Read more about the article Racial disparity in Urbana police traffic stops highest in 10 yearsDarrell Hoemann
The window for the Urbana Police Department office inside the Urbana City Hall on Thursday, September 4, 2014. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Racial disparity in Urbana police traffic stops highest in 10 years

The ratio of nonwhite to white drivers involved in traffic stops in Urbana hit a 10-year high in 2022 — for every 10 white…

Continue ReadingRacial disparity in Urbana police traffic stops highest in 10 years
Read more about the article Champaign and Urbana shootings fall since 2021 peak; cities pondering what preventive programs workedDarrell Hoemann
Looking south to the Champaign Police Department Building on First Street. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign and Urbana shootings fall since 2021 peak; cities pondering what preventive programs worked

In the past eight years, Champaign and Urbana witnessed a steep hike in gun violence and then a swift decline after 2021 — but…

Continue ReadingChampaign and Urbana shootings fall since 2021 peak; cities pondering what preventive programs worked
Read more about the article Citations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummetGoogle Street View
Joe's Brewery on Google Street View. Screenshot taken on August 23, 2023.

Citations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummet

About five times the number of 19- and 20-year-olds have been arrested or fined for unlawful use of ID in the first seven months…

Continue ReadingCitations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummet
Read more about the article Concerns of stalking at University of Illinois increase as it appears many incidents go unreportedWomen's Resources Center
A session at the Women's Resources Center Career Institute in 2019.

Concerns of stalking at University of Illinois increase as it appears many incidents go unreported

Concerned about the number of stalking cases on campus, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign held a Stalking Prevention and Response Summit this past…

Continue ReadingConcerns of stalking at University of Illinois increase as it appears many incidents go unreported
Read more about the article Hospital cost disclosures under transparency law inconsistent and hard to compare without third partiesDarrell Hoemann
Carle Admin Center at Carle at the Fields on Sunday, December 19, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Hospital cost disclosures under transparency law inconsistent and hard to compare without third parties

On average, the Methodist Medical Center Of Illinois in Peoria charges $26,892.08 for a procedure known as a mastectomy, a total breast removal —…

Continue ReadingHospital cost disclosures under transparency law inconsistent and hard to compare without third parties
Read more about the article Pritzker, lawyers and insurers helped finance Illinois Supreme Court elections, but transparency lacking for many other donorsillinoiscourts.gov
Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford, Justice Lisa Holder White, Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, Justice David K. Overstreet, Justice Joy V. Cunningham, Justice Mary K. O'Brien.

Pritzker, lawyers and insurers helped finance Illinois Supreme Court elections, but transparency lacking for many other donors

Nearly $9.6 million went into the Supreme Court of Illinois elections for the second and third districts last November according to data obtained from…

Continue ReadingPritzker, lawyers and insurers helped finance Illinois Supreme Court elections, but transparency lacking for many other donors
Read more about the article COVID’s toll in Champaign County as emergency ends: 325 deaths, 86,946 cases, unknown number of long haulersPam Dempsey/CU-CitizenAccess.org
A tent and signs indicate a Covid-19 testing site at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Alice Campbell Alumni Center on Friday, July 31, 2020. The University is conducting free saliva tests for faculty, staff and students with results typically known within 48 hours.

COVID’s toll in Champaign County as emergency ends: 325 deaths, 86,946 cases, unknown number of long haulers

As the COVID-19 pandemic emergency measures ended this month, Champaign County had reported 325 COVID-related deaths from 86,946 cases over the past three years.…

Continue ReadingCOVID’s toll in Champaign County as emergency ends: 325 deaths, 86,946 cases, unknown number of long haulers
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
Read more about the article How bad are the streets of Champaign and Urbana? Pavement data detail poor quality and need for extensive repairsChris Sokolowski
A screenshot of the downtown Champaign area with road segments colored by their pavement condition index grade. Green represents good quality and red represents poor quality. Compiled by Chris Sokolowski.

How bad are the streets of Champaign and Urbana? Pavement data detail poor quality and need for extensive repairs

It's not rare to find postings on social media sites in Champaign and Urbana about potholes or crumbling roads causing damage to cars —…

Continue ReadingHow bad are the streets of Champaign and Urbana? Pavement data detail poor quality and need for extensive repairs