Government
Read more about the article Democratic Rep. Sean Casten focuses on media buying in 2020 electionU.S. Rep. Sean Casten
Sean Casten's official photograph from his representative website.

Democratic Rep. Sean Casten focuses on media buying in 2020 election

In his first-time incumbent election cycle, Rep. Sean Casten has spent only $3,157,127 this election cycle as of October 1, nearly half of what he spent last election cycle. In the 2018 congressional election, Democrat Sean Casten spent upwards of $6 million to overtake the incumbent to become the representative for Illinois’ Sixth Congressional District, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Continue ReadingDemocratic Rep. Sean Casten focuses on media buying in 2020 election
Read more about the article Bobby Rush’s campaign spending on family ‘could be concerning’, analyst saysRush.house.gov
U.S. Congressman Bobby L. Rush (1st District of Illinois)

Bobby Rush’s campaign spending on family ‘could be concerning’, analyst says

Bobby Rush, Democratic representative for Illinois’ 1st District, has spent $402,044 so far during the 2019-2020 election cycle, with about $41,062 — one-tenth of his expenditures — going to his son, Jeffery Rush. Isaac Wink, policy analyst at Reform for Illinois, said there may be a reason to keep close attention to these payments.

Continue ReadingBobby Rush’s campaign spending on family ‘could be concerning’, analyst says
Read more about the article Rep. Mike Quigley cuts expenditures by nearly half in 2020 campaignUS House Office of Photography
Mike Quigley's most recent official photograph.

Rep. Mike Quigley cuts expenditures by nearly half in 2020 campaign

Democratic Congressman Mike Quigley has spent more than $631,000 so far as he runs for his seventh term as Illinois’ 5th Congressional District’s representative in 2020, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) data. The expenditures in the 2019-2020 election cycle are a decrease from the amount he spent in the previous cycle, during which he spent over $1.2 million, according to the FEC.

Continue ReadingRep. Mike Quigley cuts expenditures by nearly half in 2020 campaign
Read more about the article Rep. Dan Lipinski’s campaign expenditures support catholic activities, pro-life advocacyOffice of Rep. Dan Lipinski
Daniel Lipinski of the Illinois 3rd District.

Rep. Dan Lipinski’s campaign expenditures support catholic activities, pro-life advocacy

Eight-term Illinois Congressman Daniel Lipinski, who lost his seat in this year’s primary, gave more than $17,000 in campaign money to Catholic schools and churches over the past four years.

Continue ReadingRep. Dan Lipinski’s campaign expenditures support catholic activities, pro-life advocacy
Read more about the article Jesus “Chuy” Garcia decreases campaign spending from last electionUS House Office of Photography
Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's most recent official photograph.

Jesus “Chuy” Garcia decreases campaign spending from last election

Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Democratic congressman of Illinois 4th congressional district, significantly decreased his re-election campaign spending from $1 million in 2017-2018 to only about half million so far in the 2019-2020 election cycle. Andrew Mayersohn, committee researcher at the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit organization that analyzes political spending, said Garcia is spending less since he doesn’t face any “serious threats” in this campaign cycle. His opponent Jesus Solorio has only raised $755.

Continue ReadingJesus “Chuy” Garcia decreases campaign spending from last election
Read more about the article Brad Schneider donates over $50,000 to charitiesCongress Website
Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois's 10th district.

Brad Schneider donates over $50,000 to charities

Congressional candidate Brad Schneider (D-IL 10th District) has sharply increased his donations to other groups from nearly $2 million in campaign funds as he seeks reelection in November. According to analysis of FEC records, Schneider gave $53,825.48 to charities and medical workers, and $400,110.3 to the Democratic Congressional Committee, which uses those funds to support other Democratic candidates.

Continue ReadingBrad Schneider donates over $50,000 to charities
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
Read more about the article University expands testing requirements as researchers predict hundreds more casesPam Dempsey/CU-CitizenAccess
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.

University expands testing requirements as researchers predict hundreds more cases

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign quietly announced on Tuesday an expansion of its Covid-19 testing by requiring students to be tested routinely even if they live in the community but do not plan to come to campus. The decision comes during a week when two university epidemiologists recommended in a letter to city officials in Champaign and Urbana that they go back from current Phase 4 of the Illinois reopening plan to Phase 3 to limit the spread of the virus during the surge of returning students.

Continue ReadingUniversity expands testing requirements as researchers predict hundreds more cases
Read more about the article Reports on “recovered” COVID-19 cases inconsistent and incomplete; Numbers elusive and may mislead on real medical impact of virusDylan Tiger
A Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting review of state health data found four primary categories of definitions for "recovered" COVID-19 patients. See below for an interactive version.

Reports on “recovered” COVID-19 cases inconsistent and incomplete; Numbers elusive and may mislead on real medical impact of virus

As Covid-19 surges again in the U.S., the high percentage of "recovered" cases might be cited as a sign that a vast majority of those infected quickly rid themselves of the virus. But the “recovered” statistics are incomplete, inconsistent and call into question the accuracy of any total number of recovered cases, according to a review of 50 state public health sites by CU-CitizenAccess.org.

Continue ReadingReports on “recovered” COVID-19 cases inconsistent and incomplete; Numbers elusive and may mislead on real medical impact of virus
Read more about the article Small Business Administration announces grants for civil unrest damages

Small Business Administration announces grants for civil unrest damages

Champaign County businesses that suffered damage from looting may eventually be included in funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA), a spokesperson said last week. John Dwyer of the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency, said in a phone call that over 50 businesses were affected by looting. The SBA announced in an email on June 26 it would be providing grants to Illinois businesses affected by civil unrest between May 26 and June 8.

Continue ReadingSmall Business Administration announces grants for civil unrest damages