COVID and Health Updates

The News-Gazette had an update on COVID cases in Champaign County this past weekend here. Regular updates on COVID cases and vaccinations is available at the Public Health website here. In today's paper, the News-Gazette noted that roughly a third of Champaign County residents have received vaccine boosters:

About onethird of Champaign County adults eligible for COVID-19 booster shots have received them.

As of Friday, 36,913 booster shots had been given, which is 33.6 percent of Champaign County’s fully vaccinated residents 18 and older, according to Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Deputy Administrator Awais Vaid. About 110,000 Champaign County residents 18 and older have been fully vaccinated and have been urged to get booster shots at least six months past their second Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shots or at least two months after the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

That article is available on the eEdition here. WGPU also had updates on their audio segment here.

COVID vaccine clinics for children have begun in the area after recent FDA approval. From WAND:

After the CDC approved the COVID-19 vaccine for children in the 5-11 age range earlier this week, health departments like Champaign-Urbana started making appointments available for the community.

Deputy Administrator for the Champaign Urbana Public Health District Awais Vaid said leaders are excited to see a vulnerable population now able to protect themselves.

"Until now, you know, the big group was the kids who were not eligible. We are really happy right now that the (5-11 age range is) eligible for it," Vaid said. "That means about 16,000 kids in Champaign County become eligible immediately. So we hope that people get these vaccines as soon as possible so that the transmission that we are seeing a lot in the kids right now, we will start to see a decline in that going forward."

That full article here. WCCU had a listing of area vaccine clinics with links to additional information here. WAND also pointed out some concern last month about a rise in local youth cases:

In a concerning trend, Champaign County health officials are seeing a COVID-19 case surge in mostly unvaccinated school children and teens. 

Data shows 90 percent of cases among those in the 12 to 17 age range are among people who didn't get their shot. Health officials said the virus is spreading quickly in schools. 

The epidemiologist for the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District said vaccines are crucial to prevent hospitalizations...

CUPHD said it has seen a good turnout for kids to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but it hasn't been enough. 

That full blurb here. A more recent WCCU article highlighted eligible child vaccination rates locally over 15%. In another article WCCU noted that health officials were monitoring ICU bed availability with some concern last month:

As regions across Illinois respond to rising cases of COVID-19, hospitals say they’re on the lookout when it comes to intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability...

Recent data as of November 15 from the Illinois Department of Public Health shows 31 percent of ICU beds are available in Region three which covers Sangamon County. But availability in Region 6 which covers Champaign is at 16 percent.

It’s a concern that other health officials have especially as the holidays approach. 

That full article here.

Other local health news and articles:

• UIUC campus update on COVID last month from Illinois Newsroom.
• UIUC is recommending booster shots, but it is not currently requiring booster documentation as part of its vaccine requirements, according to WCIA.
• Smile Politely had an interview on "Blueprint," a program to increase access to mental health care locally.
• A Smile Politely opinion piece on gender diverse health care and issues of transgender health care needs locally. Regardless of one's own views on these issues, this piece highlighted certain aspects of our local health care system that may come up in future policy and political discussions.

November County Roundup

There is a separate post on the jail consolidation news at the last County Board meeting here (video, agenda packet). This post covers other County government news including: the elimination of the County Recorder office, updates on the appointment power fight between the County Executive and the Board, area homeless shelter updates, and many other items.

This will be the last month for the office of the Champaign County Recorder of Deeds after voters approved of consolidating the office within the Champaign County Clerk's Office. From the News-Gazette:

Under changes approved by voters in April, Ingram’s job will be eliminated, the recorder’s office staff and functions will be rolled into the clerk’s office and County Clerk Aaron Ammons will become clerk and recorder on Jan. 1, 2022.

The change is likely to be fairly seamless for the public, according to Ingram and Ammons.

[Recorder Mike Ingram] said the five staff members in the recorder’s office will remain in the same space at the Brookens Administrative Center in Urbana.

Full article available here.

There was movement in the ongoing dispute on appointment powers between the new County Executive and the County Board chair under the new County Executive form of government. This time it was a unanimous appellate decision in favor of the County Board and chair to make vacancy appointments on the Board. From the News-Gazette:  

The three-judge panel unanimously ruled that the board chair — not the county executive — has the authority to make appointments to fill elected offices that are vacated between elections.

In ruling for the board and against County Executive Darlene Kloeppel, the court overturned a local judge’s ruling in Kloeppel’s favor...

[County Board Chairman Kyle Patterson] said his position remains that he will appoint candidates chosen by the party’s central committee to fill vacancies. The appointment of [Wayne Williams] will likely come up in December, he said.

