Government
Read more about the article Ameren states contaminated gas plant cleanup in Fifth and Hill neighborhood nearly complete, but advocates question resultsA. Oishii Basu
The “No Trespassing” sign on the fence of the former manufactured gas plant site at the corner of Fifth and Hill streets in Champaign, Illinois on Sept. 15, 2025. Photo by A. Oishii Basu.

Ameren states contaminated gas plant cleanup in Fifth and Hill neighborhood nearly complete, but advocates question results

Read an extended Q&A with Claudia Lennhoff, executive director of Champaign County Health Care Consumers, about the history of the site and the research…

Continue ReadingAmeren states contaminated gas plant cleanup in Fifth and Hill neighborhood nearly complete, but advocates question results
Read more about the article Q&A: Claudia Lennhoff on the history of the contaminated Fifth and Hill site of former Ameren manufactured gas plantA. Oishii Basu
The warning sign on the fence of the former manufactured gas plant site at the corner of Fifth and Hill streets in Champaign, Illinois on Sept. 15, 2025. Photo by A. Oishii Basu.

Q&A: Claudia Lennhoff on the history of the contaminated Fifth and Hill site of former Ameren manufactured gas plant

A spokesperson for the utility and energy company Ameren said in October it is a few months away from finishing the lengthy environmental cleanup…

Continue ReadingQ&A: Claudia Lennhoff on the history of the contaminated Fifth and Hill site of former Ameren manufactured gas plant
Read more about the article Garbage trucks continue to speed through Danville’s Grape Creek neighborhood, but residents say efforts to slow traffic prove unsuccessfulMike Rock
A B&W Disposal garbage truck drives through the Grape Creek neighborhood in Danville, Illinois to get to the landfill on Nov. 7, 2025. Photo by Mike Rock.

Garbage trucks continue to speed through Danville’s Grape Creek neighborhood, but residents say efforts to slow traffic prove unsuccessful

Residents who live on Brickyard Road in Danville, Illinois said they are tired of the traffic, trash and noise from garbage trucks.  The Republic…

Continue ReadingGarbage trucks continue to speed through Danville’s Grape Creek neighborhood, but residents say efforts to slow traffic prove unsuccessful
Read more about the article Proposed Ameren gas hike cut nearly in half by Illinois Commerce CommissionOates Associates
The Ameren Illinois headquarters in Collinsville. Photo from Oates Associates' website.

Proposed Ameren gas hike cut nearly in half by Illinois Commerce Commission

Ameren Illinois customers will see about a $3.65 increase a month to their gas bill instead of between $8 to $10 effective this December…

Continue ReadingProposed Ameren gas hike cut nearly in half by Illinois Commerce Commission
Read more about the article Lierman neighbors still fighting food insecurity since loss of community garden as developers scout former landJahzara Norris
The former land where the Lierman Community Garden once was located, which allowed local residents to grow their own vegetables, in September 2025. Photo by Jahzara Norris.

Lierman neighbors still fighting food insecurity since loss of community garden as developers scout former land

The Lierman Community Garden launched in 2015 as a way for residents to access fresh vegetables and rent a spot to plant their own…

Continue ReadingLierman neighbors still fighting food insecurity since loss of community garden as developers scout former land
Read more about the article MLK Subdivision residents seek more signage to address speeding, traffic safety concernsDarrell Hoemann
MLK Subdivision in Champaign, IL on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

MLK Subdivision residents seek more signage to address speeding, traffic safety concerns

Residents of the Martin Luther King Subdivision have voiced increasing concerns about speeding and traffic safety in their Champaign neighborhood. “Our neighborhood is very…

Continue ReadingMLK Subdivision residents seek more signage to address speeding, traffic safety concerns
Read more about the article Cuts to Medicaid create uncertainty for Champaign-Urbana residents relying on program for care, life-saving medicationGoogle Street View
Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, from Google Street View.

Cuts to Medicaid create uncertainty for Champaign-Urbana residents relying on program for care, life-saving medication

Since she was 5 years old, Champaign resident Jamilah Barbee and her family have relied on Medicaid to cover hospital visits at Carle Foundation…

Continue ReadingCuts to Medicaid create uncertainty for Champaign-Urbana residents relying on program for care, life-saving medication
Read more about the article Software issues led Champaign to axe SeeClickFix in favor of new public reporting system BrightlyBrightly Citizen Portal
The Brightly Citizen Portal, the new public reporting system for the City of Champaign, which replaced SeeClickFix. Screenshot taken Dec. 9, 2025.

Software issues led Champaign to axe SeeClickFix in favor of new public reporting system Brightly

Pothole repair requests appearing at residential addresses. Mapping software preventing reports within the city. Anonymous reports limiting city follow-up to resolve reported issues. These…

Continue ReadingSoftware issues led Champaign to axe SeeClickFix in favor of new public reporting system Brightly
Read more about the article Head Start expansion lags as staffing shortages slow rollout in east central Illinois communitiesGoogle Street View
The Danville-Vorhees center, where Head Start services are scheduled to close at the end of the year. Screenshot from Google Street View.

Head Start expansion lags as staffing shortages slow rollout in east central Illinois communities

Almost one year after promising to bring Head Start services to hundreds more children across rural east central Illinois, the Champaign County Regional Planning…

Continue ReadingHead Start expansion lags as staffing shortages slow rollout in east central Illinois communities
Read more about the article Legal battle over condemned Champaign Park Apartments proceeds into 2026 Dylan Tiger
The frame of the sign for Champaign Park Apartments along Country Fair Drive sits empty on Nov. 15, 2025, with boarded up windows on the condemned apartment buildings in the background. Photo by Dylan Tiger.

Legal battle over condemned Champaign Park Apartments proceeds into 2026 

A lawsuit filed by the City of Champaign against the out-of-town owner of run-down apartment buildings remains unresolved heading into 2026.  Champaign has been…

Continue ReadingLegal battle over condemned Champaign Park Apartments proceeds into 2026