Read more about the article Health inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks
Ambar India on Nov. 13, 2023. Photo by Maggie Knutte.

Health inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks

A moldy bell pepper.  Bare hands touching ready-to-eat food. Food that expired over a week ago sitting in the fridge. These are just a…

Continue ReadingHealth inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks
Read more about the article ​​University of Illinois​ campus food pantries help struggling students, tackle stigma​; Groceries often more expensive on campus​ 
Bevier Cafe, at 905 S Goodwin Avenue in Urbana, runs the Everybody Eats program.

​​University of Illinois​ campus food pantries help struggling students, tackle stigma​; Groceries often more expensive on campus​ 

With grocery costs notably ​greater​ in the heart of campus, two University of Illinois programs are dedicated to providing food assistance to students in…

Continue Reading​​University of Illinois​ campus food pantries help struggling students, tackle stigma​; Groceries often more expensive on campus​ 
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 Restaurant closures, failures down under new restaurant health inspection system
KFC & A&W, 1321 N Dunlap Ave., Champaign The health department closed the restaurant Aug. 22 due to “gross unsanitary conditions” during its routine inspection. No details were provided in the report. On Thursday, November 29, 2018. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Restaurant closures, failures down under new restaurant health inspection system

Since 2019, at least 63 Champaign-Urbana restaurants have failed and 19 have been temporarily closed down by public health officials under a new restaurant inspection system launched that year. 

Continue ReadingRestaurant closures, failures down under new restaurant health inspection system
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 COVID-19 hampers food distribution at Eastern Illinois FoodbankNaomi Diaz
Eastern Illinois Foodbank's trucks at its facility in Urbana on North Shore Drive.

COVID-19 hampers food distribution at Eastern Illinois Foodbank

Pre-pandemic, Eastern Illinois Foodbank provided food and grocery products to 100,000 people in 18 different Eastern counties in Illinois. Today, they project the number of those in need to increase by 63,000. The foodbank expects the second wave of COVID-19 will continue to increase the need for “emergency food,” and they are preparing for just that.

Continue ReadingCOVID-19 hampers food distribution at Eastern Illinois Foodbank
Read more about the article As health inspections change, departments debate enforcementDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Jim Roberts of the Champaign-Urbana Health District holds up a sample placard as county board members discussed whether restaurants in the county should be required to display inspection placards on August 21, 2014.

As health inspections change, departments debate enforcement

Starting July 1, inspections will change.

Continue ReadingAs health inspections change, departments debate enforcement