Reached Friday, Kloeppel hadn’t had time yet to read the decision but said she would likely appeal it.

Full article available here.

C-U at Home's plans for additional homeless shelter highlighted some use of federal COVID relief funding use by the County government. From Illinois Newsroom:

C-U at Home is seeking funds to build two, low-barrier shelters for the homeless.

The agency’s current year-round shelter for the homeless reopened in August as a sober shelter after a several-month closure due to staffing issues.

Unlike the agency’s sober shelter at 70 East Washington Street, these two shelters would provide services to those who deal with drug and alcohol addiction.

Kyle Patterson is the chair of the Champaign County Board. He says the board has a key role in funding this initiative.

Patterson says the County Board plans to donate $150,000 using COVID relief funds from the federal government.

More at that full article here. C-U at Home was also in the news recently with a new Executive Director. More at WCIA here. WCCU reported back in October that the Champaign Continuum of Service Providers noted Champaign County's need for more low-barrier housing here.

WCIA also had updates on the C-U at Home emergency winter shelters this year. 

In other County and area news:

• Smile Politely had an editorial with an analysis of the situation at the County's Animal Control office, raising questions on leadership and local media coverage.
• The recent News-Gazette's Tom's Mailbag column had two items on County government. One addressing the Circuit Clerk's expungement event and the other highlighting the County Clerk's Statements of Economic Interest portal during the previous office transition.
• WAND had updates on the Champaign County Sheriff's community engagement plan. WCCU had additional details here.
• WCIA reports Willard Airport among many Central Illinois airports getting State funding for improvements.
• There has been local and regional coverage of the coming African American Heritage Trail (Chicago Tribune articles are available on ProQuest with some local library cards) being established in Champaign County with the Visit Champaign County and local historians and family members of important pioneers, historical figures, and events here in Champaign County.
• There is a separate Cheat Sheet post on this past month's Champaign County Community Coalition meeting and news.

Jail Updates: Consolidation Approval

 

The compromise jail consolidation plan was approved at the general County Board meeting this past month (video, agenda packet). For other County government updates for November, click here. WCIA had a basic overview and some perspectives here. Excerpt:

The two Champaign County jails will soon be consolidated into one facility.

The vote on the $20 million proposal came after about two hours of heated debate at the Champaign County Board meeting Thursday night...

Here’s what was approved Thursday: A plan to close the downtown jail and add two new pods onto the satellite jail. One will be a designated special needs pod, allowing for separation of rival offenders and preventing COVID-19 spread, among other purposes.

That full article with video segment here. The News-Gazette also had coverage of the approval after the vote:

In voting to move ahead late Thursday, the board also approved funding for the project — $5 million from the county’s allocation of funds from the federal coronavirus relief bill passed in March, $13 million in revenue bonds to be repaid over 20 years and the rest in capital funding.

About a dozen speakers argued against the jail project and the use of some of the county’s federal funds for jail construction.

While Heuerman said the jail population has been rising due to violence in the community, some speakers expressed the belief that the jail population has been declining. Some urged the county to put more money into community programs to reduce crime and to wait to see the impact of a state law ending cash bail that is set to take effect in 2023.

Housing prisoners out of county not only costs the county money, Heuerman said, but also makes it more difficult for those prisoners to meet with their attorneys and for their families to visit them.

That full article here. The News-Gazette editorial board had an opinion generally supporting the compromise plan as necessary here.

Previous recent Cheat Sheet posts have pointed out the debate of using federal ARPA funds for the Jail as opposed to limiting their use to programs that could address community needs. Some activists argue that such investment may alleviate pressure to jail as many people locally. Links:

• November 4th October County Roundup post: includes links and information on jail facilities meetings.
• October 10th Jail Updates post: includes recent discussions on funding the jail consolidation plan.

Community Coalition Updates

The Champaign County Community Coalition had its first in-person meeting since the pandemic interrupted large gathering. The 11/10/2021 meeting video is available here (agenda, meeting notes, and News-Gazette coverage). WCIA had an overview of the November meeting, highlighting the need for stability for people reentering the community from the criminal justice system:

The group of community leaders said helping a formerly incarcerated person successfully re-enter society is the way to close that revolving door and work toward improving the rate of gun violence across the region.

A lack of access to things like housing, jobs, even transportation, health insurance or an ID can hold people back, according to the panelists...

The group shared examples of what’s been changed to improve outcomes. For example, the Housing Authority no longer uses most of the criteria from background screenings to place people in housing. A representative said the data showed it was keeping formerly incarcerated people from having homes after they’ve served their time.

