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MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — The city of Mattoon is getting set to build a new $60 million sports complex.
But first, the city council has agreed to help pay for studies and legal service related to the planned Lincoln Land complex that will be located off state road 16 and I-57 in Mattoon.
There will be a variety of indoor and outdoor options, including basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball facilities.
Construction is expected to start sometime this year and wrap up in 2023. | 2022-04-08T04:01:07Z | www.wcia.com | Mattoon planning to build sports complex | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/mattoon-planning-to-build-sports-complex/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/mattoon-planning-to-build-sports-complex/ |
MAHOMET (WCIA) — Mahomet-Seymour baseball pitcher Blake Wolters is the WCIA 3 Athlete of the Week.
The right handed pitcher has already thrown a perfect game this season and has struck out 37 batters over 18 innings with a 0 ERA. He’s not just making an impact on the mound. Wolters is leading the Bulldogs with 12 hits and with 14 runs scored. He committed in the fall to continue to play at Purdue.
“I just want to put my team in the best position to win and whether that’s on the mound or just being a good teammate or up in the box, I just want to put my team in the best position to win and just have fun out there,” Wolters said.
Wolters is now eligible for a 500 dollar scholarship we’ll give to one boy and one girl this summer. If you know a deserving high school student who should be our next weekly winner, fill out the nomination form here: https://www.wcia.com/athlete-of-the-week/#// | 2022-04-08T04:01:33Z | www.wcia.com | Wolters wins Athlete of the Week | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/high-school-sports/wolters-wins-athlete-of-the-week/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/high-school-sports/wolters-wins-athlete-of-the-week/ |
CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Illinois football is well into their spring season and there are a lot of new faces bringing competition for spots.
Senior quarterback Tommy DeVito has been working all off season to step into the leadership role. DeVito comes from Syracuse where he started as a sophomore in 2019.
DeVito was ranked 7th of all-time at Syracuse in completion percentage with 58.6%. Since getting to Illinois, he’s been working to mesh with the team and learn the new offense..
“Just going in and learning the offense,” DeVito said. “Going through spring ball and trying to get the most out of every single practice, because limited practices, you only get 15. It’s not like during camp where you have a whole month to prepare. You have 15 practices to get the most out of it, to learn from it and be able to hit the ground running when camp comes.”
Devito has competition. Artur Sitkowski played 5 games in the orange and blue last season, going 74-of-148 passing for 704 yards and six touchdowns on the season. He’s also a transfer coming from Rutgers in 2021. | 2022-04-08T04:01:39Z | www.wcia.com | Tommy DeVito fighting for starting QB spot | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/tommy-devito-fighting-for-starting-qb-spot/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/tommy-devito-fighting-for-starting-qb-spot/ |
CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Illinois running back chase brown is one of five finalists for the Jon Cornish trophy awarded to the top NCAA football player from Canada.
Brown was an all Big Ten third team running back last fall with 1,005 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He was third in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game, fifth in yards per carry, and won two Big Ten player of the week awards. Other finalists are at Penn State, Hawaii, and Pittsburgh. | 2022-04-08T04:01:51Z | www.wcia.com | Running back Chase Brown finalist for national award | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/running-back-chase-brown-finalist-for-national-award/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/running-back-chase-brown-finalist-for-national-award/ |
VERMILION COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — One young boy is showing that age is just a number with his bowling skills.
8-year-old Xander Brown from Bismarck was on fire at Lincoln Lanes in Danville. He recently bowled a 290 game. That is a strike in every game except the first one. Get this, it was a spare.
“It was exciting because everyone in the bowling alley stopped at that point to watch him bowl,” said grandma and bowling alley manager Julia Richards when discussing the impressive game.
“It was really exciting. I was nervous and excited for him,” said Xander’s mother, Nicole Brown.
Brown’s father, Jarvis, said it was a wonderful moment. “Extremely proud, extremely proud. I couldn’t be more prouder right now. It was amazing to watch.”
So when could Xander bowl a 300? “Pretty soon,” he said.
When he finished the amazing game, he did not want to go out to celebrate. His father said he just wanted to keep on bowling. | 2022-04-08T15:50:39Z | www.wcia.com | Strike!: 8-year-old bowls nearly perfect game | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/strike-8-year-old-bowls-nearly-perfect-game/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/strike-8-year-old-bowls-nearly-perfect-game/ |
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup recently released the identity of a teenager from Buckley who was involved in a single motor vehicle crash that happened on Thursday night.
According to the coroner, 19-year-old Hannah Luening was pronounced dead at 11:35 p.m. at an Urbana hospital.
Preliminary autopsy results indicate Luening died from multiple blunt force injuries she received during the crash.
Coroner Northrup said Luening was reportedly the driver of her vehicle and was ejected from the vehicle when it left the roadway, striking a culvert and rolling over several times near County Roads 200N and 200E near Loda.
The crash is under investigation by the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Department and the coroner’s | 2022-04-08T20:02:59Z | www.wcia.com | Coroner identifies victim in deadly crash | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/coroner-identifies-victim-in-deadly-crash-3/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/coroner-identifies-victim-in-deadly-crash-3/ |
The hold-up is a provision in state law (Illinois Public Act 101-10) that says treatment by an ABA therapist will be covered only when ordered by a physician, in this case, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who oversees the treatment. That seemingly small amendment disqualified 98% of the ABA provider pool in the state, according to the Illinois Autism Task Force in its most recent annual progress report published in February 2021. | 2022-04-08T22:47:26Z | www.wcia.com | Autism treatment legislation passes, sets pathway for increased affordability and access for kids | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/autism-treatment-legislation-passes-sets-pathway-for-increased-affordability-and-access-for-kids/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/autism-treatment-legislation-passes-sets-pathway-for-increased-affordability-and-access-for-kids/ |
OAKWOOD, Ill. (WCIA) — Oakwood Police were recently dispatched to a residence on South Seymour Street after they received a report about two concrete decorative lion figurines had been stolen.
They weighed about 50 to 80 lbs. each.
The figurines were placed in front of the residence. They have been there for more than 40 years.
Police are asking people to look out for them and call 911, OPD at (217) 354-2131 or Vermilion County Crime Stoppers at (217) 446-TIPS if they located the figurines.
Police Chief Ron Soderstrom said there have been numerous reports of unsupervised juveniles causing trouble around town after dark. He wanted to remind parents to keep an eye on their kids more.
He stated, ” Parents, you are all civilly liable if we catch and cite your kids for curfew as well as Criminal Mischief. While we do not want to have to take this type of action, if this keeps up, we will face no other choice.” | 2022-04-08T22:48:55Z | www.wcia.com | Police searching for stolen concrete lion figurines | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/police-searching-for-stolen-concrete-lion-figurines/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/police-searching-for-stolen-concrete-lion-figurines/ |
Another round of sifting through soil to get all the toxins out is wrapping up
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Neighbors in one Central Illinois community have been concerned about toxic soil for decades. The company now working to address the problem is taking another step to clean up the mess.
Demonstrators call for more transparency from Ameren on toxin investigation
Ameren Illinois crews are set to finish up another round of sifting through contaminated soil. It’s all stemming from a plant that was on the site for more than a century.
Neighbors have said the equipment has been out there for months. They’re taking out the old soil, and putting in new. This is the site where a manufactured gas plant used to sit.
Toxic levels of chemicals found in ground
For years, neighbors in the area have been calling for Ameren to be more transparent as it investigates contamination in the community. They said the lingering toxins from the gas plant is a hazard for the people who live in the homes here.
We talked to a man who’s lived there for over 40 years. He said he feels the toxins have impacted people and homes up and down the street.
“Majority of the people in the area have either passed away or something from cancer. So, it’s gotta be related to that, because no way the majority of the neighborhood would not have had cancer. Both my parents died of cancer, I know my neighbor has cancer, I know a couple people around the corner have a cancer, a couple around the block passed away from cancer. So, I’m sure it comes from the ground,” Danis Pelmore said.
We did reach out to Ameren Illinois about the project. They told us they’ve been working with the plant that had been there and the Illinois EPA for years.
They said that plant left impacted soil with coal tar and they’ve been able to remove most of that over the years through excavating and replacing it with clean soil. They’re hoping this is the last step to get the all clear from the EPA.
City leaders said 5th Street between Church and Washington will be closed until early May. The next step about what happens with this piece of land is still a question mark for Ameren. | 2022-04-08T23:45:08Z | www.wcia.com | Another round of sifting through soil to get all the toxins out is wrapping up | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/another-round-of-sifting-through-soil-to-get-all-the-toxins-out-is-wrapping-up/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/another-round-of-sifting-through-soil-to-get-all-the-toxins-out-is-wrapping-up/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) – April is sexual assault awareness month. Nurses at Carle Hospital said they want to make sure people have the resources to help at any time.
Carle’s Emergency Department is the only one in the region that has a 24/7 sexual assault nurse examiner. The Emergency Department Director said several nurses have been specially trained to fill this role. Everyone at the hospital said it’s important.
“It’s incredibly important to have this resource available for our patients 24/7 and 365 to meet the needs that happen to them in that moment of crisis,” Holly Cook said.
Carle is also adding a social worker in the emergency department. That’s a part of the Champaign gun violence reduction blue print.
Cook said they will be able to better help anyone who experiences violence, including sexual assault. | 2022-04-09T03:00:52Z | www.wcia.com | 24/7 sexual assault nurse examiner at Carle | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/24-7-sexual-assault-nurse-examiner-at-carle/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/24-7-sexual-assault-nurse-examiner-at-carle/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) – An act of kindness from a 9-year-old boy has people all across Champaign County talking.
“I just was trying to hold back my tears. Just so so kind,” Brianna Morgan said.
That’s from a picture originally posted to Facebook. The photo shows a child, holding an umbrella for a woman in a wheelchair.
This happened Thursday. We talked with both of the people in the picture. The woman is actually his librarian at Thomas Paine Elementary.
She was waiting to get on the bus when she said a group of students walked by. She said she was telling them hello and to have a good night, and that’s when 9-year-old Aiden turned around and held his umbrella for her to make sure she stayed dry in the rain.
“If I just left here there, she would get wet, but if I didn’t, she wouldn’t,” Aiden said.
“I just felt loved, honestly I just really appreciated it, because you know school has been tough the last two years and it was just proud really because we talk about being kind to each other, being respectful, and helping each other out. So, I just feel very proud that he did that,” Morgan said.
Aiden said it’s important to be kind to one another. Morgan said she’s known Aiden since first grade and is very grateful he stopped. | 2022-04-09T03:00:58Z | www.wcia.com | One simple act of kindness is going a long way | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/one-simple-act-of-kindness-is-going-a-long-way/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/one-simple-act-of-kindness-is-going-a-long-way/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A University of Illinois student has been arrested for filing a false police report on Thursday night.
Officials said that 19-year-old Aditya Rao told investigators that he made up that he was robbed at gunpoint to account for his broken cellphone.
The report led to an Illini-Alert being sent out at around 11 p.m. Thursday night informing the public to avoid the area around the Illini Union Bookstore. There was about 30 minute period in which police believed the area was not safe for the public.
It was announced to the public at 6:30 p.m. that the crime had never occurred on Thursday night. | 2022-04-09T03:01:04Z | www.wcia.com | U of I student arrested for filing false police report | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/u-of-i-student-arrested-for-filing-false-police-report/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/u-of-i-student-arrested-for-filing-false-police-report/ |
Microchip scanner helps Westville PD return lost pets
WESTVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) – The Westville Police Department takes in about ten lost animals every month. Now, they have some new technology to help reunite pet owners with their owners more quickly.
“Certainly, we don’t want to spend our entire time with dogs because our primary concern is humans,” Captain Justin Varvel said.
Whenever someone drops off a lost pet, the department posts a photo to Facebook hoping to find the owner. Last month, a group of Facebook users pitched in and donated a scanner to help out.
“You may have noticed in the past month we have had fewer lost animals on our page. This is not because there have been fewer lost animals. It is because we received a Home Again pet microchip scanner,” they said in a Facebook post.
Finding out that your dog escaped is any pet owner’s worst nightmare. Luckily, if they’re microchipped, there’s a good chance they’ll be found.
“Instead of trying to say a description over the phone of: ‘what’s your dog look like?’ It’s a sure-fire way to be like: ‘this is your pet,'” Stateline Hillcrest Animal Hospital veterinary technician Alexis Julian said.
Microchips have become more popular over the years. They’re tiny implants that can hold information about an animal’s owner.
Julian said people never regret microchipping their dogs, but they always regret not microchipping them if they run away.
“It’s a one-time thing. I try to hammer in that you’re just paying it this one time and then your pet’s going to have that for the rest of its life,” she said.
Usually, if you come across a lost animal, you’d have to take it to a vet to scan the microchip. But, when many people find stray dogs and cats in Westville – they drop them off with police.
“We have a kennel. We feed them, take them out for walks. Sometimes people see us out here walking the dogs,” Varvel said.
