Neighborhoods

In-Town residents successfully alter zoning regulations

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Residents of In-Town, a part of Champaign that prides itself on its vibrant diversity,
rallied together against possible zoning developments last fall.
After
nearly two years of meetings and advocacy, the residents, specifically the
members of both the Old Town and Washington St. Neighborhood Associations,
successfully negotiated a set of conditions with the City Council that new
developers must abide by when building in the In-Town District of Champaign.

Urbana schools attempt equitable discipline

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Despite continuous coverage of misbehavior in Urbana School District 116, there have been overall disciplinary improvements, parents said.

Neighborhoods

Zoning debate leaves Clark Park homes at risk

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From all corners of her home’s basement in Clark Park, Amy Thoren combats flooding with four active water pumps. If rainfall or drainage issues become more prevalent, Thoren may have to rely on her fifth pump in the years to come. “It’s like the Mississippi in here,” Thoren said, describing her basement’s condition during heavy rainfall. “The whole house shakes from the pumps, and you can hear the water flowing like a waterfall.”

In January 2018, the city delayed the zoning vote on increasing floor-area ratio, FAR, for areas like Clark Park. It currently sits at .35, but was proposed to rise to .50, meaning more of a house’s lot can be covered with parts of the home.

Health Care

Data shows wide variations in access to abortion clinics nationwide

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With the fewest abortion providers in the U.S. and the highest number of restrictive policies enacted since it became legal, U.S. women’s access to abortion is becoming increasingly limited. The abortion rate in the U.S. has been constantly declining for the past three decades and it’s now in a record low, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The abortion rate is the number of abortions per 1,000 women and it has fallen from 29.3 women in 1981 to 11.8 women in 2015. See all stories: 

llinois provides abortion “oasis” to those seeking services

Data shows wide variations access to abortion clinics nationwide

While abortion clinics diminish, crisis pregnancy centers flourish

In their own words: Three stories of abortion

CDC data show that the peak number of abortions took place in 1990, with almost 1.43 million. The most recent abortion surveillance report indicates that there were 638,169 in 2015, less than half than in 1990.

abortion

In their own words: Three stories of abortion

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n spite of being in an all-time low, abortions are still a highly demanded health service.
According to a study by the American Journal of Public Health nearly one in four  women in the U.S.  will have an abortion by age 45. Here, three women share their stories.

While abortion clinics diminish, crisis pregnancy centers flourish

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While the state of Illinois is often called an abortion “oasis” in the Midwest because of easier access to abortions than neighboring states, there are 86 crisis pregnancy centers – known as CPCs – compared with 25 abortion clinics in Illinois. Champaign has two of those centers.

Health Care

Illinois provides abortion ‘oasis’ to those seeking services

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As some of its neighboring states have enacted laws restricting abortion access and more clinics have been closing their doors, Illinois is now more than ever an abortion “oasis” in the Midwest.

Indeed, data from the Illinois Department of Public Health show that the percentage of women from out of state who seek abortions has more than doubled since 2010.

Community Voices

Community voices: Homeless dogs need a greater level of care

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As a nation of animal lovers, America plays host to a huge population of dogs. Many are sadly neglected, leading to centers taking in 3.3 million homeless dogs every year, nationally, according to the ASPCA. Anderson, one notable Illinois shelter, looked after 5,048 in three locations, Bloomingdale included, in 2017 alone. Homeless and stray dogs creates a problem for city authorities, creating the prospect of food hygiene hazards and injuries to passersby when animals are scared. However, homelessness in dogs is a problem for the animals first and foremost.

Veterans Assistance Commission

Veterans Assistance Commission can’t meet demand for help

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Due to a tight budget, Champaign County Veterans Assistance Commission has had to turn away 138 veterans so far this year requesting financial help.

Last year they turned away 151 veterans. 

The organization  receives funding from Champaign County. They provide temporary financial assistance to veterans, including helping with mortgage or rent payments, utility payments, and food and family essentials.

As of this fall, they’ve spent about $69,750 of the budget, Superintendent Brad Gould said.

There are over 9,000 veterans in Champaign County , according to the latest figure from U.S. Census Bureau.

The low budget has been a problem for several years. In 2014, the commission had to turn away 177 veterans.

According to the commission annual report, 52 percent of the budget goes towards helping veterans with their rent, 6 percent towards helping with mortgage and 42 percent goes towards helping with utilities.