Illinois Prison Removes More Than 200 Books From Prison Library
When she found out that staff at the Danville Correctional Center had removed more than 200 books from a library inside the prison’s education wing,…
Illinois’ Budget Is Last Chance To Fund 2020 Census
The U.S. Census count is less than a year away, and the group tasked with making sure everyone is counted is asking state lawmakers for millions to help…
With Crime-Free Rules, Tenants Evicted After Overdose Calls
In one town in the Metro East, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, police are forcing landlords to evict tenants who have called for help…
Better Jobs in Small Cities, More Investment In Higher Ed Could Stem Illinois’ Population Loss
Illinois continues to lose residents, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released in April. Overall, around 45,000 fewer people lived in…
The Fight Over What It Means To Be Homeless — And How That Could Affect Illinois
Just because someone has four walls around them every night, that doesn’t mean they’re housed. That’s what Paul Hamann believes. He’s the president and…
Ask the Newsroom: What Are Champaign And Urbana Doing To Create More Affordable Housing
Illinois Newsroom has been covering the struggle to find affordable housing around the state. The lack of funding to build housing for people with low-incomes is one challenge. But city governments can influence where and how housing is built through their zoning rules. Allowing more multi-family structures opens neighborhoods up to people who cannot afford…
Why Does Affordable Housing Matter?
News & Brews: Why does affordable housing matter? event on Tuesday, March 26 at Riggs Beer Company in Urbana.
Ask The Newsroom: Section 8 Housing
In Illinois, there are only 35 affordable housing units for every 100 families considered extremely low-income, according to Housing Action Illinois, a…
‘Crime-Free Housing’ Rules Spread In Illinois
Many communities in Illinois have rules that say renters can lose their housing if someone in the home is connected to a crime. City leaders who back…
Public Airs Its Gratitude, Grievances Over Proposed Changes To Federal Waterway Regulations
The water we drink is protected by federal rules, which are at the crux of a long-running fight over how far upstream that protection extends. …
Out of Reach: Illinois’ Affordable Housing Crisis
Affordable housing issues often get media attention when property prices soar due to spiking economic development or when property prices tumble due to dramatic industry decline, but that narrative is incomplete. Lack of affordable housing affects communities of all types and sizes. Social service and health providers across the state pointed to housing insecurity as…
An Illinois Law Aims To Help Homeless Students — Is It Enough?
Last summer, Chantil was forced to leave the townhome she shared with her two daughters and her mother in Des Plaines. (We’re withholding Chantil’s last…
Why Even Illinois’s Department Of Corrections Wants To Fix The Way The State Does Electronic Monitoring
Nicole Davis said her uncle was diagnosed with late-stage cancer after his release from prison in 2014. He was confined to his home because of an electronic monitoring device strapped to his ankle. He missed many necessary doctor appointments before he died, Davis said. She said that’s because he couldn’t get permission from his parole…
Illinois Ag Director Wants Money For Rural Broadband
Slow internet service can slow a business down, adding up to lost time and money. And often the problem is worse in rural areas. That’s one reason John…
Making The Case For A Piece of Illinois’ Capital Plan
Crumbling sidewalks, gas line failures and cracked concrete — the problems at Brookfield Zoo are a metaphor for what’s wrong with public infrastructure…