URBANA – Urbana National Guard troops have been pulling some of the most dangerous duty in Iraq, a general said Thursday, but they'll be coming home soon.

The clue: They're being kicked out of the air-conditioned trailers to make way for another unit, the state's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Randal Thomas, said.

URBANA – Two Democratic county board candidates filed Wednesday to have precincts recounted.

Steve Beckett finished first March 21 in the District 9 Democratic primary. After outstanding ballots, including absentees, were counted Tuesday, Champaign County Board Chairman Barb Wysocki and first-time candidate Lisa Bell ended up in a dead heat, with former board member Bob Kirchner coming in fourth.

CHAMPAIGN – As a return on an investment, it doesn't get much better.

The Champaign City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to spend $127,000 to have the U.S. Census Bureau conduct a special census counting residents in eight different subdivisions that are relatively new or were annexed by the city last year.

URBANA – A proposed $4 million, 57-unit apartment project at the northeast corner of Main and Harvey streets was put in jeopardy Monday night when the Urbana City Council rejected a zoning variance request.

The council's 4-2 vote to deny Urbana developer Howard Wakeland's request to have the building encroach 8 feet into the required 15-foot setback along Main Street went against the unanimous recommendation of the city's Zoning Board of Appeals and the recommendation of city planning staff.