
Advocates for Aging Care pushes for solutions as Champaign County faces skilled nursing bed shortage
Champaign County has one of the worst skilled nursing care shortages in the state. It means people often have to drive hours to see their loved ones. A local advocacy group is working to address the shortage.

Champaign’s only low-barrier shelter is at risk of closing. Some guests are worried
Strides first opened in 2022, with funding from the American Rescue Plan, a federal COVID-19 relief fund. But funding is set to run out as early as February.

3I/ATLAS is not alien spacecraft. But here’s how scientists actually look for aliens
3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, is on its way out, yet speculation that it is alien technology persists.

Transgender people are looking for safer places to live. Some have found a home in central Illinois
Amid increasingly hostile laws and rhetoric targeting transgender people in the United States, many of them seek to move to places they feel safer. Aaron Slayton is one of many who have made a new home in central Illinois.

Floating wetlands in Lake Decatur aim to improve water quality while providing wildlife habitats
As winter approaches, the durability of two new floating wetlands in Lake Decatur will be tested. These man-made structures were installed on the lake this summer with the goal of improving water quality and creating a habitat for wildlife.

Ebertfest and beyond: How the C-U film sphere moves forward after the loss of a giant
CHAMPAIGN — Ebertfest began in 1999 as a star-studded, red-carpet affair showcasing the overlooked indie film darlings in Hollywood at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign.

A new temporary emergency homeless shelter opens in Champaign
As of Nov. 1, there are 82 unsheltered adults and children in the area, and homelessness is on the rise in Champaign-Urbana, said Cunningham Township supervisor Danielle Chynoweth.

U of I students say some leasing companies scam them out of their security deposits
Thousands of students at the University of Illinois of Urbana-Champaign live in apartments. Some say they’re being taken advantage of by the leasing company University Group.

Curious about astrophotography in C-U? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the craft
Somewhere thousands of light years away, colorful clouds paint space with blotches and swirls of light and color – but the images are too faint to see by the naked eye. Amateur astrophotographers in Champaign-Urbana discuss the unique challenges of astrophotography and what makes central Illinois a great place for capturing images of cosmic wonders.

‘If All The Sky Were Paper,’ a play about veterans, is brought to life on stage in Urbana
Andrew Carroll traveled across the globe collecting wartime letters. He visited almost 40 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and from the artifacts he found, crafted a story about the war letters.
Now, his nonfiction book, “If All the Sky Were Paper,” will be brought to life on stage.

‘Our strength lies in letting many identities thrive’: U of I celebrates South Asian cultures
The hypnotic tunes of South Asian music merged with the sound of ghungroo bells, as dozens of audience members clapped and moved along with dancers Thursday night, many joining in to sing familiar South Asian tunes.

Remembering Latrelle Bright: a pillar in the Champaign-Urbana theater community
Latrelle Bright was one of Champaign-Urbana’s influential artistic leaders: a director, mentor, teaching professor and friend. The local community remembers her widespread impact.

