Its oh-fish-ial, free fishing clinics are now available biweekly at Kaufman Lake for the rest of the summer. This oppor-tuna-ty is thanks to the Champaign Park District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The clinics are open to all ages with equipment and bait provided to participants. Children are allowed to participate, however they must be accompanied by an adult.

Each fintastic clinic will consist of an educational introduction as well as a hands-on portion held at the dock. 

The clinics will occur at 2702 West Springfield Ave., Champaign. on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The last clinic offered this summer is September 26, 2024. 

Although the clinics are free, registration is required prior to the clinic. 

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

The post Holy carp! Free fishing clinics at Kaufman Lake appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Champaign Police Department, in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and over 200 local law enforcement agencies will intensify enforcement against speeding starting this month, according to a city press release.

In the announcement, CPD Chief Timothy Tyler noted the rationale for the intensification.

“Speeding causes unnecessary danger on our roads and puts drivers, passengers and others sharing the roadway at increased risk,” Tyler wrote. “Champaign Police remind drivers to obey the posted speeds and to ensure that everyone gets home safely.” 

Throughout the month, Champaign Police officers will be conducting visible patrols to prevent speeding and promote road safety. Citations and written warnings will be issued to those found exceeding speed limits or violating other traffic laws, with a focus on main roads and residential neighborhoods.

The initiative is funded by federal traffic safety grants managed by IDOT. 

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post CPD to intensify speeding crackdown in July appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Urbana Fire Department responded to a fire last night that left the occupants of a home displaced, according to WCIA. 

WCIA reports that the fire broke out at a home on Sunday on Glover Ave in Urbana. At around 8:40 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to a call for smoke coming from a house. Crews were on the scene within minutes.

Firefighters proceeded to increase the alarm to a working fire. Flames were found burning on the second floor of the house, and UFD put out the blaze within an hour. No injuries were reported and WCIA reports that no occupants were home at the time of the fire.

UFD is currently investigating the cause of the fire. 

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post Urbana fire displaces residents appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Champaign Police Department responded to an area hospital on Friday morning at around 3 a.m. after two individuals arrived with gunshot wounds. 

According to a press release by the city of Champaign, a 41-year-old male from Champaign suffered a serious abdominal injury, while a 28-year-old female from Champaign received a graze wound. Both victims remain hospitalized in stable condition. 

The press release says that preliminary investigations indicate the victims were at a gathering in the parking lot of a business in the 600 block of E. University Ave. An altercation reportedly broke out between the male victim and an unidentified individual, escalating quickly. Police say the unknown assailant then drew a firearm and fired, injuring both victims before fleeing the scene. The victims were subsequently taken to the hospital by personal transport. 

Officers are actively searching for witnesses and any video footage that might assist in the investigation. Residents and businesses in the area with surveillance cameras are asked to contact the police. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

CPD encourages anyone with additional information to call 217-351-4545. Information can be shared confidentially. For those preferring anonymity, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 217-373-TIPS, visiting 373tips.com or using the ‘P3 Tips’ mobile app.

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post Early morning shooting in Champaign injures two appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Champaign City Council held its weekly meeting on Tuesday, introducing two new employees and focusing on a number of resolutions. 

Derek Braun was introduced as the festival district coordinator and Brett Johnson as the emergency management coordinator. 

The first resolution was one approving the appointment of John Easley to the Neighborhood Services Advisory Board in Champaign. This motion was passed. 

An ordinance approving the final plat of Boulder Ridge Eighth Subdivision was also passed. This area is a 15.1 acre development with thirty-six residential lots and four common lots to be utilized for stormwater. 

A resolution to approve a major variation for the property at 1757 W. Kirby Ave. was approved, as recommended by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The major variation will allow for a restaurant drive through to cross a portion of the access aisle for Old Farm off-street parking in the Commercial District. This resolution was passed. 

Later, a resolution accepting a bid and authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract for the roof replacement of Champaign Fire Station One was also passed. 

A resolution executing an agreement for the construction of the first phase of the Downtown Plaza Project, a plan to “reimagine a City-owned parking lot into a vibrant public plaza,” was passed. A professional services agreement with Clark Dietz, Inc. a construction engineering service, has also been passed.

The final resolution of the meeting was one authorizing the purchase of a midsize aerial lift truck. This resolution was passed. 

