MTD SafeRides ridership halved in past decade; University of Illinois program loses over 25,000 riders

Ridership for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s SafeRides program has declined by nearly half what it was ten years ago.  SafeRides, a university…

Continue ReadingMTD SafeRides ridership halved in past decade; University of Illinois program loses over 25,000 riders
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 Number of surveillance cameras continue to increase on University of Illinois campus; has surged to nearly 2,400Nicole Littlefield
Henry Administration Building

Number of surveillance cameras continue to increase on University of Illinois campus; has surged to nearly 2,400

A steadily increasing number of security cameras have been used to solve hundreds of investigations on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus in…

Continue ReadingNumber of surveillance cameras continue to increase on University of Illinois campus; has surged to nearly 2,400
Read more about the article Champaign and Urbana police still mostly white despite repeated attempts at racial diversityDarrell 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

Champaign and Urbana police still mostly white despite repeated attempts at racial diversity

Despite years of pledges and efforts to bring racial diversity to their departments, only 31 of 203 employees — or 15% — at the…

Continue ReadingChampaign and Urbana police still mostly white despite repeated attempts at racial diversity
Read more about the article Champaign police increase residency bonus but most officers still prefer to live out of town; Other area departments show similar patternDarrell Hoemann
Looking south to the Champaign Police Department Building on First Street. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign police increase residency bonus but most officers still prefer to live out of town; Other area departments show similar pattern

Most employees of the Champaign and Urbana police departments live outside the cities they serve, even when lucrative bonuses are offered, records show. More…

Continue ReadingChampaign police increase residency bonus but most officers still prefer to live out of town; Other area departments show similar pattern
Read more about the article Over 100 restaurants failed inspections in Champaign County in the past two years, but failures hard to find in online database
Ambar India on Wright Street in Urbana received a red placard in January 2021. Screenshot from Google Street View.

Over 100 restaurants failed inspections in Champaign County in the past two years, but failures hard to find in online database

After a routine inspection, only 10 restaurants were closed due to non-compliance with safety regulations and 116 restaurants received food safety alerts for less…

Continue ReadingOver 100 restaurants failed inspections in Champaign County in the past two years, but failures hard to find in online database
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