Chambana Sun

Urbana's Sola Gratia Farm worried about losing $99,500 U.S. taxpayer grant

By LGIS News Service | Mar 24, 2025

The executive director of Urbana's Sola Gratia Farm says she is worried about losing a $99,500 U.S. taxpayer grant her organization receives to provide food to Urbana School District 116.

Champaign bar manager, Brandon Hardway, shot in broad daylight by African immigrant, dies

By LGIS News Service | Feb 17, 2024

Brandon Hardway, the 45 year-old bar manager shot on Feb. 5 in broad daylight in downtown Champaign, has died.

Bipartisan PAC urges State’s Attorney Lacy to oppose SAFE-T Act

By LGIS News Service | Aug 16, 2022

Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy, a Republican, is being urged to join an effort to repeal Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act, which retools multiple parts of the criminal justice system, including the elimination of cash bail.

Bipartisan PAC urges State’s Attorney Perry to oppose SAFE-T Act

By LGIS News Service | Aug 9, 2022

Piatt County State’s Attorney Sarah Perry, a Republican, is being urged to join an effort to repeal Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act, which retools multiple parts of the criminal justice system, including the elimination of cash bail.

Bipartisan PAC urges State’s Attorney Killian to oppose SAFE-T Act

By LGIS News Service | Aug 1, 2022

Ford County State’s Attorney Andrew L. Killian, a Republican, is being urged to join an effort to repeal Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act, which retools multiple parts of the criminal justice system, including the elimination of cash bail.

Bipartisan PAC urges State’s Attorney Reitz to oppose SAFE-T Act

By LGIS News Service | Jul 27, 2022

Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz, a Democrat, is being urged to join an effort to repeal Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act, which retools multiple parts of the criminal justice system, including the elimination of cash bail.

Vermilion County school districts mum on state’s new sex education policy

By LGIS News Service | Jun 24, 2022

Eight school districts in Vermilion County are mum on Illinois’ new law that aligns sex education policies for grades K-12 with national standards.

Piatt County school districts opting out of state’s new sex education policy

By LGIS News Service | Jun 24, 2022

Three school districts in Piatt County are opting out of Illinois’ new law that aligns sex education policies for grades K-12 with national standards.

Ford County school districts opting out of state’s new sex education policy

By LGIS News Service | Jun 24, 2022

Two school districts in Ford County are opting out of Illinois’ new law that aligns sex education policies for grades K-12 with national standards.

Champaign County school districts opting out of state’s new sex education policy

By LGIS News Service | Jun 24, 2022

Ten school districts in Champaign County are opting out of Illinois’ new law that aligns sex education policies for grades K-12 with national standards.

Jimmy John's Founder: "Illinois has lost sight of how the money is made."

By LGIS News Service | May 3, 2022

One of the Champaign-Urbana's-- and the state's-- most successful entrepreneurs says Illinois politicians are punishing business owners they should be nurturing.Jimmy John LiataudTucker: You're based in Illinois.

Rose: Pritzker is "moving to punish all of those who defy him"

By LGIS News Service | Feb 9, 2022

Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) said Governor J.B. Pritzker's refusal to lift mask mandates for schools show he is "moving to punish all those who defy him."

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois’ non-teaching public employee jobs down 6.9% in wake of pandemic

By LGIS News Service | 3 years ago

The size of Illinois’ combined local and state government workforces declined 6.9% from July 2019 to July 2021, representing the fifth largest gap in public-employee job recovery during the pandemic, a Pew Charitable Trusts study concluded.

U of I enrollment falls to record low 54% in-state students; record-high 11,474 foreign nationals

By LGIS News Service | Sep 15, 2021

Nearly half of the students at Illinois’ flagship taxpayer-funded university are now foreign nationals or from out-of-state, according to a Chambana Sun analysis of school enrollment data.

UIUC reports largest freshman class ever with 8,303 new students

By LGIS News Service | Sep 9, 2021

The size of the freshman class at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign numbered 8,303 this fall, including 5,835 new students – or 70% of the total – from around the state, UIUC reports.

From Prairie State Wire

Top marginal tax rate in Illinois could reach 54.29% under Biden plan

By LGIS News Service | 4 years ago

Under Democrat Joe Biden’s federal tax plan, the top marginal tax rate in Illinois could hit 54.29 percent, according to a new analysis by the Tax Foundation.

Analysis: Vermilion County retiree households could pay $3,815.05 annually under Pritzker graduated income tax hike plan

By LGIS News Service | Oct 12, 2020

The 14,621 retirees in Vermilion County could pay as much as $3,815.05 in state income taxes if voters approve Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated tax hike amendment on Nov. 3, according to an analysis by the Chambana Sun.

Analysis: Piatt County retiree households could pay $4,274.19 annually under Pritzker graduated income tax hike plan

By LGIS News Service | Oct 12, 2020

The 3,171 retirees in Piatt County could pay as much as $4,274.19 in state income taxes if voters approve Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated tax hike amendment on Nov. 3, according to an analysis by the Chambana Sun.

Analysis: Ford County retiree households could pay $3,307.55 annually under Pritzker graduated income tax hike plan

By LGIS News Service | Oct 12, 2020

The 2,437 retirees in Ford County could pay as much as $3,307.55 in state income taxes if voters approve Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated tax hike amendment on Nov. 3, according to an analysis by the Chambana Sun.

Analysis: Champaign County retiree households could pay $5,020.51 annually under Pritzker graduated income tax hike plan

By LGIS News Service | Oct 12, 2020

The 26,840 retirees in Champaign County could pay as much as $5,020.51 in state income taxes if voters approve Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated tax hike amendment on Nov. 3, according to an analysis by the Chambana Sun.