The meeting concluded with public comment, followed by council and City Manager comments. 

paul34@dailyillini.com 

The post Champaign City Council introduces two new employees, discusses various resolutions appeared first on The Daily Illini.

UPDATE 9:23 p.m.

The University sent out another Illini-Alert, notifying the campus population that the UIPD phones have been fixed.

5:07 p.m.

The University sent out an Illini-Alert on Wednesday, reporting that the University of Illinois Police Department phones are down. This does not include 9-1-1 services. 

UIPD says that 217-333-8911 or 9-1-1 can still be called if police assistance is needed. Additionally, the email police@illinois.edu can be reached for non-emergency events. 

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post UIPD phones down, 9-1-1 still available appeared first on The Daily Illini.

Illinois has received $15 million from the Community Development Block Grant CARES Act. These funds can be used for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or acquisition of properties for homeless shelters dedicated to the provision of stable, safe and adequate housing. The goal of this program is to increase shelter capacity to pre-COVID levels. 

This motion was passed to the City Council’s consent agenda. If approved, the city of Urbana, in partnership with Hope Village Inc., will submit an application for funding in order to aid the construction of Hope Village. 

A resolution approving a professional energy consulting services agreement was passed. 

A second resolution authorizing a service agreement with the lowest responsible bidder for an electrical supply for residential and small commercial retail customers was also passed to the consent agenda. 

A resolution approving a right-of-way license agreement with Experience Champaign-Urbana was suggested. This proposal includes implementing an interpretive sign commemorating the African American Heritage Trail in the downtown Urbana area, adjacent to 120 W. Main St. 

This motion was passed. If the ordinance is passed by the City Council upon further review of the consent agenda, Experience Champaign-Urbana will construct the sign. 

An ordinance requiring a stop sign at the intersection located on Melissa Lane at Marc Trail was proposed. A stop sign was temporarily added to the south end of Melissa Lane in October 2023 in response to the road being fully built. Currently, the intersection is uncontrolled with no stop signs. This ordinance was passed. 

An ordinance which would prohibit parking and allow for towing vehicles within the cul-de-sac on Gregory Street was also passed. This ordinance would allow police to have vehicles parked within the cul-de-sac towed and impounded at the owner’s expense. 

The final resolution of the meeting would authorize the execution of an intergovernmental cost sharing agreement for an Illinois environmental protection agency-sponsored household hazardous waste collection event, which would last one day. This motion was passed. 

The council meeting concluded with council input and discussion. 

paul34@dailyillini.com 

The post Urbana City Council discusses energy supply, traffic resolutions appeared first on The Daily Illini.

Overnight, the Champaign Fire Department responded to two apartment fires that resulted in significant property damage and the displacement of residents from their homes.

The first fire occurred at 11:36 p.m. on Monday, at an eight-unit apartment building in the 500 block of E. Columbia Ave. The fire was reported by a passerby. Firefighters arrived to find a growing fire and went inside to investigate, where they encountered a fast-moving attic fire.

Firefighters used aerial ladders to reach the appropriate height and then utilized their hoses to bring the flames under control. The cause was determined to be accidental and related to electrical equipment. No injuries were reported, but the occupants of the apartment were displaced.

Just three hours later, at 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, a separate fire broke out at a three-story apartment building in the 600 block of Crescent Drive. The fire was reported by an occupant. Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire on the second and third-floor balconies and quickly escalated the response to a second alarm.

Crews deployed multiple hoses to control the blaze. No injuries were reported, but the building’s residents were forced to relocate. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.

In a press release, the CFD reminded everyone to maintain working smoke alarms and to practice a home escape plan. 

“Smoke alarms can provide early notification when seconds count,” the CFD wrote. 

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post Two overnight apartment fires displace Champaign residents appeared first on The Daily Illini.

On Tuesday, the Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation announced a new mural series as part of the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail. The Experience C-U Foundation and 40 North, the Champaign County Arts Council, declared this initiative to celebrate key themes in local African American history through public art.

The project is funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Tourism. 93 artists from 32 states and five countries responded to a call for artists, resulting in the selection of four artists who will create murals at various locations around Champaign-Urbana.

In a press release by the Experience C-U Foundation, project organizers discussed the initiative and goals.

