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Story category: Champaign
Champaign, Urbana Consider Stormwater Utility Fee
Story air date: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sewers are among the basic of city services --- and one of the least exciting, until something goes wrong. City officials in Champaign and Urbana have seen enough flooding over the years, that they’re proposing a new fee to pay for maintaining and improving the storm sewer system --- a fee already used by about a dozen Illinois cities. Illinois Public Media’s Jim Meadows has more on the storm water utility fee.
(Photo courtesy of Nancy Taylor)
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environment • water resources • government • Champaign • Urbana • politicsAsk the Mayors: A Conversation with the Mayors of Champaign and Urbana
Story air date: Thursday, February 02, 2012
In a Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 broadcast on WILL-TV, Champaign Mayor Don Gerard and Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing talked about a range of issues such as a stormwater utility fee, police leadership, roundabouts and Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day. They spoke with Illinois Public Media’s Jim Meadows and took questions from callers.
Story links:
- Champaign Avoids Two Cuts in Public Service (Related Story)
- Champaign Police-Community Relations Scrutinized (Related Story)
- Champaign City Councilman Revives Discussion for a Police Review Board (Related Story)
- Video of Champaign Arrest Leaked Online (Related Story)
- FBI Finds No Criminal Civil Rights Violations in Arrest (Related Story)
- Champaign Council Members Give Initial Backing to Stormwater Fee (Related Story)
- Potential UC2B Subscribers Get an Update on Services (Related Story)
- Champaign, Urbana Voters Face Electric Aggregation Vote in March (Related Story)
- Focus: Conversation with C-U Mayors (Watch the Interview)
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government • Champaign • Urbana • people • politicsChampaign Starts Up Minor League Baseball Exploratory Committee
Story air date: Tuesday, January 31, 2012
An exploratory committee is forming with hopes of learning in about a year whether Champaign can support a minor league baseball team. A former minor league owner, sports enthusiasts, and someone who helped lure a collegiate team to town in the 90’s were among the 15 people at the group’s initial meeting Monday night.
Illinois Public Media’s Jeff Bossert talked with committee chair Tony Johnston, who was tapped by Champaign Mayor Don Gerard to lead the group.
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government • Champaign • lifestyle • recreation • sports • taxationChampaign Police Lobby to Stay Open 24/7
Story air date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Plans for reducing the front desk staff and cutting lobby hours at Champaign Police Headquarters became one of the most controversial parts of budget cuts approved by the City Council last year. Now, despite the staff cuts, police officials say they’ve found a way to keep the front desk open to the public on evenings and overnights. Illinois Public Media's Jim Meadows talked with Champaign Deputy Police Chief Troy Daniels about the new arrangement.
(Photo courtesy of the city of Champaign)
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crime • economy • government • Champaign • peopleJudy Wiegand Prepares to Become Unit 4's Permanent Superintendent
Story air date: Monday, January 02, 2012
Judy Wiegand becomes the Champaign School District’s next permanent superintendent this year; replacing Arthur Culver, who left Unit 4 more than six months ago. Wiegand is currently serving in that role on an interim basis. She says she wants to improve offerings in career and technical education, and further develop the STEM initiative, which seeks to boost education in science, technology, engineering and math. Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers recently spoke with Wiegand about her goals for the district. She outlines a couple of areas that she wants to see added to Unit 4’s strategic plan, which was developed in 2008.
(Photo by Sean Powers/WILL)
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- Wiegand Chosen as Next Champaign Schools Superintendent (Related Story)
- Search to Begin for Culver’s Replacement (Related Story)
