Champaign County sees increase in SNAP recipients over five years, adding thousands last year
Over the last five years, the poverty rate in Champaign County has fallen, but the number of people seeking food assistance has steadily risen,…
Ambar India on Wright Street in Urbana received a red placard in January 2021. Screenshot from Google Street View.
Over 100 restaurants failed inspections in Champaign County in the past two years, but failures hard to find in online database
After a routine inspection, only 10 restaurants were closed due to non-compliance with safety regulations and 116 restaurants received food safety alerts for less…
KFC & A&W, 1321 N Dunlap Ave., Champaign
The health department closed the restaurant Aug. 22 due to “gross unsanitary conditions” during its routine inspection. No details were provided in the report. On Thursday, November 29, 2018. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access
Restaurant closures, failures down under new restaurant health inspection system
Since 2019, at least 63 Champaign-Urbana restaurants have failed and 19 have been temporarily closed down by public health officials under a new restaurant inspection system launched that year.
Eastern Illinois Foodbank
Eastern Illinois Foodbank provides a graphic to explain how food reaches those in need.
Food insecurity projected to soar in eastern Illinois and Champaign County
The nonprofit organization Feeding America has projected Champaign County’s food insecurity rate to increase by 31% by the end of 2020 in comparison to data collected in 2018. Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies.
Naomi Diaz
Eastern Illinois Foodbank's trucks at its facility in Urbana on North Shore Drive.
COVID-19 hampers food distribution at Eastern Illinois Foodbank
Pre-pandemic, Eastern Illinois Foodbank provided food and grocery products to 100,000 people in 18 different Eastern counties in Illinois. Today, they project the number of those in need to increase by 63,000. The foodbank expects the second wave of COVID-19 will continue to increase the need for “emergency food,” and they are preparing for just that.
Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess
The Himalayan Chimmey in Champaign on April 23.
Health inspectors fail 19 food spots
Overall, public health officials failed or closed 19 restaurants, grocery stores or eateries for health code violations between October 1 and March 31, according to a review of inspection records from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.
Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Jim Roberts of the Champaign-Urbana Health District holds up a sample placard as county board members discussed whether restaurants in the county should be required to display inspection placards on August 21, 2014.
As health inspections change, departments debate enforcement
Starting July 1, inspections will change.
AP
Ambar India on Sunday, October 16, 2016. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access
Champaign County nursing home among 18 food spots to fail health inspections
A moldy ice chute, food preparation areas with pesticides stored above them and storage coolers occupied by houseflies and moths were among the worst violations leading to closures and failures of eateries across the county since July. In total, 18 establishments were closed or failed inspections for serious health code violations between July 1 and Sept. 30, according to a review of inspection records.
Presence Covenant Hospital in Urbana on July 27, 2016.
Health inspectors temporarily close hospital cafeteria
Health inspectors shut down the cafeteria at Presence Covenant Medical Center, 1400 W. Park St., Urbana, on May 10 after they noted a repeated critical violation – sewage wastewater backing up from the floor drain underneath a hand sink into the grill area.
Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
The exterior of Dublin O'Neil's and 301 Mongolia restaurants on Neil Street in Champaign on July 25, 2016.
Health department temporarily closes seven spots, cites several for health violations
Sewage wastewater backup, cockroach infestation and houseflies “too numerous to count” were among the violations leading to closures and failures of eateries across the county since April. In total, 20 establishments were cited for serious or critical health code violations between April 1 and June 30, according to a review of inspection records.