Public Funds
Read more about the article Illinois pesticide fees meant for oversight are funding broader state operations Illinois Department of Agriculture
The Illinois Department of Agriculture office at 801 E. Sangamon Ave. in Springfield, Ill.

Illinois pesticide fees meant for oversight are funding broader state operations 

Illinois collected $9.06 million from pesticide registration fees in fiscal year 2025 to support enforcement and education programs related to oversight of pesticide applicators.…

Continue ReadingIllinois pesticide fees meant for oversight are funding broader state operations 
Read more about the article Dozens of Champaign County bridges show signs of wear. Some carry thousands of drivers a day.Google Street View
The bridge on West Country Club Road in Urbana that crosses a drainage ditch is marked with poor structural evaluation scores and sufficiency rating, metrics used by county engineers to prioritize repairs. Photo captured on Google Street View.

Dozens of Champaign County bridges show signs of wear. Some carry thousands of drivers a day.

Every day, tens of thousands of drivers cross the 735 bridges in Champaign County — and thousands cross the 53 bridges with poor structural…

Continue ReadingDozens of Champaign County bridges show signs of wear. Some carry thousands of drivers a day.
Read more about the article Bloomington postpones algal bloom treatments as issue blooms across IllinoisIsabella Lazansky
Lake Bloomington in May 2026. Photo by Isabella Lazansky.

Bloomington postpones algal bloom treatments as issue blooms across Illinois

For years, Bloomington, Ill. has fought algal blooms in its two main lakes, which provide the city with its water. Algal blooms result from…

Continue ReadingBloomington postpones algal bloom treatments as issue blooms across Illinois
Read more about the article City of Champaign towing fees have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in past few years Brendan Gallian
Tatman’s Towing at 810 E. Perkins Rd. in Urbana on May 10, 2026. Tatman’s is one of Champaign’s six licensed tow companies. Photo by Brendan Gallian.

City of Champaign towing fees have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in past few years 

Parking violators and other vehicle owners have paid an additional $340,000 in administrative towing fees to the City of Champaign over the last four…

Continue ReadingCity of Champaign towing fees have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in past few years 
Read more about the article While $55 million cleanup continues, Rantoul reaps revenues from leases at former Chanute Air Force BaseGoogle Earth
A view of the former Chanute Air Force Base campus in Rantoul, Ill. Image from Google Earth as of May 6, 2026.

While $55 million cleanup continues, Rantoul reaps revenues from leases at former Chanute Air Force Base

While dozens of businesses are leasing property from the Village of Rantoul on the former Chanute Air Force Base, the Air Force is still…

Continue ReadingWhile $55 million cleanup continues, Rantoul reaps revenues from leases at former Chanute Air Force Base
Read more about the article Loophole saves Champaign County landlords $1.8 million a year in property taxesPiotr Fedczuk
University Park Apartments on North Broadway Avenue in Urbana, Ill. in April 2026. Photo by Piotr Fedczuk.

Loophole saves Champaign County landlords $1.8 million a year in property taxes

Each year, Champaign County property owners each get a tax exemption of up to $6,000 for living in their one home. But about 1,400…

Continue ReadingLoophole saves Champaign County landlords $1.8 million a year in property taxes
Read more about the article Champaign County put brakes on “mystery” data centers; joins state, other communities’ efforts to pause construction of centersChampaign County Board
Andrew Rehn, director of climate policy at Prairie Rivers Network, speaks at the April 23, 2026 county board meeting about data centers. Screenshot from meeting video captured April 28.

Champaign County put brakes on “mystery” data centers; joins state, other communities’ efforts to pause construction of centers

Last week, Champaign County officials voted to establish a one-year moratorium on new data centers on April 23, following “serious” inquiries into new developments…

Continue ReadingChampaign County put brakes on “mystery” data centers; joins state, other communities’ efforts to pause construction of centers
Read more about the article Champaign teams with violence prevention organization to head off shootings 
A map of shooting incidents in Champaign where someone was shot and killed from Jan. 1, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2025. Data was obtained from Champaign Police Department.

Champaign teams with violence prevention organization to head off shootings 

The City of Champaign is starting a new street outreach program with the help of a nonprofit private firm specializing in violence prevention. The…

Continue ReadingChampaign teams with violence prevention organization to head off shootings 
Read more about the article Plan called for major improvements to Copper Slough waterway two decades ago, but Champaign has had to focus on upstream flooding
A map of the Copper Slough waterway from the 2007 master plan.

Plan called for major improvements to Copper Slough waterway two decades ago, but Champaign has had to focus on upstream flooding

In 2004, an engineering study for the City of Champaign called for a $25.9 million overhaul of a central waterway and watershed called the…

Continue ReadingPlan called for major improvements to Copper Slough waterway two decades ago, but Champaign has had to focus on upstream flooding
Read more about the article Long waits for appointments at social security district office persist, but recipients report faster service once appointment madeDarrell Hoemann
Champaign Social Security office exterior at 101 S. Country Fair Drive in Champaign on Thursday, April 17, 2025. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Long waits for appointments at social security district office persist, but recipients report faster service once appointment made

Getting an appointment at Champaign’s social security district office continues to take 30 days or more, but some recipients report that once they are…

Continue ReadingLong waits for appointments at social security district office persist, but recipients report faster service once appointment made