Read more about the article Shadow Wood computer lab offers more than just tech classesGiovanna Olea/Community Ambassador
Artwork produced by children at the Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park computer lab

Shadow Wood computer lab offers more than just tech classes

Giovanna Olea works for CU-CitizenAccess.org as a community ambassador in a computer lab at Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park. CU-CitizenAccess.org has opened and operated…

Continue ReadingShadow Wood computer lab offers more than just tech classes
Read more about the article Road to Rantoul: Migrant workers journey to central IllinoisPhoto by Darrell Hoemann
The Nightingale Camp in Rantoul, Ill., is licensed by the state to house more than 400 migrant workers. The workers come north from places such as Mexico and Texas to detassel corn.

Road to Rantoul: Migrant workers journey to central Illinois

Each summer, hundreds of seasonal workers leave their homes in Texas and Mexico and travel more than 1,000 miles north to work in the corn fields of central Illinois. Many of those hundreds make their way to Rantoul, a village of about 13,000 people in Champaign County and the summer home of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign football team's training sessions. As the sessions get underway in mid-August, the hundreds of migrant workers wrap up the first wave of agriculture work in nearby corn fields.

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Read more about the article Gov’t Watch: Rough winter tough on area roadways and city budgetsDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
City of Champaign public works employee Chad Haney fills a pothole on Mattis Avenue in Champaign on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU Citizen's Access

Gov’t Watch: Rough winter tough on area roadways and city budgets

Sari Lesk/For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- After about twice the average snowfall hit Central Illinois this winter, local government bodies are increasing their budgets to address needs…

Continue ReadingGov’t Watch: Rough winter tough on area roadways and city budgets
Read more about the article Gov’t Watch: Lack of pre-trial release program halts progress at county jailsDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
A common area between pods at the Champaign County satellite jail in east Urbana on March 11, 2013.

Gov’t Watch: Lack of pre-trial release program halts progress at county jails

By Klaudia Dukala/For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- When consultant Alan Kalmanoff was conducting his assessment on the Champaign County jails, he noticed inmates with mental health problems…

Continue ReadingGov’t Watch: Lack of pre-trial release program halts progress at county jails
Read more about the article Gov’t Watch: Despite studies and proposals, county jails see little improvementsDarrell Hoemann/The News-Gazette
One of the pods. Photos at the Champaign County satellite jail jail in east Urbana on Monday, March 11, 2013. File photo.

Gov’t Watch: Despite studies and proposals, county jails see little improvements

After more than 10 years of debate and studies of the defects of the downtown Champaign County jail, county officials still have no clear plan to replace it.

Continue ReadingGov’t Watch: Despite studies and proposals, county jails see little improvements
Read more about the article Gov’t Watch: Urbana Park District deals with tax losses while still delivering servicesDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
The large waterslide at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana waits for warmer weather for overview story on the Urbana Park District on Friday, March 14, 2014. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen's Access

Gov’t Watch: Urbana Park District deals with tax losses while still delivering services

By Erik Prado/ For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- The Urbana Park District offers a wide range of services including 19 community parks and facilities such as swimming pools and gymnasiums. But the district is now concerned about the impact of the loss of tax revenue from the Carle Foundation.

Continue ReadingGov’t Watch: Urbana Park District deals with tax losses while still delivering services