“It was remarkable and totally humbling. There were literally dozens of world–class artists to choose from. We are so thrilled to welcome these amazing artists to transform and enrich our walls with such an inspiring narrative,” said Kelly White, executive director of 40 North. “I expect that in the near future, Champaign–Urbana could be on the map as one of the top destinations to see and experience some of the greatest African American muralists in the country.”

Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs from Boston will create a mural reflecting the theme of “African American Educational Excellence” at 1401 E. Main St. in Urbana. The Housing Authority of Champaign County owns the building, and the Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center, which occupies it, has also agreed to support the mural’s development and installation.

Jeremy Biggers from Dallas will focus on the theme of “African American Firsts and Barrier Breakers” at 212 E. White St. in Champaign. This building, along with the one at 511 E. White St. in Champaign where Georgie Nakima from Charlotte will portray “The Power of Black Women,” is owned by Fairlawn Real Estate, which has agreed to support both murals’ development and installation.

Oscar Joyo from Chicago will depict the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail Timeline on three walls at 1801 W. John St. in Champaign, a location also owned by Fairlawn Real Estate.

The Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation is a nonprofit organization that generates resources “to promote a welcoming destination experience for visitors to strengthen economic opportunities and enhance the lives of residents.”

The Champaign County African American Heritage Trail is a project organized by Experience C-U that celebrates the contributions of African Americans in the area. Its stated mission is “to educate today’s residents and visitors about the rich cultural history of a people whose stories have been largely unrecognized.” The trail features signage and art pieces across the county, including 32 sites in the Champaign-Urbana area.

40 North and the Experience C-U Foundation say that they hope that the success of these murals will lead to more installations in the future. They encourage property owners interested in hosting a mural and donors who wish to support the project to reach out. For more information, contact Experience C-U.

“This is a full–circle moment for the Heritage Trail,” said Jayne DeLuce, director of the ECU Foundation. “We’ve wanted to bring murals to the community as part of the Heritage Trail for years, but we simply didn’t have the resources.

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post Experience C-U Foundation announces African American heritage murals appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Champaign City Council held its weekly meeting on Tuesday, focusing on honorary street name requests from Champaign constituents. 

The first request was that Taylor Street, located between Market Street and Walnut Street, be named as “Mark Rubel Way.” 

Mark Rubel was a musician in the Champaign community. He founded Pogo Studio in 1995, which operated on Taylor Street continuously until 2013. The studio was praised as a beacon of creativity.

Rubel was also an audio engineer and a college instructor. Pogo Studio doubled as a classroom for the courses he taught with Parkland College. 

Rubel passed away on March 8, 2024. 

The second request was that Bradley Avenue, located between Prospect Avenue and Willis Avenue, be renamed to Charles Nash Sr. Way. 

Charles Nash Sr. was a pastor for over forty years in Champaign. He organized the New Hope Academy for at-risk youth in the area. 

Nash Sr. implemented numerous programs within the Champaign community, including the Outreach Ministry for the Homeless and Battered Women, educational programs such as GED preparation, family seminars, career development counseling and financial planning aid. Most of these programs were housed at the New Hope Church of God in Christ, located on Bradley Avenue. 

Nash Sr. passed away on July 27, 2023.

Members of both families and the public came forward to speak after the council’s presentation of the honorary street designation requests. 

Both motions for the requests were passed by the council.

The council will vote again on the honorary street name designations in a future council meeting where the items will appear on an agenda. 

The council meeting concluded with public and council input sessions. 

paul34@dailyillini.com 

The post Champaign City Council discusses honorary street names appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Urbana City Council met on Monday for its weekly meeting, voting on the fiscal year budget for 2024-2025. 

The meeting began with the announcement of three promotions within the Urbana Fire Department. Chase Jones and Stephan Bert were both promoted from the rank of firefighter to engineer. Zachary Brooks was promoted from a candidate to the rank of firefighter. 

Later, Nicole Muffitt addressed the council on behalf of The Well Experience, a community support group with a number of care programs for underserved and marginalized youth. 

Muffitt requested that the council approve the fiscal year budget only if it limits increased policing and eliminates a substation in the Philo District, believing that crises must be resolved through resources and relationships, not through the threat of punitive action.

“It is through community and resources that violence is resolved and trauma is healed,” Muffitt said. 

