Dozens of deaths in Illinois jails missing from state records
An Illinois Answers Project analysis revealed that 63 people who died in jails were missing from state data on in-custody fatalities. Now the state is auditing its records.
Tag: Illinois
Escapes. Fires. Rebellions. Trove of records reveals chaos inside Illinois county jails.
Jail staff are supposed to report any “extraordinary or unusual occurrences” to the Jail and Detention Standards Unit (JDSU) within the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). But jails have been haphazardly reporting for years, and some incidents were never disclosed to the JDSU.
Danville residents rally behind proposed Kickapoo Rail Trail expansion
Trails of the Grand Prairie, a nonprofit working to expand the Kickapoo Rail Trail, is applying for a state grant to extend the trail to Danville.
Illinois residents who are terminally ill can now end their lives. Here’s how it works.
The medical aid in dying law is facing court challenges, but the law still stands.
El Paso burial site of first Black man to vote in Illinois confirmed 121 years after his death
More than 120 years after his death, local historians finally feel confident of the burial spot for the first Black man to vote in Illinois.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois September 17 – 20
Fall festivals, live music, and the grand opening of a history museum are all happening this week in Central Illinois.
‘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.
Public defense reform advances as Illinois moves to hire statewide public defender
The initial statewide public defender will serve a two-year term and receive a salary of $218,400 — equal to that of Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Judge weighing arguments to halt Illinois’ ‘medical aid in dying’ law ahead of Sept. 12 start
Disability rights advocates worry about potential for coercion and want more state oversight.
Urbana City Council’s Ward 6 seat open after incumbent member steps down
Southeast Urbana’s incumbent council member Grace Wilken resigned earlier this week. Residents of Ward 6 can apply by September 11 to be appointed to Wilken’s former seat.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois August 27 – 30
Back-to-school events, a family resource fair, museum exhibitions, live music and more are coming to central Illinois this weekend.
Data center energy consumption raises concerns about long-term costs and reliability
Illinois is home to more than 240 data centers.
Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams’ state of the city address highlights decrease in crime, plans to confront housing challenges
Mayor Deshawn Williams spoke at his State of the City address about public works improvements, including new street lights and sidewalks as well as public safety and violence prevention.
Few parents in Illinois opting kids out of required vaccines, data shows
Most Illinois counties have a non-medical exemption rate under one percent. Six counties in northern and southern Illinois have a two percent exemption rate.
Urbana enacts ordinance to require council approval for use of surveillance technology
After years of discussion over how Urbana should use surveillance technology, officials have enacted a measure that implements transparency requirements and mandates city council approval for departments to adopt new tools like license plate readers or facial recognition software.