SPlog

Illini earned Big Ten All-Freshman Team Honors Champaign, Ill. – University of Illinois freshman guard/forward Jereme Richmond (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan H.S.) announced Tuesday that he is declaring for the 2011 NBA Draft and will not return …

Come out to Cowboy Monkey tonight at 10pm for the debut of Storm Cellar, a local anthology of short fiction and poetry featuring the work of Sidney Sheehan, Ben Goodney, Lindy Wheatley, Harmony Neal, and Jamie …

It’s election day in C-U. If you need this or some sort of Facebook announcement to be reminded, then so be it. The world is the world. I’m not going to suggest to you that …

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLYFriday, April 8th7:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. First viewing hours: 7:00–9:00 p.m. (free) Music by DJ Lady Feathers downstairs 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. ($1.00 cover) Mike ‘N Molly’s 105 N. Market Street Champaign     …

Friday, April 8, 20115:00–7:00 p.m. AMASONG: Champaign-Urbana’s Premier Lesbian/Feminist Chorus invites to you to celebrate our 20th anniversary during the Boneyard Arts Festival. Friday, April 8, 5:00–7:00 p.m., join members and friends of Amasong at …

An elected Trustee on the Parkland College Board volunteers to serve a 6 year unpaid, “non-partisan” term.  Hopefully they will be fiscally responsible and “transparent” representatives of both taxpayers and students alike.     http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2011-04-03/7-vie-3-parkland-board-spots.html

Once again the Art Theater and C-U Confidential are presenting the New Art Film Festival (NAFF) on Friday, April 8, 2011, at the Art in downtown Champaign, IL, in conjunction with the Boneyard Arts Festival …

From the N-G: Mayor Jerry Schweighart says he reported a $1,000 campaign contribution the day he received it but that a software glitch prevented the donation from being recorded until Friday morning. …”We reported it …

The UCIMC recently just published an article calling Unit 4 School Board Member/incumbant candidate Kristine Chalifoux’s ethics into question. Much of it seems to rely a bit on speculation, but it’s certainly one of the …

Several local luminaries and organizations have thrown their support behind one candidate or another in Tuesday’s mayoral election. Here is the list of endorsers for each candidate, according to each candidate’s Twitter and other sources. …

Boneyard 2011 @ Indi Go Reception: Thursday, April 7 from 7-9pmArtist Talk w/ Deborah Fell @ 7:30pm Open Hours:Tuesday, April 5 — 4:30-7:30pmWednesday, April 6 — 4:30-7:30pmThursday, April 7 — 7:00-9:00pm Artist ReceptionFriday April 8 …

Oh Henry Owings… what a charmer. See #132.

Today on SP Radio (5:30 p.m. on 90.1 FM or weft.org): Megan Paceley and Tom Miebach will discuss Turn It UP 2011. The event, featuring music, spoken word and more, takes place next Friday, April …

More details forthcoming, but according to their website, Daytrotter will be bringing their Barnstormer Tour back to the Kalyx Center on April 29th. The lineup includes Sondre Leche, Guards (featuring members of Cults) and the …

After overhearing one too many pro-Don Gerard conversations, Jerry Schweighart’s campaign manager, Marjorie Williams, burned Farren’s Restaurant to the ground as the lunch hour drew to a close on Thursday, resulting in the death of …

After receiving a state income tax bill of nearly $40 for 2010, Smile Politely founder Seth Fein has decided to move the extremely lucrative online magazine’s headquarters to the Cayman Islands. “That $40 will be …

In a move that local businessman Cody Sokolski called “carefully crafted” and “integral to success,” Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works, a local franchise of the restaurant/brewery chain has decided to keep its doors closed for …

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary and in the face of public scorn, Champaign mayoral candidate Don Gerard continues to hold tightly to his belief that U.S. President Barack Obama is a natural born United …

…and only one of them was connected to a national breastfeading controversy. Read the Gazette’s profile here. Also, here is a round-up from today’s forum.   Remember, there are 4 seats in play between 5 candidates, …

The 6th Annual Edible Book Festival will be held on April 5, 2011, at the University YMCA (1001 South Wright Street, Champaign). The campus and local community is invited to experience this unique intersection of …

The Art of Science: Images from the Institute for Genomic Biology exhibits some of the University of Illinois research addressing significant problems in the environment, energy, agriculture and medicine. Research instrumentation in the Core Facilities …

Here are some notable quotes if you want to whet your appettite before reading Patrick Wade’s piece in the Gazette. Taking a large amount of money from a liquor establishment that’s he’s going to have …

Read more here.

