Government
Read more about the article Champaign and Urbana shootings fall since 2021 peak; cities pondering what preventive programs workedDarrell Hoemann
Looking south to the Champaign Police Department Building on First Street. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign and Urbana shootings fall since 2021 peak; cities pondering what preventive programs worked

In the past eight years, Champaign and Urbana witnessed a steep hike in gun violence and then a swift decline after 2021 — but…

Continue ReadingChampaign and Urbana shootings fall since 2021 peak; cities pondering what preventive programs worked
Read more about the article Champaign gunshot detection tech not meeting expectationsChampaign City Council
The city council voted 6-3 on a resolution "Authorizing the Purchase and Installation of Automated License Plate Readers, Gunshot Detection, and Related Equipment from Flock Group, Inc.," in December 2021.

Champaign gunshot detection tech not meeting expectations

On February 13 this year, a one-year pilot program began in Champaign with Raven gunshot detection technology. Records obtained in a Freedom of Information…

Continue ReadingChampaign gunshot detection tech not meeting expectations
Read more about the article Residents complain about continuing early morning garbage pick-ups, but cities fail to find remediesGoogle Maps Street View
Republic Services Waste Transfer at 921 Saline Ct, Urbana. Image from Google Maps Street View.

Residents complain about continuing early morning garbage pick-ups, but cities fail to find remedies

https://youtu.be/1yeXSeADVVE Video captured by Kate Maguire. Loud booming and crashing sounds of waste hauler trucks emptying bins can start before dawn in Urbana —…

Continue ReadingResidents complain about continuing early morning garbage pick-ups, but cities fail to find remedies
Read more about the article Citations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummetGoogle Street View
Joe's Brewery on Google Street View. Screenshot taken on August 23, 2023.

Citations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummet

About five times the number of 19- and 20-year-olds have been arrested or fined for unlawful use of ID in the first seven months…

Continue ReadingCitations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummet
Read more about the article Rising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two yearsapartments.com
Champaign Park Apartments received the most complaints in Champaign from January 1, 2021 to mid February 2023. During this time, 393 units were condemned by the city.

Rising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two years

Over the past year, Champaign Park Apartments had so many serious inspection issues that led to the condemnation of 393 units and an unknown,…

Continue ReadingRising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two years
Read more about the article Concerns of stalking at University of Illinois increase as it appears many incidents go unreportedWomen's Resources Center
A session at the Women's Resources Center Career Institute in 2019.

Concerns of stalking at University of Illinois increase as it appears many incidents go unreported

Concerned about the number of stalking cases on campus, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign held a Stalking Prevention and Response Summit this past…

Continue ReadingConcerns of stalking at University of Illinois increase as it appears many incidents go unreported
Read more about the article Number of surveillance cameras continue to increase on University of Illinois campus; has surged to nearly 2,400Nicole Littlefield
Henry Administration Building

Number of surveillance cameras continue to increase on University of Illinois campus; has surged to nearly 2,400

A steadily increasing number of security cameras have been used to solve hundreds of investigations on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus in…

Continue ReadingNumber of surveillance cameras continue to increase on University of Illinois campus; has surged to nearly 2,400
Read more about the article Hospital cost disclosures under transparency law inconsistent and hard to compare without third partiesDarrell Hoemann
Carle Admin Center at Carle at the Fields on Sunday, December 19, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Hospital cost disclosures under transparency law inconsistent and hard to compare without third parties

On average, the Methodist Medical Center Of Illinois in Peoria charges $26,892.08 for a procedure known as a mastectomy, a total breast removal —…

Continue ReadingHospital cost disclosures under transparency law inconsistent and hard to compare without third parties
Read more about the article Pritzker, lawyers and insurers helped finance Illinois Supreme Court elections, but transparency lacking for many other donorsillinoiscourts.gov
Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford, Justice Lisa Holder White, Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, Justice David K. Overstreet, Justice Joy V. Cunningham, Justice Mary K. O'Brien.

Pritzker, lawyers and insurers helped finance Illinois Supreme Court elections, but transparency lacking for many other donors

Nearly $9.6 million went into the Supreme Court of Illinois elections for the second and third districts last November according to data obtained from…

Continue ReadingPritzker, lawyers and insurers helped finance Illinois Supreme Court elections, but transparency lacking for many other donors
Read more about the article Trains often carry hazardous materials through Champaign County, but public kept in dark because of security concernsJ. Sidney Malone
An employee delivers orders at the Neil Street Culver's that stands less than 15 yards from railroad tracks carrying hazardous material. Beyond the tracks is the Illinois Fire Service Institute, which trains to handle hazardous material incidents.

Trains often carry hazardous materials through Champaign County, but public kept in dark because of security concerns

A train passes through Champaign County every fifteen minutes, many of which carry flammable, corrosive and hazardous materials.  The recent disaster in East Palestine,…

Continue ReadingTrains often carry hazardous materials through Champaign County, but public kept in dark because of security concerns