Public Health
Read more about the article Restaurant closures, failures down under new restaurant health inspection system
KFC & A&W, 1321 N Dunlap Ave., Champaign The health department closed the restaurant Aug. 22 due to “gross unsanitary conditions” during its routine inspection. No details were provided in the report. On Thursday, November 29, 2018. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Restaurant closures, failures down under new restaurant health inspection system

Since 2019, at least 63 Champaign-Urbana restaurants have failed and 19 have been temporarily closed down by public health officials under a new restaurant inspection system launched that year. 

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Read more about the article Domestic violence exacerbated by pandemic, leaving marginalized communities especially vulnerableDarrell Hoemann
Satellite Jail exterior on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Domestic violence exacerbated by pandemic, leaving marginalized communities especially vulnerable

Domestic violence in the city of Champaign rose by 13% last year, surging from 871 incidents in 2019 to 982 incidents in 2020, a…

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Read more about the article University of Illinois building monitors inconsistently enforced access while campus COVID cases surgedVivian La
A vacant building monitor desk in the School of Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics in Urbana.

University of Illinois building monitors inconsistently enforced access while campus COVID cases surged

To mitigate infection, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign had to utilize several novel technologies, yet lack of staff availability to enforce this technology…

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Read more about the article Champaign elementary students grapple with masks, vaccinesDarrell Hoemann
Kenwood School on Sunday, December 19, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Champaign elementary students grapple with masks, vaccines

For one Champaign Unit 4 school parent, vaccinating his child is important.  “How can you go against science?” Daniel Martinez said. “I lost my…

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Read more about the article Champaign-Urbana Nursing and Rehab site of most staff, resident COVID-19 cases in countyDarrell Hoemann
CU Nursing and Rehab exterior (302 Burwash Ave, Savoy, IL 61874) on Friday, December 17, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign-Urbana Nursing and Rehab site of most staff, resident COVID-19 cases in county

Of the five long-term care facilities in Champaign County, Champaign-Urbana Nursing and Rehab has had the most staff and resident COVID-19 cases, accounting for over one-third of all cases in such facilities as of the first week in December.

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Read more about the article Rising number of foster kids linked to domestic violence in Champaign CountyChampaign County CASA, Facebook
Blue pinwheels outside of Michelle's Bridal in Urbana in support of Champaign County CASA and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Rising number of foster kids linked to domestic violence in Champaign County

The Champaign County CASA provided legal services this year to about 595 foster children, but served about 200 less just two years ago. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. This branch of CASA is based in Champaign, but is a national organization that has been around since 1994. The special advocates are contracted by the county and assigned to a child to oversee their home reassignment and to assure they are getting proper care. 

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Read more about the article Champaign shootings spread to westward neighborhoods over years, fueled by recent surge in gun violence

Champaign shootings spread to westward neighborhoods over years, fueled by recent surge in gun violence

Gun violence in Champaign has steadily marched westward over the past three years as shootings have increased in neighborhoods north and south of Springfield Avenue, especially in or near several apartment complexes, according to a review of police data over the past seven years by CU-CitizenAccess.org. With about two weeks left in this year, 16 people have lost their lives. In 2020, there were nine homicides, but only two in 2019. Shooting incidents more than doubled in Champaign since 2019, going from 100 shootings, to 189 in 2020, then to 251 by December 13.

Continue ReadingChampaign shootings spread to westward neighborhoods over years, fueled by recent surge in gun violence
Read more about the article Gun violence escalates in Urbana over past two years into “emergency” situationGoogle Maps Street View
Urbana City Building from Google Maps.

Gun violence escalates in Urbana over past two years into “emergency” situation

Only four years ago, Urbana police reported just 17 shooting incidents and no fatalities. The numbers doubled by the end of 2019, and have nearly doubled in each of the two years since, according to an analysis of police data by CU-CitizenAccess.  Out of the 99 shootings through November, at least 21 individuals were injured, meaning that when combined with homicides, one-in-three people were killed or wounded when shots were fired.

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Read more about the article Nearly 8,000 students may be coming from Illinois zip codes with higher COVID infection rates than Champaign CountyMcKinley Health Center website
McKinley Health Center on the University of Illinois campus.

Nearly 8,000 students may be coming from Illinois zip codes with higher COVID infection rates than Champaign County

Almost 8,000 students may be returning to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus from Illinois ZIP codes with higher COVID-19 positivity rates than Champaign…

Continue ReadingNearly 8,000 students may be coming from Illinois zip codes with higher COVID infection rates than Champaign County