the article As housing waiting lists continue to grow, the shortage of affordable housing becomes evident

Danielle Shepherd

Oakwood Trace low-income housing in Champaign, Illinois

As housing waiting lists continue to grow, the shortage of affordable housing becomes evident

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:July 26, 2013
Post category:Article Housing

By Robert Holly/CU-CitizenAccess.org -- Thousands of low-income families and individuals across Illinois continue to wait for different forms of affordable housing to be provided…

Read more about the article Efforts at transparency in government lost in translation

Danielle Sheppard

The Champaign county clerk's office collects nearly 2,000 statement of economic interest forms each year from local elected officials and high-ranking government employees. But few of them disclose any information.

Efforts at transparency in government lost in translation

Post author:Emily Siner / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:July 24, 2013
Post category:Government

Illinois state law requires government officials in Champaign County to file forms disclosing financial dealings that might lead to conflicts of interest in their official duties. But a review by CU-CitizenAccess.org of over 9,000 forms filed by officials over the past five years found that an average 16 percent of officials reveal any specific information.

Images_of_Money/Flickr Creative Commons

Weekly RoundUp: Housing

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:July 24, 2013
Post category:Article Housing

A report out this week showed that home sales across the nation have reached a five-year high, and the state of Illinois is no…

Read more about the article Restaurants temporarily closed in June for failing health inspections have similar history

Photo provided/The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Example of a color-coded placard that restaurants would be required to post under a proposed plan to make inspection results more public. Red means that the restaurant's health permit was suspended following a health inspection.

Restaurants temporarily closed in June for failing health inspections have similar history

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:July 18, 2013
Post category:Article Food Public Health

Three of the five restaurants that failed health inspections in June were temporarily closed over multiple repeat violations and failures. One restaurant, Main St.…

Weekly RoundUp: Farm Bill

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:July 17, 2013
Post category:Article Public Funds

The House passed a farm bill last week after dropping food stamps from the negotiating table. According to an Illinois Public Media report, “The…

Imani Carr/Community Ambassador at Salt and Light in north Champaign

Community ambassador reviews our reliance on technology

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:July 17, 2013
Post category:Article Technology

By Imani Carr/For CU-CitizenAccess.org CU-CitizenAccess worked with faculty from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science to secure a grant from the state…

zombieite/Flickr Creative Commons

Weekly RoundUp: Concealed-Carry

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

This week Illinois passed a law that gives a concealed-carry permit to anyone who has passed a background check, taken a 16-hour gun-safety training…

Maps of Public Housing Authorities in Illinois

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:July 10, 2013
Post category:Housing Poverty

Illinois public housing authorities are responsible for providing affordable housing to low-income residents located within their district. Some authorities – such as the housing authority in Champaign – serve an entire county. Others – such as The East St. Louis Housing Authority – are charged with only serving a city.