Read more about the article Champaign bars, liquor stores failed 25% of underage compliance checks by Illinois Liquor Control Commission last year
Police in a crowd at KAMS during Halloween weekend in 2023. Photo by Stephanie Wayda.

Champaign bars, liquor stores failed 25% of underage compliance checks by Illinois Liquor Control Commission last year

The state of Illinois Liquor Control Commission has made enforcing and documenting underage drinking on its website a priority since 2021 — and enforcement…

Continue ReadingChampaign bars, liquor stores failed 25% of underage compliance checks by Illinois Liquor Control Commission last year
Read more about the article After fatal shootings, Rantoul police recommended more training. They just sent one officer to a gun range
The Rantoul Police Department failed to follow through on recommendations to further train officers on how to use force after the city’s first two fatal shootings. Photo by Farrah Anderson, Invisible Institute/Illinois Public Media

After fatal shootings, Rantoul police recommended more training. They just sent one officer to a gun range

This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign County between the Champaign-Urbana Civic Police Data Project of the Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based…

Continue ReadingAfter fatal shootings, Rantoul police recommended more training. They just sent one officer to a gun range
Read more about the article Champaign hired Police Chief Timothy Tyler despite disciplinary past and allegations of misconductFarrah Anderson, Invisible Institute/Illinois Public Media
In 2022, Timothy Tyler was chosen to lead the Champaign Police Department — despite a string of misconduct allegations from his first policing job in the south Chicago suburb of Markham through his time at the Illinois State Police.

Champaign hired Police Chief Timothy Tyler despite disciplinary past and allegations of misconduct

This article originally appeared on IPM Newsroom on January 29, 2024. This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign…

Continue ReadingChampaign hired Police Chief Timothy Tyler despite disciplinary past and allegations of misconduct
Read more about the article Small grant program funds in Champaign doubled this fiscal year; Program supports neighborhood initiatives, activities
Photo of Washington Street Neighborhood’s Fourth of July parade in 2023.

Small grant program funds in Champaign doubled this fiscal year; Program supports neighborhood initiatives, activities

The funding for Champaign's Neighborhood Small Grant Program increased from ​about ​$22,500 to $52,000​ this fiscal year, meaning​ it can assist​ dozens more projects,…

Continue ReadingSmall grant program funds in Champaign doubled this fiscal year; Program supports neighborhood initiatives, activities
Read more about the article Small grant funds help new Champaign neighborhood group clean up its streets 
The boundaries of the Neighborhood Co-Labourers Community Group, a new registered association in Champaign. Photo from the city's website.

Small grant funds help new Champaign neighborhood group clean up its streets 

Concerned about the litter and waste on the streets and yards in their area, Champaign residents living east of downtown formed the Neighborhood Co-Labourers…

Continue ReadingSmall grant funds help new Champaign neighborhood group clean up its streets 

Bristol Place development project moves to new phase; Aims to turn Champaign’s ‘last resort’ into affordable, improved neighborhood

In 1998, the Champaign police estimated that there was a significant drug problem in the Bristol Park neighborhood, with up to transactions every 2…

Continue ReadingBristol Place development project moves to new phase; Aims to turn Champaign’s ‘last resort’ into affordable, improved neighborhood
Read more about the article Downtown Champaign parking regulations cause some lost business, but solutions unclear
Champaign city building on 102 N Neil St. Screenshot from Google Street View.

Downtown Champaign parking regulations cause some lost business, but solutions unclear

Champaign’s population of about 89,114 only has 1,871 parking meter spaces provided to the public, an average of one parking spot for every 47…

Continue ReadingDowntown Champaign parking regulations cause some lost business, but solutions unclear
Read more about the article Champaign parking citation revenue increased in past three fiscal years; City to review parking availability, gather dataEthan Holesha
A Champaign Parking Enforcement Officer checks the meter on the corner of S Second Street & E Daniel Street in early Dec. 2023.

Champaign parking citation revenue increased in past three fiscal years; City to review parking availability, gather data

Parking citation revenue in Champaign has increased each fiscal year since 2021, but the number of citations fluctuated drastically each month. The city earned…

Continue ReadingChampaign parking citation revenue increased in past three fiscal years; City to review parking availability, gather data
Read more about the article Survey finds Champaign County’s homeless population surged this year; New count coming JanuaryDaily Bread Soup Kitchen
Daily Bread Soup Kitchen. Photo from its website.

Survey finds Champaign County’s homeless population surged this year; New count coming January

On any given night, 215 people in Champaign County are homeless according to the Continuum of Services Providers to the Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) count…

Continue ReadingSurvey finds Champaign County’s homeless population surged this year; New count coming January
Read more about the article Garden Hills neighborhood improvements in full swingDarrell Hoemann
Garden Hills looking east on Paula Drive from Mattis Avenue on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Garden Hills neighborhood improvements in full swing

Neighborhood input “shaped” the design of the ongoing Garden Hills improvement project, of which the latest phase costs an estimated $35 million to install…

Continue ReadingGarden Hills neighborhood improvements in full swing