University food service, building service workers ratify new contracts, avoid a strike
By Eunice Alpasan, Staff writer
August 20, 2019
University food service and building service workers recently voted to ratify new contracts and thus avoid a strike authorized to start on Thursday. Food service and building service workers, who are represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 73, held a week-long vote after the union’s ...
Tornado warning in effect in Champaign area Tuesday morning
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
August 20, 2019
An Illini Alert was sent out on Tuesday around 11:07 a.m. informing recipients of an active tornado warning, and people in the area should take shelter immediately. The Illini Alert also said more information will be available soon. Update: Around 11:22 a.m., an Illini Alert was sent out to inform...
Yingying’s Fund officially established to help international students, families
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
August 19, 2019
Yingying Zhang was smart, beautiful and kind. She was also always willing to help when she saw others were in need. That is what her family said about her Monday at the official establishment of Yingying’s Fund. It has been two years since Yingying went missing, and now to honor her memory, a permanent...
Diverse Business Opportunity Fair to explore expanding diversity at UI
By Hannah Preston, Interim editor-in-chief
August 12, 2019
Following last year's fair involving more than 200 business, the University announced plans for the second annual Diverse Business Opportunity Fair to take place on Aug. 28. The fair kicks off with opening remarks at noon and will contain both a vendor fair from 1-4 p.m. and a networking reception...
White supremacist propaganda surges at University during 2018-2019 school year
By Eunice Alpasan, Staff writer
August 8, 2019
A recent Anti-Defamation League report found white supremacist propaganda on college campuses increased 57% across six Midwest states during the 2018-2019 school year. The ADL reported 36 cases of white supremacist propaganda on campuses across Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakot...
Recovery of Yingying Zhang’s remains ‘has no certainty of success’
By Hannah Preston, Interim editor-in-chief
August 7, 2019
Yingying Zhang's family and their attorneys gathered Wednesday morning for a press conference at Beckett Law Office in Urbana to discuss what they learned about the conditions of their daughter's death following discussions between prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office and Brendt Christensen's...
Yingying’s Fund created to assist international students, families
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
August 6, 2019
To assist international students and their families who may be in crisis, an endowment called Yingying’s Fund will be established at the University. The announcement of Yingying’s Fund was made by the Illinois News Bureau on Monday, and an official announcement will be at a later date. Yingying’s Fund is an endowment honoring Yingying Z...
The Head and The Heart joins 2019 headliners at State Farm Center
By Hannah Preston, Interim editor-in-chief
August 5, 2019
On Monday, the State Farm Center announced The Head and The Heart, known for their hits in alternative music like “Lost in My Mind” and “All We Ever Knew,” will be coming to Champaign this fall. The concert will take place on Sept. 14 at State Farm Center and will feature rock band The Moondoggies...
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band to perform at State Farm Center in August
By Eunice Alpasan, Staff writer
July 27, 2019
The former drummer of The Beatles Ringo Starr will be performing with his band at the State Farm Center on Aug. 20. Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band will make a stop in Champaign as part of a 2019 tour which marks the band’s 30th anniversary. The band played their first show at the Park Central...
Jury presents two additional questions as deliberations continue in Christensen trial
By Samantha Boyle, News editor
July 18, 2019
As the jury continues deliberations, two questions have already come up. The jury started deliberating Thursday morning at 9 a.m. and sent the first question around 9:45 a.m. asking about what the information about the number of jurors who agree each mitigating factor will be used for. Judge James...
KAM’s files building permit to move to corner of First, Green
By Eunice Alpasan, Staff writer
July 13, 2019
The longtime Campustown bar KAM’s and self-declared “Home of the Drinking Illini” filed a building permit on June 28 to the city of Champaign which would relocate the bar to the corner of First and Green streets, according to city records. The building permit filed shows KAM’s would be moved to 102 E....
Life or death: First witnesses called to stand for beginning of penalty phase
By Samantha Boyle, News Editor
July 8, 2019
After a guilty verdict was reached about two weeks ago, members of the jury must now decide the punishment of Brendt Christensen for kidnapping and killing visiting scholar Yingying Zhang. For the jury to decide if it will sentence Christensen to life in prison or death depends on the government’s...
