Champaign police are finding new ways to engage with community youth
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Champaign police are finding new ways to engage with community youth

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign Police Department began gathering in coffee shops about six years ago for their “Coffee with a Cop” program. This month, they launched a new youth-geared program – “Ice Pops with Cops.” Their most recent “Coffee With A Cop” event was June 6th at the Starbucks on S. Neil St. in Champaign. …

Decatur’s Dennis Lab students to move to Garfield to avoid structural issues at home school

Decatur’s Dennis Lab students to move to Garfield to avoid structural issues at home school

DECATUR — Kindergarten through 6th graders from Dennis Lab School in Decatur now know where they will attend school in the fall – Garfield Learning Academy. Decatur Public Schools announced last week that it would close both Dennis buildings for a year after engineers found they were not structurally sound. Students were already on summer…

Parents fuming over planned changes to Urbana elementary school
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Parents fuming over planned changes to Urbana elementary school

Move would likely cause school redistricting for many elementary school students URBANA — At a committee meeting of community members and school administrators, the district superintendent unveiled a possible plan to turn Wiley Elementary school into a sixth grade center.  This plan didn’t appeal to many community members. Wiley is closing its doors starting this…

Pipelines that would store CO2 beneath Midwest states make some landowners nervous
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Pipelines that would store CO2 beneath Midwest states make some landowners nervous

  Three companies are proposing pipelines across the Midwest that would carry carbon dioxide captured from ethanol plants to underground sequestration sites. The plan is to inject the CO2 deep into rock formations under Illinois and North Dakota, but some landowners are pushing back. This story is a part of a Harvest Public Media series…

Crisis centers statewide face critical service reductions

Crisis centers statewide face critical service reductions

CHAMPAIGN – As dark gray storm clouds loomed over Champaign County the evening of April 20, dozens of protestors stood outside the Champaign County Courthouse. They wore ponchos and face masks, holding signs above their heads and screaming into megaphones with raspy voices. “People unite, take back the night!” Nessa Bolen, the event coordinator, cried…

Survivor service centers in crisis, leaders ask community for help

Survivor service centers in crisis, leaders ask community for help

Officials from three survivor service agencies gathered Monday to ask the community for help before a decrease in federal funds forces them into a reduction of therapy services. Leaders from Rape Advocacy Counseling and Education Services (RACES), Champaign County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), announced their Survivor Service Fund…

2 million Illinois residents hit by reduction in SNAP benefits
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2 million Illinois residents hit by reduction in SNAP benefits

CHAMPAIGN – Beginning this month, people who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a sharp reduction in benefits.   As the emergency allotments enacted by Congress at the start of pandemic expire, 16 million American households will now receive less monthly assistance. In Illinois, the change is expected to affect two…

Plans are back on the table for a carbon pipeline in Illinois

Plans are back on the table for a carbon pipeline in Illinois

CHAMPAIGN – Plans have resumed for a carbon dioxide pipeline in Illinois after a brief delay. Heartland Greenway LLC refiled its application with the Illinois Commerce Commission last Friday after voluntarily withdrawing it at the end of January. The Omaha-based company is seeking a certificate of authority to construct a pipeline that would cross 13…

Champaign residents left homeless after their apartment complex is condemned

Champaign residents left homeless after their apartment complex is condemned

When Christine Lucks’ first-floor apartment flooded with water on Aug. 28, she said she first assumed that her toilet was leaking.  “When I first got up, I came to the restroom, and it was like water on the floor,” she said. “As I was cleaning up the water, it was more water raining down on…

Eggs prices drop, but the threat from avian flu isn’t over yet

Eggs prices drop, but the threat from avian flu isn’t over yet

Maybe you’ve seen the funny internet memes about high egg prices? Like the one where a guy gets on his knees to propose, but instead of a ring, he brings out a dozen precious eggs! Well, egg prices have finally begun to decline. “We’re seeing wholesale prices start to come down,” says David Ortega, a…

Gas stove makers have a pollution solution. They’re just not using it

Gas stove makers have a pollution solution. They’re just not using it

The heated debate over regulating gas stoves is really about the burners in those appliances. That’s where natural gas, a fossil fuel, is combusted and air pollution is released into homes. Four decades ago, the gas industry and appliance manufacturers developed a partial solution for this problem. They created a cleaner and more efficient burner….