Hundreds Protest Peacefully In Urbana, Champaign In Response To Killing Of George Floyd
URBANA – Hundreds of protesters took over the streets of downtown Urbana Monday to denounce police brutality against people of color — including the recent killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. A diverse crowd — nearly all wearing masks — gathered outside the Champaign County Courthouse. The peaceful demonstration took place a day […]
News Around Illinois – June 1, 2020
Public Officials Announce 60 New COVID-19 Deaths in Illinois CHICAGO — Public health officials say there have been 1,343 new cases of COVID-19 and 60 additional deaths in Illinois. The state’s Department of Public Health announced the latest details on the coronavirus pandemic Sunday. Overall, there have been 120,260 cases, including 5,390 deaths. More than […]
Champaign & Urbana Issue Curfews After Looting
CHAMPAIGN – Citywide curfews were imposed in the central Illinois cities of Champaign, Urbana and Savoy after reports of looting and property damage at the Marketplace Mall in Champaign on Sunday. In Champaign, the curfew started Sunday at 8:30 p.m. The Urbana curfew started at 9:00 p.m. Both expire Monday at 6:00 a.m. Protests and […]
Cities Issue Outdoor Seating Guidelines For Restaurants As Illinois Enters ‘Phase Three’
As the state of Illinois begins allowing outdoor dining at restaurants Friday, cities are issuing guidance on how restaurants can expand their available outdoor seating. Rob Kowalski, Assistant Planning and Development Director for the City of Champaign, says officials had just a few days to write their guidelines, after Governor J.B. Pritzker announced late last […]
Where Can You Get Tested for COVID-19 In Central Illinois?
For health questions about COVID-19, call the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. IDPH has also compiled a list of testing sites across the state, including information on testing eligibility and contact information. Illinois has expanded COVID-19 testing criteria to allow all health care workers, including nursing home employees to […]
Free COVID-19 Testing Offered At Champaign Mall
CHAMPAIGN – A new drive-through COVID-19 testing site opens Tuesday at the Market Place mall in Champaign. Officials say the state-supported site supplements local testing efforts and aims to increase access for those in marginalized communities. The site is located at the Market Place shopping mall on North Neil Street, outside the J.C. Penney’s wing. […]
Former Urbana Substitute Teacher Accused Of Abusing Students
URBANA – Police in Urbana say a former substitute teacher is accused of abusing several 10-year-old students at an elementary school. In a press release on Tuesday, police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Clarence Walker of Champaign. He is scheduled to be arraigned on charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse on Wednesday. As of late […]
What’s Closed In Illinois Due To The Virus
STATEWIDE Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ordered the state’s residents to remain in their homes except for essential needs, March 21 at 5:00 p.m.-May 31. Starting May 1, there will be major modifications to the plan, click here to read about them. All schools — Gov. JB Pritkzer’s order closing all schools in the state has […]
Examining Air Pollution Levels in Champaign, Macon Counties and Their Effect on COVID-19
Both Champaign and Macon counties received a less-than-perfect grade for air pollution in a new report from the American Lung Association. The group released its 2020 State of the Air report Tuesday, which ranks cities and counties based on their levels of air pollution. The report found that between 2016 and 2018, more U.S. cities […]
Champaign Unit 4 Superintendent: District Is Meeting Technology, Food Needs Of Families
Champaign Unit 4 Schools Superintendent Susan Zola says the district is on track to meet the digital needs of its families as e-learning continues through the end of the school year. In general, she has a positive outlook on the remainder of the school year, as well as what might be in store for the […]
In Champaign, Keeping Construction Sites Safe From Coronavirus Requires A Plan
Construction work is considered a critical trade under Governor Pritzker’s Stay-At-Home order, so it’s been continuing while other activities have been curtailed. But preventing the spread of the coronavirus remains important. So in Champaign, city officials are asking construction companies to have COVID-19 safety plans in place. The COVID-19 jobsite safety plans are required for […]
‘Their Story Matters’: How Broadcast Journalism Students In Illinois Are Reporting On COVID-19
One of Kenya Williams’s favorite classes is the broadcast journalism course she’s taking at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That’s why she was devastated when she realized all of her university classes would be moving online in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Like many institutions […]
News Around Illinois – April 6, 2020
Cases of COVID-19 in Illinois Top 11,000 CHICAGO – On Sunday, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health reported the statewide total of COVID-19 cases has grown to 11,256. The death toll now stands at 274. The state also says more than 58,000 people have been tested at IDPH, commercial or hospital laboratories. IDPH director Dr. […]
Champaign Police Officer Tests Positive For COVID-19
CHAMPAIGN – The city of Champaign announced late Thursday night that a police officer has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. In a press release, the city said the officer is at home in isolation and does not need hospitalization. The city did not release any other information about the officer’s […]
LeRoy Doctor’s COVID-19 Testing Clinic On Hold; Health Officials Seek Answers
CHAMPAIGN – An independent physician in LeRoy says he’s trying to address a public health crisis he believes some in the medical community are trying to downplay and increasing public safety risk as a result. But health officials say Tom Pliura’s planned drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic raises unanswered questions. Pliura said he bought 8,000 testing kits from […]