For more than 30 years, the radio talk show Focus 580 was a mainstay of the WILL-AM program schedule, during a time when national daytime programming for public radio was scarce. The weekday program featuring host David Inge kept its listeners in touch with their local community and with the world.
DANVILLE – The Illinois Gaming Board has invited casino developers to their Thursday, March 10 meeting to make a presentation about their application for a casino license. Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. announced the gaming board’s plans on Friday, February 25. A gaming board spokesperson confirmed the plans on Tuesday, March 2. Policy director Joe…
URBANA — During snowstorms, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District calls on both employees and volunteers to “plow” the sidewalks. Cynthia Hoyle chairs the C-U Safe Routes to School Project. The project coordinates volunteer “snow angels,” who commit to clearing snow from stretches of sidewalk near them. “Because you can’t get compliance by fining people. You…
For Thursday, February 17 closure information, visit here URBANA — Many cities, schools and other organizations are announcing closings and cancellations because of heavy snow in central Illinois. We will include as many of them as possible in this article, organized by location. The following closures are for Friday, February 4: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign…
HOUSTON, Mo. — A town of 1,000 people feels like a rural place to someone from Chicago. To a person living in a town of 200 people, that population of 1,000 feels almost urban. But what the government defines as rural determines tens of billions of dollars a year in spending aimed at propping up…
URBANA — Janice Walker is no stranger to gun violence. Walker said she knew many friends and neighbors who were shot and killed when she lived in both Chicago and Champaign. The most painful was when she found out that her brother had been shot and killed after breaking up a fight outside of his…
It’s no secret that some underage students at the University of Illinois like to drink at nearby Campustown bars, and that those under 21 have ample opportunity to violate the law at Campustown bars. But throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Champaign Police Department has made it even easier for minors to get away with underage…
Since 2019, at least 63 Champaign-Urbana restaurants have failed and 19 have been temporarily closed down by public health officials under a new restaurant inspection system launched that year. On average, health inspectors failed 14 restaurants of 324 restaurants inspected each quarter between 2008 and 2017, according to an earlier analysis of public health department…
This story is part of a partnership between the Invisible Institute and CU-CitizenAccess exploring police misconduct in Champaign County. Champaign County Sheriff’s Sergeant Norman “JR” Meeker had a 10-year history of disciplinary violations, including destruction of personal property, contract violations, a Tik Tok account that shared bodycam videos of crime scenes, and mountains of missed paperwork. Yet,…
Some property owners are expressing concern about accessory dwelling units — small buildings on single housing property — while Champaign city officials move towards approving them. The housing units have been promoted as a possible step towards more affordable housing and a way for family members to comfortably live together, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. …
CHAMPAIGN — Gun violence in Champaign has steadily marched westward over the past three years as shootings have increased in neighborhoods north and south of West Springfield Avenue, especially in or near several apartment complexes, according to a review of police data over the past seven years by CU-CitizenAccess.org. Three of the four top blocks…
URBANA – The U.S. Department of Justice combed through the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District website – and found a few things that needed to change to better serve low-vision riders. One rider’s Americans With Disabilities Act complaint about the website sparked the DOJ’s interest. Although the department couldn’t replicate her claim, they did find other…
CHAMPAIGN – Staffing shortages persist at C-U at Home – which provides services to those living in Champaign-Urbana without a home. Two emergency shelters that were scheduled to open Monday in Champaign-Urbana are delayed due in part to a lack of staff. The delay comes after the organization’s main shelter closed for several months earlier…
CHAMPAIGN — With the help of the Champaign County Board, C-U at Home is looking to create new shelters for the homeless. C-U at Home is seeking funds to build two, low-barrier shelters for the homeless. The agency’s current year-round shelter for the homeless reopened in August as a sober shelter after a several-month closure…
CHAMPAIGN – For two years, the Housing Authority of Champaign County’s YouthBuild program has helped young people finish their high school diplomas, while renovating public housing properties. The program managers also see the training program as a youth violence prevention initiative. “It’s a safe place where they can come in and talk, and we provide…