Read more about the article SafeWalks escorts drastically dropped over the last few years
A student patrol officer vehicle. The student patrol escort University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign community members via the SafeWalks program.

SafeWalks escorts drastically dropped over the last few years

SafeWalks, a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign program, ensures students and staff can walk back home safely at night, but the number of times…

Continue ReadingSafeWalks escorts drastically dropped over the last few years
Read more about the article Hotels, flights top credit card costs for Champaign Unit 4 School District; Over $850,000 spent on Amazon in past school yearDarrell Hoemann
Kenwood School on Sunday, December 19, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Hotels, flights top credit card costs for Champaign Unit 4 School District; Over $850,000 spent on Amazon in past school year

In the past fiscal year, Champaign Unit 4 School District spent over $321,000 on expenses charged to American Express credit cards according to its…

Continue ReadingHotels, flights top credit card costs for Champaign Unit 4 School District; Over $850,000 spent on Amazon in past school year
Read more about the article Police departments in Champaign County combat staff shortages; Some rebounding from resignations fueled by social issues, pandemicDarrell Hoemann
Looking south to the Champaign Police Department Building on First Street. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Police departments in Champaign County combat staff shortages; Some rebounding from resignations fueled by social issues, pandemic

The cities of Champaign, Urbana and Mahomet have been dealing with staffing shortages in their police departments since the pandemic, but some departments' vacancies…

Continue ReadingPolice departments in Champaign County combat staff shortages; Some rebounding from resignations fueled by social issues, pandemic

MTD SafeRides ridership halved in past decade; University of Illinois program loses over 25,000 riders

Ridership for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s SafeRides program has declined by nearly half what it was ten years ago.  SafeRides, a university…

Continue ReadingMTD SafeRides ridership halved in past decade; University of Illinois program loses over 25,000 riders
Read more about the article Rising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two yearsapartments.com
Champaign Park Apartments received the most complaints in Champaign from January 1, 2021 to mid February 2023. During this time, 393 units were condemned by the city.

Rising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two years

Over the past year, Champaign Park Apartments had so many serious inspection issues that led to the condemnation of 393 units and an unknown,…

Continue ReadingRising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two years
Read more about the article Champaign police increase residency bonus but most officers still prefer to live out of town; Other area departments show similar patternDarrell Hoemann
Looking south to the Champaign Police Department Building on First Street. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign police increase residency bonus but most officers still prefer to live out of town; Other area departments show similar pattern

Most employees of the Champaign and Urbana police departments live outside the cities they serve, even when lucrative bonuses are offered, records show. More…

Continue ReadingChampaign police increase residency bonus but most officers still prefer to live out of town; Other area departments show similar pattern
Read more about the article Longtime Champaign attorney’s compensation rose $100,000 before retirement; Total compensation for all city staff rose 4.5%
Champaign city building on 102 N Neil St. Screenshot from Google Street View.

Longtime Champaign attorney’s compensation rose $100,000 before retirement; Total compensation for all city staff rose 4.5%

Before retiring last May, Champaign’s City Attorney Frederick Stavins’s compensation rose about $100,000 compared with the previous fiscal year, data shows. The total compensation…

Continue ReadingLongtime Champaign attorney’s compensation rose $100,000 before retirement; Total compensation for all city staff rose 4.5%
Read more about the article Urbana doubled bonuses paid to its workers in 2022; Total compensation for workers rose $1.4 million, a 6.64% increaseGoogle Maps Street View
Urbana City Building from Google Maps.

Urbana doubled bonuses paid to its workers in 2022; Total compensation for workers rose $1.4 million, a 6.64% increase

The amount of bonuses paid to Urbana employees doubled between the previous two fiscal years, city data shows.  During fiscal year 2021, 28 people…

Continue ReadingUrbana doubled bonuses paid to its workers in 2022; Total compensation for workers rose $1.4 million, a 6.64% increase