Newcomers Defeat Incumbents In Democratic County Board Primary

Newcomers Defeat Incumbents In Democratic County Board Primary

Four newcomers running for the Champaign County Board defeated incumbents and recent appointees in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. The winners include Emily Rodriguez of Champaign, who defeated county board chairman Giraldo Rosales in District 8, on a vote of  1,403 to 283. Rodriguez won 83% of the vote, according to the first unofficial tally from the…

UI Professor: Census Participation ‘Crucial’ To Ensure Funding, Representation

UI Professor: Census Participation ‘Crucial’ To Ensure Funding, Representation

Millions of American households this month will receive an invitation from the U.S. Census Bureau to participate in the 2020 census. Julie Dowling, chair of the Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations, and a professor of Latina/Latino studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says it’s important to get…

Election voting sign

Shortage Of Election Judges Causes Shifting In Champaign & Macon Counties

URBANA – Actions taken to guard against the coronavirus are hampering primary election day in at least two Illinois counties, creating a shortage of election judges and closing some polling locations. Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons says more than 100 election judges have dropped out of Tuesday’s election, mostly due to fears of the coronavirus….

School Sales Tax Referendum Is On The Ballot Again In Vermilion County
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School Sales Tax Referendum Is On The Ballot Again In Vermilion County

After being rejected by voters in 2018, a referendum asking voters to approve a one-percent sales tax for public school facilities and other expenses is back on the ballot in the March 17th primary election in Vermilion County. But the proposal does not have the support of officials in Danville. Voters in several Illinois counties…

Champaign County To Move Three Polling Places Out Of Long-Term Care Facilities
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Champaign County To Move Three Polling Places Out Of Long-Term Care Facilities

Champaign County is moving three of its primary election polling places out of long-term care facilities to other locations, out of concern about the coronavirus. Angie Patton, chief deputy with the Champaign County Clerk’s office, says her office made the decision after conferring with officials at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. But she emphasized that…

Champaign County Expands Early Voting
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Champaign County Expands Early Voting

CHAMPAIGN – As early voting continues for the March 17 Illinois Primary, Champaign County is opening seven additional early voting locations on Monday, March 8, in Champaign, Rantoul, Tolono, Mahomet and St. Joseph. Two other early voting locations opened a week earlier on the University of Illinois campus. Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons says he…

Jail’s Future Is An Issue In Champaign County Board Election
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Jail’s Future Is An Issue In Champaign County Board Election

URBANA – As the Champaign County Board considers closing the older of its two county jails, progressive Democrats running for board seats argue for making any new jail facility a smaller one. It’s generally agreed that the Champaign County Jail in downtown Urbana is dangerously run down. County Board Chairman Giraldo Rosales, a Champaign Democrat…

Flash Index: Illinois’ Growing Economy Continues, But Potential Impact Of Coronavirus Unknown

Flash Index: Illinois’ Growing Economy Continues, But Potential Impact Of Coronavirus Unknown

Concern about the coronavirus has affected the stock market. But so far, it hasn’t impacted Illinois’ economy, as measured by the University of Illinois Flash Index. The Flash Index was up by three tenths of a point in February, to 105.7, its highest rating in over four years. Any reading over 100 reflects economic growth…

Camargo Physician Chuck Ellington Seeks 15th District GOP Nomination

Camargo Physician Chuck Ellington Seeks 15th District GOP Nomination

A family physician from Douglas County said he’s running for Congress because of a “failure of leadership” he sees in Washington. Dr. Charles “Chuck” Ellington lives in Camargo, with his medical practice in Arthur.  He’s also on the faculty of the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, and holds a law license.