Chambana Sun

Analysis: 150,000+ Illinoisans left food stamp rolls as Trump entered office

By LGIS Newsfeed | Feb 2, 2018

The number of food stamp recipients fell over two years at 54 of 66 Illinois welfare offices analyzed by Prairie State Wire.

Analysis: Proposed K-12 budget would cost Chambana residents $128M more in income taxes

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 31, 2018

Greater C-U residents would pay $128,251,320 more in state income taxes if the state agrees to increase school funding by $7.2 billion, according to a Chambana Sun analysis of Illinois Department of Revenue data.

Vermilion has 24th highest abortion rate among largest Illinois counties in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 17, 2018

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, Vermilion County ranked No. 24 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Report: Champaign ranks 19th among largest Illinois counties for abortions performed in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 16, 2018

Champaign County accounted for 111 of the 38,382 abortions performed statewide in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: Despite lower fees, Illinois ranks 13th among states with highest cost to start a business

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Illinois state government lowered its fees for forming and maintaining Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). Setting up an LLC now costs $150, down from $500. And maintaining one costs $75, down from $250 per year.

Analysis: Westville HS tops rankings with highest rate of students who fail annual tests, still graduate

By LGIS Newsfeed | Dec 12, 2017

Despite dismal student performance on annual exams covering math and reading, Champaign-Urbana metro area high school graduation rates remain high, according to a Chambana Sun analysis of 2016 data from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Analysis: China is most common country of origin for international students attending University of Illinois

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 21, 2017

There are 6,999 students from China attending the University of Illinois on federal student visas, making it the most common country of origin for international students at that school.

Analysis: 26.7% of University of Illinois students are international

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 20, 2017

With 12,554 international students from 113 countries attending the University of Illinois on federal student visas, the group makes up 26.7 percent of the total student body, according to a Chambana Sun​​​​ analysis of data obtained from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sen. Chapin Rose took money from taxi cab lobby to help ban ride-sharing

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 17, 2017

Chicago's taxi cab cartel donated $180,750 to 61 state legislators in 2014-15, including Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), encouraging them to help preserve their traditional monopoly by banning ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft in Illinois.

Analysis: Prairieview-Ogden CCSD tops local peers with 54% of students passing annual tests

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 15, 2017

Prairieview-Ogden Community Consolidated School District 197 had the highest rate – 54 percent – of students locally who passed the annual state assessments this year, according to a Chambana Sun analysis of Illinois State Board of Education data.

Champaign County Nursing Home hit with health violations

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 2, 2017

Champaign County Nursing Home, a skilled care facility in Urbana, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the third quarter of 2017.

Thirty state lawmakers, including Hays, Mitchell, leaving office

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 9, 2017

The Illinois General Assembly will see 30 lawmakers not return, including Reps. Chad Hays (R-Catlin) and Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) from Champaign County.

Critics say HB 40 likely to increase number of abortions over 241 on record for Champaign County in 2015

By LGIS Newsfeed | Sep 28, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner recently announced he will sign controversial abortion funding expansion House Bill 40 into law, which critics say will increase the number of abortions from the reported 241 in Champaign County in 2015.

Urbana, Rantoul City, Rantoul Township students to be eligible for private school scholarships in new state program

By LGIS Newsfeed | Aug 31, 2017

A new public school funding bill recently passed by the Illinois Legislature, SB1947, includes a scholarship program that would award donated funds to students in lower-income families — up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level — to provide them the opportunity to attend private schools.

Champaign County schools would get $2.25 million more with Rauner schools plan

By LGIS Newsfeed | Aug 15, 2017

Champaign County's 16 school districts will receive an extra $2.25 million this year if the Illinois House accepts Gov. Bruce Rauner's version of a school funding bill, according to an analysis by the Illinois State Board of Education.

AmeriCorps to reinforce Illinois programs with largest grant award to date

By LGIS Newsfeed | Aug 11, 2017

Acting manager of AmeriCorps’ Illinois-based programs, the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Serve Illinois), recently reported $17.5 million in federal grants for AmeriCorps members.

Facing an unfair property tax bill?

By LGIS Newsfeed | Aug 2, 2017

Let us know your side of the story

How much do public servants get paid in Champaign County?

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jul 27, 2017

A recent report indicates that 63,000 public servants across Illinois receive at least $100,000 each year as part of their taxpayer-supplied salaries.

Mitchell targeted by Americans for Prosperity over veto vote

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jul 21, 2017

The Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity is launching an accountability campaign targeting several state representatives, including state Rep. Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) over their vote to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto on the recently passed budget.

Phillips, Hays among GOP legislators to override SB 9 veto

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jul 6, 2017

Reps. Reginald Phillips (R-Charleston), Chad Hays (R-Danville) and 8 other GOP House members joined Democrats to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of three budget bills.