
Urbana launches a free financial literacy program to help residents with money management
City officials in Urbana hope a new financial literacy program will help residents better manage their finances and build strong credit profiles.

U of I’s Soybean Innovation Lab expects $1.5M grant will help address food insecurity across Africa
The Soybean Innovation Lab is awaiting final approval for a $1.5 million grant from a research foundation. The money will help expand their efforts to combat global food insecurity and poverty by increasing the number of soybean varieties available to 28 African nations.

What happens if new data centers come to C-U? A look at the environmental costs
The steady hum inside the National Petascale Computing Facility (NPCF) is so loud that it’s hard to hear anything else inside. But beneath this noise is a hidden current of water.

The historical mistreatment of Black Americans prompts calls for reparations in Urbana
Community members gathered Saturday morning for a public hearing that explored the historical and ongoing hurt of Black Americans in Illinois, with a call to action for reparations. The event took place at the Krannert Center in Urbana.

Urbana will explore alternatives to mental health crisis intervention without police involvement
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to connect with a counselor. URBANA —

Former NASA astronaut José Hernández visits the U of I, shares his story of perseverance
In celebration of Latine Heritage Month, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s La Casa Cultural Latina welcomed former NASA astronaut José Hernández to speak with students, staff and community members at the Illini Union Oct. 2.

The threat of Chagas in Illinois is low. But health officials want greater awareness of the disease
An estimated 300,000 people in the U.S. have been infected with Chagas disease, a parasitic illness transmitted by triatomine bugs, also known as “kissing bugs.”

Central Illinois farmers face severe drought with low yields for harvest season
Rainfall has been below average in recent months, according to Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford.

Tribute wall celebrating Black musicians unveiled at Champaign’s Skelton Park
Jazz, gospel and hip hop filled the air as a tribute wall dedicated to the Black musicians of Champaign was revealed Sunday at Skelton Park in Champaign. The wall features 94 artists dating back to the 1890s.

As tick-borne illnesses rise, Illinois is taking steps to increase surveillance
Tick-borne diseases have been on the rise in Illinois for many years. And new research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign finds ticks are migrating to different parts of the state.

Students celebrate launch of first NASA mission led by a U of I researcher
The Grainger College of Engineering hosted a watch party for NASA’s livestream, since the Carruthers mission is led by Lara Waldrop, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the U of I.

‘Quite remarkable’: The Farm Aid benefit concert, which started in Champaign, celebrates 40 years
Farm Aid is a traveling benefit concert that has raised more than $80 million nationwide to help struggling family farms across the U.S. The first annual Farm Aid event was held 40 years ago, on Sept. 22, 1985, in what is now Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