That full article here. Here's an excerpt from the meeting notes with the local police chiefs' reports:

• Champaign Police Department – Interim Chief Henson and Deputy Chief Petrilli 
• Current Interim Chief Henson will be retiring Dec 16, Deputy Chief Petrilli will be taking over as Interim at that point; search for permanent Chief continues, applications are still being accepted
• 3 homicides since last met; Oct 20 -  ongoing but progress has been made, Oct 30 – ongoing, Oct 31 –   ongoing; to date 231 shootings in Champaign and 15 homicides
• Administrative changes – new online reporting system designed for reports where an officer does not need to physically respond 
• CPD has returned to a “district” model. Lieutenants are assigned a district so residents can reach out to the same lieutenant regardless of time of day/shift, to interact with, address concerns, etc. 
• Urbana Police Department – Chief Seraphin
• Since our last meeting on the 13th, 3 shootings in Urbana for total of 93 this year and 8 homicides
• Had a Lieutenant retire and are in the process of the promotional process
• Crisis co-response team has been up and running since mid-Oct; UPD officer (behavior health detective) and Rosecrance crisiscounselor/social worker that follow up with families after an incident occurs 
• Champaign County Sheriff’s Office – Sheriff Heuerman
• Have had 1 shooting incident in the last month
•  Hope to be fully staffed by Jan 1st with full budget, so we’re looking forward to implementing community programs/initiatives
• University of Illinois Police Department – Chief Cary
• Don’t have a lot to update, which is a good thing; did have 1 shooting on the Urbana side of campus
• Crisis co-responder teams, calls for mental health have been upas midterms approach, but our teams have responded and worked to get callers connected to resources
• Parkland Police Department – Chief Matthew Kopmann
• One of the Champaign shootings was very close to campus, so Parkland Administration and counseling offices opened for talking groups
• Black Student Success project in Sept with Donna Tanner-Harold
• Coming up, Karen Simms will be meeting with college relations officer to give Trauma informed criminal justice training for officers and telecommunicators

More information on the meeting from the full meeting notes here. There was also a panel discussion on community violence that begins just before the 50 minute mark in the video. The facilitator, Tracy Parsons, stated that panel discussions like these with local experts and organizers would become a regular feature of the Community Coalition meetings.

There was also a community event discussing local gun violence. The Coalition facebook page described it as the "launch of Illinois Public Media's new quarterly series "News, Brews & Beatz!"(video here). Smile Politely described the event in a preview:

“It Takes a Village: What C-U is Doing to Combat Gun Violence”. Illinois Public Media News and Public Affairs Director, Reginald Hardwick, and Facilitator of the Champaign County Community Coalition, Tracy Parsons will be facilitating, and participants include:

• Karen Crawford Simms, Founder of Trauma & Resilience Initiative, Inc.
• Nathan Stephens, Professor in School of Social Work at Illinois State University
• Missy Richland, Spoken Word Artist
• Dj-I.c.Dre’ (Andre' Gray), TableFunk Muzik Group LLC

In other news:

Earlier in November the Champaign County Sheriff expressed hope that the County would receive some State funding towards addressing area gun violence here. From WCCU:

Champaign County is hoping to receive some of the state funding that will be allocated to curb gun violence.

On Monday, Governor JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, declared gun violence a public health crisis. He unveiled a $250 million state investment to implement a public safety plan...

The plan will provide the money over the course of three years and is aimed at focusing on high-risk youth, violence prevention, and youth development programs.

[Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman] believes some of the money will come to the community.

That full article here. WCCU also highlighted local law enforcement concerns with the increased number of shots fired with extended ammunition magazines being used in local gun violence.

November's City of Champaign updates on the C-U Local Cheat Sheet include a lot of additional information and links on Champaign Police hiring and staffing challenges.

It would be a whole other project to keep up with various gun violence, arrests, and related activities in the area. For just a quick look at a few of the gun violence related stories this month, the Daily Illini had stories involving campus, Champaign and Urbana:

• Three weekends of firearm related arrests by the University of Illinois Police.
• Urbana sees shooting right outside Carle Hospital. 
• Champaign gun incidents over Halloween weekend.

Illinois Newsroom had coverage on the two recent threats at local high schools here.

More community coalition and community violence related news article recently:

• The local United Way has grants available for programs addressing community violence. From Smile Politely.
• Smile Politely also reported that the C-U Trauma and Resiliency Initiative is hiring for various community support positions.