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Politics
Trick-or-treating hours announced for Champaign Co.
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — With October officially here and Halloween quickly approaching, several local municipalities have announced this year’s trick-or-treating hours. Trick-or-treating will be from 6-8 p.m. in the City of Champaign, City of Urbana and Champaign County. The Champaign County Board has also approved several specific rules and guidelines for the holiday this […]
Tom Kacich: Champaign County, state in sync in presidential voting
Sep. 29—As goes Champaign County, so goes Illinois. For the last 15 presidential elections — all the way back to Lyndon Johnson over Barry Goldwater in 1964 — the candidate who won Champaign County also won Illinois. The chosen one in Champaign County (and Illinois) isn't always the national winner — Gerald Ford in 1976, Al Gore in 2000 and Hillary Clinton in 2016 are exceptions — but most of ...
Work on satellite jail expansions nearing completion
Oct. 1—URBANA — In 2011, a report from the National Institute of Corrections described conditions in Champaign County's downtown Urbana jail as "." A 2013 report from the Institute of Law and Policy Planning recommended it "should be abandoned as ." Mounting mechanical issues, water leaks and even a cockroach problem led authorities to finally close the jail in . Within days, the Champaign ...
Urbana passes fuel tax increase, 7.5 cents per gallon beginning Jan. 2025
Update: 8:15 p.m. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The Urbana City Council voted to pass a proposed fuel tax increase Monday night. The proposal passed 7-0 with all council members voting “yes.” The fuel tax will begin January 2025. In the first year, residents will see an increase of 7.5 cents per gallon. By the third […]
Urbana school construction on schedule
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) – Construction of one Urbana school is coming right along. Last October, the Board of Elementary approved reopening Wiley School. It’ll serve as a 6th grade school starting next school year. Demolition and construction efforts have been ongoing, but so far, the interior walls and framing are complete. Foundations for the building […]
Champaign Co. veterans to record their history in the Library of Congress
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County Courthouse will offer a chance for veterans to see their history in the Library of Congress. Registration for the Veteran’s History Project is open from now until Oct. 25. Judges will interview veterans about their time in service and will share their experiences throughout the country. Each […]
Champaign to vote on proposed historical marker designation
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign City Council will vote on a proposal to create a Historical Marker Designation Program at their meeting on Tuesday night. If they approve the proposal, the city will have specific criteria for what qualifies as a historical marker as well as the steps an individual or group has to […]
Community organizer in race for Urbana mayor: 'I'm a good-government person'
Sep. 30—URBANA — Annie Adams wasn't originally sure if she wanted to move to Urbana. She and her husband were living in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood when he began working for the University of Illinois and started commuting to Urbana, telling her how great it was each time he returned. Finally, she decided to join him for a visit and was immediately converted. "I came down for the ...
Champaign considers historical marker program, plans to honor C-Street Bar
Oct. 1—CHAMPAIGN — The former site of the Chester Street Bar would likely be the first location recognized if the city adopts a new historical marker program. The Champaign City Council will vote on the program's creation at its 7 p.m. meeting today. "The creation of this program was directed when City Council requested to consider a program to recognize 63 E. Chester Street for its impact on ...
First annual Bat Festival takes place in Urbana
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The first Central Illinois Bat Festival was held at the Anita Purves Nature Center on Saturday. Festivities started at 1 p.m. and moved across to Crystal Lake Park at 5:30 p.m. There were bat themed crafts, seminars and interactive games. Organizers hope that people will take away how important bats are […]
Community Spotlight: Fall Fusion Fest
CHAMAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Arts Council and the Urbana Arts and Culture Program joined forces to bring the arts to the forefront of downtown Urbana over the weekend. Elise Hedgspeth, from Champaign County Arts Council, joined WCIA’s Taylor Mitchell to talk about the Fall Fusion Festival. The festival will take place on Saturday from […]
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