Read more about the article Police institute pursues a ‘non-militaristic’ approach to trainingKaitlyn Devitt
Photos of former police training classes inside of the Police Training Institute. Taken by Kaitlyn Devitt on Nov. 4, 2024 at 1004 S Fourth St in Champaign.

Police institute pursues a ‘non-militaristic’ approach to training

With rising enrollment the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign aims to set itself apart from other academies by following…

Continue ReadingPolice institute pursues a ‘non-militaristic’ approach to training
Read more about the article Vehicles, rifles and tools: Police in Champaign County got steep discounts on federal military surplus worth $900,000Defense Logistics Agency
Military tents outside a hospital. From the federal Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) page on the Defense Logistics Agency website.

Vehicles, rifles and tools: Police in Champaign County got steep discounts on federal military surplus worth $900,000

A mine-resistant vehicle.  An explosive disposal robot. 20 rifles.  These are just a few of the military surplus items acquired by law enforcement in…

Continue ReadingVehicles, rifles and tools: Police in Champaign County got steep discounts on federal military surplus worth $900,000
Read more about the article Local police spent over $137,000 on overtime for one day of University of Illinois’ Gaza protestsFarrah Anderson
Dozens of police officers from Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, and the Champaign County Sheriff’s office joined the University of Illinois Police Department to respond to the encampment demanding the University divest from Israel on Friday, April 26. / Photo by Farrah Anderson

Local police spent over $137,000 on overtime for one day of University of Illinois’ Gaza protests

Police departments throughout Champaign County paid over $137,000 in overtime costs to officers who responded to one day of protests at the University of…

Continue ReadingLocal police spent over $137,000 on overtime for one day of University of Illinois’ Gaza protests
Read more about the article State commission fined Campustown bars, liquor stores nearly $15,000 for underage sales in past six years — a fraction of what students have paidGoogle Street View
Joe's Brewery on Google Street View. Screenshot taken on August 23, 2023.

State commission fined Campustown bars, liquor stores nearly $15,000 for underage sales in past six years — a fraction of what students have paid

This past April, a Green Street Pantry employee was charged with selling alcohol to a minor who died of hypothermia the same night with…

Continue ReadingState commission fined Campustown bars, liquor stores nearly $15,000 for underage sales in past six years — a fraction of what students have paid
Read more about the article More than 250 pedestrian accidents reported in Champaign and Urbana in past six years
The crosswalk at the intersection of Logan and Walnut streets in downtown Champaign where Patricia Marxmiller was struck by an MTD bus. Screenshot from Google Street View.

More than 250 pedestrian accidents reported in Champaign and Urbana in past six years

For Patricia Marxmiller, a simple trip became the defining moment of the rest of her life. In February 2015, Marxmiller returned from her lunch…

Continue ReadingMore than 250 pedestrian accidents reported in Champaign and Urbana in past six years
Read more about the article MTD works to fully restore bus service to pre-pandemic levels; District invests more in drivers
A photo of the new bus driving simulator paid for by a federal aid package MTD received to support itself throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: MTD

MTD works to fully restore bus service to pre-pandemic levels; District invests more in drivers

After service struggles during the pandemic, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) is restoring routes and investing in bus drivers as ridership rebounds to…

Continue ReadingMTD works to fully restore bus service to pre-pandemic levels; District invests more in drivers
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