Read more about the article Champaign County suffers chronically high number of domestic violence calls and cases
The Champaign County Courthouse. Screenshot from Google Street View.

Champaign County suffers chronically high number of domestic violence calls and cases

In the first two months of this year, there were around 10 calls per day to emergency services regarding domestic violence and disputes in…

Continue ReadingChampaign County suffers chronically high number of domestic violence calls and cases
Read more about the article Toxins in the air: Central Illinois factories and plants release millions of pounds of risky chemicals
The Kraft Heinz factory in Champaign. Screenshot taken from Google Street View, captured August 2023.

Toxins in the air: Central Illinois factories and plants release millions of pounds of risky chemicals

The Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) facility in Decatur, which processes grain products into food ingredients and ethanol, released 2.7 million pounds of toxic chemicals…

Continue ReadingToxins in the air: Central Illinois factories and plants release millions of pounds of risky chemicals
Read more about the article Champaign County doesn’t allow looking up property by name. We made it searchable again.Darrell Hoemann
Brookens Admin Center in Urbana, IL 61801 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign County doesn’t allow looking up property by name. We made it searchable again.

Although the Champaign County Assessment Office has a property tax lookup tool developed by the software company DEVNET, the office decided to remove the…

Continue ReadingChampaign County doesn’t allow looking up property by name. We made it searchable again.
Read more about the article Illinois sees exit of firearm dealers despite all-time high in gun ownership Illinois State Police 2012
Photo from Illinois State Police website.

Illinois sees exit of firearm dealers despite all-time high in gun ownership 

Despite an all-time high in the number of Illinois residents possessing a firearm ownership card, the number of gun dealers and businesses registering guns…

Continue ReadingIllinois sees exit of firearm dealers despite all-time high in gun ownership 
Read more about the article Health district launches survey on elder care amid deficit of nursing home beds, closed facilitiesFarrah Anderson
Broken furniture and items lay outside the former Champaign County Nursing Home which William “Avi” Rothner purchased in 2018. Photo by Farrah Anderson.

Health district launches survey on elder care amid deficit of nursing home beds, closed facilities

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and local group Advocates for Aging Care have launched a survey to help identify the state of senior services…

Continue ReadingHealth district launches survey on elder care amid deficit of nursing home beds, closed facilities
Read more about the article Health inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks
Ambar India on Nov. 13, 2023. Photo by Maggie Knutte.

Health inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks

A moldy bell pepper.  Bare hands touching ready-to-eat food. Food that expired over a week ago sitting in the fridge. These are just a…

Continue ReadingHealth inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks
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 Champaign County still prevents online name searches of property records, differing from most Illinois counties. Now it plans to limit searching mobile home properties.Darrell Hoemann
Brookens Admin Center in Urbana, IL 61801 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign County still prevents online name searches of property records, differing from most Illinois counties. Now it plans to limit searching mobile home properties.

In 2018, Champaign County had the chance to allow the public to search property records on its website by an owner's name when it…

Continue ReadingChampaign County still prevents online name searches of property records, differing from most Illinois counties. Now it plans to limit searching mobile home properties.
Read more about the article Many in Wilber Heights yet to apply for permits to repair homes after amendment of longtime zoning ordinanceNathalie Murillo
Aerial shot of Wilber Heights. Screenshot from Google Maps.

Many in Wilber Heights yet to apply for permits to repair homes after amendment of longtime zoning ordinance

For decades, Champaign County forbade its residents in Wilber Heights to make repairs to their homes, even when seriously damaged. But even after a…

Continue ReadingMany in Wilber Heights yet to apply for permits to repair homes after amendment of longtime zoning ordinance