January 2020 – CU-CitizenAccess.org

The Illinois Terminal in Champaign, Illinois. The terminal provides Amtrak service, as well as public bus service (MTD) for Champaign-Urbana.

Champaign-Urbana Amtrak ridership continues to decline

Post author:Luke Cooper / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:January 21, 2020
Post category:Transportation

Champaign-Urbana Amtrak ridership has decreased from Illinois Terminal by 20 percent from 2013 to 2018, according to Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) data. Through October and November, Amtrak trains had departed around 29 minutes later than their scheduled departure time on average from Champaign-Urbana. Some trains between the two months had even departed up to one to two hours later than their scheduled departure, according to an Amtrak status database.

Photo by Tiffany Jolley. Roads in SW Champaign were closed for hours due to flooding. Photo taken July 12, 2014.

Climate change and poverty contribute to local flooding

Post author:Meghan Rest / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:January 21, 2020
Post category:Environment

On-going flooding still plagues the Champaign area, despite multi-million-dollar changes made to local water areas over a decade ago. Based on observations from Champaign’s COOP weather station, not only have water levels in Illinois have been increasing about 0.6-inches every decade since 1899, but the daily precipitation has also grown in the same time span. Over the last 20 years, Champaign has been doused with the highest rate of precipitation on record.

Read more about the article ‘Move to Work’ program attributed to higher average household incomes in Champaign County

HACC

The Housing Authority of Champaign County's (HACC) website.

‘Move to Work’ program attributed to higher average household incomes in Champaign County

Post author:Deliah Bradley / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:January 21, 2020
Post category:Housing

The national average income per household receiving assistance from a housing authority is approximately $12,000 a year, but in Champaign County the average income per household is $17,500. David Northern, Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Authority of Champaign County, attributes the higher income to a work program started in 2011.

Read more about the article Robin Kelly’s campaign targeting fundraising for 2020 cycle

Powell Photography

Portrait of Robin Kelly from her House of Representatives website.

Robin Kelly’s campaign targeting fundraising for 2020 cycle

Post author:Emily Stutts / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:January 21, 2020
Post category:Government

In the 2018 election cycle, Congresswoman Robin Kelly spent $879,435 in total – one of the lowest amounts spent - defeating David Merkle by 183,816 to 43,875 in votes. Kelly’s largest expense was for her fundraising consultant Lauren Cvengros, through LBH Chicago, which cost $252,911. Although the 2020 cycle is not yet complete, Kelly has only spent $211,387 in total. Her greatest expense was again for her fundraising consultant, Cvengros, which cost $73,681.