Pastor-led grocery store officially opens in Danville food desert
With help from a state grant, Carle Health and other partners, Heavenly Square is bringing fresh ingredients to an area of Danville where they were inaccessible before.
University of Illinois student charged with mob action for pro-Palestine encampment
Yafa Issa is the first University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student to be charged for participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus at the end of the 2024 school year.
Urbana sees spike in need for rent, food help
Cunningham Township, which serves the same area as the city of Urbana, spent $100,000 over budget this fiscal year in its quest to help all those needing food and housing help.
Champaign floats sales tax increase to replace statewide grocery tax
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the state budget on Wednesday that eliminates the statewide, 1 percent grocery tax. Because the tax was a source of revenue for local governments, the city of Champaign is looking for ways to offset a loss of about $2.7 million per year.
Dr. Irfan Ahmad dies at 66 of respiratory complications
CHAMPAIGN – Long-time community member and activist died unexpectedly of respiratory complications Wednesday night at age 66. Dr. Irfan Ahmad was an active and well-known member of the central Illinois Muslim community. “He was always just an advocate for underserved communities, particularly the Muslim community, particularly immigrants, but you know, particularly Pakistanis, because, you know,…
Amidst Palestinian demonstration at the University of Illinois, Jewish pride event takes place near Alma Mater
URBANA – Local Jewish organizations came together at the University of Illinois Alma Mater Tuesday afternoon for a show of Jewish pride amidst the third day of a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. “What’s happening on campus right now, a lot of us are scared. They’re scared to be Jewish. They’re scared to be Israeli,” said…
Pro-Palestinian protestor with three counts of felony charges released from jail
CHAMPAIGN – A pro-Palestinian protestor arrested at Friday’s encampment near the University of Illinois Alma Mater statue was released from Champaign County Jail after about 60 hours of detainment. “It’s a very terrifying environment that I wouldn’t wish on any other human being,” said Chris Zelle after being released from Jail Monday afternoon. Zelle is not…
Urbana Park District hosts Earth Day event to engage more people with the environment
Earth Day will be celebrated around the world on April 22, 2024.
Hundreds celebrate the life of STEM educator William Patterson
Patterson is survived by his wife, Lori, three children, a grandchild, and a sister.
Activists want to keep a Champaign post office and dozens of employees from moving to Chicago
People have until March 27 to provide input on the proposed changes to the post office on Mattis Avenue.
UNFILTERED: Local diverse opinions on a ceasefire for Gaza
The call for a ceasefire in Gaza is growing louder both internationally and locally in Champaign-Urbana. This past Monday, the Urbana city council saw a large turnout of residents looking to discuss a proposed resolution to end the conflict in Gaza. The move comes after local representative Budzinski met with Palestinian community members, subsequently advocating…
Champaign teacher singles out Palestinian student equating her with Hamas
CHAMPAIGN – On October 11th – just days after the Hamas attacks on Israel – a seventh-grade English teacher at Franklin Middle School chose to show his students a short video of the attack. During this lesson, he specifically pointed out one of his students because she was Palestinian. The young girl has light pale skin,…
Illinois public health director visits Champaign to promote vaccinations ahead of the holidays
Across Illinois, COVID-19 hospitalizations remain relatively low, but the state has experienced a 13% uptick.
Hope Village: A new effort is underway to end homelessness in Champaign County.
The 500 sq ft homes will feature a bed, bathroom, kitchen and living space. They will also be spaced out to give residents privacy and ample green space around their homes.
Urbana Public Schools hold two ribbon cuttings to unveil renovations
Renovations at Thomas Paine elementary school and Urbana High School were celebrated.