
Champaign County residents share concerns about data centers and a shortage of skilled nursing beds
At Tuesday’s Champaign County board meeting, the chair of the board said the county has no data centers planned. And during public comment, residents asked for help to fund a skilled nursing facility.

America @ 250: Sammy Garduno asks President Trump why he is not doing what he promised
Sammy Garduno emigrated from Mexico when he was 16. In 2006, he opened Sammy’s Pancake House on North Mattis Avenue in Champaign. In April, retired and handed management duties over to his daughter Veronica.

C-U Mass Transit District riders may notice some changes — now and in the future
The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District has made some bus route changes to offer better service to its riders and has taken steps toward the redesign of the Illinois Terminal.

‘Culture is a gift’: Welcoming Week kickoff party celebrates C-U’s vibrant immigrant communities
Community members gathered to celebrate “Welcoming Week” at a kickoff event Friday evening in Urbana.

Champaign-Urbana remembers those lost in 9/11 at Gies Memorial Stadium
CHAMPAIGN — A memorial at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign honored the nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001,

Philo Road Ahead Initiative moves forward with opening of Community Engagement & Violence Prevention Office
Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams stands in front of the newly opened Community Engagement & Violence Prevention Office in Urbana on Sept. 10, 2026. He says the goal is to improve safety and help residents connect with the resources they need.

‘Welcoming Voices’ panel highlights immigrant support in Champaign County
Several immigrant support agencies teamed up with local officials in Champaign County to host a panel discussion focused on immigrant support and to spread awareness of area resources. The event is part of the “Welcoming Week” – nearly 30 events taking place from Sept. 9 through Sept. 19.

‘Blood is a medicine’: Local boy’s 200 blood transfusions highlight importance of donors amid shortage
Amid national and regional blood shortages, ImpactLife hosted a blood drive at the Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine on Wednesday, Sept. 9, as part of the Abbott and Big Ten “We Give Blood” Challenge.

Workers at The Literary are hopeful unionization and new ownership will bring positive changes
The Literary – a bookstore, bar and cafe in downtown Champaign – is under new ownership. Newly unionized workers hope to see better wages, more predictable shift scheduling and better staffing going forward.

America @ 250: Ranjodh Singh asks that his fellow Americans see God in everybody
Decatur resident Ranjohd Singh is a general and colorectal surgeon at Decatur Memorial Hospital and a member of the Sikh Religious Society of Central Illinois. He lives in Decatur with his wife and two teenage children.

New Rantoul mural honoring Tuskegee Airmen bridges history and community through art
A new mural unveiled this week honors the lives of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-Black flying squadron for the U.S. Army Air Corps. The artwork is the newest stop on the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail.

Champaign County officials say they can’t ban data centers. But residents want tighter restrictions
A ban on large data center development could expose the county to a lawsuit from a developer, according to Champaign County officials. A proposed ordinance offers guardrails for new centers, but some feel it’s not strict enough.

