illinois
Read more about the article Hope Village construction still faces opposition from Carver Park residentsAnna Eckburg
A detention pond and frames for potential tiny homes at the site of Hope Village, right next to the Carver Park neighborhood in Champaign on Oct. 13, 2025. Photo by Anna Eckburg.

Hope Village construction still faces opposition from Carver Park residents

In July 2023, construction broke ground on what was promised to be a first-of-its-kind community for some of Champaign County's most vulnerable residents: a…

Continue ReadingHope Village construction still faces opposition from Carver Park residents
Read more about the article Some Champaign mobile home parks lack annual inspections despite thousands of state code violations found in past five years
Candlewood Estates in Mahomet from Google Street View, captured September 2024.

Some Champaign mobile home parks lack annual inspections despite thousands of state code violations found in past five years

Over the past five years, the Illinois Department of Public Health conducted about 130 inspections of 29 mobile and manufactured home parks in Champaign…

Continue ReadingSome Champaign mobile home parks lack annual inspections despite thousands of state code violations found in past five years
Read more about the article Hundreds of flooding complaints rippled across Champaign in past decade: From Campbell Drive to viaducts to MattisDylan Tiger
One of the more common subjects of flooding calls has been for the viaduct located at the intersection of Kirby Avenue and Neil Street in Champaign. Photo by Dylan Tiger.

Hundreds of flooding complaints rippled across Champaign in past decade: From Campbell Drive to viaducts to Mattis

A block of basements covered in water on Church Street. A flooded locker room, briefing room, and hallway in the Champaign police station. A…

Continue ReadingHundreds of flooding complaints rippled across Champaign in past decade: From Campbell Drive to viaducts to Mattis
Read more about the article Roofing contractors appear to often work without licenses; State regulators count on public to alert them to illegal operations and safety issuesCU-CitizenAccess.org
Roofers working in Champaign on March 1, 2025.

Roofing contractors appear to often work without licenses; State regulators count on public to alert them to illegal operations and safety issues

Over the past five years, federal workplace safety officials inspected about 1,800 roofing contractors in Illinois. But a CU-CitizenAccess review found no state records…

Continue ReadingRoofing contractors appear to often work without licenses; State regulators count on public to alert them to illegal operations and safety issues
Read more about the article Waitlist for affordable housing projects in Champaign County far exceeds the number of vouchers availableGoogle Street View
The Housing Authority of Champaign County, located at 2008 N. Market St. in Champaign. Photo from Google Street View, captured August 2023.

Waitlist for affordable housing projects in Champaign County far exceeds the number of vouchers available

Low- to moderate-income residents are currently living in about 1,000 housing units supported by vouchers through the Housing Authority of Champaign County — but…

Continue ReadingWaitlist for affordable housing projects in Champaign County far exceeds the number of vouchers available
Read more about the article Thousands of tons of nuclear waste remain stored at power plants throughout Illinois; Some quietly transported on state highways
Spent nuclear fuel shipments are transported in shielded containers designed to withstand severe conditions. (Source: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

Thousands of tons of nuclear waste remain stored at power plants throughout Illinois; Some quietly transported on state highways

They are metal tubes that are about 12 feet long and less than an inch wide. Inside those tubes are 11,000 metric tons of…

Continue ReadingThousands of tons of nuclear waste remain stored at power plants throughout Illinois; Some quietly transported on state highways
Read more about the article Efforts continue to keep Illinois’ aging nuclear power reactors operating
Aerial photo of the Clinton Nuclear Power Plant facility. Photo from the Constellation Energy website.

Efforts continue to keep Illinois’ aging nuclear power reactors operating

The Clinton Power Station nuclear reactor, about 34 miles from Champaign, generates enough energy to provide heating and electricity for over 800,000 of Illinois'…

Continue ReadingEfforts continue to keep Illinois’ aging nuclear power reactors operating
Read more about the article Summer electricity bills to rise 20% in C-U area; Champaign plans to reinstate utility assistance program after one year suspension
The Ameren Illinois service zone and the grid operator's zone covers much of the same territory. Source: Ambit Energy Pros (Left), MISO Planning Resource Auction for Planning Year 2025/26 Results (Right) 

Summer electricity bills to rise 20% in C-U area; Champaign plans to reinstate utility assistance program after one year suspension

Residential energy bills this summer are expected to increase about 20% beginning in June.  On April 28, the grid operator in central and southern…

Continue ReadingSummer electricity bills to rise 20% in C-U area; Champaign plans to reinstate utility assistance program after one year suspension
Read more about the article Insect flight research at the University of Illinois among 32 targeted grants labeled DEI by Sen. Ted CruzJessie Wang
Protestors gathered for a March For Science on April 22 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Photo by Jessie Wang.

Insect flight research at the University of Illinois among 32 targeted grants labeled DEI by Sen. Ted Cruz

$66 million in 32 grants.  This is the amount of federal grant funding the University of Illinois receives that was targeted as diversity, equity…

Continue ReadingInsect flight research at the University of Illinois among 32 targeted grants labeled DEI by Sen. Ted Cruz