Urbana protesters mourn beating victim and demand changes to policing
Demonstrations broke out across the country over the beating death of Tyre Nichols. Some marchers in Urbana are pushing for major changes.
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Champaign school board keeps schools of choice, modifies middle school assignments
Unlike initial plans, no students will have to switch schools next year – except the 13 students who live west of Champaign in Bondville.
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Champaign Unit 4 parents asked: does desegregation help close achievement gaps? Here’s what five education researchers say.
“A lot of research suggests that that attending a high-socioeconomic status (SES) school kind of rubs off on you – more than your own SES even. It’s kind of amazing,” Palardy says.
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Police report: Champaign shootings dropped by half in 2022
The report — released this month — credits an increase in community engagement as the cause.
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California shooter kills 10 at dance club; motive unclear
The Monterey Park slayings sent a wave of fear through Asian American communities in region and cast a shadow over festivities nationwide.
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Warren ready to embrace new challenge as Bears president
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Kevin Warren is ready to tackle a new challenge as president and CEO of the Chicago Bears, and he has a big one going from Big Ten commissioner to leading a founding NFL franchise. A new suburban stadium could be on the horizon. The team owns the No. 1 pick…
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How will ten Champaign County high schoolers continue Dr. King’s dream? Through environmental, health and housing justice.
“I want to help as many people as possible get the mental health that they need and deserve,” says scholarship winner Halie Thompson.
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Champaign Unit 4 superintendent recommends keeping current schools of choice system
The Unit 4 school board hired a consulting firm to figure out how to further desegregate its schools. But after months of parent pushback, both the company and the district superintendent are recommending keeping the current schools of choice system, with some tweaks.
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Rockford community disappointed by school board’s response to school violence protests
ROCKFORD — In October, the family of a Rockford Public Schools student filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the school board, a school resource officer and several administrators from Auburn High School. The suit says that in the fall of 2021, Parris Moore, who was a freshman at the time and stood less than…
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Bills target pawnbrokers for tighter rate limits
Legislative Black Caucus calls them ‘predatory’ lenders; pawnbrokers push back.
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Retiring Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White reveals the racism that shaped his legacy
You may know White because his name is on your driver’s license or you’ve seen his tumblers at parades. But there’s a lot more to White’s legendary political career as it comes to an end. CHICAGO — Democrat Jesse White is leaving office next month as Illinois’ longest-serving and first African American secretary of state….
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Spanish-speaking families struggle with language barriers at home
Ariana and Andres Loor grew up in Champaign. Throughout their childhood, they were placed in dual-language classrooms to help them learn Spanish. Now a 20-year-old student at Parkland College, Ariana said she is still learning the language. “I am still trying to learn Spanish because I mean, you can only get better,” Ariana said. Even…
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Urbana’s school board paused its vote for one Spanish-English school. Now, dual language parents and teachers are setting a deadline.
URBANA – The Urbana school board will reconsider in January how to establish a fully dual-language elementary school for Spanish and English. This comes after renewed pressure from dual language teachers and families. The district currently has two schools with partial-building, dual-language programs. “White privileged families and community members can and do fight for justice…
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Parent backlash delayed school desegregation plans in Champaign. What are the options now?
CHAMPAIGN – After parent backlash, the Champaign Unit 4 school board has a new option for further desegregating schools – keeping student placements mostly the same. Consulting firm Cooperative Strategies presented this new option to the Unit 4 Board of Education on Monday. The board hired the consulting firm to improve racial and class equity…
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Next ‘News, Brews & Beatz’ discussion to center around lack of affordable housing and its connection to crime
URBANA – According to many financial experts, you should spend no more than 30 percent of your gross monthly income on housing. For renters, that includes utility costs like heat, water, and power. But following that advice is a challenge for many people in Champaign-Urbana. Housing is the subject of a public discussion in downtown Champaign…
