Government
Read more about the article Top property owners in Champaign County include University of Illinois, Mormon church and web of landlordsDarrell Hoemann
Brookens Admin Center in Urbana, IL 61801 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Top property owners in Champaign County include University of Illinois, Mormon church and web of landlords

In 2023, 13 property owners in Champaign County owned over 100 properties each. The largest property owner, by far, is the University of Illinois…

Continue ReadingTop property owners in Champaign County include University of Illinois, Mormon church and web of landlords
Read more about the article Fentanyl-driven overdose deaths dropped in Illinois after 2022 peakDrug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
A bag of fentanyl pills. Image from the DEA website.

Fentanyl-driven overdose deaths dropped in Illinois after 2022 peak

Deaths from opioid overdoses in Illinois are on the decline in 2024, showing a reversal after the record-high numbers seen in 2022.  Drug prevention…

Continue ReadingFentanyl-driven overdose deaths dropped in Illinois after 2022 peak
Read more about the article Dumpster, waste fires in Champaign more common this year; Campustown remains hot spotChampaign Fire Department
Firefighters at the scene of one of the multiple-alarm fires that the Champaign Fire Department fought in the same night last spring. Photo provided by the Champaign Fire Department.

Dumpster, waste fires in Champaign more common this year; Campustown remains hot spot

A multiple-alarm fire — a fire severe enough to necessitate additional resources — is rare for the Champaign Fire Department to encounter. But last…

Continue ReadingDumpster, waste fires in Champaign more common this year; Campustown remains hot spot
Read more about the article Pretrial investigations mount in Champaign as public defender caseloads rise in first year of Pretrial Fairness Act
The Champaign County Courthouse. Screenshot from Google Street View.

Pretrial investigations mount in Champaign as public defender caseloads rise in first year of Pretrial Fairness Act

One year after the passage of the Pretrial Fairness Act, state data shows the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, which includes Champaign, recorded one of…

Continue ReadingPretrial investigations mount in Champaign as public defender caseloads rise in first year of Pretrial Fairness Act
Read more about the article Deputy accused of killing Sonya Massey in Springfield was discharged from Army for serious misconductFarrah Anderson
Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, who is now charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, was previously discharged from the U.S. Army for serious misconduct — and still hired at six police departments in Central Illinois.

Deputy accused of killing Sonya Massey in Springfield was discharged from Army for serious misconduct

This article was originally published by IPM Newsroom on July 24, 2024. This article was updated with additional reporting about Grayson’s claims to have…

Continue ReadingDeputy accused of killing Sonya Massey in Springfield was discharged from Army for serious misconduct
Read more about the article Urbana activists want more police oversight. But local laws hold the civilian review board hostage
Ricardo Diaz, the most recent chair of the Civilian Police Review Board, stepped down in May. Diaz said local activists were frustrated by the slow pace of reforms and how local ordinances curtail the power of the CPRB to provide more powerful oversight of Urbana police. Photo by Farrah Anderson.

Urbana activists want more police oversight. But local laws hold the civilian review board hostage

This story was originally published on IPM Newsroom on July 8, 2024. This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in…

Continue ReadingUrbana activists want more police oversight. But local laws hold the civilian review board hostage
Read more about the article Champaign County jail bookings remain stable while public defender workload triples to keep clients out of jail under SAFE-T ActDarrell Hoemann
Satellite Jail exterior on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Champaign County jail bookings remain stable while public defender workload triples to keep clients out of jail under SAFE-T Act

A recent sweeping state criminal justice reform bill was intended to keep people out of jail if they could not afford bail. But while…

Continue ReadingChampaign County jail bookings remain stable while public defender workload triples to keep clients out of jail under SAFE-T Act
Read more about the article Local police spent over $137,000 on overtime for one day of University of Illinois’ Gaza protestsFarrah Anderson
Dozens of police officers from Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, and the Champaign County Sheriff’s office joined the University of Illinois Police Department to respond to the encampment demanding the University divest from Israel on Friday, April 26. / Photo by Farrah Anderson

Local police spent over $137,000 on overtime for one day of University of Illinois’ Gaza protests

Police departments throughout Champaign County paid over $137,000 in overtime costs to officers who responded to one day of protests at the University of…

Continue ReadingLocal police spent over $137,000 on overtime for one day of University of Illinois’ Gaza protests
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 Concerns raised in Monticello about number of brain cancer cases; Data being collected from the community Darrell Hoemann
A view looking north on Independence Street, just south of Marion St. in Monticello, IL on Friday, June 14, 2024. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Concerns raised in Monticello about number of brain cancer cases; Data being collected from the community 

This past February at a Monticello City Council meeting, resident Caitlin McClain spoke about her father-in-law who died of brain cancer in 2022. “My…

Continue ReadingConcerns raised in Monticello about number of brain cancer cases; Data being collected from the community