Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin is launching a process for the re-imagining of Lincoln Square, with a public input period planned for this spring.

The shuttered Urbana Landmark Hotel in downtown Urbana is up for auction. And the mayor of Urbana hopes a creative buyer can help transform the entire Lincoln Square area.

Roberta Morris has been collecting 'little village' pieces for more than 20 years. It's paid off, with three years of displays at Urbana's Lincoln Square Mall, and at other charitable events in the area before that. Her glimpse of life in the 1950's now contains over 500 pieces. It's on display through New Year's Day.

Voters in Champaign County could be asked this fall to support a 1/4-cent sales tax to address facilities needs. County Board Chair Rick Snider says priorities include closing the downtown Urbana jail, and expansion of the satellite site, as well closing the Brookens Administrative Center to move county government to downtown Urbana. The county board would have to approve the plan by August 18 for the question to appear on the November ballot.

The Carle Foundation says it will build an office complex at the I-57 and Curtis Road Interchange south of Champaign, marking the first project announced for a site for which local officials have long had hopes for development.