A series of historic events has characterized the summer of 2024. Over just a few months, the country witnessed the release of a groundbreaking Supreme Court ruling, an assassination attempt on presidential candidate Donald Trump and President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the presidential race.
In addition to national news, developments in the Champaign-Urbana community are also worth addressing. Here are some of the most significant moments, both nationally and locally, of this newsworthy summer.
SCOTUS on presidential immunity
On July 1, a historic decision was reached by the Supreme Court in the case of Trump v. United States. The court ruled 6-3 that former presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution in cases involving “official acts,” whereas “unofficial acts” provide no immunity.
In August 2023, Donald Trump was indicted on four counts of conduct by a federal grand jury for allegedly spreading knowingly false information regarding the 2020 presidential election, “to obstruct the collecting, counting, and certifying of the election results” (Trump v. United States, 2024).
Trump’s defense argued that the actions taken by President Trump should not be subject to criminal judgment, asserting that they were official presidential actions and should, therefore, be protected after he left office.
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The Supreme Court ultimately left it up to lower courts to determine “official” versus “unofficial” acts and decipher what the July 1 decision means for Trump’s case.
Donald Trump assassination attempt
On July 13, there was an attempted assassination of the former President of the United States, Donald Trump. As he spoke at a rally in Butler, Pa., a gunman fired two shots from a nearby rooftop, striking Trump on his right ear. His Secret Service team subsequently forced the former president off the stage and shielded him. He was then escorted from the rally, visibly bloodied.
One rally attendee, later identified as Corey Comperatore, was fatally struck by one of the shots. Two other attendees, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, left the rally seriously injured.
The NY Times reported that a spokesman for Trump, Steven Cheung, said Trump is “fine” and was “checked out at a local medical facility.” Cheung also said that the former president “thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act.”
The FBI later identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, Pa., as the attempted assassin. Crooks was a registered Republican on voter records but donated to a liberal PAC in 2021.
The July 13 shooting prompted a flood of questions regarding both the crime itself and the lack of protective measures that allowed it to happen. The AP reports that the FBI is investigating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism as well as an attempted assassination.
Biden Drops out of presidential race and endorses Harris
On July 21, President Joe Biden released a statement on Instagram and Twitter announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race.
“And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” the note read.
The announcement came after President Biden and his team reported that he had contracted COVID-19 earlier in the week, preventing him from making public appearances.
In the note, the president also included his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate. “Today, I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” Biden wrote.
Vice President Harris is expected to be announced as the official Democratic nominee at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which begins on Aug 19.
CPD launches drone surveillance program
On July 11, the Champaign Police Department announced the launch of a new drone surveillance program with the goal of enhancing safety within the community by offering a birds-eye view of large community events and other situations.
The “Unmanned Aerial System” will be used in compliance with the Illinois Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act (725 ILCS 167), which restricts drone surveillance by law enforcement to specific purposes. These purposes include but are not limited to locating victims from a 911 call, responding to a public health emergency, executing a judge-signed search warrant or monitoring special events with a 24-hour notice.
For more details about the unmanned aerial system program, visit the city’s website.
Campus construction projects continue into the summer
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus is quickly remodeling and expanding with new academic and apartment buildings in summer 2024. Steven S. Wymer Hall, the Undergraduate Library and 608 E. Chalmers are just three projects being worked on over the summer.
Steven S. Wymer Hall will be a new academic building for the Gies College of Business and will use geothermal technology to be more environmentally sustainable. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.
The Undergraduate Library was closed in May 2022 to be redeveloped into an archive and special collections. The timeline for construction has not yet been released, as the project is still in the bid/award phase.
The construction at 608 E. Chalmers, managed by Smile Student Living, will eventually result in a new campus apartment complex.
“We are excited to be offering this new development as the only new building close to the Gies School of Business and the Law School to include brand new studio and one-bedroom apartments … in addition to on-site study lounges and a rooftop clubhouse that overlooks the Main Quad,” said Marisa Paige, senior multi-site property manager for Smile Student Living.
Other current projects include the renovation of Altgeld Hall’s exterior and the demolition of Illini Hall.
University’s iFAB awarded over $50 million for biomanufacturing
The University’s Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing program has received a substantial boost with a $51 million grant from the federal government. This funding is part of a $504 million allocation from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
The iFAB focuses on biomanufacturing, converting crops like corn and soybeans into a wide range of high-value commodities.
According to WCIA, state leaders are pleased with iFAB’s selection for this funding. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-IL, expressed enthusiasm at the decision.
“I’m so pleased iFAB is receiving this critical Tech Hub funding, unlocking innovation, investment and job creation for years to come,” Duckworth said. “Illinois is already a hub of agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and technology, making our state ideally positioned for these Tech Hub awards.”
More information about iFAB is available on their website.