Like many police departments, Westville is understaffed. They’re busy. And they deal with a lot of lost dogs.
“Especially with us, there’s only one on duty at a time so it can be a little challenging splitting your time,” he said.
So, they were thrilled to receive the donated scanner, along with some leashes, collars and dog toys.
“Just kind-of out of the blue, we really didn’t know what was going on but it was definitely a welcome tool on our part,” he said.
It used to take hours, sometimes days to find a dog’s owner. Now, with their new chip scanner, it takes a fraction of that time.
“We’ve had a few that haven’t had microchips, but the ones that have – it’s a matter of 15 minutes we can identify where they belong and get a hold of the owner or take them to their house if they’re here in town,” Varvel said.
He said there’s only a couple of full-time officers on staff now, so the scanner has saved them a lot of time. And they’re very grateful to those who pitched in. | 2022-04-09T05:50:53Z | www.wcia.com | Microchip scanner helps Westville PD return lost pets | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/microchip-scanner-helps-westville-pd-return-lost-pets/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/microchip-scanner-helps-westville-pd-return-lost-pets/ |
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) – A 19-year-old is facing a first degree murder charge after police investigated a deadly shooting that happened early Saturday morning.
Officers arrested Deonte M. Drake near the intersection of Prairie Street and East Street.
At around 1:45 a.m., Decatur Police went to an area on South Dipper Lane after receiving a report of shots fired. When they arrived at the scene, police found a 32-year-old man in the parking lot of an apartment complex suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries. | 2022-04-09T23:10:43Z | www.wcia.com | Decatur Police: 19-year-old arrested in deadly shooting investigation | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/decatur-police-19-year-old-arrested-in-deadly-shooting-investigation/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/decatur-police-19-year-old-arrested-in-deadly-shooting-investigation/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — If you happened to drive by the U of I campus and thought it was a bit crowded yesterday, you were right.
After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Engineering Open House is finally back.
Details of the activities that took place at the Engineering Open House on Friday are included in the attached video.
To know more about the event, click here. | 2022-04-09T23:11:01Z | www.wcia.com | U of I Engineering Open House draws big crowds | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/u-of-i-engineering-open-house-draws-big-crowds/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/u-of-i-engineering-open-house-draws-big-crowds/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) – It’s no surprise drivers have been feeling the pain at the pumps lately. So, one church wanted to give away gift cards to help people get gas.
The Mosaic City Church in Danville said after watching the exponential rise in gas prices, they just wanted to bless the community. The pastor said he hopes to help people get to doctor’s appointments, go grocery shopping, and pick up their kids from daycare.
Church members handed out $25 Casey’s gift cards to 110 strangers Saturday afternoon, and cars lined up for hours to get them.
“I believe this is what God has called our church to do – just to meet the needs of the community and make an impact. One of the things that I truly believe is that we ought to make an impact on our community. So I’m glad we were able to do this,” LeStan Hoskins said.
He said they’ve also done a food giveaway in the past. And moving forward, they’ll plan similar events when they can sense a need in the community. | 2022-04-10T03:27:27Z | www.wcia.com | Church hands out 110 free gas cards to drivers | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/church-hands-out-110-free-gas-cards-to-drivers/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/church-hands-out-110-free-gas-cards-to-drivers/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) – Easter came early for hundreds of Danville kids Saturday. The Vermilion Regional Airport hosted its first Easter egg hunt.
“I have really strived to make the airport a valuable asset to both the flying and the non-flying community. So, I wanted to have more free events that were open to the public that utilized the airport’s ample space that we have out here,” airport manager Alexandra Gale said.
Local pilots volunteered to fly the Easter Bunny around in a helicopter. They planned to drop eggs from the air, but due to weather concerns, they opted to scatter them on land.
Gale said they spread over 10,000 eggs for kids to find.
The eggs were full of candy, stickers and more. Everything was donated by the event’s sponsors, so it didn’t cost the airport a penny.
That list of sponsors includes: Hall of Fame Plaques & Signs, McLane, Rawhide Meat, PremierNS, Elite Painting & Repair, The Real Estate Center of Illinois, Classic Homes Realty, McDowell Builders, Butch Schroeder, Fiberteq and McDonald’s.
“It really just warms my heart to see the community come together and to see people from all walks of life here at the airport. We’re a taxpayer airport so a lot of the tax dollars are here. I love to see that people are getting their money’s worth out of the airport,” she said.
If you missed the hunt, she said you can keep an eye out for future free holiday events. In July, there’s “Balloons Over Vermilion,” and in October, kids can trick-or-treat with pilots. | 2022-04-10T03:27:33Z | www.wcia.com | Hundreds of kids hunt for Easter eggs at airport | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/hundreds-of-kids-hunt-for-easter-eggs-at-airport/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/hundreds-of-kids-hunt-for-easter-eggs-at-airport/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A woman was shot, but is in stable condition after suffering non-life threatening wounds early Sunday morning.
Authorities said that they reported to Hunters Pond Run off Twins Drive in Champaign at around 2:43 a.m.
After investigation, they discovered that the victim was driving north down North Market Street when she was struck by in the neck by a bullet, leading to a crash in which her vehicle also sustained heavy damage.
A passenger in the vehicle was injured in the crash as well, but she refused medical assistance. During a search of the area, Champaign Police discovered more than 12 shell casings on North Market Street.
At this time, no arrests have been made. Any resident or business with exterior surveillance cameras should notify the police. Likewise, anyone with information regarding the crime is encouraged to contact Champaign Police at 217-351-4545.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can submit a tip to Crime Stoppers by phone at 217-373-8477 (TIPS), or online at 373tips.com. | 2022-04-10T18:30:36Z | www.wcia.com | Woman shot in neck while driving down North Market Street | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/woman-shot-in-neck-while-driving-down-north-market-street/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/woman-shot-in-neck-while-driving-down-north-market-street/ |
April brings ‘an aggressive seller’s market,’ realtors say
MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) – Real estate agents say spring is a great time to put your house on the market. In the Champaign-Urbana area, houses are selling within a week.
The median price of a house has been increasing, and supply is low. So, even though it’s a competitive market for sellers, one realtor said buyers can still take advantage of the season.
“It’s spring so people are getting out of school, summer’s approaching – everybody wants to move in the warmer months,” Nate Evans Group real estate broker Matt Walters said.
Walters said there are fewer homes on the market since before the pandemic hit, and that’s good news if you plan to sell – especially this month.
In Champaign-Urbana, there’s roughly 100 active homes on the market right now, but they expect that number to pick up.
“It’s still a good time for buyers to shop. Interest rates are going to go up before the end of the year, so if somebody’s considering shopping now or later – you may save a little money by being out now,” he said.
Many young adults have been slower than their parents to commit to owning a home. But as rent costs rise, he predicts more millennials will start to settle down.
“When our parents were buying homes they were getting interest rates of 10, 15, 20 percent on interest… even at 4, 5 percent interest rates, it’s still a really good time to buy,” he said.
He said lately, more students have been interested in owning homes in the area after graduation. Destiny Collazo, a U of I graduate student, said she never planned to rent forever. She’s hoping to buy a home next year.
“I think the decision or thought seems more natural as a part of life as I mature,” Collazo said.
But, it’s still a big step.
“Say we do move, or we don’t end up staying here past when I graduate, then what will happen? I don’t know. Say we have to sell. How easy will that be? I’m not sure,” Collazo said.
Realtors say they can help young homeowners answer all of those questions. And even though the market has been volatile over the years, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to shop.
“We talked to buyers a few years ago who said ‘oh, I don’t want to deal with the craziness of the market with multiple offers,’ and it’s actually only gotten worse over that time span. So, we don’t see that changing any time in the near future,” Walters said.
His best tip for sellers? Make sure you’re not “leaving any money on the table.” As for buyers? Working with experienced agents is crucial right now. | 2022-04-11T05:21:09Z | www.wcia.com | April brings ‘an aggressive seller’s market,’ realtors say | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/april-brings-an-aggressive-sellers-market-realtors-say/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/april-brings-an-aggressive-sellers-market-realtors-say/ |
EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — A new change allows more teens the opportunity to make money this summer, while also gaining valuable work experience.
Last week, the Effingham City Council voted unanimously to lower the required age for seasonal workers from 18 to 16 years old.
This change was prompted by an increased need for applicants for summer positions, ranging from general maintenance with public works to working within the city’s engineering department.
“There’s a lot of exposure to what happens in the community,” City Administrator Steve Miller said.
There is also a push to raise the rate of pay to the $13.50-$15 range, depending on worker experience. This change is still up to the approval of the city council.
“Hopefully, it draws some attention,” Miller said.
Miller emphasized that these seasonal positions are full-time, 40-hour per week internships, and that they have begun reaching out to high schools for qualified applicants. | 2022-04-11T18:20:28Z | www.wcia.com | Effingham to lower age requirement for seasonal workers | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/effingham-to-lower-age-requirement-for-seasonal-workers/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/effingham-to-lower-age-requirement-for-seasonal-workers/ |
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Macon County coroner said a man is dead after he was shot over the weekend.
In a news release, Coroner Michael Day said 32-year-old Stonee O. Adams was brought to a hospital emergency room by ambulance around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. He was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived.
According to officers, Adams was found in an apartment complex parking lot along Dipper Lane. This came after officers responded to a call around 1:45 a.m. in that area for a report of shots fired.
An autopsy determined Adams died after being shot multiple times in the head and torso.
Decatur Police are investigating this as a criminal case. | 2022-04-11T18:20:35Z | www.wcia.com | Macon County Coroner: Man dead after shot over the weekend | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/macon-county-coroner-man-dead-after-shot-over-the-weekend/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/macon-county-coroner-man-dead-after-shot-over-the-weekend/ |
TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — The Taylorville Police Department posted a warning to Facebook on Tuesday about a new phone scam that has been gaining traction within the community.
The scam involves someone pretending to be the call recipient’s loved one and claiming to be either in legal trouble or in the hospital. The scammers then ask for the recipient’s help in paying bail money or medical bills.
People who receive a phone call like this are advised to hang up the phone and to send the scammers no money or personal information. People are further advised to call the loved one the scammers were pretending to be to confirm their safety and well-being.
People are also told to warn their family and friends who do not use Facebook about this scam. | 2022-04-11T21:01:28Z | www.wcia.com | Taylorville Police warns community of scam | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/taylorville-police-warns-community-of-scam/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/taylorville-police-warns-community-of-scam/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)– A pattern is beginning to surface following several shootings in north Champaign.
A pair of parallel roads right off of I-74 has seemingly become a hotspot, particularly for drive-by shootings.
The latest, on N Market Street early Sunday morning, marked the sixth shooting to trace back to N Market Street or Prospect Avenue in the last seven months. All of the incidents happened within a couple of miles, and all but one of them were drive-bys.
At least one person was injured during each shooting dating back to late August. Two kids, a 9-year-old and a 15-year-old boy were among those hurt in the line of fire.
Approximate locations of six shootings on N Market and Prospect
In mid-October, a Champaign family ended up at the hospital after getting caught in the middle of two cars exchanging bullets on N Market Street near E Marketview Drive. Champaign police said two cars were chasing each other and eventually, the people inside started shooting at one another.
24-year-old Liam Gasser was shot in the head a couple of weeks later during what police called a “road rage incident” at a busy Prospect Avenue intersection. In January, Gasser took his first steps after his family was unsure if he would ever walk again.
Then in February, a shooting happened in the parking lot of Market Place Mall. 22-year-old Diamond Mitchell shot a 19-year-old in the leg after a fight over a pair of shoes, according to Champaign Police Lieutenant Ben Newell.
A late March shooting on I-74 marked the fifth incident in the area. State Police found a car that had crashed into a center median wall between the Prospect Avenue and Neil Street exits after it was struck by gunfire, according to a press release. Two people were taken to the hospital. | 2022-04-11T21:01:30Z | www.wcia.com | Drive-by shooting pattern emerges on pair of parallel roads in north Champaign | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/target3/drive-by-shooting-pattern-emerges-on-pair-of-parallel-roads-in-north-champaign/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/target3/drive-by-shooting-pattern-emerges-on-pair-of-parallel-roads-in-north-champaign/ |
Hairspray coming to UIS Performing Arts Center
You Can’t Stop the Beat! Hairspray, Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon is back on tour!
Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the 60’s,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” Hairspray is “fresh, winning, and deliriously tuneful!” (The New York Times).
This all-new touring production will reunite Broadway’s award-winning creative team led by Director Jack O’Brien and Choreographer Jerry Mitchell to bring Hairspray to a new generation of theater audiences.
“If life were everything it should be, it would be more like Hairspray. It’s irresistible!”
