January 2010
Urbana facing $1.43 million deficit
URBANA – Some tough budget decisions are ahead for Urbana city officials.
The city's financial situation has gotten worse since a report last October, Comptroller Ron Eldridge told city council members Monday.
State forcing all Medicaid patients to choose doctor
SPRINGFIELD – Three years after patients in the Illinois Medicaid system were asked to choose primary-care doctors, some of them may be in for a surprise: The doctors they're seeing may not be the ones they were assigned.
Officials to meet with UI students on safety
CHAMPAIGN – Several local officials, including state Sen. Mike Frerichs and state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, will meet with University of Illinois students next month to discuss public safety issues.
The meeting will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 8, in room 100 of Noyes Lab on the UI campus. In addition to Frerichs, D-Champaign, and Jakobsson, D-Urbana, panelists will include Sgt. Bill Emery of the state police, Capt. Tim Voges of the Champaign County sheriff's office, Lt. Skip Frost of the UI Police Department, and representatives of the Urbana and Champaign police departments and of the office of Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz.
Danville school board looking at possibilities for cuts
DANVILLE – Danville school officials are taking a hard look positions and programs they may be forced to cut because of Illinois' financial crisis and the uncertainty of state funding in the coming fiscal year.
UI Extension looking for ways to cut expenses
The University of Illinois Extension is bracing for several million dollars of budget cuts.
Officials are projecting a funding decline in the range of $2 million to $5 million for the next fiscal year, and as a result, they're considering a number of cost-savings measures, including consolidating some Extension offices around the state.
Tuscola veteran attends State of Union as Durbin's guest
WASHINGTON – From Tuscola to Korea to Iraq and Afghanistan and now the Capitol Building, Army Sgt. 1st Class John Wright's path has been littered with troubles and triumphs.
On Wednesday, the Bronze Star winner who at 18 was looking at a career in the Tuscola IGA was Sen. Dick Durbin's guest at President Barack Obama's first State of the Union speech and reception.
Danville schools group unveils new fundraising initiative
DANVILLE – The Danville Public School Foundation held its inaugural donor breakfast Wednesday at the Days Inn Hotel to unveil its new community fundraising initiative – The Supporting Our Kids Every Day 365 Club.
The foundation supports new and innovative programs through grants to teachers who apply for money to finance an educational idea that is outside the regular district-budgeted programs.
Burglar sentenced to 18 years in prison
URBANA – An Urbana man who burgled a home while armed with a weapon has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Vishan Johnson, 24, of the 1100 block of West Eads Street, pleaded guilty Tuesday to armed violence after a jury had been selected to hear his trial on armed violence and residential burglary charges.
Westville hails fixes to 5 water mains in 3 weeks
WESTVILLE – Village officials praised their gas and water workers on Tuesday for their efforts in repairing five separate water main breaks in the past three weeks.
Water Superintendent Mike Bennett said 80-year-old cast-iron water mains beneath Lateral Lane and Chantos, Dowaitt, Pennsylvania and Smith streets had broken in recent weeks, requiring emergency repairs.
A taste of local police work at citizens' academy
CHAMPAIGN – Citizens can get a closer look at local law enforcement with the 24th annual Champaign County Citizen Police Academy.
The program, hosted by the Illinois Police Training Institute, meets from 6 to 9 p.m. for 10 Thursdays beginning March 4. Sessions are held at the institute, 1004 S. Fourth St., C, and other local sites, including a tour of the Champaign County Jail. A patrol ride-along with a local police officer is also part of the program.
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