Monthly Archives: July 2014
Read more about the article High demand for help depletes funds for local veteransDarrell Hoemann
Bradley P. Gould, superintendent of Champaign County Veterans Assistance Commission at the VFW Post 630 Memorial Day ceremonies, May 26, 2014.

High demand for help depletes funds for local veterans

Unable to pay her rent after losing her job, Air Force veteran Anna Robinson turned to the Veterans Assistance Commission in Champaign County last year. She brought her bill to the commission's office and received $744 in financial assistance that same day.

Continue ReadingHigh demand for help depletes funds for local veterans
Read more about the article Training the trusting generation: Scams on the elderly and how to prevent themLes Chatfield/Flickr Creative Commons
Scammers sometimes prey on the elderly by impersonating relatives and asking for money over the phone.

Training the trusting generation: Scams on the elderly and how to prevent them

By Bailey Bryant, Sony Kassam, Shannon Kelly and Johnathan Hettinger/For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 each day, the size of the elderly population is getting larger.…

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Read more about the article Safe at Home Part 2: Going it AloneThomas Pompernigg/Flickr Creative Commons
More women are choosing home birth, but in states where home birth midwives operate illegally, some women opt for an unassisted birth at home.

Safe at Home Part 2: Going it Alone

By Christine Herman/For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- When Cheryl Gioja went into labor, her husband Joshua got down on his knees to “catch the baby” in the…

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Read more about the article Slices of Life: Jazz Professor Chip McNeill throws himself into his workDarrell Hoemann/The News-Gazette
Chip McNeill plays for the dancers. Traffic Jam: USO Swing Night The Chip McNeill Swingin' Quartet Chip McNeill and his swingin' quartet will rev up the Krannert Center lobby with the jumpin' sounds of the 1940s. The U of I Swing Society will put set the joint jumpin' as the up-tempo high-energy music encourages everyone to dance the night away.

Slices of Life: Jazz Professor Chip McNeill throws himself into his work

By Samantha Kiesel -- Chip McNeill walks down the hall in his black sneakers as jazz music floods the basement of Smith Hall. He…

Continue ReadingSlices of Life: Jazz Professor Chip McNeill throws himself into his work
Read more about the article Slices of Life: Danville woman adores her flock of feathered friendsRobin Scholz/The News-Gazette
Cindy Eaglen, left, and Charlotte look at each other at Feathered Friends, her avian rescue and rehab organization in Champaign. Eaglen is a Danville resident but works in Champaign at Illini Recycling, which doubles as Feathered Friends. In Champaign on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012.

Slices of Life: Danville woman adores her flock of feathered friends

By Jessica Bourque -- Cindy Eaglen — that's eagle with an 'n' — sits in her computer chair, a bird in one hand, a…

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Read more about the article “Letter to the residents of Monticello” ad lands city council in hot waterDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Maureen Holtz address the council during a Monticello city council meeting on Monday, June 23, 2014. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

“Letter to the residents of Monticello” ad lands city council in hot water

By Claire Everett/CU-CitizenAccess.org --  An ongoing struggle between the Monticello City Council and a citizen’s group has led to the city council being cited…

Continue Reading“Letter to the residents of Monticello” ad lands city council in hot water
Read more about the article Slices of Life: Willie Summerville: “Somebody say ‘Amen'”Darrell Hoemann/The News-Gazette
Willie Summerville directs a rehearsal of Messiah as Davion Williams sings a solo at Canaan Baptist Church in Urbana.

Slices of Life: Willie Summerville: “Somebody say ‘Amen'”

By Samantha Bakall -- Willie T. Summerville sits behind the church organ, his fingers dancing on the keys and his lips slightly pursed at the…

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Read more about the article Despite routine inspections, keeping certified campus housing safe remains constant challenge
A photo taken by city of Champaign inspectors at Theta Chi, 310 E. Gregory, Champaign on Sept. 4, 2013.

Despite routine inspections, keeping certified campus housing safe remains constant challenge

By Janelle O’Dea and Robert Holly/CU-CitizenAccess.org -- At the Theta Chi fraternity house last fall, Champaign city inspectors found 81 fire and life-safety violations,…

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Read more about the article Trial period over – yellow placards could be coming to a restaurant near youContributed/Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
A draft version of a reinspection notice. Public health officials are drafting ordinances that would require food establishments to post a color-coded placard that indicates the results of each health inspection. Yellow means the food establishment failed its health inspection with an adjusted score below 36 and but can remain open pending a reinspection within 30 days.

Trial period over – yellow placards could be coming to a restaurant near you

By Claire Everett/CU-CitizenAccess.org -- Between January and May, 32 restaurants in Champaign-Urbana failed health inspections. Diners still had no easy way of knowing if…

Continue ReadingTrial period over – yellow placards could be coming to a restaurant near you