217 Today: Urbana activists want more police oversight. But local laws hold the civilian review board hostage

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Ricardo Diaz, the most recent chair of the Civilian Police Review Board, stepped down in May. Diaz said local activists were frustrated by the slow pace of reforms and how local ordinances curtail the power of the CPRB to provide more powerful oversight of Urbana police.
  • Photo: Farrah Anderson, Invisible Institute / Illinois Public Media

Monday, July 8, 2024

Today’s headlines:

  • Peaches in deep southern Illinois will have a bounce-back year this summer.
  • There is an abundance of invasive fish in Illinois waters, including a species of carp.
  • The Chicago Coalition for Family Building is working to make costly infertility treatments more affordable.
  • Climate scientists say extreme weather is happening more frequently.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn why locals say the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board is failing to uphold the mission and effect any change to policing in Urbana.

217 Today is produced by Stephanie Mosqueda. Reporting today contributed by Will Bauer, Reginald Hardwick, Mawa Iqbal, Kate Grumke, Farrah Anderson and Sam Stecklow.

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Stephanie Mosqueda

Stephanie Mosqueda is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with minors in Spanish and public relations. She is the 217 Today producer and a reporter for the Illinois Student Newsroom.