Read more about the article Despite training and inspections, keeping certified campus housing safe remains constant challengeDarrell Hoemann
Jeremy Leevey, fire prevention officer for the Urbana Fire Department, stands outside the University of Illinois Fire Station on Sept. 25, 2014.

Despite training and inspections, keeping certified campus housing safe remains constant challenge

For the past month, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been working to teach students what it takes to prevent fires as a part of a national campus fire safety initiative. Nowhere are those lessons more needed than in the fraternities and sororities that routinely have dozens of fire-safety violations.

Continue ReadingDespite training and inspections, keeping certified campus housing safe remains constant challenge
Read more about the article First quarter brings two closures, 18 restaurant failuresClaire Everett
Firehaus, located at 708 S. Sixth St., Champaign, in the afternoon on April 25, 2014. Firehaus was closed after failing their restaurant inspection with an adjusted score of -19 on March 19 and reopened March 21 with an adjusted score of 90.

First quarter brings two closures, 18 restaurant failures

One Champaign restaurant was shut down for 37 violations during the first part of the year under the health department’s new placard system. Firehaus's…

Continue ReadingFirst quarter brings two closures, 18 restaurant failures
Read more about the article Health inspectors temporarily close five eateries; fail four othersDarrell Hoemann
The exterior of Chop Stixs restaurant in Champaign on Wednesday, January 21, 2015. The restaurant failed a re-inspection in December 2013 and was closed from Dec. 1 until it passed a second re-inspection on Dec. 8 with an adjusted score of 90.

Health inspectors temporarily close five eateries; fail four others

Nine restaurants and eateries have failed health inspections since November, including five that were temporarily shut down. At some of the restaurants public health inspectors found dozens of critical violations that included raw sewage on the floor, potentially hazardous food production and dishwasher malfunctions.

Continue ReadingHealth inspectors temporarily close five eateries; fail four others
Read more about the article Fraternities and sororities fail inspections; Violations take months to fixDarrell Hoemann
Alpha Delta Phi, located at 310 East John Street in Champaign, had 54 violations after its initial inspection last year. Among the violations, Inspectors found broken windows, tripping hazards and expired fire extinguishers. Inspectors also found beer cans and tea lights in the fraternity’s crawlspace, which is not meant to be used as a habitable space. This photo of the house was taken on Nov. 15, 2013.

Fraternities and sororities fail inspections; Violations take months to fix

City safety inspectors find hundreds of fire hazards and safety violations in fraternities and sororities at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign each year, yet it can take months before some violations are corrected, inspection documents show.

Continue ReadingFraternities and sororities fail inspections; Violations take months to fix
Read more about the article Finding a good nursing home: A primerDarrell Hoemann
The courtyard at the County Rehabilitation and Care Center in Gifford on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011.

Finding a good nursing home: A primer

Finding a nursing home or long-term care facility can be challenging. Read advice from advocates and nursing home administrators on what you should look for, recommended websites for comparison and questionnaires to use when looking for a nursing home.

Continue ReadingFinding a good nursing home: A primer