An earlier draft of the proposed fiscal year budget included increases in police funding, including improvements to community relations, technology upgrades and increased staffing — a new deputy chief, a training sergeant and community engagement officers. These requests were made by Urbana Police Chief Larry Boone.

The increases in police funding have been a controversial issue for the city, with discussions being held among the city council and Urbana constituents at several meetings.

A session of public input as well as council input took place before the budget vote.

The city council approved the fiscal year budget without the police funding increase, instead approving an amendment to establish a citizen-led “Alternative Response Program,” with $300,000 in recurring funds and a one-time $150,000 grant from the community service fund. The program, overseen by a citizens task force, will be managed and funded through community development services.

The council also approved an amendment adjusting the Urbana Zoning Map and another amendment redistricting the Urbana wards. 

The meeting concluded with mayoral appointments. 

paul34@dailyillini.com 

The post Urbana City Council votes on fiscal year budget, omits increased police funding appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Urbana City Council met on Monday for its weekly meeting, continuing the meeting on Tuesday. The meeting began with public and committee input and focused on several ordinances. 

The first ordinance deliberated by the council was an ordinance amending the Urbana zoning map.

On June 6, the city’s Plan Commission forwarded the case to the Urbana City Council with a recommendation to approve the request to rezone portions of the city. It was requested that this ordinance be placed on the council’s consent agenda for next week’s meeting. This motion was passed. 

The second ordinance called for a redistricting of the wards of the city of Urbana. If passed, this proposed ward map would become the official ward map used by the city for next spring’s election. 

“City council ward boundaries had to be adjusted to reflect the 2020 census count that’s required to rebalance the population among the seven city council wards,” the council stated. 

The public was invited to submit ward maps and participate in the process. Compactness and minority representation were considered in the criteria when adjusting the ward map to the public’s preference. 

The redistricting motion was moved to the city council’s regular agenda for approval.

A proposal revising the annual budget ordinance was also discussed by the council, which includes separating allocations in the budget for individual fire stations to facilitate management and track spending related to each station. 

The budget ordinance proposal also calls for an increase in the funding for the Sanitary Sewer Project, with the funds to be used for payment of sewer lateral reimbursements, which reimburse property owners for replacing their pavement and sewer systems through outside contractors. This ordinance was also moved to the regular agenda for city council deliberation. 

Additionally, a separate ordinance approving the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget was passed unanimously. 

A proposal for the authorization of a municipal electric aggregation agreement followed the discussion of previous ordinances. 

Municipal electric aggregation is the bulk purchase with other agency partners of electric supply for residential and small commercial accounts within the city. It secures a fixed unit supply cost for electrical service – typically 50-70% of the electrical portion of a resident’s bill. 

“The city has experienced annual losses and cumulative program losses at various instances,” Scott Tess, environmental sustainability manager for the city of Urbana said. “Long-term, it has been a successful program to date with a cumulative savings projected over $1 million at the end of this year.”

The proposal requested council direction to define guidelines forwhen the council will support entering into subsequent municipal electric aggregation agreements. 

The city council meeting concluded with council input.

paul34@dailyillini.com 

The post Urbana City Council discusses ordinances, rezoning and electric agreements appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Champaign City Council met on Tuesday for its weekly meeting. The meeting was focused on the passage of several council bills. 

The meeting began with a proclamation in special recognition of Juneteenth. 

“Juneteenth offers an opportunity to come together to share cultural heritage and learn about our shared history and the opportunities that we have to grow as a community,” Mayor Deborah Feinen said. 

Last month, a vacancy was announced on the council, and the city accepted applications from May 23 to June 3. On Tuesday, Jamar Brown was elected to fill the vacant spot in District 3 Council and was sworn in as a Champaign City Council member and Champaign Township trustee in the meeting.

Following this proclamation, the council discussed and passed several resolutions.

A resolution approving and adopting the annual budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025 was passed, as well as a resolution adopting financial policies for the development, adoption and execution of the annual budget.

A resolution adopting a plan of finance for general obligation bonds was also passed. The council adopted a separate ordinance providing a bond issuance of at most $37,725,000 in general obligation bonds for the purpose of financing various capital improvements. 

An ordinance amending the zoning map of Champaign to rezone certain areas was passed. Additionally, an ordinance amending Articles II and III of Chapter 37 of the Champaign Municipal Code, which concern zoning, was also passed. 

