Urbana 2025 primary election results
Urbana voters put DeShawn Williams on the path to becoming the city’s next mayor. Residents also reelected all incumbents currently serving on the City Council.
Tag: urbana city council
217 Today: What to expect on the ballot in Urbana’s upcoming election
In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn what’s on the ballot and who’s running for city council in Urbana’s upcoming election.
At a candidate forum, Urbana mayoral and Ward 6 hopefuls express differing views on policing technology
Ahead of Urbana’s Feb. 25 primary election, candidates for mayor and City Council presented to a full house at a forum held in the Urbana City Council chambers.
Urbana City Council tables measure that would require approval for police surveillance technology
Officials in Urbana have tabled an ordinance that would require the city’s police department to seek approval before purchasing and using surveillance technology, including license plate readers, facial recognition software, drones, social media analytics software, mobile X-Rays and tools used to gain access to a mobile device.
Urbana officials pledge $800,000 for new grocery store, contingent on state grant
Urbana officials are taking steps that could bring a grocery store to the city’s north end. On Monday night, the City Council pledged to allocate $800,000 to tackle a food desert in Ward 3. The money is meant to support an application for the Illinois Grocery Initiative, a program that could provide up to $2.4
Urbana activists want more police oversight. But local laws hold the civilian review board hostage
This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign County between the Champaign-Urbana Civic Police Data Project of Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit public accountability journalism organization, and IPM News, which provides news about Illinois & in-depth reporting on Agriculture, Education, the Environment, Health, and Politics, powered by Illinois Public Media.
Proposed Urbana City Council ward maps are available for review
The Urbana City Council is expected to review three proposed ward boundary maps at its June 3rd Committee of the Whole meeting. Meanwhile, the proposed maps are posted at the city’s website for public review and comment. A link on the website’s front page takes users to information on ward redistricting. The map that wins council approval will replace Urbana’s current ward map.
Urbana City Council delays decision to hire more police officers, facing resident pushback
URBANA — Urbana Police Chief Larry Boone asked the Urbana City Council Monday night to amend the budget to hire four additional police officers. The Council deferred the decision until a national consulting firm hired by the department releases a report with staffing recommendations. Boone requested $569,198 to fund four new positions, including a Deputy
Emails reveal UIPD’s plan to use surveillance to monitor campus crime in real time
CHAMPAIGN — The University of Illinois Police Department has requested nearly a million dollars in federal funding to open a real-time crime center. The center would enable police officers to receive more information from a growing number of surveillance methods while responding to incidents, according to UIPD spokesperson Pat Wade. If the real-time operators find
Illinois lawmakers are requiring honesty from crisis pregnancy centers. Here’s what Urbana activists want to do.
CHAMPAIGN — When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, Kit Santa Ana, an organizer in Champaign-Urbana, said she was inspired to do something. That started, she said, with making sure local pregnancy centers were being honest with their clients. Pregnancy resource centers offer resources and options to people who are pregnant. But local
Urbana nears finish line of awarding millions of federal funds for pandemic relief to community organizations
URBANA – The Urbana City Council is expected to officially award almost $10 million in federal pandemic relief money on Feb. 27. Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin said the proposed plan includes investing in improvements to community health, access to food and recreation. “These funds were distributed to cities to help cities themselves recover from COVID-19,
Urbana City Council worries whether plasma businesses are predatory. Transfusion physician and local plasma donors do not
URBANA — Cars whoosh past the KEDPLASMA center on Lincoln Avenue. Brandon Olison has spent hours in the building, donating his plasma in exchange for a card pre-loaded with cash. Olison hasn’t had any side effects in the two months since he started donating. “I’ve never had a side effect or anything. No bad experiences.
After 4-3 Urbana City Council vote, Champaign County can begin jail expansion
URBANA — The Urbana City Council voted Monday to allow new jail construction within city limits. Champaign County plans to expand its satellite jail on Lierman Avenue. The new jail will have fewer total beds in a more modern facility. “Think about [an isolation cell with] four walls with a door and a small window.
De-Escalation Techniques Are Part Of New Urbana Police Use Of Force Policy
URBANA – A revised use of force policy for Urbana Police covers 14 pages, instead of the eight pages covered by the old one. And it puts a new emphasis on de-escalating potentially violent situations. Urbana City Council members heard a presentation on the new policy at their Monday night meeting on August 23.
Urbana’s Emergency Housing Program Finds A New Home
URBANA – Urbana’s emergency housing program is about to move from rented hotel rooms to its own apartment buildings. The program gives shelter to homeless families and people with disabilities for just a few weeks, while helping them arrange for more permanent shelter. Cunningham Township, which covers the same territory as Urbana, launched the program