Yearly Archives: 2024
Read more about the article MTD works to fully restore bus service to pre-pandemic levels; District invests more in drivers
A photo of the new bus driving simulator paid for by a federal aid package MTD received to support itself throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: MTD

MTD works to fully restore bus service to pre-pandemic levels; District invests more in drivers

After service struggles during the pandemic, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) is restoring routes and investing in bus drivers as ridership rebounds to…

Continue ReadingMTD works to fully restore bus service to pre-pandemic levels; District invests more in drivers
Read more about the article Toxins in the air: Central Illinois factories and plants release millions of pounds of risky chemicals
The Kraft Heinz factory in Champaign. Screenshot taken from Google Street View, captured August 2023.

Toxins in the air: Central Illinois factories and plants release millions of pounds of risky chemicals

The Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) facility in Decatur, which processes grain products into food ingredients and ethanol, released 2.7 million pounds of toxic chemicals…

Continue ReadingToxins in the air: Central Illinois factories and plants release millions of pounds of risky chemicals
Read more about the article Champaign’s vacant properties can languish for years without correction; Fines increased in past two yearsDarrell Hoemann
The former C.S. Johnson factory in Champaign on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Champaign’s vacant properties can languish for years without correction; Fines increased in past two years

Building paint is peeling, junk litters the property and “no trespassing” signs sporadically adorn fences surrounding the approximately 330,000 square feet of property of…

Continue ReadingChampaign’s vacant properties can languish for years without correction; Fines increased in past two years
Read more about the article Over one year later, no detached housing built following Champaign ordinance
Image from illinoisrealtors.org article about accessory dwelling units.

Over one year later, no detached housing built following Champaign ordinance

Some residents expressed concern about a negative impact on neighborhoods when the city of Champaign passed a June 2022 ordinance to build additional, detached…

Continue ReadingOver one year later, no detached housing built following Champaign ordinance

Complaints about yard waste and housing in disrepair continue to rise in Urbana; Property inspections behind schedule goal

Rental property and nuisance complaints have soared in Urbana over the past few years, records show.  The records, obtained via Freedom of Information Act…

Continue ReadingComplaints about yard waste and housing in disrepair continue to rise in Urbana; Property inspections behind schedule goal
Read more about the article Champaign County doesn’t allow looking up property by name. We made it searchable again.Darrell Hoemann
Brookens Admin Center in Urbana, IL 61801 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign County doesn’t allow looking up property by name. We made it searchable again.

Although the Champaign County Assessment Office has a property tax lookup tool developed by the software company DEVNET, the office decided to remove the…

Continue ReadingChampaign County doesn’t allow looking up property by name. We made it searchable again.
Read more about the article Champaign bars, liquor stores failed 25% of underage compliance checks by Illinois Liquor Control Commission last year
Police in a crowd at KAMS during Halloween weekend in 2023. Photo by Stephanie Wayda.

Champaign bars, liquor stores failed 25% of underage compliance checks by Illinois Liquor Control Commission last year

The state of Illinois Liquor Control Commission has made enforcing and documenting underage drinking on its website a priority since 2021 — and enforcement…

Continue ReadingChampaign bars, liquor stores failed 25% of underage compliance checks by Illinois Liquor Control Commission last year
Read more about the article After fatal shootings, Rantoul police recommended more training. They just sent one officer to a gun range
The Rantoul Police Department failed to follow through on recommendations to further train officers on how to use force after the city’s first two fatal shootings. Photo by Farrah Anderson, Invisible Institute/Illinois Public Media

After fatal shootings, Rantoul police recommended more training. They just sent one officer to a gun range

This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign County between the Champaign-Urbana Civic Police Data Project of the Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based…

Continue ReadingAfter fatal shootings, Rantoul police recommended more training. They just sent one officer to a gun range
Read more about the article Champaign hired Police Chief Timothy Tyler despite disciplinary past and allegations of misconductFarrah Anderson, Invisible Institute/Illinois Public Media
In 2022, Timothy Tyler was chosen to lead the Champaign Police Department — despite a string of misconduct allegations from his first policing job in the south Chicago suburb of Markham through his time at the Illinois State Police.

Champaign hired Police Chief Timothy Tyler despite disciplinary past and allegations of misconduct

This article originally appeared on IPM Newsroom on January 29, 2024. This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign…

Continue ReadingChampaign hired Police Chief Timothy Tyler despite disciplinary past and allegations of misconduct