Read more about the article Test scores slightly improve for Unit 4 school district, but lag behind rest of IllinoisGoogle Street View
Garden Hills Academy in Champaign. Screenshot from Google Street View, captured 2023.

Test scores slightly improve for Unit 4 school district, but lag behind rest of Illinois

Across grades three through eight in the Champaign Unit 4 School District, 70.7% of students did not meet state standards under a standardized assessment…

Continue ReadingTest scores slightly improve for Unit 4 school district, but lag behind rest of Illinois
Read more about the article Archer Daniels Midland fined almost $52 million in past decade for 90 violations of federal, state lawsADM
Archer Daniels Midland regional headquarters in Decatur, Illinois. Photo from ADM's website.

Archer Daniels Midland fined almost $52 million in past decade for 90 violations of federal, state laws

In the last 11 years, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has racked up at least $51.9 million in fines for 90 federal- and state-level offenses…

Continue ReadingArcher Daniels Midland fined almost $52 million in past decade for 90 violations of federal, state laws
Read more about the article Greater Community Aids Project reports issues with MTD paratransit serviceMTD
A paratransit bus from Champaign-Urbana MTD passes by a standard bus. Photo from the MTD website.

Greater Community Aids Project reports issues with MTD paratransit service

Some clients of the Greater Community Aids Project of East Illinois said they have been stranded and mistreated during the past year by Mass…

Continue ReadingGreater Community Aids Project reports issues with MTD paratransit service
Read more about the article Drainage districts in Champaign County collected over $1.7 million in 2022 but receive little attention
A portion of the Champaign County Land Resource Management Plan's map of drainage districts within the county.

Drainage districts in Champaign County collected over $1.7 million in 2022 but receive little attention

There are about 80 active drainage districts located within Champaign County, which can levy taxes on property owners. In addition, there are hundreds of…

Continue ReadingDrainage districts in Champaign County collected over $1.7 million in 2022 but receive little attention
Read more about the article E-bikes pose danger across college campuses, risk of insurance loss
Adam Peck, former Illinois State University assistant vice president for student affairs, who died in 2022 after he was hit by an electric bicycle on campus.

E-bikes pose danger across college campuses, risk of insurance loss

“Those things are going to kill me one day,” Adam Peck said to his wife, Michele, after narrowly avoiding an e-bike rider on the…

Continue ReadingE-bikes pose danger across college campuses, risk of insurance loss
Read more about the article ADM’s well leak draws allegations of environmental violationsADM
Archer Daniels Midland regional headquarters in Decatur, Illinois. Photo from ADM's website.

ADM’s well leak draws allegations of environmental violations

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) was the first company in the nation to operate a permitted commercial carbon sequestration facility at its Decatur location. But…

Continue ReadingADM’s well leak draws allegations of environmental violations
Read more about the article Emulsicoat asphalt plant moves to new location following decades of neighborhood complaintsHenry Young
Emulsicoat Inc.'s new location on Saline Court in Urbana. Photo by Henry Young.

Emulsicoat asphalt plant moves to new location following decades of neighborhood complaints

Emulsicoat’s asphalt plant located in the Historic East Urbana neighborhood is now operating at a new site 15 minutes away. The long-criticized plant is…

Continue ReadingEmulsicoat asphalt plant moves to new location following decades of neighborhood complaints
Read more about the article Green Street Realty receives over 50 housing complaints in past four years in ChampaignGreen Street Realty
209 E University Ave., owned by Green Street Realty, had the most housing complaints filed against it in the past four years in Champaign compared with the other properties the company manages. Photo from Green Street Realty's website.

Green Street Realty receives over 50 housing complaints in past four years in Champaign

One of the largest property management groups in Central Illinois had over 50 housing complaints filed against it in the past four years in…

Continue ReadingGreen Street Realty receives over 50 housing complaints in past four years in Champaign
Read more about the article Seven intentional fires set in residence halls in past three school yearsHumza Qazi
Photo depicting Wassaja Hall, within which an intentional fire where a carpet in a residential lounge space was found to have been burnt took place in 2023. Photo by Humza Qazi.

Seven intentional fires set in residence halls in past three school years

A melted toilet seat in Oglesby Hall.  A smoldered cork board in Allen Hall.  A burnt carpet in Wassaja Hall.  These are just some…

Continue ReadingSeven intentional fires set in residence halls in past three school years