Read more about the article Champaign and Urbana police struggle to diversifyDarrell Hoemann
Looking south to the Champaign Police Department Building on First Street. Photo by Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess

Champaign and Urbana police struggle to diversify

In 2014, the police staff in Champaign was 88% white and Urbana’s police staff was 84% white, CU-CitizenAccess reported at that time. Almost seven years later, those numbers are virtually unchanged, despite pledges by both cities to diversify their police forces.

Continue ReadingChampaign and Urbana police struggle to diversify
Read more about the article University of Illinois COVID discipline policies under fire after another “unfair” dismissal of graduate studentGEO YouTube
Antonio Ruiz gave an emotional statement and proposed changes to discipline procedures during the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) press conference in late April.

University of Illinois COVID discipline policies under fire after another “unfair” dismissal of graduate student

While the Graduate Employees Organization and some professors were pushing the University for the changes in COVID disciplinary and testing procedures, a graduate student in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Antonio Ruiz, was dismissed from the University for not complying with the COVID-19 testing policy. But the University has not deemed it necessary to review its procedures so far, even as calls for change are amplified by social media.

Continue ReadingUniversity of Illinois COVID discipline policies under fire after another “unfair” dismissal of graduate student
Read more about the article Community members, businesses rally to clean littered fields in business areaDarrell Hoemann
Litter in a field by Interstate Drive in north Champaign, IL on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Community members, businesses rally to clean littered fields in business area

In response to uncontrolled trash piling up in the North Prospect business area, community members rallied together to pick up 29 bags of litter…

Continue ReadingCommunity members, businesses rally to clean littered fields in business area
Read more about the article Champaign residents seek litter solutions after delayed city cleanup efforts, untracked complaints
Trash lines the bus stop next to Walmart on North Prospect Ave. in Champaign on April 5, 2021. Photo by Dylan Tiger.

Champaign residents seek litter solutions after delayed city cleanup efforts, untracked complaints

Champaign residents erupted on social media in early March about the excess litter in the Champaign area, especially North Prospect, with some claiming they have never seen the city so polluted before. In late spring this year, resident Michael Chrasta expects “a revival” of the Loving Our City cleanup initiative that was cancelled in March 2020 as COVID-19 entered the community.

Continue ReadingChampaign residents seek litter solutions after delayed city cleanup efforts, untracked complaints
Read more about the article Illinois billionaire Shahid Khan investing in thousands of acres of the state’s farmland
Farm acreage at the 1831 2500N, Thomasboro, IL belonging to Baloo Enterprises LLC on Saturday, March 13, 2021. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Illinois billionaire Shahid Khan investing in thousands of acres of the state’s farmland

In recent years, Urbana billionaire Shahid Khan has added to investments by quietly purchasing farmland through a company he owns called Baloo Enterprises LLC. A spokesperson for Khan confirmed earlier this month that Khan has purchased roughly 24,000 acres of farmland in central Illinois.

Continue ReadingIllinois billionaire Shahid Khan investing in thousands of acres of the state’s farmland
Read more about the article Additional campus COVID complaints show more unsafe, unhealthy and outlandish behavior
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity on the University of Illinois campus has been placed on conduct probation until Nov. 16, 2021 after violating mask protocol and city emergency orders.

Additional campus COVID complaints show more unsafe, unhealthy and outlandish behavior

Students selling negative saliva test samples on Snapchat. Fraternity members threatening students for taking pictures of long bar lines. People leaving quarantine and isolation dorms to pick up Doordash food orders and then socialize. These were the events among the 200 complaints sent to university officials in the latter part of the fall semester in 2020 at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Continue ReadingAdditional campus COVID complaints show more unsafe, unhealthy and outlandish behavior
Read more about the article Restaurants, religious organizations among top local industries that received PPP loans
Source: U.S. Farm Credit Administration

Restaurants, religious organizations among top local industries that received PPP loans

The Small Business Administration released more data about businesses who received Paycheck Protection Program loans under $150,000. Previously, the SBA did not release business names for businesses that received loans under $150,000.

Continue ReadingRestaurants, religious organizations among top local industries that received PPP loans
Read more about the article University of Illinois COVID-19 complaints and social media reveal how widespread violations wereGavin Good
Pi Kappa Phi fraternity was among several other frats and sororities that were widely reported for COVID-19 violations. Pi Kappa Phi is on conduct probation through May 2021.

University of Illinois COVID-19 complaints and social media reveal how widespread violations were

A review of more than 400 complaints about partying and public health violations, multiple disciplinary actions and partial lockdowns at apartment complexes show the impact of the partying and social gathering was far wider than previously recognized. While many students obeyed guidelines that included wearing masks and social distancing, a significant number of students held or attended large parties and social gatherings at Greek houses, dorms and apartments. Public records show that four fraternities and one sorority have been disciplined and more than 1,000 students were disciplined.

Continue ReadingUniversity of Illinois COVID-19 complaints and social media reveal how widespread violations were
Read more about the article Carle health system launches COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU occupancy trackerCarle.org
Carle's new dashboard is updated daily with statistics on COVID-19 for the Carle Health System.

Carle health system launches COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU occupancy tracker

Since March, a total of 80 COVID-19 patients have died in the Carle Health System and 511 have been discharged. Carle shares these trends “to inform our region of the reality we’re facing today,” according to the website. “As the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, we continue to meet our community’s healthcare needs whether it’s care for COVID, heart attack, stroke or trauma.”

Continue ReadingCarle health system launches COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU occupancy tracker
Read more about the article Campus crime reports significantly different; Some call for reform of federal Clery ActUniversity Housing
Campus crime locations include residence halls, such as Hopkins Hall, which had at least 13 incidents in the 2020 fall semester at the University of Illinois.

Campus crime reports significantly different; Some call for reform of federal Clery Act

Last year, 233 criminal incidents occurred on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus according to the 2019 annual security and fire report, mandated by the federal crime reporting law for colleges known as the Clery Act. But the university’s daily crime log routinely reports many more incidents. Some law enforcement officials said the Clery Act guidelines can be confusing and unclear for crime reporting and can lead to ‘unintended harms’, especially in the wake of COVID-19, which may make campuses appear less safe than reality.

Continue ReadingCampus crime reports significantly different; Some call for reform of federal Clery Act