Don’t miss this “exhilaratingly funny and warm-hearted musical comedy” (The New Yorker)
For more information, please visit hairspraytour.com or UISpac.com
Ticket prices are $89, $79, $69, $49 and $24 and can be purchased at UISpac.com or by phone (217) 206-6160. | 2022-04-11T23:29:34Z | www.wcia.com | Hairspray coming to UIS Performing Arts Center | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/ciliving-tv/ciliving-stories/ciliving/hairspray-coming-to-uis-performing-arts-center/ | https://www.wcia.com/ciliving-tv/ciliving-stories/ciliving/hairspray-coming-to-uis-performing-arts-center/ |
ST. JOSEPH, Ill. (WCIA) — Interstate 74 near St. Joseph will be reduced to one lane in each direction this week as IDOT crews begin construction on four bridges in the area.
The bridges span the Salt Fork River and the Saline Branch west of St. Joseph. The right lane of the eastbound bridges will close on Tuesday and the right lane of the westbound bridges will close on Wednesday.
IDOT said the closures are necessary for a bridge deck overlay and substructure repairs. Construction on the right lanes is expected to be complete by Labor Day, after which construction will shift to the left lanes. The entire project is expected to be complete in November.
Drivers are advised to consider using alternate routes to avoid the work area. If alternate routes are not feasible, drivers should expect delays and allow for extra time for trips through the construction zone. Drivers should also pay close attention to conditions and signs in the work zone, obey the posted speed limit, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. | 2022-04-11T23:29:59Z | www.wcia.com | Construction beginning on I-74 bridges | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/construction-beginning-on-i-74-bridges/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/construction-beginning-on-i-74-bridges/ |
“He set the standard of excellence. When I got into the broadcasting field, I wanted to sound as professional as Jim Turpin,” “Penny for Your Thoughts” host Brian Barnhart said. He and fellow broadcaster Loren Tate said in all the time they spent together as friends and coworkers, two iconic moments from 1989 stood out – a buzzer-beater against Indiana and the win against Syracuse that sent Illinois to the Final Four. | 2022-04-11T23:30:17Z | www.wcia.com | Longtime sportscaster and ‘Voice of the Illini’ dies at 90 | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/longtime-sportscaster-and-voice-of-the-illini-jim-turpin-dies-at-90/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/longtime-sportscaster-and-voice-of-the-illini-jim-turpin-dies-at-90/ |
CHICAGO (WCIA) — Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority announced on Tuesday that the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) is now open to assist homeowners who have fallen behind on mortgage payments and related housing payments because of COVID-19.
Struggling homeowners are eligible for up to $30,000 in assistance.
“Housing stability is a crucial part of our economic recovery, and I’m pleased to announce that Illinois residents can now apply for $30,000 in mortgage support,” Pritzker said. “Illinois was the fastest state in the nation to respond to the housing crisis of 2020, and with the need still high, we’re delivering another $309 million to struggling mortgage owners this spring. A good life, a good job, the ability to focus in a classroom – it all starts with a roof over your head. And that’s what every Illinoisan deserves.”
To qualify for the program, Illinois homeowners must have experienced a financial hardship caused by COVID-19, such as lost income or increased expenses, after Jan. 21, 2020. They must also currently own and occupy their Illinois home as their primary residence, be at least 30 days behind on their mortgage payments or homeowners expenses and have a household income at or below 150% of the Area Median Income.
Homeowners must have also consulted with an HUD-certified housing counselor or have spoken to their mortgage servicer about their mitigation options beginning Jan. 1, 2022. A certificate from a certified counselor or a letter from a mortgage servicer is required to have an ILHAF application reviewed.
Homeowners in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic will be prioritized in the distribution of assistance.
Homeowners are advised to have the following documentation on hand to ease the application process: proof of ID, household income, occupancy and ownership as well as a delinquency statement.
Online applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on May 31. | 2022-04-11T23:30:23Z | www.wcia.com | Homeowners assistance program opens | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/state-news/homeowners-assistance-program-opens/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/state-news/homeowners-assistance-program-opens/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) – People flock to the U of I’s Japan House every spring just to see the cherry blossom trees, and they’ll be blooming any day now.
They say depending on the weather, the flowers may open up Monday, Tuesday or by the end of the week. The bloom won’t last long; the petals start to fall shortly after they open.
Last year, they bloomed on April 1, and remained open an unusually-lengthy three weeks. In 2020, they didn’t bloom at all.
They say Sakura trees represent the idea of impermanence, and it’s “magical” to see them come and go so quickly.
“Basically, it means everything is fleeting. It’s a huge concept in Japanese culture. These trees are the visual of that. As soon as they bloom, they start to fall,” education and engagement coordinator Michael Darin said.
He said there are several other spring plants blossoming now – a variety of magnolias and crabapple trees, to name a few. If you want to identify the cherry blossoms, you can look for the pink buds that turn into nearly pure-white flowers.
“Come out – they’re blooming today, or they’re blooming tonight or this afternoon… that means literally put everything else down, put your kids in the car, get them over here to the arboretum, and just walk around and see them. Because tomorrow, it could rain,” Darin said.
He said Japan House will be posting to social media when the cherry blossoms bloom. He’s also reminding visitors to be respectful of the gardens by remaining on designated paths and not disturbing any plants. Japan House wants to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the “fleeting” beauty of the Sakura trees. | 2022-04-11T23:30:29Z | www.wcia.com | Urbana cherry blossoms ready to bloom this week | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/urbana-cherry-blossoms-ready-to-bloom-this-week/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/urbana-cherry-blossoms-ready-to-bloom-this-week/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A man from Mattoon was sentenced to 38 years in federal prison on Monday for enticement and sex trafficking of a minor, as well as receiving and possessing of child pornography.
Court documents established that in September 2020, Christopher Ohm, 35, arranged a meeting for sexual activity with a 13-year-old minor through the dating app Grindr, offering money if the minor agreed. The minor escaped Ohm’s vehicle and law enforcement arrested him when he attempted to meet the minor again.
A review of Ohm’s phone uncovered a previous attempt to meet with a 15-year-old minor two months earlier through Grindr. In addition, officers found a tablet Ohm dropped that contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography.
Ohm pleaded guilty to a seven-count indictment against him in October 2021 and was sentenced to 36 years and eight months imprisonment for those crimes. An additional 18 months were added to Ohm’s sentence because at the time of his arrest, he was on parole for a 2012 transportation of child pornography conviction. After release, Ohm will be on parole for the remainder of his life. | 2022-04-12T01:44:20Z | www.wcia.com | Man sentenced to 38 years in prison for sex crimes | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-sentenced-to-38-years-in-prison-for-sex-crimes/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-sentenced-to-38-years-in-prison-for-sex-crimes/ |
LOGAN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois State Troopers are on the scene of a crash on southbound Interstate 55 that has left the highway completely blocked.
The crash happened near Milepost 129 and involved a commercial motor vehicle. Troopers are working to divert traffic off the highway, which is expected to be closed for several hours.
Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes of travel. | 2022-04-12T01:44:26Z | www.wcia.com | State Police: Southbound I-55 shut down by crash | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/state-police-southbound-i-55-shut-down-by-crash/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/state-police-southbound-i-55-shut-down-by-crash/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) – Dozens gathered in front of the Champaign County court house, members of the Congolese community, courage connection, and others in Champaign County. All to remember and honor Nzengeli Mfwamba.
“We had a tragedy in our community…where sadly someone, a dedicated father was intervening in a domestic violence incident and lost his life,” Elizabeth Cook, CEO for Courage Connection, said.
Mfwamba was killed last week. His daughters ex boyfriend, Dominic Fortune, is accused of the crime. Police said he drove from Chicago when she blocked his calls and texts. Mfwamba confronted Fortune, that’s when police said Fortune killed him.
Courage connection said 20% of people killed because of domestic violence aren’t the partner. It’s a family or friend who is trying to help. So, they held a candlelight vigil to honor Mfwamba, and to bring awareness to the fact that domestic violence impacts everyone.
“Unfortunately, that happens all too often. We see a lot of the violent crime in our community have a direct correlation and connection to domestic violence and so we want to honor this gentleman’s life and also raise awareness,” Cook said.
Mfwambas’s family said they don’t want what happened to them to happen to anyone else.
“We came here with the whole community to let people know this is not just about the Congolese community, it’s about the issue that concerns everybody. We’re all concerned about it, so we came here to raise our voice as one and say this is enough. And we don’t want this to happen to anybody else. So, we came forward for my brothers’ memory, to light the candle so we can know that we love him and we miss him,” Eddy Mfwamba, his brother, said.
There is a way you can help the family. They’ve made a go fund me to pay for expenses. You can find that here. | 2022-04-12T03:46:43Z | www.wcia.com | Candlelight vigil held for Domestic Violence victim | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/candlelight-vigil-held-for-domestic-violence-victim/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/candlelight-vigil-held-for-domestic-violence-victim/ |
NORMAL, Ill. (WCIA) — Employees of Illinois State University are set to rally and march across campus on Tuesday to call for a new, fair contract.
ISU labor union AFSCME 1110, which represents more than 300 buildings, grounds and food service employees, will be hosting a rally at 4:15 p.m. at the Administration Building. The union filed a strike notice with the state Educational Labor Relations Board last week after 96% of workers voted to authorize a strike.
Under the law, employees could strike as soon as next Monday if an agreement isn’t reached this week. | 2022-04-12T03:46:49Z | www.wcia.com | ISU employees set to rally for new labor contract | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/isu-employees-set-to-rally-for-new-labor-contract/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/isu-employees-set-to-rally-for-new-labor-contract/ |
Board ratifies contract with teachers union, ruling out possibility of strike
by: Renée Cooper, Sarah Lehman
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — After nearly a year of negotiations, the Champaign Board of Education unanimously ratified an agreement with the Champaign Federation of Teachers union during a regularly scheduled meeting Monday night. The ratification ruled out a strike that’s been looming over the district for months.
Compromises were made on both sides along the way, mostly about the district’s push for an elongated school day for elementary students.
The board changed altered its proposal to the union in late March, reducing the additional 50 minutes in the school day for students to 45 minutes, and the time added to teachers’ workdays was cut down from 35 minutes to 15 extra minutes starting in the 2023-2024 school year.
The final agreement has not been made public as of Monday night, but board members said it was updated to 25 minutes of additional class instruction and 5 minutes more for teacher planning.
Union leadership has been open to some added time but wanted some say in how it’s used.
The school board pointed to other elementary schools in the area with longer days in justifying its contract proposal. Although, about half of those examples are private schools.
Elementary school bell times according to a negotiations FAQ page on Champaign Unit 4 School District’s website.
The district also says its proposals have been guided by a 2020 needs assessment that found significant outcome gaps for Black students compared to their white peers.
Champaign schools paid consulting firm FourPoint Education Partners $527,700 over two years for that assessment.
Reporters obtained a copy of it and a five-year strategic plan for improvement that the district created in response. Nothing in the documents, including recommendations from FourPoint, mentions extending the school day.
The ratified contract offer from the board says an advisory council to recommend ideas to improve and equalize education going forward will be created immediately.
Union co-president Mike Sitch says 700 of their 850 members took part in the initial vote last week.
24% voted against the latest agreement. Sources close to the matter tell us the ‘no’s came primarily from elementary teachers, the ones whose workdays will be extended.
The board added an additional $2,500 per year raise to the agreement for elementary school teachers. That will be on top of the annual 4.25% increase for all teachers.
The contract between the board and union is effective through June 30, 2025. | 2022-04-12T03:46:55Z | www.wcia.com | Board ratifies contract with teachers union, ruling out possibility of strike | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/board-ratifies-contract-with-teachers-union-ruling-out-possibility-of-strike/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/board-ratifies-contract-with-teachers-union-ruling-out-possibility-of-strike/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A Decatur man was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in federal prison on Monday for possessing child pornography.
Justin Rotramel, 38, was arrested in November of 2020 after a grand jury indicted him on a single count. He pleaded guilty to the charge against him a year later.
In addition to to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm sentenced Rotramel to 10 years of parole after release and ordered him to pay $12,000 in restitution to a victim of the images he possessed.
The case was investigated by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the Macon County State’s Attorney. | 2022-04-12T03:47:07Z | www.wcia.com | Man sentenced for child pornography possession | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-sentenced-for-child-pornography-possession/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-sentenced-for-child-pornography-possession/ |
CHARLESTON (WCIA) — Beaches are no where close to Charleston but that’s not stopping Eastern Illinois from bringing beach volleyball to the school. The Panthers are the first Division I team in the state to play the sport.
“Just being able to say that we’re part of making that history and then seeing in the future that where it can go,” Eastern Illinois sophomore defensive specialist Ashley Sharkus said.
Last August, EIU announced it was starting a beach volleyball program. Now well into competition as one of only a few dozen Division I programs in the country. One of the biggest obstacles is the weather and a place to practice. With cold temperatures lasting well into April, the Panthers often have to bundle up to train at a local park in Charleston.
“It’s definitely an adjustment, but I think we’re doing a pretty good job of it,” EIU junior setter Summerlyn Smith said. “I mean, it’s cold, but it’ll make us better either way.”
