Amid COVID, Programs Scramble To Provide Moms With Milk, Diapers And More
Earlier this year, Aime’e Elliot couldn’t keep any solid foods down while pregnant with son Jacion. So the 28-year-old Indianapolis woman called a…
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Blakeman Concedes To McGrath In Circuit Clerk’s Race
URBANA – Two-term incumbent Katie Blakeman has conceded to Democratic challenger Susan McGrath in a tight race for Champaign County Circuit Clerk. “Today I called my opponent to congratulate her on her win, and to offer my assistance in ensuring a smooth transition in the Champaign County Circuit Clerk’s Office,” Blakeman wrote Friday, in a…
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New Restrictions Begin In Champaign-Urbana Due To Rising COVID-19 Rates
CHAMPAIGN – From schools to restaurants to hospitals, restrictions are once again underway around Champaign County as COVID-19 cases rise. Friday will be the last day for in-person classes at Champaign Unit 4 Schools and Urbana School District 116. Both districts are switching to remote instruction only, starting Monday. At a Thursday news conference, Champaign-Urbana…
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‘This Is Our Surge’: Hospital System Data Suggests Coronavirus Is Taking Off In Central Illinois
DECATUR – Since March, 700 people in central Illinois have been hospitalized for COVID-19 across Memorial Health System’s five hospitals. Of those patients, 124 have died. In addition to the steady rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations since mid-July, hospital leaders are concerned that the seven-day COVID-19 test positivity rate across Memorial’s hospitals has risen to 26.8%…
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23 Counties And Counting: Downstate Separation Referendum Wins Favor In November Election
URBANA – One result of the November 2020 election in Illinois was 20 downstate counties passing an advisory referendum in support of forming their own state that leaves Chicago and Cook County behind. That makes a total of 23 counties where separation referendums have passed this year. (UPDATE: As of November 2022, the total is…
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Why The Flu Shot Is Important — And Where To Get One In East-Central Illinois
URBANA – Public health officials say mask-wearing, social distancing — and getting an influenza vaccine — are things everyone can do to prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed this flu season. Officials are asking Americans to get the flu shot to help avoid a “twindemic” caused by a combination of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. Linda…
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Pryde: Don’t Give In To ‘Pandemic Prevention Fatigue’
CHAMPAIGN — As the number of COVID-19 cases set a new state record Wednesday, Champaign County also reported a big increase in the number of people testing positive for the virus. The 305 new cases actually occurred over a couple of days. And administrator Julie Pryde with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District said there were…
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City Of Urbana Launches Geothermal Energy Program To Help Cut Carbon Emissions
URBANA – The City of Urbana is launching a new bulk purchasing program that will make it cheaper and easier for homeowners and businesses to install geothermal energy systems—and help reduce carbon emissions. The program, run in partnership with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), chooses a single installer that provides bulk pricing for geothermal…
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Farm Tools Were Designed For Men. That’s A Problem For The Increasing Number Of Female Farmers.
Dusty Spurgeon is proud to be a female farmer. She and her mother-in-law, Eloise, run Spurgeon Veggies, a small vegetable farm located in Rio, Illinois….
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Champaign Unit 4 Plans To Bring Middle, High Schoolers Back To Classrooms In January
CHAMPAIGN – During a Board of Education meeting Monday night, Champaign Unit 4 Schools officials discussed bringing middle and high school students back into classrooms beginning in January. The plan as presented by Unit 4 administrators includes two schedules. Under either scenario, all students would learn virtually on Mondays, and in the mornings for the…
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217 Today — Nov. 13, 2020
Friday November 13, 2020 Today’s headlines: Governor JB Pritzker is warning of another possible stay-at-home order for Illinois as Coronavirus stats keep climbing. Today is the last day for in-person classes at the Champaign Unit Four and Urbana school districts until January. Both districts say they’re switching to remote instruction only, starting Monday per recommendations from the Champaign-Urbana Public…
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Gophers Wallop Shorthanded Illini 41-14
CHAMPAIGN — Lovie Smith made no excuses for his Illini football team’s dismal performance in Saturday’s 41-14 blowout loss to previously winless Minnesota. He put the blame squarely on himself. “I’m the head football coach. Everything comes back to me,” Smith said. “I didn’t perform the way I need to.” Mo Ibrahim set a Gopher…
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Illinois Democrats React To Biden Elected President
CHAMPAIGN – Democratic leaders in Illinois praised the projected election of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States. Biden defeated Republican President Donald Trump after a bitter and divisive campaign. Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) tweeted several messages, praising Biden, noting Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ role in history and criticizing Donald Trump.: With…
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McGrath’s Narrow Lead For Circuit Clerk Holds, As Ballot Counting Continues
URBANA – The Champaign County Clerk’s office added another 1,917 ballots to its total Friday, as election workers continued to process vote by mail ballots, provisional ballots and mail ballots that had been challenged. (Find a link to the latest election totals here) Chief Deputy Clerk Angie Patton said the number of additional ballots arriving…
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U Of I Preparing To Expand COVID-19 Testing To Champaign-Urbana Community
URBANA – The University of Illinois’ saliva-based COVID-19 testing program will soon be available to the larger Champaign-Urbana community, according to university officials. Currently, the test is only available to students and staff on some college campuses. But officials say plans are now in the works to make it available to Champaign-Urbana community members, too….
