URBANA, Ill. (AP) — University of Illinois officials say a rise in reported sexual misconduct cases against employees was likely spurred by the #MeToo movement, mandatory employee training and a new online way to file complaints. The university’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Access handled about 50 sexual conduct cases involving faculty, staff or student…
CHAMPAIGN, ILL (AP) U.S. prosecutors have told a judge they will seek the death penalty against a 28-year-old man charged with the kidnapping and killing of a University of Illinois scholar from China. Federal prosecutors filed a notice Friday with the U.S. District Court in central Illinois. It cites, among other factors, that Brendt Christensen’s alleged…
URBANA, ILL (AP) A 28-year-old man accused in the abduction of a University of Illinois scholar from China has pleaded not guilty to a new, more serious charge of kidnapping resulting in death. The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports Yingying Zhang’s mother, Lifeng Ye, began weeping when the suspect entered the federal courtroom Wednesday in Urbana. She had…
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – A man accused in the abduction and killing of a University of Illinois scholar from China is to be arraigned on new charges. Federal court records show that 28-year-old Brendt Christensen is to appear before a judge Wednesday afternoon. He previously was charged with abducting 26-year-old Yingying Zhang of Nanping, China.…
CHAMPAIGN, ILL (AP) Family members of a missing University of Illinois scholar from China say they’re “sorrowful and grieved” that there’s more evidence to show she has died. The statement released from Yingying Zhang’s family comes after the latest indictment against a man accused in the case. Brendt Christensen previously was charged with the 26-year-old’s abduction.…
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – A candlelight vigil is planned this weekend to honor missing University of Illinois scholar Yingying Zhang of China. Sunday’s event on the south side of the Illini Union will include remarks from school officials and Zhang’s family. A performer will sing “The Rose” as candles are lit and yellow ribbons will…
CHICAGO (AP) — A website that hosted an “Abduction 101” forum linked to a 28-year-old suspect in the kidnapping of a Chinese scholar at the University of Illinois bills itself as the most popular sexual fetish networking site on the internet — and it has faced pressure in recent months to be clearer about not…
Champaign, IL (AP) A man was charged Friday with kidnapping a visiting University of Illinois scholar from China who authorities believe to be dead after she disappeared three weeks ago. A federal criminal complaint alleges the suspect’s phone was used to visit an online forum in April called “Abduction 101.” Yingying Zhang, the 26-year-old daughter…
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – Scientists at the University of Illinois say they’ve detected prescription and over-the-counter medications in groundwater in southwestern Illinois. The university’s Prairie Research Institute study had researchers collect 58 water samples from eight springs and five cave streams during 2014 and 2015. Researcher Walt Kelly says medications and personal care products were…
URBANA, Ill. (AP) – Enrollment totals for this fall show the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign is the seventh-largest public university campus in the country with 44,880 students. Charles Tucker, vice provost for undergraduate education and innovation, says the campus has grown by about 1 percent a year for several decades largely at the undergraduate…