“Potential users imagine benefits of Big Broadband in Champaign-Urbana,” News-Gazette, June 6
Getting people like [Tanya] Weatherly online at a lower expense is the goal for the Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband group, a consortium of the twin cities and the University of Illinois that recently was awarded $22.5 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to build a high-speed fiber optic network in the two cities. Planning is under way for the installation of the fiber optic rings in 2011.
The project will provide low-cost access – $20 monthly – to 2,500 low-income homes in seven areas in the twin cities identified as underserved, said Mike Smeltzer, a key organizer who also is director of networking services for Campus Information Technologies and Education Services at the UI.
“Fans, Champaign bars gear up for World Cup,” Daily Illini, June 8
Tracey Herbert, general manager at Legends Bar & Grill, 522 E. Green St., said the bar plans on opening early for 9 a.m. games.
In addition, Firehaus, 708 S. Sixth St., plans on opening early for all of the United States’ World Cup matches. The first game, a highly anticipated matchup against England, is set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
“Quinn lets universities take out loans,” Pantagraph, June 8
The state is more than $600 million behind in sending money to state schools, leaving some of them in a major cash crunch.
Some university officials have said they don’t want to use borrowing powers to create debt, but wanted the option if their financial situations get even worse.
Southern Illinois University has been among the loudest asking for the authority to take out loans.
“City [of Springfield] publishes private info on FOIA website,” State Journal-Register, June 10
Admitting that it “goofed,” the city of Springfield put documents online that contained sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, home and work telephone numbers and even a bank account number and the name of someone who called the state anonymously to report suspected child abuse.
The documents were posted on the city’s website in response to Freedom of Information Act requests as part of an initiative to make public information available to anyone with a computer. But personal information such as home phone numbers, Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers are exempt from disclosure under state law.
The city disabled the website on Thursday morning before putting it back up in the afternoon, presumably with the sensitive information removed.