The council also adopted resolutions allowing the city manager to execute subrecipient and intergovernmental agreements, as well as execute an updated memorandum of understanding for governmental services. Dorothy Ann David is the current city manager and has served in the position since 2013.

The authorization of the city manager to execute subrecipient agreements with various non-profit agencies was done in coordination with the CommUnity Matters programs, which is an initiative that, according to the city, “addresses safety, academic support, technology, recreation, career exploration and employment” for youth in Champaign.

A resolution approving the non-bargaining unit handbook was passed. The handbook sets out employment expectations and practices for non-union city employees, 

An ordinance was passed amending the Liquor Code to add a new license for retail businesses, allow certain event venues to host public events with alcohol and simplify certain regulations for outdoor events.

The meeting concluded with public participation. 

paul34@dailyillini.com 

The post Champaign City Council shares speech for Juneteenth, discusses resolutions appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The University of Illinois Police Department released a Campus Safety Notice on Friday after a reported “inappropriate touching” incident at the Main Library. The notification is in accordance with the Clery Act, which mandates the disclosure of certain crimes to ensure campus safety.

“University Police have received a report that a student was inappropriately touched at approximately 12:30 PM on Friday, 6/21/2024, at The Main Library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive, in Champaign,” the notice stated.

According to UIPD, the victim was reported to have been touched in a private body part over the exterior of their clothes. The notice also states that the offender was not known to the victim.

The stated purpose of the notice is to inform the campus community, promote awareness and prevent future incidents. UIPD encourages anyone with information to contact them at 217-333-1216. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Champaign County Crime Stoppers via 217-373-TIPS, 373tips.com or the P3 Tips mobile app.

In the notice, UIPD also highlighted the importance of community involvement in preventing sexual violence. They urged students to practice enthusiastic consent, intervene in unsafe situations when possible and support those affected by sexual misconduct. The Student Assistance Center and the Emergency Dean Program offer additional support for those impacted by such incidents.

“Survivors and victims are never at fault for the violence they experience,” the notice stated. “The only person responsible for sexual misconduct is the perpetrator.”

For 24/7 assistance, people can access resources like the Rape Advocacy, Counseling and Education Services hotline at 217-384-4444 and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s website. 

For more details on safety measures, reporting options and support services, visit wecare.illinois.edu.

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post Sexual assault reported at Main Library appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Champaign City Council met on Tuesday for its weekly meeting, beginning with District 3 Council Candidate interviews. The meeting focused on a council bill surrounding the implementation of a tax increment redevelopment project. 

There are three candidates to fill the vacant District 3 position — Jamar Brown, Shauna Claiborne and Justin Micháel Hendrix. 

After the council conducted all interviews, they approved minutes from May 14 and 15. These included the May 14 Regular Study Session and Community Civic Event Champaign Police Department Memorial Ceremony, as well as the May 15 Community Civic Event Police Department Employee Awards Ceremony. 

The council approved this motion.

The council then took action on a council bill: a resolution expressing the city’s intent to pursue the creation and approval of a tax increment redevelopment project area and to provide assistance for the redevelopment of the Country Fair Shopping Center, which has been up for sale since October 2022. 

The purpose of this resolution is to convey the city’s intent to create a new tax increment finance (TIF) district in multiple areas — South Downtown, Country Fair and Round Barn — and support efforts to redevelop the Country Fair Shopping Center. 

According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, tax increment financing is a funding system that utilizes sales and property tax revenue generated within the TIF district in order to “encourage new economic development and job creation” in that area.

Bruce Knight, planning and development director of the city of Champaign, proposed this resolution. 

“The idea would be to convert it into a more modern mixed-use commercial development and to create something that serves not only the immediate residents in the area, but the entire community with something unique and different,” Knight said.

The council passed this bill. 

The TIF district will not be completed before this upcoming fall. 

The meeting concluded with general audience participation, followed by council comments. 

paul34@dailyillini.com 

The post Champaign City Council conducts candidate interviews, discusses resolution appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Urbana City Council met on Monday for its weekly meeting, focusing on consent and regular agenda resolutions, followed by a budget discussion for the upcoming fiscal year.

The meeting began with public input, followed by council input and comments.

