URBANA — Champaign County government underwent a big change in recent years. In 2016, voters approved the creation of a new county executive position to oversee county government, in hopes of making it more functional. In 2018, they elected Democrat Darlene Kloeppel as the first person to serve in that position. Less than
URBANA — Surveyors will start knocking on doors in rural Champaign County this weekend to ask residents if they are happy with their internet service. Champaign County officials commissioned the survey to find the most efficient way to close internet gaps with $3 million in COVID-19 relief. “There might be a way that we can
UPDATE: The Champaign County Board approved a revised district map Thursday night. County board members voted along party lines to approve a map submitted by the board’s Democratic majority. It uses newly released Census data to revise a map approved last May. Republican Jim Goss criticized Democrats for calling their proposal an “equity” map —
URBANA – The Champaign County Board voted along party lines Friday evening to override the county executive’s veto of a new district map drawn by Democrats. On a 14-7 vote (with Republican Jodi Wolken absent), the county board overrode County Executive Darlene Kloeppel’s veto of a map Democrats have labeled the Equity Map. Republicans had
2nd UPDATE: May 21 2021 5:45 p.m. – Champaign County Executive Darlene Kloeppel has vetoed a new district map that the county board approved Thursday night, and is asking the county board to reconsider the question at its June 24 meeting. In her veto message released Friday, Kloeppel said Democrats had not taken the time
URBANA – The mistaken euthanizing of a dog by Champaign County Animal Control over Christmas has raised a storm of controversy. Now, Champaign County officials say they want to make sure it never happens again. After her dog Dada was impounded by Champaign County’s Animal Control Department, owner Monica Lopez was told by a department
URBANA – Democrat Cameron Raab was appointed and sworn in to fill a vacant seat on the Champaign County Board Thursday night. But the appointment came with a testy legal debate that may not be over. The debate was about who’s in charge of the county board’s agenda: county board chair Kyle Patterson, or County
URBANA – The Champaign County Board chose Kyle Patterson to be their new chair at Monday night’s organizational meeting. County board members voted along party lines in the online meeting, to choose Patterson, an Urbana Democrat, for chair. He won over Republican Aaron Esry of rural St. Joseph. Democrat Steve Summers of Urbana was chosen
Illinois Officials: 3 More Dead, 422 Now Positive For Virus CHICAGO — Illinois public health officials say three more people have died after contracting the coronavirus and 422 people statewide have now tested positive for the disease caused by the virus. A total of four people have died in the state as a result of
UPDATE: Champaign County Executive Darlene Kloeppel said on Thursday that in-person public attendance at Thursday evening’s county board meeting will not be allowed, and all public comment would occur via online video conferencing, due to new government guidelines discouraging meetings of more than ten people. She added that if in-person attendance by county board members