Susan Zola will take over as superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 Schools on July 1. She discussed several issues facing the district, including renovations, and possible changes at the state and federal level, with Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline.
Champaign County voters will see two referendums about the county nursing home on the April 4th ballot --- one to raise property tax rates to support the home --- the other, to sell or close it. Now, a group has formed to promote a nursing home sale.
Proposals to raise local taxes were a mixed bag with voters in east-central Illinois. Voters approved school bond referendum in the Champaign and Paxton Buckley-Loda school districts, and said yes to sales tax hikes in Coles and Iroquois Counties. But a sales tax hike for Macon County and a property tax increase for the Maroa-Forsyth school district went down to defeat.
Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing is seeking a fourth term in 2017, making the annoucement at her Urbana home Wednesday. There could be a 3-way race for the office in the February Democratic primary, with Urbana Alderwoman Diane Marlin running, and fellow city council member Aaron Ammons reportedly weighing a run for the city's top office.
On The 21st: Illinois has the highest property taxes. Why? And should the U of I have a new mascot? We also asked the question: Should the state help a struggling nuclear energy industry keep its downstate silos open?