The review of the consent agenda included several resolutions, all of which approved and authorized the execution of subrecipient agreements between the Youth Services Grant Program and various entities. These agreements allocate funding to these entities for implementing specific youth-related programs.

The entities included the Angel Youth Center’s Beat the Street Summit, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois Community-Based Mentoring, Cunningham Children’s Home Residential Treatment Program, Crisis Nursery Safe Children Program, STEAM Genius Urbana 11, the Urbana Free Library Teen and Youth Maker Program, The Well Experience Well Family Care Program and Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center Community Study Center. 

This motion was passed by the council. 

As part of the regular agenda, a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a subrecipient agreement between the Youth Services Grant Program and the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Youth Cultural Advisors was proposed and subsequently passed during the meeting. 

The discussion on the regular agenda was followed by mayoral appointments.

The budget discussion that followed involved reviewing financial expenditures. According to the council, the City of Urbana financial director suggested that the council clearly outline their goals.

The council further discussed grant processes for funds and possibilities for financial allocations to allow for more social funding. The financial director encouraged the council to fund programs clearly aligned with their goals.

The council is scheduled for a call with the consultant firm BerryDunn later this week, which may help guide the consensus on social services funding. 

paul34@dailyillini.com 

The post Urbana City Council discusses agenda resolutions, continues budget discussion appeared first on The Daily Illini.

A recent point-in-time count for Champaign County revealed a significant rise in homelessness since last year. The count, conducted by the Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless, found 279 individuals without stable housing, up from 215 in January 2023. Over 40 volunteers participated in locating and documenting those experiencing homelessness.

The 2024 PIT count reported 42 unsheltered individuals, with 152 in emergency shelters and 85 in transitional, or temporary housing.

In a press release from the City of Urbana, CSPH Chair Breaden Belcher noted the purpose of the count and the significance of the findings.

“The PIT count provides community stakeholders with important data that helps us more effectively meet the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Champaign County,” Belcher wrote. “This year’s data shows the importance of ongoing investments in homeless services and high-quality affordable housing in our community.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires this annual count to provide a national overview of homelessness. The data collected helps shape federal funding and policies, such as the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and President Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget.

CSPH Coordinator Katie Harmon noted improvements in this year’s count. 

“This year we implemented an enhanced unsheltered Point-in-Time count protocol,” Harmon wrote. “This included canvassing additional areas that homeless service providers and street outreach workers identified as locations that people who are unsheltered frequent.”

Harmon also noted that the organization conducted follow-up surveys before analyzing the data.

“We partnered with various homeless service providers to conduct follow-up counting through the end of January to survey people accessing homeless services and identify if they were unsheltered on the night of our Point-in-Time count,” Harmon said. 

Alongside the PIT count, the CSPH conducted a Housing Inventory Count, also required by the HUD, which showed a decrease in emergency shelter beds but significant increases in transitional and permanent housing beds. Harmon explained that this shift reflects the reclassification of certain projects, indicating expanded services and longer program stays for those in need.

While rapid rehousing beds remained stable, overall bed capacity increased by about 10 percent due to additional state funding. 

The CSPH, which includes 44 non-profits, government agencies, faith-based organizations and businesses, aims to end homelessness in Champaign County. More resources for individuals experiencing homelessness are available at the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission’s office. 

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post Champaign County reports rise in homelessness in 2024 appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The Red Lobster on Prospect Avenue in Champaign may soon shut its doors if the company fails to renegotiate its leases, according to a list of potential closures published by CNN on Thursday.

The restaurant became the largest seafood chain in the world by bringing affordable shrimp and lobster to middle-class America before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. 

According to CNN, Red Lobster said it has more than $1 billion in debt and less than $30 million in cash on hand. The company plans to sell its business to its lenders, and in exchange, it will receive financing to remain in business. As part of its restructuring plan, Red Lobster intends to close dozens of its nearly 700 restaurants.

In a press release announcing its bankruptcy, the company cited significant financial challenges. In preparation for the announcement, Red Lobster closed approximately 50 locations across America. A new list of locations in danger of closing, including the Champaign location, was revealed in court filings last week.

Despite the closures, Red Lobster’s management remains hopeful about the future.

“This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster,” Jonathan Tibus, CEO of the company, wrote in the press release. “It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth.”

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post Champaign Red Lobster may close amidst company’s bankruptcy appeared first on The Daily Illini.

