CHAMPAIGN – A total of eight Illinois community colleges will soon be certified to do competency-based learning, thanks to $5 million from the U.S. Department of Labor. This means students only need to take classes on new material — instead of sitting through lessons they already know. Nancy Sutton is the vice president for academic…
CHAMPAIGN — Undergraduates at the University of Illinois tested positive for COVID-19 in record numbers last week. Julie Pryde leads the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD). She says that despite appearances, the University of Illinois simply joined the existing wave of cases when it reopened for classes this fall. “We’ve had high transmission for the…
CHAMPAIGN – Ri’Chard Frazier took his role as a big brother seriously from a young age. By middle school, being the “tough” one started to get him in trouble. He bounced between public and alternative schools. The first time he felt cared for was at FirstFollowers, a nonprofit Champaign recently entrusted with half a million…
LE ROY – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Illinois on Tuesday to announce a new investment of $100 million for biofuel infrastructure. Sen. Tammy Duckworth met Vilsack at a Casey’s General Store in Le Roy. Duckworth pointed out a new, yellow handle at the Casey’s pump – where drivers can fill up their…
URBANA — Fall classes began Monday at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It was also the beginning of the university’s new Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative. The program aims to smooth the experience of college for students with autism. INI Director Jeanne Kramer created the program after leading an internship pipeline program specifically for University of Illinois…
CHAMPAIGN — Thursday was the first day of school for most Champaign Unit 4 students. Students at International Prep Academy welcomed the second year of fully in-person classes after the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was very, very cool, because we got to do tons of new activities,” says fifth grader Annayaretze Martinez. “At…
NEWTON — Parts of southern Illinois are recovering after a sudden storm dropped about ten inches of rain and hail in less than 24 hours. No one was injured in Jasper County, according to the sheriff’s department. The casualties in this flash flood were the crops. Farmer Richard Ochs says he expects the remaining flood…
CHAMPAIGN — A new coalition of small nonprofits aims to tackle gun violence in Champaign County. Called H3 for “harm,” “healing” and “hope,” the coalition is the brainchild of FirstFollowers. The non-profit group helps formerly incarcerated people with their re-entry into society. “Although my organization’s name is on it, it’s not a FirstFollowers initiative,” explains FirstFollowers…
URBANA — Cars whoosh past the KEDPLASMA center on Lincoln Avenue. Brandon Olison has spent hours in the building, donating his plasma in exchange for a card pre-loaded with cash. Olison hasn’t had any side effects in the two months since he started donating. “I’ve never had a side effect or anything. No bad experiences….
PEORIA – When Illinois legalized recreational cannabis, state legislators sought to cut those disproportionately affected by marijuana arrests into the new industry’s profits. The path to entering the industry, though, has not been easy. “If anything, it’s been increased hardships, trying to pursue it legally,” says Lisa Palmgren. There’s a heavy, grassy smell in Palmgren’s…
URBANA — Black facilities workers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are trying to end racial harassment on the job – through a class action lawsuit. Friedman & Houlding lawyer Shilpa Narayan is representing the Black facilities workers in the case. She says that after three years of reviewing internal university documents, she’s found a…
URBANA — The Urbana City Council voted Monday to allow new jail construction within city limits. Champaign County plans to expand its satellite jail on Lierman Avenue. The new jail will have fewer total beds in a more modern facility. “Think about [an isolation cell with] four walls with a door and a small window….
CHAMPAIGN — Custodians, assistant teachers and other support staff in the Champaign Unit 4 School District are all making at least $15 an hour, as of July 1. Both the school board and members of the Champaign Educational Support Professionals union approved a new, four-year contract last week. “Knowing what we proposed in the very…
DECATUR – Decatur business owner Regan Deering won the 13th Congressional district Republican primary on Tuesday after a close race. In November, she will face former aide to President Joe Biden, Nikki Budzinski, who secured a decisive victory in the district’s Democratic primary. Budzinski said she anticipated a challenge in November, despite her advantage in…
CHAMPAIGN — On Saturday, Chambanites can celebrate the end of slavery at Douglass Park with a bouncy house, photo booth, small business fair and more. Champaign Park District coordinator Robert White helped organize the Juneteenth event. He remembers the first time he learned about Juneteenth from his fraternity brother in college. “It was shocking because…