Paxton-Based Ford County Record To Cease Publication
CHAMPAIGN – One of two local newspapers in central Illinois’ Ford County will close down this fall. The publisher of the Ford County Record says the weekly paper will cease publication “within the next month or so.” The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette bought the century-and-a-half-old Paxton Record in 2007, eventually renaming it the Ford County Record. When […]
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 […]
Economist: Illinois Economy Still Healthy, Despite 2nd Month Of Growth Rate Decline
URBANA – After rising to its highest level in six years, the Flash Index of the Illinois economy has declined over the past two months, from 106.0 in June, to 105.8 in July and to 105.6 in August. But the economist who compiles the index says he still isn’t concerned about the condition of the […]
“A Great Loss To Us All;” Funeral Held For U of I Police Lieutenant
URBANA – Family, friends and fellow police officers said farewell to University of Illinois Police lieutenant Aaron Landers Tuesday, at a funeral held at the Vineyard Church in Urbana. The 50-year-old Landers died August 23rd, from injuries suffered in a five-vehicle traffic crash the day before in Champaign. A driver involved in the accident has […]
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. […]
Gibson City Sets Up Fund For Flood Victims
GIBSON CITY – As Gibson City cleans up from last week’s flash flood, a special fund has been set up to help people pay for the damage. Businesses, churches and private individuals have set up about two dozen GoFundMe pages seeking donations for people who suffered flood damage during the heavy rains that fell for […]
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 […]
Thunderstorms Flood Roads In Gibson City
URBANA – A nearly stationary line of heavy thunderstorms brought flooding Thursday to the uppermost part of the Sangamon River Valley in Champaign, Ford and McLean Counties. Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard estimates that six to nine inches of rain fell in those counties, from early Thursday morning into the afternoon. He blamed the flooding on […]
A New Committee Will Look For Champaign County Jail Solutions
URBANA – A special Champaign County Board committee has three months to come up with a plan to resolve the county’s jail issues. Meanwhile, the sheriff plans to send some inmates to jails in other counties, due to a shortage of correctional officers. County board members meeting as a Committee Of The Whole Tuesday night […]
Small Dip In Flash Index Suggests Illinois Economy’s Plateau
URBANA – The University of Illinois Flash Index reading of 105.8 in July showed the Illinois economy growing at a slightly slower pace, compared to June’s reading of 106.0. But the economist who compiles the index doesn’t think the state’s economic growth rate is going down. “I think it’s more like, not a real decline, […]
New Water Source Coming For Residents Hit By Gas Leak
MAHOMET – Relief is in sight for some rural residents of Champaign County, whose well water was contaminated by a natural gas leak. They could eventually be hooked up to a nearby public water system. Jodi Eisenman is one of these residents. Jodi, her husband Derric and their children live on a farm located between […]
Legion Hall, Site Of Recent Shooting, Hosts Neighborhood Safety Meeting
CHAMPAIGN – American Legion Post 559 in north Champaign was the scene of gun violence in early July. On Monday evening, members of the community gathered at the same Legion post to ask questions and look for solutions. The July 2nd shooting killed 17-year-old Kieshaun Thatch, and wounded four others. It occurred at a funeral […]
Renovations Are Underway At Urbana’s Downtown Hotel
URBANA – After a year’s delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work has begun on renovating a long-closed downtown Urbana hotel. Plans are to reopen the building as the Hotel Royer, with the promise of city financing if the work is completed. The new name honors the hotel’s architect, Urbana native Joseph Royer, whose other […]
Frerichs Talks State Budget, Grant Program, During Champaign Visit
CHAMPAIGN – State Treasurer Mike Frerichs says Illinois is balancing its budget, even without a graduated state income tax that voters rejected last year. And he says the governor and legislators have to continue doing so. Frerichs, a Democrat, made his remarks Tuesday, during a visit to the Champaign Farmers’ Market, held every Tuesday in […]
Illinois Flash Index Continues To Rise
URBANA – The Illinois economy is growing at its highest rate since 2015. That’s according to the latest University of Illinois Flash Index. Listen to this story here. The Flash Index measured the state’s economy at 106.0 for June, well above the 100-level that divides growth and decline. The June reading is higher than May’s […]