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and Green Party IL-13 congressional candidate Chibu Asonye held a panel discussion at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center on Thursday, addressing the challenges and potential of third-party politics in the U.S. The candidates discussed the critical issues of ballot access, the influence of money in politics and advocated for significant political reform.

The Two-Party System

Stein opened the discussion by criticizing the two-party system in the U.S., which she described as a mechanism of control by wealthy elites.

“If you only have two parties, it’s much easier to buy them out,” Stein said. “You can corner them and know who the big players are, and it’s very vulnerable to being corrupted and bought out by the billionaires, the bankers and the war profiteers.” 

Stein also said that the political system and status quo are maintained by the ultra-rich.

“The empire and the oligarchy that goes with it… that’s kind of what our system is,” Stein said. “It is a system of control by the very rich, and we have an empire which is inflicting its will around the world.”

Asonye echoed Stein’s sentiments, pointing out the complacency among voters who feel their choices are limited to the two major parties. She advocated for raising awareness about third-party candidates and the policies they bring to the table, noting the importance of overcoming the “spoiler effect” that often deters voters from supporting third-party candidates.

“People in our community are complacent even though they’re not content and even though they’re not happy,” Asonye said. 

Policy Platforms and Historical Impact

The discussion also covered the impact of third parties on American politics. Stein and Asonye highlighted several key issues and movements that they said originated from third-parties, citing the abolition movement, women’s suffrage and labor rights. The two said that contemporary issues like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal were also brought into the mainstream by third-party advocacy.

Stein criticized the major parties for co-opting and diluting these policies, stating, “They take the easy parts and leave out what’s really critical. You can’t have a Green New Deal unless you are phasing out fossil fuels. Nature doesn’t care about renewable energy or electric vehicles… we have to phase out on an emergency basis the fossil fuels that are destroying us.”

Asonye pointed out the third-party roots of many historical progressive movements.

“The abolition movement came from the abolition party. The suffrage movement came from the suffrage party,” Asonye said. “If we didn’t have third-parties, our social, political, and capital power as individuals would be a lot less.”

Electoral Reforms: Ranked Choice Voting

A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to electoral reforms, particularly ranked-choice voting, which is an electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates in their order of preference, so if a voter’s top choice doesn’t win, their vote is reassigned to their next choice.

Both Stein and Asonye argued that RCV could alleviate the fear of “wasting” votes on third-party candidates by encouraging more diverse political representation.

“Ranked choice voting ensures the vote will never be divided, and it takes the fear out of politics,” Stein said.

Stein and Asonye urged the audience to support efforts to implement RCV in Illinois, noting that the state recently created a task force to review and recommend voting system improvements, including ranked-choice voting, for future elections.

“Ranked choice voting is a really great idea, particularly in Illinois, since ballot access is so hard to get for third parties,” Asonye said. “It will also help in the primary, so that more underdogs from other communities can still get that nomination.”

Community Engagement

Addressing voter disillusionment, Stein and Asonye stressed the importance of grassroots activism and community engagement. Asonye shared her approach of empathizing with non-voters and connecting political issues to everyday concerns, such as high gas prices and other local economic conditions.

“What I’ve seen is when you dig down into an important detail and you highlight how it can help everybody, that’s the way we get a better Green New Deal,” Asonye said.

Stein concurred and underscored the significance of local elections and the need for a coordinated effort to defend and advance progressive policies at all levels of government.

“We need to step up to the plate,” Stein said. “We must not allow ourselves to be intimidated into this false lesser evilism. The politics of fear has delivered everything we were afraid of.”

Audience Questions

A local journalist asked Stein about the “Putin puppet” allegations against Stein, referring to a photograph of Stein at the Russia Today news organization’s 10th-anniversary dinner in 2015, in which Stein is seen sitting at the same table as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Everything we did was totally public. We fundraised in order to be able to go, and we were not on anybody’s payroll,” Stein responded. “We needed a peace offensive in the Middle East. Russia had just begun bombing Syria, and part of my message was that it’s not okay for any nation to bomb others.”

Stein called the “Putin puppet” allegations a “smear campaign” against her.

“Putin and I did not exchange a word,” Stein said. “The media dragged out that photograph and made it a smear campaign once I got the Green Party nomination.”

