“Early voting center on UI campus opens for business,” News-Gazette, October 12
A controversial University of Illinois campus early voting center opened Monday morning to something short of a large crowd.
Just three voters made use of the facility at 700 S. Gregory St., U, in the first two hours it was open.
And two of the three early voters were Champaign County Board Democrats – Alan Kurtz of Champaign and Steve Beckett of rural Urbana – who had voted last month for a resolution to put the campus early voting center at the Illini Union.
“Chief Illiniwek event called off over legal threat,” Pantagraph, October 14
Plans for a third annual unofficial performance on the University of Illinois campus by the retired Chief Illiniwek mascot have been scrapped after the school threatened legal action.
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An attorney for the university threatened to sue over potential trademark violations.
“Champaign extends East University TIF district for 12 years,” News-Gazette, October 13
City council members hope the next 12 years bring further changes along First Street and East University Avenue, after they supported the continuance of a program designed to encourage redevelopment there.
Council members voted 7-1 on Tuesday to extend the 24-year-old East University Avenue tax increment financing district for another 12 years.
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Tax increment financing districts are development tools that freeze property tax payments to each government agency at a baseline level. As property values rise, all of the tax revenue above that baseline goes to the city, which in turn invests the money back into infrastructure improvements and development incentives for the district.
“UI president’s administration proposal raises questions,” News-Gazette, October 12
Faculty reviewing proposed changes to the upper echelons of University of Illinois administration have lots of questions – about the effect on the Urbana campus and its reputation, about research autonomy and, especially, about the cost.
President Michael Hogan’s plans to add a fourth vice president and make other changes produced 25 questions from faculty, staff and students at a town-hall meeting Monday at the Levis Faculty Center.
“We need to know what these changes really mean,” said Amy MacNeill, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“UI falls behind in sex health ranking,” Daily Illini, October 12
The University is the 65th most sexually healthy school in the nation, according to the annual Trojan sexual health report.
The report ranked 141 American universities and colleges across 12 categories, including health center hours of operation and contraceptive availability and cost.
“Quinn, Brady collide on taxes, jobs in debate,” Chicago Tribune, October 14
Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican state Sen. Bill Brady clashed on taxes and jobs Thursday night during a debate in southern Illinois.
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Green Party candidate Rich Whitney, of Carbondale, accused his foes of relying on “fantasy economics” and said the state cannot cut its way out “unless we want to eviscerate the public sector.” He called for a “forensic audit” of state spending to determine how the state spends money and said the state should tax Chicago’s financial exchanges. Auditor General Bill Holland has said such an audit would cost the state millions of dollars.