“Mental toughness is increasing in every one of our players, but also outdoor sports do this,” EIU head coach Manolo Concepcion said. “That’s what we proposed to the players. They come in, they work together. They enjoy practice, they work hard. They work really hard for two hours so far it’s been a tremendous experience for us coaches and them players.”
Success has yet to come for the Panthers, who have dropped every team match so far this season. Despite an 0-9 overall team record, EIU does have several individual match wins.
“It’s been very special so far,” Eastern Illinois sophomore libero Christina Martinez Mundo said. “We got the first win and we brought that home and being like the first in history in Illinois like women’s team to play beach volleyball is just a big deal.”
More than a record, the first season for Concepcion is about building towards the future. With every match on the road this year, it was never going to be about wins and losses, rather about getting extra practice. The same players who suit up on the beach volleyball team are also on the indoor team for the Panthers.
“Number one is to improve what we’re doing on the indoor side because the transfer ability that it has,” Concepcion said about his goals. “Number two is to grow the game, not just in our city, but in the state of Illinois.” | 2022-04-12T03:47:19Z | www.wcia.com | Eastern Illinois breaking barriers with first Division I beach volleyball team in state | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/eastern-illinois-breaking-barriers-with-first-division-i-beach-volleyball-team-in-state/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/eastern-illinois-breaking-barriers-with-first-division-i-beach-volleyball-team-in-state/ |
CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — New Illinois women’s basketball Shauna Green has signed her first recruit to play for the Illini and it’s a familiar face to Green. Makira Cook is transferring to Illinois from Dayton after playing for Green the past two seasons. Cook earned All-Atlantic 10 honors with the Flyers, leading the team in scoring last season with 14.8 points per game. The 5-foot-6 guard was also second on the team in both assists (2.9) and steals (1.2).
.@IlliniWBB has announced the signing of transfer Makira Cook from Dayton. The guard followed head coach Shauna Green to Champaign. She was Second Team All-A10 and averaged 14.8 points per game last season.
(📷 Dayton Athletics) pic.twitter.com/5QGbNOJ2zk
“I chose Illinois because I believe that the program has infinite potential,” Cook said in a statement released by the school. “Overall, I just feel like it’s a good fit for me. I sensed the family feel and genuine care from the first second I got on campus and had a chance to meet the Illinois Family. I trust Coach Green and her staff, and I am ready for a new challenge as I continue my athletic and academic career.”
“I could not be happier than to have our first signee to our Illinois family be Makira Cook,” Green said in a statement. “Everything that she embodies is what our culture is about. She is an amazing player who can score at all three levels, she facilitates, and she defends with toughness. Makira understands our system and understands what it takes daily to become a champion. She will come in and make everyone better. We talk all the time in our program about trust, loyalty, the relentless pursuit of being elite, and being a great teammate, and Makira demonstrates all of these.” | 2022-04-12T03:47:25Z | www.wcia.com | New Illinois women’s basketball coach Shauna Green signs first recruit, Dayton transfer Makira Cook | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/new-illinois-womens-basketball-coach-shauna-green-signs-first-recruit-dayton-transfer-makira-cook/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/new-illinois-womens-basketball-coach-shauna-green-signs-first-recruit-dayton-transfer-makira-cook/ |
Champaign Police Department investigate overnight …
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign Police responded to a report of a shooting at Apricot Drive at around 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered that a woman had suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg. She was immediately rendered medical aid and was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.
Authorities discovered that the woman was shot when two men approached her and her boyfriend. One man accidentally discharged his firearm, and the bullet struck the woman in the leg. Neither the firearm nor the suspects were located.
This investigation is still on-going. Anyone with information regarding the crime is advised to contact police at 217-351-4545, or if you wish to remain anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by phone at 217-8477, online at 373tips.com, or through the “P3 Tips” mobile application.
Any resident or business in the nearby area with an exterior surveillance camera system is encouraged to contact the police department as well. | 2022-04-12T14:47:50Z | www.wcia.com | Champaign Police investigate overnight shooting | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-police-investigate-overnight-shooting/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-police-investigate-overnight-shooting/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — A man was hurt after a shooting happened just before midnight.
Danville Police were dispatched to the intersection of Fowler Avenue and Clyman Lane at around 11:40 p.m. on Monday in response to a report of a victim with a gunshot wound.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a 22-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his back. He was quickly taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Police said they found multiple shell casings in the area of the 900 block of Fowler Avenue.
No one else was hurt, according to the most up-to-date reports from Danville Police. | 2022-04-12T18:29:51Z | www.wcia.com | Danville Police: Man hurt after shooting | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/danville-police-man-hurt-after-shooting/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/danville-police-man-hurt-after-shooting/ |
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — During the Great Depression, hogs were known on the farm as mortgage lifters and that’s when the family of George Bruns began raising hogs.
“My Dad raised purebred spotted hogs,” Bruns said. “His first champion was in 1938 at the Illinois State Fair. So we go back at least that far and he was probably raising pigs five years before that so, back to the ‘30s.”
“This summer we had three steers that Joey and Jeremiah were showing,” Wenke said. “Jake had four head of hogs, we still have two here. And Jeremiah also started into sheep and has got a couple market lambs. Plus chickens, dogs, rabbits, all running around. The primary purpose of all of this was to give the boys a little bit of what I had growing up. I grew up with cattle and hogs. Give them a little bit of responsibility of taking care of livestock, kind of seeing what happens with animals, the good and the bad.”
That’s how farms change, and the way the farm kids grow up. | 2022-04-12T21:45:39Z | www.wcia.com | Harvest Heritage: Raising hogs | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/agriculture/harvest-heritage-raising-hogs/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/agriculture/harvest-heritage-raising-hogs/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Gilbert Gottfried has passed away. This comes just over a week before he was supposed to be a special guest at Ebertfest in Champaign.
Gottfried’s death was reported Tuesday. According to the Roger Ebert Film Festival’s website, a film called “Gilbert” was scheduled to play on Thursday, April 21. Festival officials described the movie as a look at his life growing up in Brooklyn and other aspects of his life. “Gilbert strips the comedic character away to reveal the man behind it,” said officials.
“Our hearts go out to Gilbert Gottfried’s wife, Dara, and his family at this time of incredible sorrow. Ebertfest will commemorate his immense talent and amazing career, and we will announce any revisions in the coming days. Today, however, is a time to join together in offering our condolences to the family.”
Roger Ebert’s Film Festival organizers
Both Gottfried and the film’s director, Neil Berkeley, were listed as special guests for the festival. | 2022-04-12T21:45:57Z | www.wcia.com | Ebertfest guest Gilbert Gottfried passes away before festival | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/ebertfest-guest-gilbert-gottfried-passes-away-before-festival/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/ebertfest-guest-gilbert-gottfried-passes-away-before-festival/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is adopting new federal guidelines for tracking COVID-19 at the community level. According to the new guidelines, testing providers will no longer be required to report some negative tests and IDPH will therefore no longer report test and case positivity.
In addition, IDPH is bolstering the data on its COVID-19 dashboard to provide additional information to help communities respond to changes in the course of the virus.
“Test and case positivity rates were seen as a good way to monitor the level of community spread early in the pandemic,” said IDPH Acting Director Amaal Tokars. “At this stage, now that we have vaccines and effective therapies available, it is more useful to rely on data that indicates the case rate, disease severity and the level of strain on the healthcare system to guide our public health recommendations.”
The changes adopted by the CDC mean that states will no longer be required to report negative antigen test (rapid test) results – and are only required to report negative PCR and NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) results that were performed in certified labs. The widespread use of at-home tests means that national testing data is not as comprehensive or representative of population-based testing as it was before the introduction of at-home tests.
IDPH officials note that case rates for COVID-19 are now slowly rising in many areas of the state but hospitalizations and deaths continue to remain low. Given that the spread of COVID-19 is increasing, people who are at high risk for serious illness should take the following precautions:
Officials said the State of Illinois remains strongly positioned to respond in the event of a new COVID-19 surge. According to them, the State stockpile of tests is nearly fully replenished, with more than 1.5 million rapid tests on hand, and a half a million more on the way in the coming weeks. The State has also instructed hospitals, schools, and long-term care facilities to consider their current testing capacity and take all preparations necessary. The State is also supporting pharmacies and healthcare providers in efforts to increase their inventories of the various FDA-authorized treatments in case of another surge.
For more information, click here. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, click here.
The federal government recently established a new website that provides an all-purpose toolkit that provides information on how to obtain masks, treatment, vaccines and testing resources for all areas of the country. | 2022-04-12T21:46:03Z | www.wcia.com | IDPH adopts new federal guidelines for reporting COVID-19 data | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/idph-adopts-new-federal-guidelines-for-reporting-covid-19-data/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/idph-adopts-new-federal-guidelines-for-reporting-covid-19-data/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – It was just like any other day at CUMTD’s lost and found… Until someone left a tree on the bus.
It’s six feet tall, fake, and hasn’t been claimed yet. CUMTD posted a photo on social media hoping to find the owner.
They said it’s not even the most unusual item they’ve found. People have left a turntable and even a set of fake teeth. But, the office supervisor said it’s odd such a big item was forgotten.
“This is one of the larger items that we’ve actually had. We have had some auto parts and things like that… It is tall and thin so it does fit comfortably in a corner… where we have had a walker that didn’t fit so well,” Illinois Terminal Office Supervisor Wendy Dominguez said.
She said if items aren’t claimed within two weeks, they get donated to Salt and Light. And if this tree is yours, you should call the bus company. | 2022-04-13T00:06:09Z | www.wcia.com | 6-foot tree found on MTD bus | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/6-foot-tree-found-on-mtd-bus/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/6-foot-tree-found-on-mtd-bus/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) – Public transportation riders may be free to go maskless next week. The federal mask requirement is set to expire on April 18. But, it was also set to expire last month before it was extended.
In Champaign-Urbana, MTD’s Chief of Staff Amy Snyder said mask fatigue is real. Many people are ready to shed them while traveling.
“It would be a welcomed shift to take a break from the masks hopefully for a very long time. But if COVID has taught us anything, it’s there are no guarantees,” Snyder said.
If the mandate expires Monday, travelers won’t need them anymore on planes, trains and buses across the country. But, the Biden administration is considering extending the mask mandate. Local transportation systems are just waiting for an answer.
“We at MTD are waiting just like all these other public conveyances are to find out if it will be lifted. I’ve heard rumors both ways. In the meantime, we’re just going to continue business as usual,” Snyder said.
She said MTD has given out thousands of masks to riders who forget. They’ll still be available if the mandate is extended.
If the mandate is lifted, she said riders may still opt to wear masks. But, they might not be able to continue providing them on buses. | 2022-04-13T00:06:34Z | www.wcia.com | Federal travel mask mandate set to expire | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/federal-travel-mask-mandate-set-to-expire/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/federal-travel-mask-mandate-set-to-expire/ |
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A Champaign man pleaded guilty on Monday to two charges in connection to a string of violence that happened in Rantoul and Urbana last August.
William Laws, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully possessing a gun as a felon and one count of vehicular invasion. He agreed to a prison sentence of 20 years, serving 10 years for each count.
Laws was accused of taking part in a shooting on Aug. 3 that prosecutors believe was retaliation for an earlier shooting that killed his aunt. After shooting at a house in Rantoul, which resulted in no injuries, Laws and three other people fled town via Route 45 and entered Urbana. Their car crashed during an attempt to drive onto Interstate 74.
String of violence in Champaign County has connections
Laws and the other men ran from their crashed car to a nearby Steak N’ Shake and attempted to enter cars that were sitting in the drive-thru. They pulled an elderly woman out of one car, but she resisted and they fled on foot to the Urbana County Club.
Authorities arrested them on the golf course, recovering several guns in the process.
Two teens, two men arrested after house hit by gunfire, vehicular invasion
The other three defendants remain in custody. | 2022-04-13T00:06:46Z | www.wcia.com | Guilty plea in shooting, vehicular invasion string | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/guilty-plea-in-shooting-vehicular-invasion-string/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/guilty-plea-in-shooting-vehicular-invasion-string/ |
National Urban League stresses democracy in 2022 report
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – The National Urban League released its annual “State of Black America” report, which covers progress and setbacks in racial equality across the country. This year, they focused on democracy and voting access.
The league says several states proposed policies in 2021 that would restrict voters, and that those policies affect districts with high populations of people of color.
“On the community level, nothing is more important than registering people to vote and making sure they turn out,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial said. “When we looked up and saw 400 bills introduced in state legislatures in 2021, all to restrict the right to vote, this was a increase of 100 fold over what you would normally see.”
Limiting mail-in voting, ballot drop boxes and early voting are a few of the ways several states have restricted voting. The National Urban League said that has set equality behind.
“The effort to make it more difficult for people to vote in many states – it’s focused, it’s targeted at many black and brown communities,” he said.
Some nearby states were highlighted in the report for their proposed restrictions.
