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Read more about the article Long waits for appointments at social security district office persist, but recipients report faster service once appointment madeDarrell Hoemann
Champaign Social Security office exterior at 101 S. Country Fair Drive in Champaign on Thursday, April 17, 2025. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Long waits for appointments at social security district office persist, but recipients report faster service once appointment made

Getting an appointment at Champaign’s social security district office continues to take 30 days or more, but some recipients report that once they are…

Continue ReadingLong waits for appointments at social security district office persist, but recipients report faster service once appointment made
Read more about the article Ameren states contaminated gas plant cleanup in Fifth and Hill neighborhood nearly complete, but advocates question resultsA. Oishii Basu
The “No Trespassing” sign on the fence of the former manufactured gas plant site at the corner of Fifth and Hill streets in Champaign, Illinois on Sept. 15, 2025. Photo by A. Oishii Basu.

Ameren states contaminated gas plant cleanup in Fifth and Hill neighborhood nearly complete, but advocates question results

Read an extended Q&A with Claudia Lennhoff, executive director of Champaign County Health Care Consumers, about the history of the site and the research…

Continue ReadingAmeren states contaminated gas plant cleanup in Fifth and Hill neighborhood nearly complete, but advocates question results
Read more about the article Lierman neighbors still fighting food insecurity since loss of community garden as developers scout former landJahzara Norris
The former land where the Lierman Community Garden once was located, which allowed local residents to grow their own vegetables, in September 2025. Photo by Jahzara Norris.

Lierman neighbors still fighting food insecurity since loss of community garden as developers scout former land

The Lierman Community Garden launched in 2015 as a way for residents to access fresh vegetables and rent a spot to plant their own…

Continue ReadingLierman neighbors still fighting food insecurity since loss of community garden as developers scout former land
Read more about the article Residents hit with higher summer electricity bills that exceeded estimated increases
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) 

Residents hit with higher summer electricity bills that exceeded estimated increases

This past June, Ameren Illinois increased its summer electricity supply rates from 8 cents per kilowatt-hour to 12, projecting bills to increase from 10%…

Continue ReadingResidents hit with higher summer electricity bills that exceeded estimated increases
Read more about the article Urbana quietly closed its open data portal. Suddenly several public safety datasets were gone.
The City of Urbana now uploads public data to the Illinois Open Data Portal after discontinuing its city-managed portal earlier this year. Screenshot taken Nov. 11, 2025.

Urbana quietly closed its open data portal. Suddenly several public safety datasets were gone.

Without notice to the public, the Urbana Open Data Portal was shut down after nearly 10 years of service.  Urbana residents and the general…

Continue ReadingUrbana quietly closed its open data portal. Suddenly several public safety datasets were gone.
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