Business
Read more about the article Historic downtown Urbana hotel expects to welcome guests in early 2025Darrell Hoemann
Urbana Landmark Hotel, to be renamed Hotel Royer, undergoing remodeling on Friday, December 24, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Historic downtown Urbana hotel expects to welcome guests in early 2025

Once named the ”Urbana Lincoln Hotel” to commemorate the former president’s visits to Urbana, the 100-year-old downtown fixture has not welcomed new guests since…

Continue ReadingHistoric downtown Urbana hotel expects to welcome guests in early 2025
Read more about the article State commission fined Campustown bars, liquor stores nearly $15,000 for underage sales in past six years — a fraction of what students have paidGoogle Street View
Joe's Brewery on Google Street View. Screenshot taken on August 23, 2023.

State commission fined Campustown bars, liquor stores nearly $15,000 for underage sales in past six years — a fraction of what students have paid

This past April, a Green Street Pantry employee was charged with selling alcohol to a minor who died of hypothermia the same night with…

Continue ReadingState commission fined Campustown bars, liquor stores nearly $15,000 for underage sales in past six years — a fraction of what students have paid
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 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 Illinois sees exit of firearm dealers despite all-time high in gun ownership Illinois State Police 2012
Photo from Illinois State Police website.

Illinois sees exit of firearm dealers despite all-time high in gun ownership 

Despite an all-time high in the number of Illinois residents possessing a firearm ownership card, the number of gun dealers and businesses registering guns…

Continue ReadingIllinois sees exit of firearm dealers despite all-time high in gun ownership 
Read more about the article Health inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks
Ambar India on Nov. 13, 2023. Photo by Maggie Knutte.

Health inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks

A moldy bell pepper.  Bare hands touching ready-to-eat food. Food that expired over a week ago sitting in the fridge. These are just a…

Continue ReadingHealth inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks
Read more about the article Garden Hills residents question number of businesses selling liquor in and near neighborhoodDarrell Hoemann
Garden Hills looking east on Hedge Road from Mattis Avenue on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Garden Hills residents question number of businesses selling liquor in and near neighborhood

Some Champaign residents in Garden Hills have expressed concern over the number of businesses selling alcohol in close proximity to the neighborhood, saying those…

Continue ReadingGarden Hills residents question number of businesses selling liquor in and near neighborhood
Read more about the article Accidents and emergency calls mount at Archer Daniels Midland plants in Decatur in past year; Employee dies in rail accident, multiple employees injured in explosionsADM
Archer Daniels Midland regional headquarters in Decatur, Illinois. Photo from ADM's website.

Accidents and emergency calls mount at Archer Daniels Midland plants in Decatur in past year; Employee dies in rail accident, multiple employees injured in explosions

Listen to WILL's coverage for interview audio and hear from the reporters on The 21st Show. Just months before he planned to retire, 66-year-old…

Continue ReadingAccidents and emergency calls mount at Archer Daniels Midland plants in Decatur in past year; Employee dies in rail accident, multiple employees injured in explosions
Read more about the article Residents complain about housing conditions at Latitude apartments; Out-of-town owners exacerbate issues
A half-lit sign illuminates the Latitude East building on 608 E University Ave. Nine residents have filed maintenance complaints with the city of Champaign in the past year. Photo by Gwyn Skiles.

Residents complain about housing conditions at Latitude apartments; Out-of-town owners exacerbate issues

Latitude, a five-story apartment complex in Champaign, has been the target of at least nine complaints to the city within the past year. Located…

Continue ReadingResidents complain about housing conditions at Latitude apartments; Out-of-town owners exacerbate issues