“Traditionally in the Jim Crow days, you saw it in the South. Now you see it in states in the Midwest. States like Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin,” he said.
But here in Illinois, NAACPCC President Minnie Pearson said she hasn’t felt the issue.
“I hope it’s not an indication of how things are going to go all over. But right now, I feel pretty positive about the way things are going in Champaign County,” Pearson said.
She said she’s focused on things like healthcare, education and criminal justice reform. But, the most pressing issue is the increase in gun violence. And while Champaign has invested in several programs and tools to protect people, there’s still a lot to do.
“People are working really hard. And it’s appreciated. At the same time, we have to assess, and tweak and see what we can do to help get this under control,” she said.
She said all community leaders want the same thing – peace in our neighborhoods and a safe place for everyone to live. | 2022-04-13T00:09:37Z | www.wcia.com | National Urban League stresses democracy in 2022 report | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/national-urban-league-stresses-democracy-in-2022-report/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/national-urban-league-stresses-democracy-in-2022-report/ |
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) – The Champaign County Committee of the whole voted to designate 7 members to the Violence Protection Task Force on Tuesday. That will now go in front of the official board to designate as an official task force.
The Champaign County Board is trying to decide how to use its American Rescue Plan Money. They currently have about $40 million to allocate and they’ve been looking where to use that for months now.
Champaign County chair Kyle Patterson is proposing a new task force to help. He wants to use about $4 million from the ARPA funds to address violence across the county.
He wants that task force to have seven council members on it, including himself. They’ll discuss and decide where that money goes.
Patterson said about one million dollars has already been set aside in the current year’s budget for violence protection. He said the board has pledged about 4 million of the ARPA funds too.
Other communities across the country are looking to use this money to help reduce gun violence. Patterson said it’s an important topic.
“I mean, it’s obviously a very complicated issue. It’s an issue that’s been a rising issue for our community. It’s not always obvious the right way to spend that in a way, it’s going to be effective.”
That’s why he said it’s important to have the task force to talk about that. He said the money could go to anything from a new community center, to paying for different programs, but the board has nothing narrowed down right now.
It could be approved at the next board meeting, April 21st. They have to use or allocate the money by the end of 2024.
As for the other ARPA money, the county is looking at using that to help with broadband expansion, particularly in rural areas of the county, facility investments and mental health boards. | 2022-04-13T03:16:29Z | www.wcia.com | Champaign County is looking to reduce violence in the community | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-county-is-looking-to-reduce-violence-in-the-community/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-county-is-looking-to-reduce-violence-in-the-community/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — First responders in Champaign County recently took part in a cyber attack simulation to stay prepared for an actual attack should it happen.
35 participants from various agencies gathered at the University of Illinois on Tuesday to hone their emergency response skills. The simulation’s organizers said it was a great way for people with different backgrounds to learn from each other.
“Having everyone in the same room, being able to network with them and really learn from all of the different perspectives, whether it is from the health care community, whether it is from Ameren, or whether it is from law enforcement,” said Rantoul Deputy Police Chief Justin Bouse. “All of these different agencies come together. You start to put some faces with the names and really start to interact and understand what their response would be if something like this occurs within the community.”
Tuesday’s simulation started as a mock natural disaster that was followed by the cyber attack. This sequence of events meant the participants had to figure out how to communicate with limited technology. | 2022-04-13T03:16:53Z | www.wcia.com | U of I hosts cyber attack simulation for first responders | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/u-of-i-hosts-cyber-attack-simulation-for-first-responders/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/u-of-i-hosts-cyber-attack-simulation-for-first-responders/ |
GIFFORD (WCIA) — Very rarely are three coaches as successful as Bill Self, Lon Kruger, and Brad Underwood all together at the same time, much less ones tied together by the same university.
“It’s reliving a little bit of Illini history,” says Underwood. “And we’re doing it for an unbelievable cause, Coaches vs. Cancer.”
Illinois’s Coaches vs. Cancer event returned to Gordyville USA for the first time since 2019, after it was canceled the last two years. Underwood dug into his contacts this time around, getting the former Illini coaches to appear as special guests.
Great to be back at @Gordyville for our first @CoachesvsCancer dinner since 2019. 1200 strong working to end the fight against cancer. Thanks to @CoachBillSelf & @LonKruger for your help in making this a wonderful night! pic.twitter.com/b4Rg4vV1Ky
— Brad Underwood (@CoachUnderwood) April 13, 2022
Self returns to Champaign just nine days after winning the NCAA National Championship with Kanas, one of the first times he’s been back since he left in 2003.
“This is the first time I got to get out amongst the masses and it feels really good,” says Self. “It seems like to me, the infrastructure’s in place to be really good at everything.”
Kruger is enjoying retirement after spending his last coaching years at Oklahoma. Rubbing elbows with 1,200 of the biggest Illini fans brings both back to the old days.
“Just so many great memories of the time Barb and I spent here,” says Kruger. “It seems like a while ago and it has been a while, but certainly good to be back.”
Three eras of #Illini head coaches pic.twitter.com/xIoULcEFNx
Underwood, Self, and Kruger combine for four Big Ten regular season titles, two Tournament championships, and have over 200 wins between them in Orange and Blue.
Brad Underwood will add to that total next season, but how many wins may depend on the future of Kofi Cockburn. He has until April 24 to enter the NBA Draft. The center has explored the draft process twice before, meaning if he enters it again he cannot return to college. Cockburn has two years of eligibility if he does decide to stay at Illinois. Underwood says they are still having conversations.
“They’re still ongoing. You know he’s got until the 24th and we’ll see what that looks like for him,” says Underwood. “He’s got a lot of conversations going on with his people. Obviously he’s a first team All-American. He’s one of the dominant players in college basketball and he’s got a lot to evaluate.” | 2022-04-13T05:40:19Z | www.wcia.com | Self, Kruger return to Champaign to give back with Underwood | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/self-kruger-return-to-champaign-to-give-back-with-underwood/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/self-kruger-return-to-champaign-to-give-back-with-underwood/ |
RANTOUL, Ill. (WCIA) — A man was found dead inside a house on Saint Andrews Circle Tuesday night.
At around 7:50 p.m., Rantoul Police were dispatched to an area on Saint Andrews Circle for a report of a possible shooting.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the body of 20-year-old Rayvell Lofton inside a house. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Anyone with information on this incident should contact Rantoul Police at (217) 333-8911. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately. Individuals who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at (217) 373-8477 (TIPS), online at 373tips.com or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.
Information submitted to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous. Calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives information, completes a tips information form and then passes the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers and conversations are not recorded. Crime Stoppers will pay cash rewards of $5,000 for tips that lead to an arrest in any homicide case, $2,500 for tips leading to an arrest in a felony crime involving a firearm, and up to $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for any other crime. | 2022-04-13T16:11:33Z | www.wcia.com | Rantoul Police investigating after man found dead inside house | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/rantoul-police-investigating-after-man-found-dead-inside-house/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/rantoul-police-investigating-after-man-found-dead-inside-house/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — Danville Fire officials said two firefighters were hurt after a house fire on Wednesday morning.
The house is near West Seminary and Chandler streets. Crews arrived on-scene around 9 a.m.. A man and his dog had left the house to go on a walk. When they got back, the house was on fire, according to officials.
While firefighters were battling the flames, the roof collapsed. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital. Their current condition is unknown.
There is no word yet on how the fire started. | 2022-04-13T20:24:44Z | www.wcia.com | Two firefighters hurt after roof collapses during fire | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/two-firefighters-hurt-after-roof-collapses-during-fire/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/two-firefighters-hurt-after-roof-collapses-during-fire/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Faculty members at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will soon need to explain their contribution to the diversity, equity and inclusion on campus as a part of the process to apply for promotion and tenure.
The promotion and tenure standard at U of I has recently been modified in many ways. They have added a statement for diversity, equity and inclusion activity (DEI), among other opportunities for faculty members to have different types of their work recognized.
Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Bill Bernhard said the new DEI statement will allow the university to evaluate what faculty have been doing to help make the campus community a more diverse, open and welcoming place.
It can be the way that faculty members organize their classes, do their community service or do their research.
Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Bill Bernhard.
“As an institution, we have a responsibility to teach students from all walks of life, to equip them with knowledge, skills and curiosity to succeed throughout their adulthood,” said Bernhard.
He added, “We are not requiring faculty members to do a specific activity. We are certainly not requiring them to change their scholarly focus or their research. We are giving them an opportunity to talk about their contribution to this fundamental mission of creating a diverse and welcoming university.”
According to Bernhard, the revision for the entire document of the promotion and tenure standard will go into effect for candidates moving forward next fall. He said the DEI statement will be optional for three years. After three years, starting fall of 2025, applicants for the promotion and tenure process will be required to submit a one-page summary to talk about their contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion at the university.
“We are very excited about these changes. We think that they are going to enhance our ability as an institution. It will help with the recruitment of faculty members who are interested in engaging and participating in this mission. And, I think, it will help us to fulfill our goals in equity, diversity and inclusion,” Bernhard smiled.
Photo courtesy: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Twitter. | 2022-04-13T20:24:50Z | www.wcia.com | U of I to add diversity, equity and inclusion contribution to faculty-promotion process | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/u-of-i-to-add-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-contribution-to-faculty-promotion-process/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/u-of-i-to-add-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-contribution-to-faculty-promotion-process/ |
Prevent Child Abuse Illinois is a small non profit serving the state of Illinois with a simple mission: to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing leadership through education, public awareness, support for community initiatives and advocacy. We’re working to help create an Illinois where all children grow up in healthy and safe homes and communities, free from abuse and neglect.
“April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. We know child abuse is a serious issue, so Can you talk for a bit about some of our local and statewide statistics related to child abuse and neglect?”
In 2020, Illinois saw over 35,000 child abuse victims. This abuse can be physical, sexual, or emotional. Of those, 426 were in Champaign County. These numbers were those reported and investigated. We’re sure that these numbers are low, because some instances are not reported.
In 2021, our central region of Illinois saw over 1,000 child victims and 62 child deaths as a result of abuse or neglect.t In addition, our central region had more substance exposed infants than any other region in the state.
Preventing abuse and neglect is about keeping children safe. Safe in their homes, schools, and communities. We know if a child experiences trauma in their childhood from abuse or neglect that child can experience life long consequences, including health, mental health, and substance abuse issues. So as adults, it is our responsibility to ensure safety for children. Some things parents can do:
Parents can learn about safe sleep environments. Safe sleep means babies sleep alone, on their backs, and in a safe crib.
Parents can learn about dangers related to shaking their baby, which can be deadly. Parents can make sure that those taking care of their baby understand the risks as well
Parents can ask for help when they’re feeling overwhelmed. We know that parenting is hard, and it’s appropriate and beneficial to rely on others for support. In our area, we have a Crisis Nursery to provide emergency care for children.
Parents can establish a support system prior to needing it. A list of family, friends or neighbors that they trust can be useful for when they are needing support.
Parents should leave children with a trusted, safe adult.
Parents can establish a loving, nurturing and positive environment at home. They can show and tell their children that they love them each day. Spending quality time, and giving that sense of security and belonging can go a long way to prevent abuse and neglect. For more parenting tips and resources, please visit our website: www.preventchildabuseillinois.org | 2022-04-14T00:10:28Z | www.wcia.com | Child Abuse Prevention Month | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/ciliving-tv/ciliving-stories/ciliving/child-abuse-prevention-month/ | https://www.wcia.com/ciliving-tv/ciliving-stories/ciliving/child-abuse-prevention-month/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Crime Stoppers of Sangamon and Menard Counties is asking for the public’s help in solving a bank robbery that happened last week.
On April 8, a man entered the U.S. Bank at 800 East Grand Avenue and displayed a gun, demanding money from the teller. He fled south on foot after the robbery.
The suspect is described as a black male approximately 50 years old with dark complexion and gray facial hair. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing dark jeans, a black hoodie and a black face mask.
Anyone who can identify the suspect can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-788-8427, submit a tip online or through the P3 Tips app. Tips that result in an arrest can be rewarded with up to $2500.
Photo courtesy of Crime Stoppers | 2022-04-14T00:10:40Z | www.wcia.com | Crime Stoppers looking for bank robbery suspect | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/crime-stoppers-looking-for-bank-robbery-suspect/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/crime-stoppers-looking-for-bank-robbery-suspect/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — Danville firefighters responded to three fires Wednesday morning at various addresses around town. One of those fires resulted in two firefighters being hurt.
The fire that resulted in injuries happened in a house at 707 West Seminary Street just before 10 a.m. The house’s occupant left the house to walk his dog and came back to find smoke coming from the house. He called 911 and entered the house before firefighters arrived, but was overcome by smoke. He was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation.
Two firefighters were hurt inside the house when the ceiling collapsed on them. They were taken to the hospital by ambulance, treated and released. The fire was ruled accidental and the house was deemed a total loss.
