2015 – CU-CitizenAccess.org

A central Illinois farmer harvests his crop shortly before sundown on Sept. 24, 2015. U.S. agricultural exports reached a record level in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Controversial trade deal draws heavy lobbying from U.S. agribusiness

Post author:Robert Holly / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:November 17, 2015
Post category:Agriculture

A new trade deal aimed at cutting thousands of taxes and opening markets with 11 Pacific Rim nations has drawn heavy lobbying from some of America’s largest agribusinesses. The deal – known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership – was reached in early October. It is designed to ease the flow of goods between partner nations by lowering restrictive trade policies and regulations.

Read more about the article Illinois gets D+ grade in 2015 State Integrity Investigation

Darrell Hoemann/The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

The quad on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Tuesday, November 3, 2015.

Illinois gets D+ grade in 2015 State Integrity Investigation

Post author:Pam G. Dempsey
Post published:November 9, 2015
Post category:Government

Four of the seven Illinois governors elected from 1960 through 2006 went on to serve time in prison, so it’s no surprise that Illinois has developed a reputation more criminal than credible. Nor is it surprising that Illinois earned a D+ in the State Integrity Investigation, an assessment of state government transparency and accountability by the Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity.

Read more about the article ‘The Long Journey Home’ sparks conversation on Latino migration

Darrell Hoemann

Tim Flavin, Angela Wiley, and Miguel Keberlein discussed migrant issues as panelists at Spurlock Museum in Urbana on Tuesday, September 29, 2015.

‘The Long Journey Home’ sparks conversation on Latino migration

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:October 9, 2015
Post category:Immigration

Last year, Frida Arellano came to Arcola, Ill., from Texas with her family to find work in the area’s agricultural fields. The job left her family broke and homeless, she said. More than 15 years ago, Daneli Rabanalez Hernandez also moved to Arcola, traveling thousands of miles with her family from their original home in Mexico. Now a student at Olivet Nazarene University, Hernandez said central Illinois has become their true home.

Read more about the article #LongJourney Home: The story of Latino migration into Central Illinois

Claire Everett

Magaly Avila in Arcola

#LongJourney Home: The story of Latino migration into Central Illinois

Post author:CU-CitizenAccess.org
Post published:September 29, 2015
Post category:Immigration

Join us for Illinois Humanities' second installment of the Latino Americans: 500 Years of History series, “The Long Journey Home.” This panel discussion will trace the past, present, and future of Latino migration in central Illinois by highlighting oral histories and contemporary investigative reporting on migrant worker camps.

Read more about the article Ag Secretary Vilsack announces major USDA biofuel investment

Darrell Hoemann

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, middle, listens to a researchers on Sept. 10, 2015. Vilsack was visiting the Energy Farm just south of Urbana, Ill. From left: German Bollero, head of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's crop science department; Tim Mies, director of the Energy Farm; Robert Hauser, ACES dean; Patrick Brown, assistant professor in plant breeding and genetics

Ag Secretary Vilsack announces major USDA biofuel investment

Post author:Claire Everett / Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Post published:September 16, 2015
Post category:Agriculture

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced on Thursday that his department will award nearly two dozen states with millions of dollars to build the gas pumps and other infrastructure needed to supply American drivers with more renewable fuel.

Read more about the article Former U.S. rep recruits farmers for corn lawsuit

Darrell Hoemann

Lawyer William Enyart talks with farmers at the Hilton Garden Inn on Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

Former U.S. rep recruits farmers for corn lawsuit

Post author:Claire Everett / Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Post published:September 16, 2015
Post category:Agriculture

Nearly a year after China re-opened its doors to imported U.S. corn, one former U.S. representative is recruiting Illinois farmers into a mass-action lawsuit as plaintiffs. Thousands of farmers – along with major agribusinesses Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill – are suing the Swiss chemical company Syngenta for selling a genetically modified strain of corn in the United States before its approval by China.

Read more about the article Landlords benefit from loose law; save millions in taxes

Darrell Hoemann

A view of houses on Hedge Road. Several rental properties here are owned by companies that receive the homestead exemption.

Landlords benefit from loose law; save millions in taxes

Post author:Pam G. Dempsey
Post published:July 14, 2015
Post category:Government

Champaign County landlords are reaping more than $20 million in tax exemptions a year by taking advantage of a loosely written state law and an interpretation of that law by the county supervisor of assessments.

Read more about the article Co-ops, retirement villages benefit from homeowners exemptions

Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org

Winfield Village on July 8, 2015. This retirement community received more than $2 million in the homestead exemption for tax year 2014.

Co-ops, retirement villages benefit from homeowners exemptions

Post author:agorton
Post published:July 9, 2015
Post category:Housing

Landlords of single properties are not the only ones getting tax breaks under the General Homestead Exemption. Companies that own cooperative apartments or retirement life-care communities also can get multiple exemptions under state law.

File

Six food establishments closed for not paying, renewing permits

Post author:Claire Everett / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:June 8, 2015
Post category:Food Public Health

In the past four months, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District shut down seven restaurantsbecause of issues that put customers at risk. But it also shut down six food establishments because owners or managers did not pay health permit fees or submit a permit application. One restaurant is still closed.

Read more about the article Health inspectors temporarily shut down seven Champaign County restaurants, failed seven others

photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU- CitizenAccess.org

Ichiban Buffett, 105 N. Mattis, Champaign, Illinois on Tuesday, June 2, 2015.

Health inspectors temporarily shut down seven Champaign County restaurants, failed seven others

Post author:Claire Everett / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:June 2, 2015
Post category:Food Public Health

A Champaign restaurant received one of the worst health inspection scores on record after inspectors found dried meat and blood on its wall in April. Inspectors closed Ichiban Buffet, located at 105 N. Mattis Avenue in Champaign, after it received a -56 out of 100 on its April 27 health inspection.