“Budget plans put Urbana in red for at least a year,” News-Gazette, February 8
The city council reviewed revised budget estimates on Monday night as the fiscal year nears its final quarter. Revenues such as sales taxes have not performed as officials estimated before the budget cycle began and other line items such as snow removal and fuel costs have gone beyond what was forecast – in all, creating a budget gap of about $225,000.
“Workers picket again as contract negotiations stall,” Daily Illini, February 9
Building service workers picketed once again outside of the Activities and Recreation Center before contract negotiations with the University early Tuesday morning. Despite the cold, workers were present to express their displeasure with the University’s negotiating tactics.
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Food and building service workers said they want a new wage contract with the University and with added job securities and wages. The two sides have been negotiating since the old contract expired in July. Baldwin said he believes a mediator is now necessary.
“Tech recycler looks to build permanent presence,” News-Gazette, February 8
An electronics recycling contractor that ran four one-day recycling events in Champaign last year is looking into establishing a permanent presence here.
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[T]he Champaign County collection events last year were so successful that one of them established a single-day record for the largest volume of residential electronics ever collected by the contractor, Vintage Tech Recyclers Inc. of Romeoville.
“UI lobbying office slated for nation’s capital,” News-Gazette, February 7
The University of Illinois will open a lobbying office in Washington, D.C., this spring, hoping to expand its influence in the nation’s capital.
The university has always had representatives in Washington but they’ve worked out of the Chicago or Urbana campuses.
“We’ve never had an office per se. This is pretty much standard now in the Big Ten, and it’s really going to be a great expansion for the reach of what we do,” said Katherine “Kappy” Laing, executive director of governmental relations.
“University part of Peace Corps top colleges of 2011,” Daily Illini, February 10
The Peace Corps released a list of colleges and universities producing the most volunteers in 2010 with the University of Illinois ranked 14th.
According to a press release, the University had 67 undergraduate alumni volunteers.
Ashlee McLaughlin, campus recruiter, said the UI Peace Corps nominates 40-60 people each year.
“Champaign high school search not limited to outskirts,” News-Gazette, February 8
The Champaign school board has been looking at seven potential sites on the outskirts of town for a new high school.
But those aren’t the only possibilities board members are considering.
“We’re looking at every option,” school board President Dave Tomlinson said. “Is there any place to do something different than the 60- to 80-acre site we’ve talked about?”
Tomlinson and other school and city officials talked about the needs of Central High School and the seven potential locations for a new Central at a joint meeting of the Champaign school board, Champaign City Council and Champaign park board Monday night.