How Language and Culture Play into Phishing Scams
By Nina Porzucki
It happens to all of us. You get an email from a friend with a suspicious looking link. You know you shouldn’t open it, but the subject is just too enticing.
Illinois Public Media News
Opt-in Text Alert Systems at Universities Leave Many Out
By Amy Harwath
A review of major universities shows there are inconsistencies in how emergency alerts are sent out to students.
Proposal: Police Could Obtain Warrants Using Video Chat
By Chris Slaby
A proposal in the state legislature would allow police and judges to talk over an online video chat, like Skype.
Blue Waters Supercomputer Officially Launched
By Sean Powers
An event Thursday at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign marked the official launch of the Blue Waters supercomputer project.
UC2B Organizer: Urbana ‘Jumping Gun’ with GM
By Jeff Bossert
One of the main organizers behind the Champaign-Urbana’s big broadband project says Urbana is jumping the gun with its desire to hire a general manager.
UC2B to Light Up Broadband Service to First Customers
By Jim Meadows
The first customers of Champaign-Urbana’s new community broadband network should be getting service this week. UC2B could begin providing high-speed internet service to homes and businesses in underserved areas of Champaign and Urbana as soon as Monday.
UC2B Funding Raises Concerns About Open Access
By Jim Meadows
Supporters of the UC2B Big Broadband project know they want a high capacity broadband network for the Champaign-Urbana area. However, there is concern that the way money for UC2B is being raised could hinder the project's long-term commitment to open access.
Rural Illinois Still Lags in Broadband Access
By The Associated Press
High-speed Internet service might seem ubiquitous, but it's still a luxury for some Illinois residents living in rural areas.
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AT&T Asks Americans to Stop Texting and Driving
By The Associated Press
AT&T is asking Americans to sign a pledge not to text behind the wheel as part of a campaign against distracted driving.
Motor Fuel Tax Proposal Highlights Champaign City Council Meeting
The Champaign City Council is considering a four-cent a gallon motor fuel tax --- a level that would be higher than a similar tax in Urbana, but lower than one in Danville.
City officials say recent budget cuts have reduced spending on street maintenance, at the same time that a "complete streets" strategy is making the work more expensive. At Tuesday night's city council study session, Councilman Tom Bruno said Champaign needs the additional money to avoid the congested streets of big urban areas.
"One only needs to drive in the Chicago area, or the suburbs or southern California to appreciate how blessed we are to have a lack of traffic congestion in Champaign," Bruno said. "If we want to keep that, if we want to maintain that, we have to be able to fund our streets."
Bruno said motorists wouldn't see any change in gasoline prices, because gas station owners absorb the cost to keep customers coming to buy snacks, cigarettes and liquor. But Councilwoman Karen Foster was doubtful, saying the gas tax could hurt other Champaign businesses that use motor fuel in high quantities.
"That will have a huge impact on them by having to buy bulk fuel," Foster said. "It's in the thousands of dollars, it's not just when we go to the pump and you have another $1.20 or $5 on your pump. It's thousands of dollars to these businesses."
Mayor Don Gerard joined four other council members to endorse the motor fuel tax on a 5 to 4 vote. A final council vote is expected in December or January.
In other action at the Tuesday night session, the Champaign City Council voted to give the public an additional opportunity to speak during their meetings.
A city council study session grew raucous three weeks ago, when several people alleging excessive force by police in the arrest of Calvin Miller were not allowed to speak. The council eventually suspended the rules to allow public comments --- but public comment on issues not on the agenda is usually allowed only at regular council meetings only, not study session. Council members changed that rule Tuesday night, voting unanimously to allow public comment on any topic at study sessions as well. Councilman Tom Bruno said the important thing was to keep the rules consistent and clear.
"Because there were people who maybe wanted to speak that night, who stayed away because our rules were clear that there wasn't going to be any public participation that night," Bruno said. "So as long as our rules are clear, I think there's unanimity among us that we like public participation."
Also on Tuesday night, the Champaign City Council voted to approve a new council district map reflecting 2010 census results.
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