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Kimberlie Kranich, one of the steering members of the community group opposing AI data centers, gives a speech where she shared the names of the companies proposing data centers to Champaign County officials: ABEI Energy and Clean Cloud Energy. Photo taken Aug. 25 by Kaniz Fatema.

How Champaign County residents organized an AI data center resistance

Post author:Kaniz Fatema / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published: October 6, 2026
Post category:Community Voices Government Technology

Longtime Champaign County residents Ruth Yontz and Antonia Herbstreit had never met before organizing what would become an AI data center resistance group. Yontz,…

Read more about the article Philo Road pharmacy access remains a challenge for vulnerable residents

Madyson Magnus

The former Walgreens at 1801 S. Philo Road in Urbana sits vacant on Sept. 17, 2026. Photo by Madyson Magnus.

Philo Road pharmacy access remains a challenge for vulnerable residents

Post author:Madyson Magnus / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published: September 29, 2026
Post category:Business Government Health Care

One year after Urbana launched an effort to revitalize the Philo Road corridor, city officials say new investments are beginning to take shape —…

A drone with a camera, similar to ones used by police departments in the U.S. Photo retrieved from the City of Champaign website.

Champaign police consider expanding drone fleet two years after program launch

Post author:Madyson Magnus / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published: September 18, 2026
Post category:Government Technology

Two years after launching a drone program, the Champaign Police Department is considering expanding its current fleet of seven drones. The department began its…

Kimberlie Kranich, one of the steering members of the community group opposing AI data centers, gives a speech where she shared the names of the companies proposing data centers to Champaign County officials: ABEI Energy and Clean Cloud Energy. Photo taken Aug. 25 by Kaniz Fatema.

Data center resistance group unveils names of the companies meeting with Champaign County officials

Post author:Kaniz Fatema / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published: August 31, 2026
Post category:Government Technology

Members of a community organization named “Resist AI Data Centers Champaign County” disclosed the names of the “mysterious” data centers that approached the county…

The main page of LocalMatters.fyi provides an overview of recent local government meetings for your selected area, like Champaign or Urbana. Screenshot captured Aug. 18, 2026.

AI project LocalMatters helps Champaign-Urbana residents navigate public meetings

Post author:Madyson Magnus / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published: August 19, 2026
Post category:Government Technology

As local news organizations across the country lose reporters and reduce local government coverage, some organizations are exploring technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to…

Read more about the article Illinois pesticide fees meant for oversight are funding broader state operations

Illinois Department of Agriculture

The Illinois Department of Agriculture office at 801 E. Sangamon Ave. in Springfield, Ill.

Illinois pesticide fees meant for oversight are funding broader state operations

Post author:Katie Ratke / For CU-CitizenAccess and Lillie Salas / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published: August 12, 2026
Post category:Agriculture Government Public Funds

Illinois collected $9.06 million from pesticide registration fees in fiscal year 2025 to support enforcement and education programs related to oversight of pesticide applicators.…

Read more about the article No warnings or fines issued for Carle Arrow despite noncompliance with municipal response time standards

Maidely Davila

The exterior of Carle Arrow Ambulance Services at 210 E. University Ave. in Champaign, Ill. on April 12, 2026. Photo by Maidely Davila.

No warnings or fines issued for Carle Arrow despite noncompliance with municipal response time standards

Post author:Maidely Davila / For CU-CitizenAccess, Sadie Cao / For CU-CitizenAccess and Dylan Tiger
Post published: July 21, 2026
Post category:Government Health Care

Under municipal code, ambulance services in Champaign and Urbana can be fined by the fire departments for not meeting response time standards. Yet despite…

Read more about the article While officials debate data center regulations, residents want to know where they’ll be built

Kaniz Fatema

Members of the Champaign County Data Center Activities Task Force met July 13, 2026 to discuss regulations for data centers, including noise, vibration and minimum separation distances. Photo by Kaniz Fatema.

While officials debate data center regulations, residents want to know where they’ll be built

Post author:Kaniz Fatema / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published: July 20, 2026
Post category:Community Voices Government Technology

Although Champaign County is under a 12-month moratorium on new large-scale data centers, concerns about the location of a potential facility continue to grow…