Read more about the article Champaign, Urbana intervening to combat American Water’s request to raise rates for residential customersGoogle Map Street View
Illinois American Water in Urbana at 1406 W Cardinal Court.

Champaign, Urbana intervening to combat American Water’s request to raise rates for residential customers

The mayors of the cities of Champaign and Urbana say the cities are filing documents to intervene in the efforts of Illinois American Water…

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Read more about the article Two years later, COVID breaks death records in Champaign County
This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Two years later, COVID breaks death records in Champaign County

As the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic begins, cases plunge after the deadliest month for Champaign County just this year. Nearly 62,000 cases.…

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Read more about the article Latest hospital safety grades released, area hospital withholds data from national surveyLeapfrog
Carle Foundation Hospital declined to provide safety information to Leapfrog, a group of national experts that surveys thousands of hospitals to produce a safety grade and measure against national medical standards.

Latest hospital safety grades released, area hospital withholds data from national survey

One area hospital's safety grade has declined since the pandemic began, and another withheld quality of care information from the organization.

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Read more about the article ‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’: Cannabis workers describe pushback against unionization effortsLeafly
Jobs in the cannabis industry have grown by 161% in the last four years. (Illustration: Joshua Titus for Leafly)

‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’: Cannabis workers describe pushback against unionization efforts

Ramy Akram-Ahmed, a wellness advisor at Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary in Champaign, Illinois, made $17 an hour while the parent company of Sunnyside, Cresco Labs,…

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Read more about the article West Urbana residents criticize safety, impact of University’s plans to install novel nuclear reactor system
Image Source: USNC

West Urbana residents criticize safety, impact of University’s plans to install novel nuclear reactor system

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s proposal for deploying a micro nuclear reactor in west Urbana has sparked concern among local residents, who are…

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Read more about the article Urbana police stop giving out fines for underage drinking at bars during pandemic
Underage drinking citations from 2015 through November 2021 in Urbana, IL.

Urbana police stop giving out fines for underage drinking at bars during pandemic

Like the City of Champaign, Urbana issued no underage drinking citations or made any arrests last year through November 2021, according to police data…

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Read more about the article Urbana says “no” to license plate readers, but Champaign says “yes” in effort to reduce gun violence
A portion of the proposed automatic license plate readers in Champaign, bordered by light blue lines. Screenshot from Champaign study session document.

Urbana says “no” to license plate readers, but Champaign says “yes” in effort to reduce gun violence

Although Champaign voted in favor of implementing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) for $240,500 last month, Urbana rejected its $54,000 idea about a month…

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Read more about the article County COVID breakthrough cases undercounted, but university offers more accurate numbersMcKinley Health Center website
McKinley Health Center on the University of Illinois campus.

County COVID breakthrough cases undercounted, but university offers more accurate numbers

Because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only requires healthcare administrators to report severe infections of COVID-19 among the fully vaccinated, the true number and percentage of vaccine breakthrough cases infections in Champaign County and across the nation is significantly undercounted, public health experts say. Data from the University of Illinois shows that breakthrough cases — severe and mild — are much larger than than the state numbers. Since May, 75.9% of, or more than three out of four, positive tests belonged to fully vaccinated students or staff. 

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