Mae Antar

2 months ago | ipmnewsroom.org | Mae Antar

CHAMPAIGN — Nearly half a million dollars from the the 2025-2026 iteration of the University of Illinois Chancellor’s Research Program will go towards seven different initiatives. That includes a project that aims to showcase cancer research through theater. is receiving $75,000 to look into cancer disparities in underrepresented groups. Azlan Guttenberg Smith, one of the community researchers on the project, said they are interviewing cancer survivors, patients, doctors and family members.

Mar 26, 2025 | ipmnewsroom.org | Mae Antar

DANVILLE — As someone who comes from a family of veterans, Chris Huffman says she has always wanted to give back to those who served. She’s been doing administrative work at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Danville for nearly two years. When she was fired in February — one of thousands terminated by the Trump administration — she was two months of short finishing her probationary period. Her dismissal left her devastated and unsure of what to do next.

Mar 19, 2025 | ipmnewsroom.org | Mae Antar

https://ipmnewsroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gaza-Protest-Champaign-Audio.wavCHAMPAIGN — Nearly 200 people marched through downtown Champaign Tuesday after Israel resumed air strikes in Gaza, breaking a temporary ceasefire. Protesters marched from West Side Park on city streets into the downtown and back. The Champaign Urbana Muslim Action Committee, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Urbana Champaign Jews for Ceasefire organized the event.

Mar 13, 2025 | ipmnewsroom.org | Mae Antar

CHAMPAIGN — The city of Champaign is on its way to completing construction on the first phase of its new downtown plaza this summer. The project broke ground last year at the corner of Neil and Washington Street. The city is converting a surface parking lot into a plaza that will have bench swings, new landscaping and a performing arts stage. “My hopes for the space are just that people come out and utilize it, you know,” said Lacey Rains Lowe, planning manager and staff lead on the project.

Feb 4, 2025 | ipmnewsroom.org | Mae Antar

CHAMPAIGN – More than a hundred people gathered on Saturday to march through the streets of downtown Champaign waving multi-colored Pride flags. https://ipmnewsroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/NEWS20250203_TransProtest_Wrap.wavThey protested recent executive orders by President Donald Trump, targeting transgender and nonbinary people with a series of executive orders.