After severe droughts in July and August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated Champaign and Vermilion counties as primary natural disaster areas. With that announcement, farmers with 30% crop loss, can apply for low-interest, emergency loans. This can help replace equipment or refinance certain debts. John Gehrke heads the loan program at the USDA Illinois
A Champaign-based leasing company, Fairlawn Real Estate, is revitalizing their apartments with a new arts initiative. The initiative is called Fairlawn for the Arts, according to project manager for Fairlawn Real Estate Tom Hagensick. He says the initiative both supports the arts and brings a fresh look to apartments in the Champaign-Urbana area. “I think
CHAMPAIGN – In response to bans in neighboring states, the Planned Parenthood clinic located in Champaign is now providing in-patient, surgical abortions. Clinic staff expect to see more anti-abortion rights protesters with the expanded service. “Here in Champaign, the protester activity has always been pretty mild,” says Champaign Planned Parenthood manager Jennifer Fetters. “However, now
CHAMPAIGN — Cities across the United States saw a spike in violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden administration encouraged cities to turn to one-time, relief dollars for help. While Champaign signed contracts with grassroots, violence prevention groups, many places instead invested in traditional policing – even when they reported spending the money on alternatives.
CHAMPAIGN – Ri’Chard Frazier took his role as a big brother seriously from a young age. By middle school, being the “tough” one started to get him in trouble. He bounced between public and alternative schools. The first time he felt cared for was at FirstFollowers, a nonprofit Champaign recently entrusted with half a million
There were 50 lethal shootings in the city of Champaign between 2015 and the first half of 2022. Of those 50 victims, 15 were 20 years old or younger. At least 30 suspects were arrested in those shootings, and 15 of them were also aged 20 or younger. Those were some of the numbers revealed
URBANA – Multiple reports of gun violence kept Central Illinois police busy over the weekend. Friday 11:00 p.m. It started late Friday night in the 2000 block of Cynthia Drive. Champaign police say a 23-year-old man was taken to the hospital after being shot in the arm during a large fight. The victim was transported to
URBANA – A Savoy resident is facing a Class X felony charge of “Making A Terrorist Threat” after he sent emails to the mayor of Champaign threatening to commit a mass shooting. Meanwhile, Mayor Feinen says she’s grateful to Champaign Police and the Champaign County’s State’s Attorney’s office for their actions in the case. Feinen
CHAMPAIGN -An argument between two men from Urbana turned deadly in Champaign’s Campustown over the weekend. Police responded to shots fired in the 200-block of East Green Street after 9:00 p.m. on Friday. The incident resulted in the University of Illinois issuing an Illini-Alert, asking people to avoid the area or shelter in place. Officers
CHAMPAIGN – Police departments across the U.S., including in Champaign County, are facing staffing shortages. The Champaign police department is using financial incentives to try to fill 20 officer openings. Within the last few months, it filled several vacancies after offering a $20,000 signing bonus. “Recruiting is getting harder,” Joe Lamberson, the Champaign police department’s
Yvonne Miller likes driving her white Volvo because it reminds her of driving with her son. On her license plate is the word “STUFF.” The bold, black letters stand out against the light blue color of her “Prevent Violence” license plate. “Stuff” is a tribute to Miller’s 23-year-old son, Christopher Kelly. It was a nickname
CHAMPAIGN – Wednesday kicks off the first day of the return of Ebertfest, Champaign’s annual film festival named in honor of late University of Illinois alumnus and film critic Roger Ebert. The festival will feature films from Wednesday to Saturday including “The Phantom of the Open,” “Ghost World,” and “Nightmare Alley.” Movies shown at Ebertfest
CHAMPAIGN – The Refugee Center helped more than 50 people from Kabul settle in the Champaign-Urbana area after the Taliban took over that area in August of 2021. They continue to help their clients settle in their new homes in different ways. One of which includes obtaining a job at Guardian West manufacturing. Lisa Wilson
Some Champaign residents called this week for two city council members to resign following comments they made at a meeting earlier this month. The demands for council members Alicia Beck and Michael Foellmer to step down stemmed from an exchange Beck had with two local residents at the council’s Feb. 15 meeting. The Champaign residents,
CHAMPAIGN – Illinois Public Media is committed to discussions about decreasing gun violence in Champaign-Urbana. Last year, we launched our News, Brews, and Beatz series of conversations. Our next event is Monday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. Illinois Public Media News Director Reginald Hardwick, who co-moderates these discussions, previewed Monday’s conversation with Morning Edition host