Read more about the article Local police battle domestic violence calls; services scarce for victimsDarrell Hoemann
Isak Griffiths, executive director of Courage Connection and Chris Anglin, founder of Safefield Consultants with the website for his firm on Friday, May 22, 2015.

Local police battle domestic violence calls; services scarce for victims

On April 17, Jeremy Irons of Urbana was sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated domestic battery and intimidation. He had smashed his girlfriend’s head against the interior of her car until she passed out and then later choked her and threatened her by saying he might go to get a gun.

Continue ReadingLocal police battle domestic violence calls; services scarce for victims
Read more about the article Agriculture community raises concerns on proposed state budgetDarrell Hoemann
Dr. Joni White with some of her FFA students in the greenhouse at Urbana High School in Urbana, Illinois on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. From left: Noah Dowling, Abram Washington, Austin Carter, Anthony Tuel, Dr. Joni White, Richardo Vargas and Carson Bryant.

Agriculture community raises concerns on proposed state budget

The state budget for agricultural education is once again coming under the scythe. In June 2010, the Illinois State Board of Education adopted a budget that zeroed out the $3 million funding under Gov. Pat Quinn, but by August, Quinn announced he restored it to $1.9 million.

Continue ReadingAgriculture community raises concerns on proposed state budget
Read more about the article New bill addresses Illinois concussion response in prep sportsDarrell Hoemann
Athletic trainer Dustin Fink in the Mt. Zion High School training room where he has screened athletes for concussions. Photo taken on Friday, May 22, 2015.

New bill addresses Illinois concussion response in prep sports

Dustin Fink suffered his first concussion growing up in Lone Tree, Colorado, when he ran into a post on the playground in fourth grade. It was the mid-1980s and the school nurse looked him over, he recalled, sent him back to class and that was that.

Continue ReadingNew bill addresses Illinois concussion response in prep sports
Read more about the article Indiana high school athletic association tries concussion logging system; Illinois considers similar plan
Dr. Jerrad Zimmerman is a physician in Carle Foundation Hospital’s sports medicine department.

Indiana high school athletic association tries concussion logging system; Illinois considers similar plan

The Indiana High School Athletic Association logged 1,217 concussive events in high school athletics throughout Indiana during the fall season. How many occurred in Illinois? Nobody knows for sure.

Continue ReadingIndiana high school athletic association tries concussion logging system; Illinois considers similar plan
Read more about the article Champaign County Farm Bureau aims to educate, advocateDarrell Hoemann
Jacob Meisner, a member of the Illinois Collegiate Farm Bureau, on the dairy farm he works at near his home in Paris, IL on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.

Champaign County Farm Bureau aims to educate, advocate

With less than 2 percent of Champaign’s population involved in production agriculture, the Champaign County Farm Bureau has made it part of its mission to educate the community about the work being done by Champaign’s agriculture industry.

Continue ReadingChampaign County Farm Bureau aims to educate, advocate
Read more about the article Local tattoo artists frustrated with lax law, lack of quality health inspectionsDarrell Hoemann
Ray Allen Hughes of Champaign Tattoo with his registration receipt in his studio in Champaign, ILL on Friday, May 1, 2015.

Local tattoo artists frustrated with lax law, lack of quality health inspections

Some local tattoo artists are expressing frustration with the cursory inspections of their shops since Illinois took the responsibility of inspections from the Champaign-Urbana health district two years ago.

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Read more about the article Unpaid property taxes total $2.5 million, but investors give delinquents time to payDarrell Hoemann
Champaign County Treasurer Dan Welch by the county seal i the board room where delinquent properties are auctioned in Urbana, IL on Monday, May 4, 2015.

Unpaid property taxes total $2.5 million, but investors give delinquents time to pay

Last year Bell Sports in Rantoul had about $108,000 in unpaid property taxes. The former Gateway Studios property in Champaign had about $104,800. And Mennenga Construction Inc. in Urbana had about $84,200.

Continue ReadingUnpaid property taxes total $2.5 million, but investors give delinquents time to pay