Furthermore, Stein said the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee accused her of being a “Russian asset” during their investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. She detailed the extensive process she underwent to defend herself, including turning over numerous documents and hiring expensive lawyers.

“After three years, the Senate Intelligence Committee found no evidence against me,” Stein said.

The Daily Illini asked Stein about the impact of student protest movements on electoral politics, noting that Stein and members of her campaign were arrested in April at a pro-Palestine protest at Washington University St. Louis. The protest was part of a larger student protest movement against Israel’s current war in Gaza, including here at the University, where pro-Palestine protestors held a 13-day encampment on the main quad at the end of last semester.

Stein responded by drawing parallels between the recent pro-Palestine protests at U.S. campuses and other historical student protest movements.

“The anti-Vietnam War protests were partly powered by the draft… but that’s not so different from today when we have an economic draft,” Stein said, referring to the financial burdens and lack of opportunities that she said drive many young people to protest.

Stein highlighted the significant achievements of past student movements, citing the end of the Vietnam War, the advancement of women’s reproductive rights and the enactment of environmental protections like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

“Even under a very conservative Supreme Court, we made such an impact in the streets that we achieved the ruling legalizing abortion,” Stein said.

Asonye agreed, saying, “These students organize as a collective, and I’m very proud of them.”

Stein and Asonye both mentioned the importance of learning from historical movements. Stein said that the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, drawing a comparison to today’s student protestors. 

“Students are not only leading the way but truly following in the footsteps of their historical peers,” Stein said.

Asonye also addressed the criticism some protests receive for their methods, saying that there is never a “right way” to protest that will satisfy everyone. She described how she visited the Students for Justice in Palestine encampment at the University with community members who were initially unhappy with the students’ methods in an attempt to help them understand the historical context and significance of their actions.

The panel concluded with a call to action, encouraging attendees to participate in petitioning efforts and to stay informed through independent media, emphasizing the urgency of their mission.

“We need a system reboot right now,” Stein said. “Not just fixing things around the margins, but demanding an America and a world that works for all of us.”

qjato2@dailyillini.com

The post Jill Stein and Chibu Asonye advocate for third-party politics, electoral reforms appeared first on The Daily Illini.

The meeting began with the introduction of three new members of the city staff. 

Following this, a proclamation was made by the council on the topic of raising awareness of state-wide and national gun violence. 

“Cities across the nation, including in Champaign, are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions, protecting public safety in the communities,” one council member said. 

The first council bill of the meeting consisted of a resolution approving the fiscal year 2024 and 2025 Annual Action Plan, an initiative aimed at improving community development and housing. This resolution was passed, authorizing the City Manager to send the Annual Action Plan to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

The second bill, which was also passed, was an ordinance amending the zoning map of the City of Champaign to rezone real property located at the northwest intersection of West John Street and Kenwood Road from the single and two-family zoning district to the multifamily low-density zoning district. 

Resolutions surrounding the 2024 Sewer Rehabilitation Project, Sewer Lining Project and 2024 Storm Sewer Cleaning and Televising Project were also passed. As a result, the City Manager is authorized to execute an agreement with A&R Mechanical Services Inc., Haile Construction Inc. and National Power Rodding for the respective resolutions. 

A resolution approving the fiscal year 2024 and 2025 annual budget for the Champaign-Urbana Solid Waste Disposal System was passed, providing long-term post-closure care for the closed landfill previously operated jointly by the cities of Champaign and Urbana. 

Additionally, a resolution was passed approving an Engineering Services Agreement with Farnsworth Group Inc. for the 2025 Asphalt Streets Improvement Project and the improvement of streets by municipalities under the Illinois Highway Code.

This resolution approved the budget to provide engineering services for the street improvement initiative and will appropriate $300,000 of state motor fuel tax funds for the project. 

A resolution was also passed which approved an intergovernmental agreement for improvements to Wilbur Avenue, alongside a Letter of Intent with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the Jurisdictional Transfer of Wilbur Avenue.

The final council bill of the meeting was a resolution accepting a bid and authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract for the City Building lower roof replacement. This resolution was passed. 

The city council meeting ended with audience participation in public comments, followed by council and City Manager comments. 

paul34@dailyillini.com 

The post Champaign City Council discusses gun violence, approves infrastructure projects appeared first on The Daily Illini.