“UI receives $10 million grant,” Daily Illini, January 19
Gov. Pat Quinn was present today to see the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign receive a $10 million grant from Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). The grant was given to the University today to found the ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss.
“Champaign considers natural gas tax,” News-Gazette, January 17
A handful of public and private entities could be hit with thousands of dollars’ worth of new expenses this week when the city council considers a “natural gas use tax” to help close a widening budget gap.
The tax would apply only to agencies which do not already pay a utility tax, so all of the city’s residents and most businesses will not be affected. While the number of agencies which will fall under the new tax is small, maybe less than a dozen, city budgeters expect the measure to bring in about $100,000 per year.
“U. of Ill. considers tuition control measure,” Pantagraph, January 20
University of Illinois trustees are expected to increase the cost of on-campus housing for next year but at the same consider a move to limit future increases in tuition.
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This year, tuition increased 9.5 percent and led to complaints from some students and parents.
“Urbana council votes to complete purchase of downtown block,” News-Gazette, January 19
The Urbana City Council voted 6-0 this week to spend $400,000 to purchase a property on the block that is home of a Goodyear tire store. With that purchase, from the Hurshal C. Tummelson estate and the Darius Phebus trust, the city will have spent about $950,000 since 2008 to acquire properties on the block.
“We don’t have any specific proposals from a developer. We hope to get some,” Tom Carrino, Urbana’s economic development manager, said at Tuesday’s meeting. “I would say we’re pretty flexible, but we would want a high-quality development that is consistent with downtown but also would blend nicely into the neighborhood to the east.”
“Private security joins police on University of Illinois campus,” Daily Illini, January 18
Security measures tightened last semester on campus will continue to be in effect throughout this semester. Along with the University Police Department, University Housing has introduced new measures.
G4S Security Solutions, a private security company, has been hired to patrol student dorms late into the night. These uniformed officers will check exterior doors and monitor the common areas from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.