Public Health
Read more about the article Trial period over – yellow placards could be coming to a restaurant near youContributed/Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
A draft version of a reinspection notice. Public health officials are drafting ordinances that would require food establishments to post a color-coded placard that indicates the results of each health inspection. Yellow means the food establishment failed its health inspection with an adjusted score below 36 and but can remain open pending a reinspection within 30 days.

Trial period over – yellow placards could be coming to a restaurant near you

By Claire Everett/CU-CitizenAccess.org -- Between January and May, 32 restaurants in Champaign-Urbana failed health inspections. Diners still had no easy way of knowing if…

Continue ReadingTrial period over – yellow placards could be coming to a restaurant near you
Read more about the article Safe at Home Part 1: Illinois’s home birth crisisPhoto provided by Emily Fetterer and Kimberlie Kranich
Emily Fetterer and Kimberlie Kranich hold their new daughter, Azmi Ann.

Safe at Home Part 1: Illinois’s home birth crisis

By Christine Herman/For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- Home births have increased by more than 50 percent since 2004. But in 22 states, certified professional midwives have to…

Continue ReadingSafe at Home Part 1: Illinois’s home birth crisis
Read more about the article Former Meals on Wheels recipient finds joy in volunteeringJanelle O'Dea/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Meals on Wheels volunteer Jerry Call makes a delivery on the "Pink Route" in Urbana, Ill., on March 18, 2014.

Former Meals on Wheels recipient finds joy in volunteering

By Janelle O’Dea/ CU-CitizenAccess.org - Meals on Wheels in Champaign-Urbana, Ill., provides hot lunches and sack suppers for a small cost to adult recipients…

Continue ReadingFormer Meals on Wheels recipient finds joy in volunteering
Read more about the article Outside Chambana, posting placards is voluntary
The photo illustration shows examples of health inspection compliance posters required to be prominently displayed in food establishments within the Champaign-Urbana city limits. The posters indicate to the public the results of the latest health inspection. The Champaign County Board struck down the proposal in an 11-9 vote to expand the mandate throughout the county.

Outside Chambana, posting placards is voluntary

Anyone entering the Culver's on Neil Street in Champaign will immediately see a placard showing the results of the restaurant's most recent food inspection. Drive one mile south to the Burger King in Savoy, and there is no placard displayed.

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Read more about the article First quarter brings two closures, 18 restaurant failuresClaire Everett
Firehaus, located at 708 S. Sixth St., Champaign, in the afternoon on April 25, 2014. Firehaus was closed after failing their restaurant inspection with an adjusted score of -19 on March 19 and reopened March 21 with an adjusted score of 90.

First quarter brings two closures, 18 restaurant failures

One Champaign restaurant was shut down for 37 violations during the first part of the year under the health department’s new placard system. Firehaus's…

Continue ReadingFirst quarter brings two closures, 18 restaurant failures
Read more about the article Yellow placards go missing in first six months of new systemClaire Everett / For CU-CitizenAccess
Empire Chinese Restaurant's satisfactory compliance placard, 410 E. Green St., Champaign, April 25, 2014. The restaurant failed its health inspection on March 25 with an adjusted score of 21 and five critical violations but was allowed to correct enough to earn a green placard.

Yellow placards go missing in first six months of new system

Nearly two dozen restaurants in Champaign-Urbana have failed health inspections during the past three months. But most customers would not know that, despite new requirements that restaurants post results of their inspections.

Continue ReadingYellow placards go missing in first six months of new system