URBANA — Urbana Police Chief Larry Boone asked the Urbana City Council Monday night to amend the budget to hire four additional police officers. The Council deferred the decision until a national consulting firm hired by the department releases a report with staffing recommendations. Boone requested $569,198 to fund four new positions, including a Deputy…
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Today’s headlines: The deadline has passed for Republican and Democratic candidates to submit nominating petitions to get on the ballot for next March’s primary. The Governor’s office halted construction on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to shelter asylum seekers on a former industrial lot in Brighton Park on Chicago’s Southwest Side. An…
Monday, December 4, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois State Police launched an online portal that lets residents submit anonymous tips about local, county or state officials they suspect of wrongdoing. A consultant’s report finds Illinois prisons at Pontiac, Logan County and Stateville at Joliet are nearly inoperable. Rural schools in Illinois will soon have more of…
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is commending the city of Chicago for handling what he calls an “unmanageable” influx of asylum seekers. Candidates for next year’s elections lined up in Springfield Monday to turn in petitions to get on the 2024 ballot in Illinois. A new poll ranks the I-90/94…
Monday, November 27, 2023 Today’s headlines: A new report from Northwestern University is documenting Illinois’ news deserts. Even thousands of miles away from ongoing wars – experts say there’s evidence that children here are experiencing war-related trauma. The Fighting Illini football team lost their final game of the season to the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday,…
CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign County Sheriff has selected a new company to offer phone and video calls at the Champaign County Jail. The new company — Consolidated Telecom, Inc. — will offer two free phone calls to each resident per day. The new contract is set to begin on Feb. 15, 2024, according to the Request…
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 Today’s headlines: Holiday shopping season is well underway, and child safety advocates are warning of the dangers of certain gifts. Plans are in the works to construct a 2.3 mile rail trail in a rural area of Piatt County. Benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, increased last month. …
Monday, November 20, 2023 Today’s headlines: The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved a more than $300 million dollar rate hike for Peoples Gas. Not all Jewish people agree with the actions of the Israeli military amid Israel’s ongoing attack on Gaza. The Fighting Illini men’s basketball won last night against the Southern Jaguars, 88-to-60. In…
URBANA — The Urbana Police Department hired a national consulting firm this year to evaluate how the department works, including how — and if — officers should handle certain types of calls for service. The firm, BerryDunn, has worked with police departments throughout the U.S. to evaluate their processes and offer recommendations. One consideration is…
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 Today’s headlines: The Cook County Health Department is teaming up with a statewide healthcare non-profit group to improve access to reproductive care. Bradley University president Stephen Standifird denies issues with banks or loans are the driving force behind looming academic cuts. The Fighting Illini host the number four overall Marquette Golden Eagles…
Monday, November 13, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers have approved a measure to give the people who transport cannabis from growers to sellers some breathing room. New laws passed this year in Illinois have enhanced the state’s status as a leader in protecting trans rights. The Fighting Illini football team defeated the Indiana Hoosiers Saturday…
This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign County between the Champaign-Urbana Civic Police Data Project of the Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit public accountability journalism organization, and IPM Newsroom, which provides news about Illinois & in-depth reporting on Agriculture, Education, the Environment, Health, and Politics, powered by Illinois Public…
CHAMPAIGN — The University of Illinois Police Department has requested nearly a million dollars in federal funding to open a real-time crime center. The center would enable police officers to receive more information from a growing number of surveillance methods while responding to incidents, according to UIPD spokesperson Pat Wade. If the real-time operators find…
November 7, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers head back to Springfield this week to finish up their fall veto session with several big issues still on the table. A Bishop Hill non-profit organization says there are major concerns about the condition of state-owned historic buildings at the western Illinois site. The Fighting Illini men’s basketball…
Monday, November 6, 2023 Today’s headlines: Illinois Democrats are applauding yesterday’s federal appeals court ruling… upholding a state law banning assault-style firearms and high-capacity magazines. After the Dennis Lab School in Decatur closed because of structural issues, one parent decided to study whether the neighborhood wanted a new school. The Champaign County Environmental Stewards hosted its…