Read more about the article Champaign County Sheriff’s Office knew Norman Meeker had an alcohol problem for a decade. Why did it take a flipped truck and a DUI for Meeker to leave the force?
A close view of the flipped vehicle. Screenshot from body camera footage.

Champaign County Sheriff’s Office knew Norman Meeker had an alcohol problem for a decade. Why did it take a flipped truck and a DUI for Meeker to leave the force?

Champaign County Sheriff’s Sergeant Norman “JR” Meeker had a 10-year history of violations, including destruction of personal property, contract violations, a Tik Tok account that shared bodycam videos of crime scenes and mountains of missed paperwork.  Yet, he was still employed and promoted at the Sheriff’s Office until he flipped a truck while drunk. Champaign County Sheriff’s Office records suggest a systemic inability to deal with over-the-top behavior from its officers — a system in which a sergeant can be disciplined regularly, suspected for having alcohol problems for over a decade, violate contracts and be accused of using racial slurs — yet keep their job. 

Continue ReadingChampaign County Sheriff’s Office knew Norman Meeker had an alcohol problem for a decade. Why did it take a flipped truck and a DUI for Meeker to leave the force?
Read more about the article University of Illinois building monitors inconsistently enforced access while campus COVID cases surgedVivian La
A vacant building monitor desk in the School of Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics in Urbana.

University of Illinois building monitors inconsistently enforced access while campus COVID cases surged

To mitigate infection, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign had to utilize several novel technologies, yet lack of staff availability to enforce this technology…

Continue ReadingUniversity of Illinois building monitors inconsistently enforced access while campus COVID cases surged
Read more about the article Results of defunct Urbana Community Alternative Policing program a mystery; racial disparity reports no longer accessibleKing School
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, the site where Urbana Community Alternative Policing committee meetings were held.

Results of defunct Urbana Community Alternative Policing program a mystery; racial disparity reports no longer accessible

UCAP was intended to be a catalyst for the community policing program. It no longer exists and there doesn’t seem to be a community policing program for northern Urbana, north of W. University Avenue and west of N. Broadway Avenue, or any other part of Urbana.

Continue ReadingResults of defunct Urbana Community Alternative Policing program a mystery; racial disparity reports no longer accessible
Read more about the article Champaign elementary students grapple with masks, vaccinesDarrell Hoemann
Kenwood School on Sunday, December 19, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Champaign elementary students grapple with masks, vaccines

For one Champaign Unit 4 school parent, vaccinating his child is important.  “How can you go against science?” Daniel Martinez said. “I lost my…

Continue ReadingChampaign elementary students grapple with masks, vaccines
Read more about the article University Tenant Union Housing Portal taken down for violating ad policies, but decision eliminates student complaints against landlordsHousing Explorer web page
The Housing Explorer was among one of the cuts to student and community resources made by the University of Illinois's Off-Campus Community Living Office.

University Tenant Union Housing Portal taken down for violating ad policies, but decision eliminates student complaints against landlords

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign quietly removed an online portal last year that, compiled a database of student complaints against area landlords and landlord responses to those complaints. A university official said this month that the site was taken down because it violated campus website advertising rules and that it was too much work to maintain the complaints section. The University of Illinois Off-Campus Community Living suggests that students use sites like Google Reviews, Yelp, the U of I Reddit Page, or the Better Business Bureau to draw their own conclusions about leasing companies on campus. 

Continue ReadingUniversity Tenant Union Housing Portal taken down for violating ad policies, but decision eliminates student complaints against landlords
Read more about the article Urbana experiences the lowest number of nuisance complaints in three yearsDarrell Hoemann
Busey Avenue looking south from Illinois Street in Urbana on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Urbana experiences the lowest number of nuisance complaints in three years

Throughout this year, about 466 nuisance complaints were reported in Urbana. Nuisance complaints include weeds and overgrown trees and vegetation, trash, debris, loud noise…

Continue ReadingUrbana experiences the lowest number of nuisance complaints in three years
Read more about the article Carle Foundation Hospital expansion increases capacity, brings business to the areaDarrell Hoemann
Carle Admin Center at Carle at the Fields on Sunday, December 19, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Carle Foundation Hospital expansion increases capacity, brings business to the area

Construction in Champaign for Carle Foundation Hospital buildings is joined by the addition of other businesses and restaurants nearby, contributing to the economic growth of the new area known as The Fields.

Continue ReadingCarle Foundation Hospital expansion increases capacity, brings business to the area
Read more about the article Inconsistent garbage pickup angers Champaign residentsDarrell Hoemann
Republic Services exterior at 2801 N Willow Rd, Urbana, IL 61802) on Sunday, December 19, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Inconsistent garbage pickup angers Champaign residents

The inconsistent pick up by some commercial garbage-hauling companies has been sharply criticized residents in the Champaign area. Despite an increase in complaints, no companies have received a fine from the city. The city also has no employee in the city’s public works department who is dedicated to dealing with complaints about waste haulers. 

Continue ReadingInconsistent garbage pickup angers Champaign residents
Read more about the article Motion carries for Champaign County jail to face renovations, committee aims for improved health conditionsChampaign County Board
The Jail Facilities Committee questions Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman on November 18, 2021.

Motion carries for Champaign County jail to face renovations, committee aims for improved health conditions

With the upcoming closure of the County jail in downtown Urbana, the Champaign County Jail Facilities Committee passed a motion last month to fund to health and educational programs in the Champaign County Satellite Jail. Committee members addressed the urgency of moving forward with renovations as quickly as possible throughout these meetings. Issues such as replacing the heating, air, ventilation and cooling systems of the satellite jail were discussed, and designating currently unallocated American Rescue Plan funds specifically to renovate the jail. 

Continue ReadingMotion carries for Champaign County jail to face renovations, committee aims for improved health conditions
Read more about the article Students living at The Place at 117 to have a safer way to bike to campusDarrell Hoemann
The Place at 117 exterior (117 Sterling Ct, Savoy) on Sunday, December 19, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Students living at The Place at 117 to have a safer way to bike to campus

A grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) has supported the Village of Savoy’s intent to construct a shared use path along First Street next year, estimated to cost $1.2 million. The Place at 117 is a student living apartment complex located in Savoy at the intersection of First Street and Curtis Road. It’s a 10-minute drive to campus by car or a 30-minute ride on the public bus. Yet 1 mile of the 2.3 mile bike ride from the complex to campus along First Street are missing bike lanes and lighting, and the Village of Savoy plans to fix that.

Continue ReadingStudents living at The Place at 117 to have a safer way to bike to campus