Another house in Danville was deemed a total loss earlier in the morning after it too caught fire. Firefighters responded to 126 North Beard Street just before 6 a.m. and spent almost three hours on the scene. The house was vacant and no one was hurt, but the fire is considered suspicious.
Firefighters also responded to a garage fire just before 5:30 a.m. at 1712 Deerwood Drive. Damage was minor and no one was hurt. | 2022-04-14T00:10:46Z | www.wcia.com | Danville Fire responds to three fires, two firefighters hurt at one | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/danville-fire-responds-to-three-fires-two-firefighters-hurt-at-one/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/danville-fire-responds-to-three-fires-two-firefighters-hurt-at-one/ |
Bystanders caught in the crossfire continue to recover
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Courthouse security officers arrested 22-year-old Aaron Young Wednesday in connection to a drive-by shooting on I-74 in North Champaign in late March.
Young was in court for an unrelated case when he was taken into custody on a warrant for attempted murder, according to Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman.
The 22-year-old also faces two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
Two people were taken to the hospital after the 2 a.m. interstate shooting between the Prospect Avenue and Neil Street exits. State police said the victims’ car crashed into the center median after being hit by gunfire that came from another car.
Young’s arrest marks the second to be made in a string of shootings within a couple mile stretch in north Champaign. Target 3 reporters found out a pair of parallel roads — N Market Street and Prospect Avenue — has become an apparent hotspot for drive-by shootings, and some of the victims were simply caught in the crossfire.
Each dot represents a shooting off of either N Market St or Prospect Ave in the last seven months.
9-year-old Damien Jones is still recovering six months after he became an unintended target of the city’s growing plight with gun violence.
It’s not like you heal and it goes back to normal. You heal physically. It’s the mental and emotional part that’s long-term.
Victoria Valadez, mother of 9-year-old victim of gun violence
The elementary school student’s head was grazed after a bullet went through the back window of his family’s car. His mother, Victoria Valadez said she held her bleeding child in her lap as they drove to the hospital. Her 8-year-old daughter, Peyton, was also in tow.
“He didn’t know how bad it was. He just knew his head was bleeding, so he’s still, you know, really on edge about it,” Valadez said.
Champaign police believe about 20 shots were fired during the mid-October shootout. Valadez says she and her family were caught in the middle on their way home from school. Damien has healed physically, but his mother says there’s a lot of healing left to happen mentally and emotionally.
“He’s doing, like, a lot of therapy and you know he’s struggling in school,” she said. “It’s not like you heal and it goes back to normal. You heal physically. It’s the mental and emotional part that’s long-term.”
It’s been half a year since either of Valadez’s kids have slept soundly through the night. The mother of two ended up quitting her night job to care for them.
“I tried to go back to working a couple of days a week and stuff, and he just didn’t want to be alone and my daughter didn’t want to be alone because, you know, she was there too. And they would just cry, you know, and ask me not to leave, and eventually, the guilt just got to me,” she explained.
Since October, six more people have been shot within the same couple-mile stretch. The majority of the incidents have been drive-bys, and three of those drive-by shootings happened on N Market St near where Damien was grazed.
“My baby was 9-years-old. That’s all I can think about. I couldn’t imagine dealing with mortality at 9 years old. I really couldn’t,” Valadez said.
“You don’t think you’re going to die at 9 years old, and my baby does.”
The road behind the mall is still a staple in the Valadez family routine. It became the site of another shooting Sunday.
“At this point, Champaign is turning into a city of crime so I’m not surprised,” Valadez reacted.
No arrests have been made in the October shooting or the most recent on Sunday. Aaron Young’s arrest was the second made following the string of six shootings in that area in the last seven months.
22-year-old Diamond Mitchell faces charges for the February Market Place Mall parking lot shooting.
Mitchell shot a 19-year-old in the leg after a fight over a pair of shoes, according to Champaign Police Lieutenant Ben Newell. In a February court hearing, Mitchell said she was acting out of self-defense when she fired her gun. The teenager allegedly punched Mitchell in the face before the gun was fired, according to Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz.
Rietz said there is a possibility for further charges following that February hearing, including against the 19-year-old victim who allegedly punched Mitchell. No additional charges have been filed as of this report, according to Lt. Newell. The State’s Attorney’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Newell said police are seeing more and more shootings that “go beyond drive-bys,” including multiple shooters firing out of multiple vehicles. He said shootings are most often occurring on the city’s main thoroughfares, like Prospect Avenue and N Market Street, as well as Neil Street. The shootings are targeted more often than not, Newell added. | 2022-04-14T00:11:05Z | www.wcia.com | Police make second arrest in string of drive-by shootings in North Champaign | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/police-make-second-arrest-in-string-of-drive-by-shootings-in-north-champaign/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/police-make-second-arrest-in-string-of-drive-by-shootings-in-north-champaign/ |
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Nutrition company ADM announced on Wednesday that it will be expanding its footprint and production of alternate protein in Decatur through a $300 million investment.
As part of its expansion, ADM will open a new, state-of-the-art Protein Innovation Center in Decatur.
ADM said the construction of the Protein Innovation Center will enhance the company’s ability to work with customers to develop solutions to meet their needs. Increasing production of alternate proteins will strengthen the company’s ability to to meet growing global demand.
“The global trends of food security and sustainability are driving structural changes in the food industry, including strong growth in alternative proteins, and we’re investing to ensure ADM remains a leader in this vast and exciting space,” said Leticia Gonçalves, ADM’s president of Global Foods. “Our sales in this space have been growing at rates much faster than the industry’s, and our work to expand our leadership position with new innovation and capacity is an important driver of future growth for our Nutrition business. We’re proud to continue to invest and innovate, delivering on our strategy, supporting global food security and advancing sustainability for our customers and our future.”
ADM’s expansion is expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2025.
ADM’s processing complex in Decatur Illinois | 2022-04-14T00:11:24Z | www.wcia.com | Nutrition company expanding in Decatur | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/nutrition-company-expanding-in-decatur/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/nutrition-company-expanding-in-decatur/ |
Prospect Avenue reducing to one lane on southbound side
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — One lane of Prospect Avenue will be closing on Thursday as crews perform landscaping and fencing work at 1211 South Prospect.
The lane closure will take place on the southbound side of the road between Armory Avenue and La Sell Drive. Work is expected to take place on Thursday and Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The City of Champaign said that it appreciates the cooperation of travelers in the area and encourages caution when traveling through work zones. | 2022-04-14T00:11:36Z | www.wcia.com | Prospect Avenue reducing to one lane on southbound side | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/prospect-avenue-reducing-to-one-lane-on-southbound-side/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/prospect-avenue-reducing-to-one-lane-on-southbound-side/ |
RANTOUL, Ill. (WCIA) — One man was hurt after a shooting happened late Tuesday night.
Rantoul Police were dispatched to a location on Autumn Fields Lane at around 11:10 p.m. in response to multiple reports of shots being fired. When officers arrived at the location, they found a 25-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his lower leg. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Evidence of multiple rounds being fired was collected at various places near the reported location. Police talked to several area residents in an attempt to identify the offender or offenders in the incident.
Anyone with additional information on the incident is encouraged to call Champaign Police at (217) 333-8911. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at 217-373-8477 (TIPS), online at 373tips.com or the “P3 Tips” mobile app. | 2022-04-14T00:11:42Z | www.wcia.com | Rantoul Police: Man hurt after shooting late Tuesday night | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/rantoul-police-man-hurt-after-shooting-late-tuesday-night/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/rantoul-police-man-hurt-after-shooting-late-tuesday-night/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The teenage suspect in a deadly stabbing incident at Lanphier High School has been charged as an adult for the crime, Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright announced Wednesday.
16-year-old Kamyjah Bias was charged with three counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Attempted First Degree Murder, three counts of Aggravated Battery and two counts of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. She was previously indicted on some those charges in juvenile court.
Juvenile suspect formally charged after deadly stabbing
The charges allege that on Nov. 17, 2021, Bias stabbed two people during an altercation. One of them, 18-year-old Lanphier student Pierre Scott Jr., died from his injuries.
Springfield Police: 18-year-old dies after he was stabbed near school
The stabbing resulted in a heightened security presence in the days after and contributed to the decision to permanently install metal detectors at the school.
Springfield to install metal detectors at high schools
Under Illinois law, the case was initially filed in juvenile court because Bias was under the age of 16. Wright’s office then filed a petition to transfer the case to adult court, which was granted on Tuesday.
If convicted as an adult, Bias could face between 27 and 90 years in prison.
Bias remains incarcerated in a juvenile detention facility and will not be transferred to the Sangamon County Jail due to her age. Bond was set at $1 million.
Anyone with information about the stabbing incident is asked to call Springfield Police at 217-788-8311 and/or Sangamon/Menard County Crime Stoppers at 217-788-8427. | 2022-04-14T00:11:43Z | www.wcia.com | Teen suspect in deadly stabbing charged as adult | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/teen-suspect-in-deadly-stabbing-charged-as-adult/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/teen-suspect-in-deadly-stabbing-charged-as-adult/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Kids at Champaign’s First Christian Church were given an opportunity on Wednesday to meet a pair of Olympians and learn how they train for the Olympics.
Speed skaters Andrew Heo and Austin Kleba competed in February at the Olympics in Beijing and are now embarking upon a tour of speed skating communities across the country. At Wednesday’s event they shared stories from Beijing and their training routines.
Kleba said it was rewarding to meet everyone knowing that he serves as an inspiration for the next generation of athletes.
“I’ve had tons of kids, just the inspiration they have on their faces, the look that they have when we come out and talk to them,” Kleba said. “They’re like, ‘You guys went to the Olympics?’ and we’re like ‘Yeah’ and they get so excited.”
Heo and Kleba have plans to make stops in Indiana and Ohio before making their way to the Northeast. | 2022-04-14T03:26:28Z | www.wcia.com | Champaign kids train with Olympians | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-kids-train-with-olympians/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-kids-train-with-olympians/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A Champaign man was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on Tuesday for sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.
Court documents establish that Charles Howard, 41, sexually abused and exploited a 15-year-old girl in his care. He further threatened to kill her and himself if she told anyone about the abuse.
Howard has two prior convictions from 2000 and 2001 for criminal sexual abuse in Champaign County and was a registered sex offender at the time of his arrest in June 2020.
A federal grand jury charged Howard in September 2020 with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of committing sex offenses as a registered sex offender. He pleaded guilty to all three counts in October 2021.
At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm said that Howard’s conduct was “as bad as it gets” and caused physical injury that would have lasting effect on the victim’s life.
The investigation into Howard’s crimes was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations division and the Champaign Police Department. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Reitz assisted. | 2022-04-14T03:26:34Z | www.wcia.com | Man sentenced to 40 years in prison for sex crimes | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-sentenced-to-40-years-in-prison-for-sex-crimes/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-sentenced-to-40-years-in-prison-for-sex-crimes/ |
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — They’re our mothers, wives, daughters, grandmothers, aunts and sisters.
Every woman is remarkable in some way. Wednesday night, WCIA introduced some of the Remarkable Women of central Illinois.
In a half-hour special, WCIA introduced you to women who are making a difference in their community. Women like Tammy Williams, who gives her time to ensure our fallen heroes are honored by decorating their graves.
And Ronnie Turner Winston. She served our nation in the Air Force and now serves her community as a volunteer for several non-profits in Champaign-Urbana.
Doctor Mary Crosson Well Strang has a heart filled with compassion. She’s a veterinarian who nurses pets back to health. But she also an advocate for the arts, mental health and medical equity.
And a tragedy that shook all of us, the senseless killing of Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim. Of course, no one was impacted more than his wife, Amber Oberheim. | 2022-04-14T03:26:46Z | www.wcia.com | Remarkable Women 2022 | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/remarkable-women/remarkable-women-2022/ | https://www.wcia.com/remarkable-women/remarkable-women-2022/ |
SHELBY COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — On Monday, the Shelby County jury found a 48-year-old man guilty of aggravated assault in connection to an incident that happened in 2021.
According to officials, Erik M. Ray was arrested on February 5, 2021, after he confronted the victim and the victim’s wife, who were his neighbors, in their home about statements they allegedly made about Ray’s dog. Ray was agitated and verbally threatened them during the encounter. The victim told Ray to leave the residence, but when Ray was walking onto the porch, he quickly turned and attempted to re-enter the home. The victim then pushed Ray, causing him to fall from the porch. Ray stood up with a large knife in his hand and attempted to stab the victim in the stomach, cutting the victim’s shirt. Ray was also armed with a black revolver but did not display the weapon during the encounter.
Police located Ray at his home after following footprints in the snow. Ray retrieved and surrendered to police officers the revolver and knife that he possessed at the time of the offense. The revolver was loaded with 6 unspent rounds and the knife was a 6-inch fixed blade Frost Cutlery Flying Falcon Rambo-style knife. Once at the Shelby County Jail, Ray’s shoes were photographed and compared to the matching footwear impressions discovered in the snow.
