Read more about the article Domestic violence task force on ‘hiatus’Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access
Lisa Little, a court advocate with Courage Connection at Lincoln Square on Friday, December 12, 2014.

Domestic violence task force on ‘hiatus’

Johnathan Hettinger/For CU-CitizenAccess.org --Despite hundreds of domestic violence arrests each year in Champaign and Urbana, a task force formed to address the issue has…

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Read more about the article Local domestic violence shelter forced to turn away hundredsDarrell Hoemann
From left: Stephanie Thurman and Lisa Little, a court advocates with Courage Connection and Isak Griffiths, executive director with the groups Angel Tree fundraiser at Lincoln Square in Urbana on Friday, December 12, 2014.

Local domestic violence shelter forced to turn away hundreds

Johnathan Hettinger/For CU-CitizenAccess.org --The only domestic violence shelter in Champaign-Urbana has had to turn away hundreds of women and children because it does not…

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Read more about the article Inspectors find negligence, abuse in central Illinois nursing homesDarrell Hoemann
A review of Illinois Department of Public Health documents found that one of the residents at Champaign Urbana Nursing and Rehab left the facility alone and traveled nearly 40 miles away.

Inspectors find negligence, abuse in central Illinois nursing homes

State officials have conducted hundreds of complaint-based nursing home inspections across central Illinois since 2011. In the seven Medicare-certified nursing homes in Champaign County alone, inspectors from the Illinois Department of Public Health conducted at least 114 complaint-based inspections.

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Read more about the article Inspections find peril in central Illinois nursing homesDarrell Hoemann
The knitting group at Clark-Lindsey Retirement Village, Urbana, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014.

Inspections find peril in central Illinois nursing homes

After months of interviews and reviewing Medicare data, Illinois Department of Public Health reports, court records and other documents, CU-CitizenAccess.org found that central Illinois…

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Read more about the article Husband’s treatment prompts wrongful death lawsuitNews-Gazette contributed photo.
Gerald Warmbier, 71, died Aug. 14, 2013 at Carle Foundation Hospital. His wife, Judy, filed a lawsuit against Heartland of Champaign this year.

Husband’s treatment prompts wrongful death lawsuit

After being admitted to the nursing home Heartland of Champaign to recover from a hospital stay for chest pain last year, Gerald Warmbier’s health…

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Read more about the article Nursing home ratings sometimes misleadingDarrell Hoemann
Residents sit around a table during a knitting activity session as Clark-Lindsey Retirement Village on Nov. 7, 2014. Clark-Lindsey in Urbana and Country Health in Gifford are the only five-star facilities in Champaign County.

Nursing home ratings sometimes misleading

Since 2011, dozens of central Illinois nursing homes have improved their five-star Medicare rating, some by as much as four stars. But that improvement, some critics say, is not an accurate representation.

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Read more about the article Tips for finding a good nursing homeDarrell Hoemann
Clark-Lindsey Retirement Village residents gather for a “kitchen band” activity session on Nov. 7, 2014.

Tips for finding a good nursing home

In one central Illinois nursing home, staff allowed a man labeled as an “elopement risk” to leave and wander 38 miles away. In another facility, two employees were caught whispering that one of the employees was having an affair with a female resident’s husband until the resident started crying.

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Read more about the article Central Illinois nursing homes plagued by violationsDarrell Hoemann
A resident participates in a knitting group at Clark-Lindsey Retirement Village on Nov. 7, 2014. Clark-Lindsey in Urbana is one of two federally rated five-star facilities in Champaign County.

Central Illinois nursing homes plagued by violations

Gerald Warmbier began a medical journey last year that took him to the nursing home Heartland of Champaign. But instead of helping him recover after medical treatment at Carle Foundation Hospital, the nursing home delivered such poor care that it led to his death, according to a lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Champaign County by his wife.

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Read more about the article Understaffing hard on nursing homes, residents alikeDarrell Hoemann
A sign advertising open positions is leaned against the wall in front of the Heartland of Champaign nursing home, Dec. 11, 2014.

Understaffing hard on nursing homes, residents alike

For many, nursing homes seem like the best option for aging family members because facilities offer the promise of 24-hour care. It is a promise, though, that many Champaign County and central Illinois nursing homes are finding hard to keep because of understaffing, particularly when it comes to registered nurses.

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Read more about the article Champaign nonprofit group pulls for more retail downtownDarrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access
Erin Lippitz, Executive Director of Champaign Center Partnership and Jeff Brandt, owner of Exile on Main St. in Brandt's store on Wednesday, November 19, 2014.

Champaign nonprofit group pulls for more retail downtown

By Sarah Soenke/For CU-CitizenAccess.org — As the number of small business retail establishments has decreased in the city of Champaign, downtown business owners and…

Continue ReadingChampaign nonprofit group pulls for more retail downtown