Read more about the article Champaign County Head Start programs still funded amidst national concern of budget cutsDarrell Hoemann
Brookens Admin Center in Urbana, IL 61801 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign County Head Start programs still funded amidst national concern of budget cuts

Head Start, an early childhood education program, hosts about 500 students a year with a budget of at least $9.1 million in federal funding…

Continue ReadingChampaign County Head Start programs still funded amidst national concern of budget cuts
Read more about the article Concerns about brain cancer cases in Piatt County grow, but Illinois public health agency yet to investigateDarrell Hoemann
A view looking north on Independence Street, just south of Marion St. in Monticello, IL on Friday, June 14, 2024. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Concerns about brain cancer cases in Piatt County grow, but Illinois public health agency yet to investigate

Lessie Ann Patterson lived in Monticello, Illinois, for 25 years before dying in 2015 from glioblastoma, a rapidly advancing brain cancer with an average…

Continue ReadingConcerns about brain cancer cases in Piatt County grow, but Illinois public health agency yet to investigate
Read more about the article ‘Mission Accomplished’ for Rantoul air force base, yet $76 million of environmental clean-up work remains amidst its deteriorating buildingsJordan Butler
The exterior of the 909 Pacesetter Dr. building facing Arends Boulevard, with a blue car parked outside. Photo by Jordan Butler / CU-CitizenAccess

‘Mission Accomplished’ for Rantoul air force base, yet $76 million of environmental clean-up work remains amidst its deteriorating buildings

Numerous abandoned buildings still sit on the 2,125 acres of the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. Some are boarded up —…

Continue Reading‘Mission Accomplished’ for Rantoul air force base, yet $76 million of environmental clean-up work remains amidst its deteriorating buildings
Read more about the article Concerns rise at University of Illinois over $1.5 billion in annual federal funding; cutbacks leading to layoffs and program closureJessie Wang
The National Soybean Research Center at 1101 W Peabody Drive, where the Soybean Innovation Lab operates, on Feb. 11, 2025. Photo by Jessie Wang.

Concerns rise at University of Illinois over $1.5 billion in annual federal funding; cutbacks leading to layoffs and program closure

Last week, Peter Goldsmith, the executive director of the Soybean Innovation Lab, announced the lab will shut down in April as the U.S. Agency…

Continue ReadingConcerns rise at University of Illinois over $1.5 billion in annual federal funding; cutbacks leading to layoffs and program closure
Read more about the article Black and Asian drivers make up nearly half of traffic stops by university police even when number of stops dropUniversity of Illinois Blog
The University of Illinois Police Department operates from the Public Safety Building, 1110 W. Springfield Ave., Urbana.

Black and Asian drivers make up nearly half of traffic stops by university police even when number of stops drop

In 2023, the University of Illinois Police Department conducted 2,526 traffic stops — 19% lower than traffic stops made five years ago and nearly…

Continue ReadingBlack and Asian drivers make up nearly half of traffic stops by university police even when number of stops drop
Read more about the article Demolition for new apartment complex, church not result of fire, but simulated trainingHumza Qazi
Photo depicting the current construction site located at 608 E. Chalmers St. Photo by Humza Qazi.

Demolition for new apartment complex, church not result of fire, but simulated training

Toward the end of January last year, gas could be smelled and smoke seen billowing from the windows of an apartment building located at…

Continue ReadingDemolition for new apartment complex, church not result of fire, but simulated training
Read more about the article Test scores slightly improve for Unit 4 school district, but lag behind rest of IllinoisGoogle Street View
Garden Hills Academy in Champaign. Screenshot from Google Street View, captured 2023.

Test scores slightly improve for Unit 4 school district, but lag behind rest of Illinois

Across grades three through eight in the Champaign Unit 4 School District, 70.7% of students did not meet state standards under a standardized assessment…

Continue ReadingTest scores slightly improve for Unit 4 school district, but lag behind rest of Illinois
Read more about the article Archer Daniels Midland fined almost $52 million in past decade for 90 violations of federal, state lawsADM
Archer Daniels Midland regional headquarters in Decatur, Illinois. Photo from ADM's website.

Archer Daniels Midland fined almost $52 million in past decade for 90 violations of federal, state laws

In the last 11 years, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has racked up at least $51.9 million in fines for 90 federal- and state-level offenses…

Continue ReadingArcher Daniels Midland fined almost $52 million in past decade for 90 violations of federal, state laws
Read more about the article Greater Community Aids Project reports issues with MTD paratransit serviceMTD
A paratransit bus from Champaign-Urbana MTD passes by a standard bus. Photo from the MTD website.

Greater Community Aids Project reports issues with MTD paratransit service

Some clients of the Greater Community Aids Project of East Illinois said they have been stranded and mistreated during the past year by Mass…

Continue ReadingGreater Community Aids Project reports issues with MTD paratransit service