Ray has a prior DUI adjudication and was previously convicted of two driving while suspended cases, illegal possession of ammunition and possession of drug paraphernalia. All previous offenses were committed in Christian County.
Ray is expected to be sentenced on June 13. | 2022-04-14T19:24:07Z | www.wcia.com | Man found guilty in 2021 assault | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-found-guilty-in-2021-assault/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-found-guilty-in-2021-assault/ |
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A 22-year-old man was recently sentenced to five years in prison in relation to a shooting that happened in 2021.
Kamari Ray-Davis pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to deliver cannabis and one count of unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun.
According to the Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz, he was sentenced to five years in prison for each count. He will serve both at the same time and will also receive credit for 248 days that he previously served.
On August 8, 2021, Urbana Police were called to a location on South Cottage Grove in response to a report of shots fired.
When police arrived at the scene, they found a victim outside a residence with gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen. Officers said the residence belonged to Ray-Davis, his 16-year-old brother and his mother. Multiple shell casings were found at the scene.
Witnesses reported two men ran inside another residence following the shooting. Urbana Police found Ray-Davis and his 16-year-old brother inside the residence that witnesses had told them about. This place belonged to a cousin of Ray-Davis. Officers arrested Ray-Davis, his brother and his cousin.
Officers searched Ray-Davis’ apartment and his cousin’s apartment. In the apartment that Ray-Davis and his brother lived in, officers found a sawed-off shotgun and .45 caliber ammunition. In the other apartment, officers found a .45 caliber firearm, a 9mm firearm on top of the dryer and a duffle bag containing 3 large plastic Ziploc bags filled with cannabis. Officers also found the victim’s fanny pack and car keys in the second apartment.
Urbana Police talked to the 16-year-old and Ray-Davis. The 16-year-old admitted that the .45 caliber firearm was his gun, that he had it out when the victim came over to purchase cannabis from him, and that he shot the victim. He claimed the victim took out a gun and tried to rob him of the cannabis and the gun and that his older brother wrestled the gun away from the victim. Ray-Davis admitted that the cannabis was his, that he took the 9mm from the victim and hid it on top of the dryer, and that he took the victim’s fanny pack from him.
Ray-Davis’s brother was charged with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm and was detained in the Champaign County Youth Detention Center pending further proceedings. | 2022-04-14T19:24:09Z | www.wcia.com | Man sentenced to prison in connection to 2021 shooting | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-sentenced-to-prison-in-connection-to-2021-shooting/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/man-sentenced-to-prison-in-connection-to-2021-shooting/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign City Attorney Frederick Stavins announced on Wednesday that he will be retiring from the position after more than 40 years on the job.
Stavins spent the majority of his legal career in Champaign. Taking the City Attorney position in 1981, Stavins lead the city’s Legal Department and its staff in providing legal review and advice to the City Council, Boards and Commissions, the City Manager and all city department heads. He also served as a lawyer for the city of Champaign Township and the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District.
The 41 years he spent as City Attorney are a record for not only the position, but of any department head in Champaign. He served under six Mayors, four City Managers and numerous city council members and department heads while attending more than 2000 City Council meetings.
“The lawyers, legal assistants, and paralegals that I have worked with have been, and continue to be, the best municipal legal group in the State of Illinois,” Stavins said in a statement released by the city. “Working with these excellent legal professionals has made my job the best a person could hope for. I am also lucky to have worked with so many high-performing and creative department heads who are, in their own right, leaders in their fields, as well as other City staff who are dedicated to serving the public. I am also privileged to have worked with a wide variety of elected and appointed officials, who despite sometimes having differing views, have tried their best to work for all of our residents.”
City Manager Dorothy David paid tribute to Stavins in a statement of her own.
“Fred has faithfully served the City for more than four decades and leaves a lasting impact through the policies, practices, and City Ordinances that he helped put into place,” David said. “Fred’s legal experience and expertise is unparalleled in local government, as is his ability to recall legal cases, precedents, and facts from throughout his distinguished career. Always ready to listen, provide good advice, or lend a helping hand, Fred’s positive energy and commitment are immeasurable and will be greatly missed. It has been a pleasure to work with Fred as both a legal counselor and a friend and we wish him the very best on his well-earned retirement.
Stavins’ last day on the job is May 22. The city will launch a nationwide search for a new City Attorney later this spring. | 2022-04-14T22:10:10Z | www.wcia.com | Champaign City Attorney announces retirement | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-city-attorney-announces-retirement/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-city-attorney-announces-retirement/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — With the summer months quickly approaching, so is the opening of Friendly Town for the summer of 2022.
The Friendly Town program consists of five days of instructions. There will be a morning session from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and an afternoon session from 1 p.m. to 3:30 pm. The program is free and open to any child who is currently enrolling in the first, second or third grade in Vermilion County.
During the Friendly Town week, many topics will be discussed, including pedestrian safety, fire safety, stranger danger, cyber safety and bullying. Danville Police Division School Resource Officers will be assigned to conduct the classes, helping to provide a variety of personalities and experiences to the program.
Along with the classroom time, the program will have a small, interactive “city” outside where children can drive electric-powered cars, through city streets with sets of operating stoplights and one set of operating railroad crossings.
Officer Joshua Long stated, “Your child will have the opportunity to practice calling 911, using a simulated city to experience ‘driving’ with traffic controls, and interacting with other first responders.”
Upon completion of the course, certificates will be awarded to each child.
Anyone interested in enrolling their child/children into Friendly Town can mark the week and time that best suits them in the form below (mark a first and second choice) and submit it to Officer Long (2 East South Street, Danville, IL 61832; jlong@danvillepd.org)
“We will try and accommodate your first choice, however, keep in mind this may not be possible. Once you have submitted your form, you will be notified of the week and time your child/children will attend,” said Officer Long.
Friendly Town Registration Form by Neil Street on Scribd | 2022-04-14T22:10:16Z | www.wcia.com | Friendly Town summer program is back | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/friendly-town-summer-program-is-back/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/friendly-town-summer-program-is-back/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Local first responders and K-9 officers will honor the life and service of retired K-9 Cash as he takes one last ride, at the age of nine, on Friday morning.
Cash is a German Shepherd. He joined the Champaign Police Department in 2013 and was certified through the North American Police Work Dog Association as a police utility K-9.
According to police officers, during his time with CPD, Cash was involved in a number of high-profile cases, including a drug bust valued at more than $1 million.
Due to health concerns, Cash was retired from active duty in July 2021, at the age of eight.
Since his retirement, Cash has enjoyed a life of quiet rest with his handler, Officer Tina Trock, and with another K-9, Lando.
As officers honor Cash, a large procession, including local first responders and K-9 officers, is expected to follow a path from Interstate Drive in north Champaign, headed south to a destination in Savoy. The procession will depart at around10: 00 a.m. and will follow the route below at a low speed.
Time: Friday, April 15 at around 10:00 a.m.
· Procession will begin in Champaign on Prospect Avenue, north of Interstate Dr, traveling south toward E Windsor Rd
· Turn left (east) onto E Windsor Rd, toward Neil St
· Turn right (south) onto S Neil Street/N Dunlap Avenue, Savoy
After the procession, Cash will pass in the care of his veterinarian.
Because of the size and nature of the procession, the public is advised that traffic impacts are possible along the route. | 2022-04-14T22:10:22Z | www.wcia.com | Retired K-9 Cash to take one last ride Friday morning | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/retired-k-9-cash-to-take-one-last-ride-friday-morning/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/retired-k-9-cash-to-take-one-last-ride-friday-morning/ |
SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A 5.5-mile stretch of Interstate 55 in Sangamon County will be under construction for the next few months starting Monday.
The stretch of I-55 being worked on is located between the Sangamon/Montgomery County line and Brush Creek. IDOT crews will resurface the road, seal joints and paint bridges in that stretch.
IDOT said that traffic will be controlled by flaggers and lane closures are necessary, but at least one lane in both directions will remain open to traffic. The project is expected tp be complete by Dec. 1.
Drivers are advised to consider using an alternate route of travel. If that isn’t feasible, drivers should expect delays and allow extra time for trips through the area. They are further urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zone, obey the posted speed limit, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. | 2022-04-14T22:10:34Z | www.wcia.com | I-55 resurfacing begins Monday | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/traffic/i-55-resurfacing-begins-monday/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/traffic/i-55-resurfacing-begins-monday/ |
Taylorville man promotes organ donation for himself and others
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — Brian Grove has lived a life of service. He spent 10 years in active duty in Iraq, over eight years as an EMT, and 16 years as a law enforcement officer.
“I’ve always lived my life to better others,” Grove said.
But to keep living, he needs a hero of his own.
“He’s got a pacemaker and now he needs a kidney transplant,” Jody Grove, Brian’s wife said.
Two years ago, Grove collapsed at his job with the Secretary of State Police. He went to the hospital, and learned he was the latest in a long line of relatives to develop polycystic kidney disease.
“They thought it skipped mine, because it usually shows up in your 20s,” Brain Grove said. “I’m in my late 40’s”
Since passing out, his condition has only gotten worse. His wife, a Taylorville police officer – says she wakes up every day wondering if it’s his last.
“I have my days where i have to get away from the house just to release everything, because I don’t want him to see me crack,” Jody said. “Because seeing me crack will make him crack.”
Grove is on a waitlist for a new kidney. He needs a donor with an O negative blood type. Then they need to have several other markers match. He’s been told the wait will be 6-8 years.
“It sucks seeing him hurt, and it sucks seeing him in pain” Jody said. I want to take it away, and I can’t.”
Brian’s family spends any free moment spreading the word about organ donation — hoping they can find that angel donor for him.
“So if somebody is, you know, his blood type which is negative, and they match the markers with his, then he can get a kidney sooner, but if not, they can match with somebody else.”
But Brian has a much harder time doing the same.
“For me, I feel like it’s begging,” Grove said. “And I don’t want to do that.”
If you are interested in learning more about organ donation, go to the Gift of Hope website. | 2022-04-15T00:38:12Z | www.wcia.com | Taylorville man promotes organ donation for himself and others | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/taylorville-man-promotes-organ-donation-for-himself-and-others/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/taylorville-man-promotes-organ-donation-for-himself-and-others/ |
CATLIN (WCIA) — Salt Fork senior Brynlee Keeran is the WCIA 3 Athlete of the Week. Keeran is playing two sports this spring, balancing and excelling between softball and track and field.
She has won titles at multiple events in track and field. She took gold in the triple jump, long jump and pole vault. She also runs the 60 meter hurdles and has her eyes set to return to Charleston next month for the state finals.
“We don’t know exactly yet what I’m doing this year event wise, cause we’re thinking about doing hurdles instead of high jump,” Keeran said. “So each meet I’m treating it as if it’s sectionals, doing my best and putting me in some different events so I can be very versatile and get better in different ways.”
Keeran is now eligible for a 500 dollar scholarship we’ll give to one boy and one girl this summer. If you know a deserving high school student who should be our next weekly winner, fill out the nomination form here: https://www.wcia.com/athlete-of-the-week/#// | 2022-04-15T00:38:24Z | www.wcia.com | Keeran wins Athlete of the Week | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/high-school-sports/keeran-wins-athlete-of-the-week/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/high-school-sports/keeran-wins-athlete-of-the-week/ |
MATTOON (WCIA) — The 2021-2022 school year is coming to a close and we are honoring some remarkable athletes. Mallory Ramage is WCIA 3’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Mallory Ramage knew right away she could leave her mark on the Mattoon girls basketball program, more so than just on the court.
“When I got my first offer for basketball, I thought, ‘This is real and I’m getting really serious about it,” Ramage said.
The Mattoon point guard did exactly that, becoming the Green Wave’s all-time leading scorer with 2,486 points. Even with a shortened COVID season, the four year starter exceeded a nearly 30 year record by 700 points.
“I knew that I wanted it, I knew that I wanted to work hard,” Ramage said. “It’s definitely meant a lot, it’s taken a lot of hard work to get that.”
“She can score from anywhere on the floor, she can score with two, three people on her,” Former Mattoon Head Basketball Coach Amanda Aydt said. “She finds a way to put the ball in the basket.”
Ramage’s scoring prowess helped lead the Green Wave to two Apollo Conference and regional titles in her four years, including a run to the Sweet 16 in February. It set the program record for wins in a season with 30 and with that, bringing much needed attention to girls sports.
“I really wanted to do that, I wanted to make girls basketball more popular here,” Ramage said. “I wanted people to know we’re good and we can do just as good as any other team here.”
“Looking in the stands, in the crowd I’m sure there’s a lot of younger players that look up to her and want to follow in her footsteps and accomplish the things that she has accomplished,” Aydt said. “It really builds the program.”
Now Ramage will look to do the same in the Windy City, having signed this past fall with Loyola. She’ll have to impress a new staff with a coaching change, but is determined to keep the success going.
“My goals are just to go in there and work hard. I’m really excited to play at the next level and I just know I’m going to work hard and do whatever it takes,” Ramage said.
