The Urbana City Council spent more than three hours Thursday night looking over police issues with members of the community. But council members have put off a discussion of next steps until July. The meeting, called by three city council members, Jared Miller, Maryalice Wu and Dennis Roberts, featured comments by both community members and…
The new chairman of the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board says he’s committed to fundamental reforms in the panel’s performance. Criticism of police conduct at recent Urbana City Council meetings has included the city’s Civilian Police Review board. At a meeting of the Urbana CPRB Wednesday night, Chairman Mikhail Lyubansky noted a list of criticisms…
Even before the pandemic began, Lisbeth Hernandez says she was exhausted. Hernandez is heading into her senior year at Dominican University, a small Catholic college in Chicago’s western suburbs. Hernandez is undocumented, and she has temporary legal protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Even so, she’s unable to receive federal financial…
URBANA — A set of shared goals and standards for police and communities of color was approved by the Urbana City Council Monday night. Council members also heard a new proposal for shifting response to mental health emergencies away from the police, and on Tuesday, made last-minute reductions to police spending in the new city…
Researchers estimate there are more than 200,000 students with temporary legal protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as DACA. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled against an effort by the Trump administration to end the program, but the court left open the possibility that the program could still be rescinded. …
There will be food, music, dancing and a serving of history, Danville’s Juneteenth Celebration, which runs from 5 to 8 PM on Friday, June 19, at Lincoln Park (1000 N. Logan Ave.). A Facebook page for the event is linked here. Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when word of the Emancipation Proclamation formally came to…
Democrat Mitchell Esslinger announced his bid for the Illinois House Wednesday, with a campaign announcement that targeted his opponent, Republican incumbent Brad Halbrook. At a stop in St. Joseph, the 26-year-old Esslinger accused Halbrook of supporting divisiveness and the status quo, and not caring about the needs of ordinary people. “This district has seen its…
DANVILLE – The Danville City Council approved a zoning permit for a cannabis cultivation center, and funding for Fourth of July fireworks at its meeting on Tuesday night. (See the agenda and meeting materials at this link.) Council members voted 10-1 to grant a special use permit allowing Bourbonnais-based Alexander Real Properties to build the…
The Illinois Newsroom team is answering questions from listeners to navigate this unprecedented time. Have a question you want answered? Ask here. In today’s edition of “Ask the Newsroom,” we’ve answered questions on pools reopening during Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois Plan, and SNAP benefits for the month of June. Please note, the information…
URBANA – Bryant Seraphin’s appointment as Urbana police chief has been renewed for another year by the Urbana City Council. Approval came Wednesday night, on a 5-1 vote, with one abstention. Alderman William Colbrook (R-Ward 6) abstained, citing his position as Parkland College police chief. The “no” vote came from Alderman Jared Miller. The Ward…
The Illinois Newsroom team is answering questions from listeners to navigate this unprecedented time. Have a question you want answered? Ask here. In today’s edition of “Ask the Newsroom,” we’ve answered questions about services and activities reopened in Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan, as well as what to expect moving forward. Please note, the…
At their Monday night Committee of the Whole meeting, Urbana City Council members condemned the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Earlier Monday, several city officials had participated in a demonstration on the streets of downtown Urbana in George Floyd’s memory. But afterwards, the city council members heard criticism of some of their…
CHICAGO – During his daily COVID-19 briefing, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker responded to protests in Minnesota over the killing of a black man by a white police officer. Pritzker also reiterated his belief that President Donald Trump is a racist. Pritzker expressed condolences to all African-Americans and in particular to the family of George Floyd….
The Illinois Newsroom team is answering questions from listeners to navigate this unprecedented time. Have a question you want answered? Ask here. In today’s edition of “Ask the Newsroom,” we’ve answered related to the reopening of Illinois, following Gov. J.B. Pritkzer’s “Restore Illinois” plan. The entire state is set to move into Phase 3 this…
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Republicans are demanding a vote in the General Assembly on removing from the fall ballot a proposed graduated income tax structure, saying the state’s pandemic-pillaged economy can’t sustain higher taxes. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin and Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady said Monday that the special session this week in Springfield should…