Tag: champaign-urbana

C16 Biosciences cofounder David Heller (center) holds a silver trophy while shaking hands with a man. A woman stands to his right on a stage in front of signs that say Startup World Cup.

AgTech Week brings pitch competition for startups, discussions on biomanufacturing to Champaign-Urbana

AgTech Week is a celebration of Champaign-Urbana’s ag tech industry.

A lawn sign reads "Next week. Campus move-in days. Expect increased traffic." A red car drives down the road next to the sign.

Measles cases are on the rise — and a new semester beginning could impact C-U’s risk

URBANA — McKinley Health Center sent an email to all University of Illinois faculty, staff and students Tuesday warning them to protect themselves from measles. As thousands travel to Champaign-Urbana for the fall semester, the risk of an outbreak could increase. “People are traveling to places where measles cases are more endemic, and they’re coming

Tango beat coming to Urbana with public events and immersive workshop

Champaign-Urbana residents should grab their dancing shoes as the city is set to come alive with the sound of tango as the CU Tango Music Workshop kicks off on Sunday, July 20.

Illinois Public Media launches Illinois Soul: a new platform amplifying Black voices and music

On February 1, 2024, Illinois Soul will launch on FM 101.1 here in Champaign-Urbana. And outside of the twin cities, you can tune it in on a high definition radio at FM 90.9. HD 2.

Racial covenants limited housing options for Black residents in Champaign; a local group aims to repair that harm

Racial covenants restricted almost 800 pieces of land in Champaign County from being owned by anyone who wasn’t white. The Champaign-Urbana Reparations Coalition is starting to advocate for reparations for this for African Americans in the area.

People impacted by gun violence often know what’s causing it. So, a local group collected their thoughts.

CHAMPAIGN — Research and social justice are often separate issues — but one local organization is using its connections to figure out how to combat violence before it starts. First Followers helps formerly incarcerated people re-enter the Champaign-Urbana community. The group released the results of their survey of people in Champaign-Urbana on the leading causes

“Guns to Garden Tools” instills catharsis and social justice in community

CHAMPAIGN — A few years ago, Rabbi Alan Cook of Sinai Temple heard about a group that transforms donated guns into gardening tools. He thought it was a powerful idea, and said it was akin to the Jewish principle, tikkun olam. “We emphasize the idea of tikkun olam, literally repairing the world and making it

University of Illinois students hold rally in support of Ukraine

URBANA, Ill. – When Daniel Brandys, the vice president of the Ukrainian Student Association at the University of Illinois, was growing up, he said many people in the U.S. had no idea what Ukraine was. Now, with Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, Brandys said he’s finally seeing people standing in solidarity with the country that

How Being A Chaplain Gave One Pastor A Sense Of Urgency In The COVID Fight

CHAMPAIGN — Keith Thomas wears many hats in the Champaign-Urbana community. He’s a full-time pastor at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. And he’s also been on the frontlines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, working as a hospital chaplain at OSF HealthCare. Thomas says the hardest situations he’s been in — as a local chaplain — have

Hundreds Run Through Streets Of C-U In ‘Run To Remember’

CHAMPAIGN – Hundreds of runners and walkers turned out for the inaugural Run To Remember on Saturday morning in Champaign-Urbana. The 8K run and walk started off in front of the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium, 20-years after the September 11, 2001 attacks. And while it was not specifically created for that day, the race

Vehicle Catalytic Converter Thefts Increase In CU

URBANA – Auto shop owners and law enforcement in Champaign-Urbana are seeing an increase in vehicle catalytic converter thefts. Catalytic converters make toxic exhaust fumes less harmful for the environment and are located on the underside of vehicles. They also contain precious metals like rhodium, platinum and palladium that can sell for upwards of $19,000

University Of Illinois Class Of 2021 Graduates Reflect On COVID Graduation

URBANA — Bells rang across the University of Illinois’s main quadrangle as seniors lined up at Alma Mater to take graduation pictures by Altgeld Tower. Pandemic or no, May is still graduation season on the Urbana campus. An estimated 5,600 University of Illinois students graduated during the weekend of May 15. However, for many

Health Experts: Masks, Distancing Key To Preventing COVID-19 Outbreaks In Schools

As schools across Illinois finalize their plans to reopen this fall, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is urging students, teachers and school staff members to wear masks at all times and stay at least six feet apart. The C-UPHD recently released guidelines and recommendations for schools and families as they prepare to begin the next

C-U Commemorates Juneteenth With Peace Walk, Celebration

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign-Urbana residents celebrated Juneteenth on Friday afternoon with a peaceful march and a small festival in Beardsley Park. Juneteenth is celebrated every year on June 19th, and commemorates the day in 1865 when some of the last enslaved people in the Confederacy were emancipated. HV Neighborhood Transformation (HVNT) organized the inaugural Juneteenth event,