Read more about the article More restaurants closed after failing routine inspections last year in Champaign-UrbanaAndrew Burkey
Newman Hall’s dining hall was shut down on Oct. 24 after receiving a red placard. Photo by Andrew Burkey 

More restaurants closed after failing routine inspections last year in Champaign-Urbana

More restaurants in Champaign and Urbana received a red placard and were closed during a routine inspection last year compared with 2024. At least…

Continue ReadingMore restaurants closed after failing routine inspections last year in Champaign-Urbana
Read more about the article Illinois relies on complaint-driven enforcement as pesticide drift concerns grow
Organic farmer Patsy Hopper examines an apple tree on her property in November, pointing to late-season leaves she says show signs of pesticide drift damage.

Illinois relies on complaint-driven enforcement as pesticide drift concerns grow

Organic farmer Patsy Hopper, who lives five miles south of Urbana, has filed at least 11 complaints about pesticide drift with the Illinois Department…

Continue ReadingIllinois relies on complaint-driven enforcement as pesticide drift concerns grow
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 Despite pledge to move, asphalt plant still operating in the East Urbana neighborhood; Company cites financial issuesMichael Sweeney
Emulsicoat’s long-standing location at 705 E. University Ave. in Urbana on Sep. 18, 2025. Photo by Michael Sweeney.

Despite pledge to move, asphalt plant still operating in the East Urbana neighborhood; Company cites financial issues

Emulsicoat Inc., an asphalt production plant in Urbana, promised residents to relocate most of its operations out of their neighborhood to reduce the irritating…

Continue ReadingDespite pledge to move, asphalt plant still operating in the East Urbana neighborhood; Company cites financial issues
Read more about the article Champaign County task force approves $161,000 in new opioid settlement spending
A pie chart from the Illinois Opioid Settlements website shows how more than $531 million in settlement payments have been allocated statewide to date. The remediation fund receives the largest share at 55%, followed by 33% to local governments and 12% to the state. Screenshot on Nov. 3, 2025.

Champaign County task force approves $161,000 in new opioid settlement spending

Champaign County’s Opioid Settlement Task Force approved about $161,000 in new spending this week toward emergency medical equipment for fire protection districts across the…

Continue ReadingChampaign County task force approves $161,000 in new opioid settlement spending
Read more about the article Champaign County spends over $700,000 from opioid settlement funds on local health, housing programs 
A pie chart from the Illinois Opioid Settlements website shows how more than $531 million in settlement payments have been allocated statewide to date. The remediation fund receives the largest share at 55%, followed by 33% to local governments and 12% to the state. Screenshot on Nov. 3, 2025.

Champaign County spends over $700,000 from opioid settlement funds on local health, housing programs 

Champaign County has directed over $700,000 in funds over the past two years from national opioid settlements to housing, health and safety supplies, medical…

Continue ReadingChampaign County spends over $700,000 from opioid settlement funds on local health, housing programs 
Read more about the article Some Champaign mobile home parks lack annual inspections despite thousands of state code violations found in past five years
Candlewood Estates in Mahomet from Google Street View, captured September 2024.

Some Champaign mobile home parks lack annual inspections despite thousands of state code violations found in past five years

Over the past five years, the Illinois Department of Public Health conducted about 130 inspections of 29 mobile and manufactured home parks in Champaign…

Continue ReadingSome Champaign mobile home parks lack annual inspections despite thousands of state code violations found in past five years

Several diseases on the rise in Champaign County as federal changes threaten prevention-based programs

Whooping cough, rabies, syphilis and strep. These are some of the infectious diseases on the rise in Champaign County over the past six years,…

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Read more about the article Illinois cancer registry to reexamine multiple cases of glioblastoma reported in Piatt CountyDarrell 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

Illinois cancer registry to reexamine multiple cases of glioblastoma reported in Piatt County

The Illinois Department of Public Health has reasserted Piatt County has been added to the list of sites that its cancer registry examines each…

Continue ReadingIllinois cancer registry to reexamine multiple cases of glioblastoma reported in Piatt County
Read more about the article Concerns about brain cancer cases in Piatt County grow, but Illinois public health agency yet to investigateDarrell 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 about brain cancer cases in Piatt County grow, but Illinois public health agency yet to investigate

Lessie Ann Patterson lived in Monticello, Illinois, for 25 years before dying in 2015 from glioblastoma, a rapidly advancing brain cancer with an average…

Continue ReadingConcerns about brain cancer cases in Piatt County grow, but Illinois public health agency yet to investigate