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Read more about the article Another record year for Champaign shootings warrants debate over causes, solutionsDarrell Hoemann
Looking south to the Champaign Police Department Building on First Street. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Another record year for Champaign shootings warrants debate over causes, solutions

Shootings continue at over 250 in a year that has already seen its highest number of shooting deaths ever recorded in the city, at 16 so far. The previous high of 9 occurred just last year, and even all the numbers that measure gun violence in Urbana have tripled in the past five years. Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said the rise in shooting incidents and homicides this year can be attributed to retaliation in a lot of cases. While retaliation may be to blame for a lot of the shootings, law enforcement officials and community leaders said it is not the only cause.

Continue ReadingAnother record year for Champaign shootings warrants debate over causes, solutions
Read more about the article Gun violence escalates in Urbana over past two years into “emergency” situationGoogle Maps Street View
Urbana City Building from Google Maps.

Gun violence escalates in Urbana over past two years into “emergency” situation

Only four years ago, Urbana police reported just 17 shooting incidents and no fatalities. The numbers doubled by the end of 2019, and have nearly doubled in each of the two years since, according to an analysis of police data by CU-CitizenAccess.  Out of the 99 shootings through November, at least 21 individuals were injured, meaning that when combined with homicides, one-in-three people were killed or wounded when shots were fired.

Continue ReadingGun violence escalates in Urbana over past two years into “emergency” situation
Read more about the article Food insecurity projected to soar in eastern Illinois and Champaign CountyEastern Illinois Foodbank
Eastern Illinois Foodbank provides a graphic to explain how food reaches those in need.

Food insecurity projected to soar in eastern Illinois and Champaign County

The nonprofit organization Feeding America has projected Champaign County’s food insecurity rate to increase by 31% by the end of 2020 in comparison to data collected in 2018. Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies.

Continue ReadingFood insecurity projected to soar in eastern Illinois and Champaign County
Read more about the article Free and reduced-cost lunches served up at Champaign County schoolsDarrell Hoemann
Peaches are served to a student at Booker T. Washington school in Champaign, Il on Monday, April 13, 2015.

Free and reduced-cost lunches served up at Champaign County schools

The number of children receiving free and reduced-cost lunches in Champaign County is on the rise as numbers across the country decline. Of the school districts that reported, more than 51 percent of children in the county are receiving free or reduced cost lunches, up 2 percent from 2014, according to state education data.

Continue ReadingFree and reduced-cost lunches served up at Champaign County schools
Read more about the article Head Start, Early Head Start struggle with fundingDarrell Hoemann
Head Start director Cameron Moore in a classroom at the Champaign facility on Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

Head Start, Early Head Start struggle with funding

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Champaign County spent about $6.8 million last year to prepare young children from low-income families for kindergarten. But it is not enough. Although the programs serve nearly 600 children, there are still 230 on the waiting list.

Continue ReadingHead Start, Early Head Start struggle with funding