Community leaders mourn Urban League's shuttering

CHAMPAIGN – Community members black and white Sunday mourned the demise of the Urban League of Champaign County, which closed last week after 45 years.

"It's a sad day for the community, not only for the African-American community, but the white community as well," said former Urbana Alderman Lonnie Clark. "It's a much-needed organization in Champaign-Urbana and the entire county. I think it's going to be terribly missed. I hope that it's not dead forever."

The league shut its doors Friday on the heels of mounting financial problems, state and federal investigations, and new audits questioning its ability to continue as a "going concern." The agency had debt totaling $850,000 and a $1 million annual budget.

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