Featured Stories

Arts Grants Applications Now Open

Submitted by BridgetB on November 1, 2019 - 11:33am

Applications are now open for the 2020 Urbana Arts Grants cycle.

Applicants may apply by e-mail or submit a hard copy. The application form and guidelines can be found at www.urbanaillinois.us/artsgrants.

Tier III Applications are due by Friday, Nov. 8th, 2019 by 5:00 p.m. Mandatory presentation to the Arts and Culture Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 12th, 2019.

All application materials for Tiers I* and II (*inclusive of Arts in the Schools) are due by 5:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, January 15th, 2020.

Why We Conduct a Census

Submitted by BridgetB on October 29, 2019 - 4:53pm

Why We Conduct a Census

A census aims to count the entire population of a country, and at the location where each person usually lives. The census asks questions of people in homes and group living situations, including how many people live or stay in each home, and the sex, age and race of each person. The goal is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.

How the Census Benefits Your Community

Urbana Business Association New Executive Director

Submitted by BridgetB on October 29, 2019 - 3:43pm

Darius White

A new executive director takes over as head of the Urbana Business Association. Darius White began his role October 14, 2019. White has worked in program and major events coordination with the Champaign Park District and Eastern Illinois University.

He holds a master’s in management from Colorado Technical University and a bachelor’s in consumer studies and family services from EIU. He’s also a three-time recipient of the Champaign Park District’s Community Impact Award.

UBA manages some of the most popular events in the area including Market in the Square, the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival, the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Connections Over Cocktails, Urbana’s Downtown Get Down, and many other events and happenings in Urbana.

Where Do I Recycle It?

Submitted by BridgetB on October 29, 2019 - 11:38am

Champaign County Environmental Stewards

Reducing pollution through material management solutions

CCES is a non-profit community organization formed in 2019 to support efforts to provide area citizens with safe and convenient collection options for household materials that pose potential problems at the end of their useful life.

Their website is a very helpful way to find out about events that help you learn more on how to live a sustainable life here in Champaign County. They have a really handy newsletter, which you can sign-up for right here, and they encourage us all to be good stewards to the Earth.

Beware of Fake GoFundMe Account

Submitted by BridgetB on October 10, 2019 - 3:08pm

The City of Urbana has been made aware of a fraudulent GoFundMe campaign circulating within the local area.

"It looks like a GoFundMe campaign, sent from our domain and with our City's name and logo," Sanford Hess, City of Urbana IT Director said.

Phishing is a method of trying to gather personal information using deceptive emails and websites. It is a sophisticated form of cyberattack.

The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is something needed or wanted. It can be a request from a bank, a note from an insurance company-which are all fake-to entice people to click a link or download an attachment.

In this particular phishing scheme, an email is sent with a fake email address, which includes the City’s name and logo, asking for help for a sick child, who does not exist.

“But, this is really a phish, and the (fake) GoFundMe link goes to a PayPal account,” Hess reiterated.

HOT TOPICS