On April 2, at 7:30 p.m., the Illini 4000 for Cancer is hosting an exhibition at the Independent Media Center in Urbana. In addition to a documentary screening, this event will serve as the opening …

Location: Indi go artist co-opDate: Saturday, Apr. 2, 6:00–8:00 p.m.No Cover/Tips and requests encouraged 100% of proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Homes program.        

Location: Indi go artist co-opDate: Friday, Apr. 1, 8:00 p.m.Cost: $5.00 R Keenan Lawler is a Louisville Kentucky based musician, sound artist, improviser, and composer. For nearly thirty years he has been a restless explorer …

All events will be free and open to the public. Nearly all events will take place at the Orpheum Theatre. Committed to the idea that chamber music can and should be enjoyed by all people, …

I would like to announce the availability of a Meetup group for amateur tenor saxophone players in the Champaign area. Check it out at Meetup.com. If you are interested and meet the minimal qualifications, you …

Over the past couple of weeks, Smile Politely has posted a couple of articles discussing emails sent by a city secretary scheduling a campaign appearance for Mayor Jerry Schweighart. City Attorney Fred Stavins maintained that …

A fairly predictable development, sure, but the article is definitely worth a read.  Here’s a quick teaser:   If he’s a little too rough around the edges for some, Schweighart remains a personable, approachable public …

Two big census data stories of the past couple days are the 25% drop in population in Detroit since 2000, and the increasing numbers of black folks, particularly younger ones, moving out of northern cities …

Today on SP Radio (5:30 p.m. on 90.1 FM or weft.org): We’ll talk to the owners of Prairie Fruit Farms about raising goats, making cheese, hosting farm breakfasts/dinners, speaking out on Olympian Drive and a …

Dear CU community, I am a local midwife here in Champaign-Urbana. Last year I went to Haiti as a relief worker shortly after the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010. What I saw in Haiti, …

Come meet Local Author John Osborne and check out his debut Urban Fantasy novel! March 26th from 1-3pm Jane Addams Book Shop 208 N. Neil Champaign IL About the Book: At four feet nine inches …

We all accidentally send out emails we shouldn’t, but this email from “Illini-Alert” seems like a very, very bad blunder: Active shooter at BUILDING NAME/INTERSECTION. Escape area if safe to do so or shield/secure your …

Zorbas, a Campustown gyro shop, an institution since 1971, and one of the last remaining pieces of “old campus,” is reportedly on fire. Little details are known at this time, since I am out of …

Dr. May Berenbaum, well tenured, the author of a ton of books about insects, and the motor behind the Insect Fear Film Festival, has taken home the 2011 Tyler Prize, which recognizes humans who are …

Today in concert news that would excite my wife if this wasn’t six days before her due date. From the Virginia Theatre eNewsletter: LIVE IN CONCERT REO Speedwagon  Friday, May 27th  Show time: 8pm Virginia …

Join Flatlander Community Kitchen supporters and volunteers at the home of Mary Kalantzis & Bill Cope for an evening of conversation, wonderful Greek food, and stunning modern architecture. I can personally attest to the beauty …

Good shit here:

There was a basketball game Sunday in Tulsa. But for our own peace of mind, let’s just pretend there wasn’t.

Who has the potential to discover a human trafficking victim? You! Many believe that slavery ended in the 1800s or it happens only in other countries. The reality isthere are more slaves in the world …

Today on SP Radio (5:30 p.m. on 90.1 FM or weft.org): SP writer Dylan Heath joins us live in studio to follow up on his articles discussing local graffiti. We plan to ask him about …

A City of Champaign Candidate Forum co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the NAACP will be held Thursday, March 24 at 7 p.m. in Champaign Council Chambers in the City Building at 102 …

Details remain scant, but it looks like Elsinore will play the Illinites Music Festival on April 15th, along with Jay Moses and several more artists that remain TBA. This will be their first full-band show …

Tonight at the Champaign Public Library, beginning at 6:30 p.m., incumbent Jerry Schweighart will debate challenger Don Gerard. It’s organized by the Junior League of C-U, and moderated by Chambanamoms. Can’t be there? Well, the …

Originally posted earlier today on the UCIMC site. On Monday, March 14, 2011, former Champaign police detective Lisa Staples returned to court for a second DUI. The charges stemmed from an incident on December 19, …

Time: Friday, Mar. 18, 5:00–9:00 p.m.Location: Indi Go Artist Co-op They Will Have Done This Three local photographers ― Nick Owens, David Cubberly, and Eric Warman ― pool their work to create an eclectic mix …