She’ll get to work with the Ramblers as WCIA 3 Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Here’s a look at some of our past girls basketball players of the year:
2021- Erin Houpt, Danville
2020- Capria Brown, Schlarman
2019- Anaya Peoples, Schlarman
2017- Sierra Thompson, Mattoon | 2022-04-15T00:38:30Z | www.wcia.com | Mallory Ramage wins Girls Basketball Player of the Year | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/high-school-sports/mallory-ramage-wins-wcia-3-girls-basketball-player-of-the-year/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/high-school-sports/mallory-ramage-wins-wcia-3-girls-basketball-player-of-the-year/ |
FORT WORTH, TX (WCIA) — Juniors Mia Takekawa and Mia Townes represented Illinois for the individual rounds of the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships.
Mia Townes landed a score of 9.8375 from the vault. She tied in 14th to finish her season. Takekawa on the bars finished with the same score. She finished her season at 20th. Takekawa has had two perfect 10’s in her career as an Illini. | 2022-04-15T00:38:36Z | www.wcia.com | Illinois women’s gym finishes season at NCAA championship | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/illinois-womens-gym-finishes-season-at-ncaa-championship/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/illinois-womens-gym-finishes-season-at-ncaa-championship/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — When the curtains open for Ebertfest next Wednesday at the Virginia Theatre, they will do so in memory of Gilbert Gottfried.
The actor was expected to be on hand for the showing of a documentary about him, but he died on Tuesday due to a rare muscle disease. He was 67 years old.
The documentary, called “Gilbert,” will still be shown with its director in attendance. The film highlights Gottfried’s personality off stage.
“We were very very excited to have Gilbert Gottfried with us on stage to be a part of the discussion of that movie,” said Ebertfest project coordinator Andrew Hall. “But unfortunately, with Gilbert being lost to us so close to the festival, we decided that we still wanted to keep the documentary.”
On Thursday, Ebertfest organizers announced that this year’s festival will be dedicated to Gottfried in a dual honor with the late Sidney Poitier.
“Chaz Ebert said it best when she said ‘I think that Gilbert Gottfried would enjoy the juxtaposition of these two very unlikely individuals too be commemorated in the same moment,'” Hall said.
Ebert also said “Even at this moment, we are adding to the guests who will celebrate Gottfried’s life. The festival hopes that as many people as possible will attend the ‘Gilbert’ documentary showing.”
“Gilbert” will be shown at 4 p.m. on Thursday. | 2022-04-15T05:03:06Z | www.wcia.com | Ebertfest dedicated to Gilbert Gottfried | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/ebertfest-dedicated-to-gilbert-gottfried/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/ebertfest-dedicated-to-gilbert-gottfried/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign City Council will consider approving a new intergovernmental agreement with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that would increase the number of uniformed police officers serving residents in Champaign.
According to officials, the proposed agreement would add seven new officers to the University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD), update patrol responsibilities in the Campustown area and allow Champaign Police to respond more quickly to calls for service across the rest of the community.
If the City Council approves the agreement on April 19, the new patrol arrangements would be fully implemented by October 1 and last for two years with an option for a third.
If approved, UIPD would begin responding to calls in a portion of Campustown previously serviced by the Champaign Police Department (CPD). This would allow CPD to reallocate patrol resources to other parts of the community while ensuring continued public safety in the Campustown area.
Officials stated, “This adjustment will free up CPD officers to handle other priority service needs across the city, which should shorten response times and provide some relief for officers who are working long hours amidst the current staffing shortage.”
The proposed agreement calls for UIPD to assume jurisdictional responsibility for the area bordered by Springfield Avenue on the north, Wright Street on the east, Windsor Avenue on the south and Neil Street on the west.
The City would reimburse the university $840,000 per year to fund the additional UIPD officers needed to respond to calls in that area. The University would cover around $320,000 in other costs related to training, vehicles, equipment and other initial expenses.
“The proposed agreement builds upon the longstanding, cooperative relationship between the City and University to ensure the safety of all our residents,” said City Manager Dorothy Ann David. “I am grateful that the University is willing to partner with us in this new way so the City can continue to be strategic in allocating its limited staffing resources. I believe the agreement provides a quick and cost-effective way to increase the availability of police services to everyone across the city while continuing to ensure the safety of our students and campus community.”
“This new coverage area is a good geographic and operational addition, as our officers and public safety personnel have a deep working knowledge of the needs of the residents of this area as well as existing relationships with those in this area of the community,” said Illinois Chancellor Robert Jones. | 2022-04-15T18:15:49Z | www.wcia.com | City and university propose Enhanced Public Safety Partnership Agreement | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/city-and-university-propose-enhanced-public-safety-partnership-agreement/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/city-and-university-propose-enhanced-public-safety-partnership-agreement/ |
CURRAN, Ill. (WCIA) — Springfield Firefighters are responding to a fire at a location on Old Jacksonville Road.
They received a call at around 11:30 a.m. from a person saying his barn was on fire.
When the firefighters were on the way to the reported location, they saw heavy smoke in the sky.
When they arrived at the scene, they saw a barn was on fire and it was about 50 feet away from the caller’s house. There were reports of live ammo in the barn.
The Springfield Fire Chief Brandon Blough said one firefighter was taken to an area hospital from the barn fire. At this time, there are no words on how severe the injuries are.
Two more fire units have been called to the location. | 2022-04-15T21:47:08Z | www.wcia.com | 1 firefighter hurt after responding to barn fire | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/1-firefighter-hurt-after-responding-to-barn-fire/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/1-firefighter-hurt-after-responding-to-barn-fire/ |
State’s Attorney: Former correctional officer charged with custodial sexual misconduct
The State’s Attorney said each charge is a concurrent Class 3 Felony eligible for a sentence of probation or up to five years in prison.
37-year-old Andrew Beckman was one of the two correctional officers that the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Administration has recently ordered an investigation into, following allegations of misconduct.
The Court set bond in the amount of $50,000. Beckman turned himself in at the Sangamon County Jail, posted bond and was released Friday afternoon. | 2022-04-15T21:47:26Z | www.wcia.com | State’s Attorney: Former correctional officer charged with custodial sexual misconduct | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/states-attorney-former-correctional-officer-charged-with-custodial-sexual-misconduct/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/states-attorney-former-correctional-officer-charged-with-custodial-sexual-misconduct/ |
CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Former Illinois sophomore guard Andre Curbelo announced on social media he committed to St. John’s University Queens Campus in New York.
Curbelo played two seasons with the Illini. His freshman year he played 31 games, 667 minutes. He was Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He averaged 12.7 points and 5.6 rebounds over the final 10 games.
His sophomore year Curbelo suffered a concussion forcing him to sit out several games in the season. He played in a total of 19 games, 367 minutes. The guard averaged 7.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 19 games on the season.
Curbelo announced he was entering the transfer portal quickly after Illinois lost to Houston in the NCAA tournament. | 2022-04-15T21:47:38Z | www.wcia.com | Andre Curbelo commits to St. John’s | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/andre-curbelo-commits-to-st-johns/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/andre-curbelo-commits-to-st-johns/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) – It’s a special day for many people. Especially baseball players and fans. Friday is Jackie Robinson day.
Jackie Robinson actually played a game in the now, Danville Dans stadium just months after his start in the major leagues.
April 15th 1947, 75 years ago he debuted in the MLB. He was the first baseball player who broke the color barrier in the league.
Then two months later, Robinson and his team came and played the Danville Dans, who were then, the Danville Dodgers.
They said it was a packed house when the Brooklyn Dodgers came to town. 6,000 fans filled the historic stadium to watch the game. A game people with the Danville Dans will never forget.
“It’s a way to let the local community and the local fans know that Jackie Robinson was more than just a major league player. They came to town, the Brooklyn Dodgers came to town, and they were part of a historic event that happened in our community,” Tom Ficke, with the Dans, said.
Even though Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers beat Danville 14 to 7 all those years ago, it’s a day that will live in the hearts and minds of the city and the stadium.
If you go to the stadium, you’ll see several things commemorating the day. Even the road in front of the stadium was renamed honorary Jackie Robinson way.
While we look back on this day with excitement and admiration. All those years ago, Robinson faced tremendous racial discrimination throughout his career from fans and players, and he still fought for equality on and off the field. | 2022-04-16T00:43:10Z | www.wcia.com | Jackie Robinson ties to Danville | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/jackie-robinson-ties-to-danville/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/jackie-robinson-ties-to-danville/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – A new proposed agreement could help provide more protection for other parts of the city, as the Champaign Police Department deals with a staffing shortage.
Right now, CPD has more than 20 officer positions open. With the rise in calls they’re experiencing, it’s putting a strain on the department. Now, the U of I police department is hoping to take some of that pressure off.
It would mean UIPD would add 7 new officers to its team and start taking calls for the Campustown area.
It stretches all the way from Springfield Ave. to Windsor Rd. and Neil St. to Wright St. It’s a plan that would help relieve some of the burden on the Champaign police, keeping the community safe.
An agreement between the Champaign and the University of Illinois Police Departments.
“We think this is going to be a good thing both ways,” Pat Wade, with the U of I Police Department, said.
It would put University Police in an area that’s mostly filled with university-run businesses and students.
“I think our officers are excited too, because I think they recognize that this is something they’re already doing. They’re comfortable with students, they know what they need, they can get students connected with the university’s resources as well,” he said.
It would take some stress off the Champaign police department that’s short staffed, and put their resources to better use in other areas of the city.
“It’s critically important, and we are great partners with the university in all areas, particularly in policing. The university has a great police force, the Champaign police department also has a great force. We work collaboratively all the time we respond to calls, we back each other up. So, this is just a natural extension to that,” Jeff Hamiliton, with the city of Champaign, said.
Right now, CPD has more than 20 positions open, and UIPD said they already patrol the campus town area. So, they say it’s an easy fit.
“I think the thing all of us always say is that crime does not stop at Wright St. Very similar issues are happening in cities all the time. Those issues can impact campus,” Wade said. “It’s really a great thing we have in this community. The great relationship that we have between the university and the city of Urbana, the city of Champaign and the Champaign County sheriff’s office.”
This agreement has to be approved by the Champaign City Council. That is set to happen Tuesday night. If approved, it would start in October and go for at least two years, with the possibility of a third.
There’s a hefty price tag stuck to this agreement too. If it’s approved, the city would pay UIPD $840,000 a year for the two years. That would cover the cost of the seven new officers to the university.
A city document said that money would come from the open positions within Champaign’s department. Those vacancies mean salary and benefit costs are below budget. | 2022-04-16T03:28:14Z | www.wcia.com | Proposed agreement between the city and the university | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/proposed-agreement-between-the-city-and-the-university/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/proposed-agreement-between-the-city-and-the-university/ |
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Decatur Firefighters were dispatched to a location on North Water Street at around 4:50 p.m. on Friday in response to a report of an apartment on fire.
When they arrived at the scene, fire crews saw smoke coming from the third floor windows of an apartment. They encountered moderate smoke and fire conditions coming from the bedroom. The situation was under control by 5:50 p.m.
After an investigation, the cause of the fire is determined to be unintentional. | 2022-04-16T16:45:00Z | www.wcia.com | Firefighters respond to apartment fire | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/firefighters-respond-to-apartment-fire-2/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/firefighters-respond-to-apartment-fire-2/ |
ELGIN, Ill. (WCIA) — On Friday, at around 8:40 p.m., ISP officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash on I-55 northbound at Lemont Road, DuPage County, involving an ISP Sergeant.
According to police officers, an ISP District 2 Sergeant was stationary at the above location inside the squad car with emergency lights activated, during a traffic stop. A Dodge Ram, traveling northbound on I-55 southbound, failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle and struck the rear passenger side of the ISP squad car.
Police said the driver of the Dodge, 34-year-old Porfirio Alverez Jr., was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and cited for a violation of Scott’s Law, along with other traffic violations.
Neither Alverez nor the ISP Sergeant was hurt in the crash.
ISP DISTRICT 2 SQUAD CAR (4/15/22)
When approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their emergency or hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down and move over. A person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years. | 2022-04-16T16:45:06Z | www.wcia.com | ISP investigates crash involving ISP Sergeant | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/isp-investigates-crash-involving-isp-sergeant/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/isp-investigates-crash-involving-isp-sergeant/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has recently launched the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program to provide health care coverage to undocumented immigrant adults and certain legal permanent residents aged 55 to 64.
Officials said covered services include doctor and hospital visits, lab tests, physical and occupational therapy, mental health, substance abuse disorder services, dental and vision services and prescription drugs.
These new services build on the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors program that has provided Medicaid-like benefits to qualifying immigrant adults aged 65 and older since December 2020, according to officials.
“Implementing more equitable health care coverage across the state is central to HFS’ mission, which means increasing access to quality health care choices for all Illinois residents, regardless of their immigration status,” said Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Theresa Eagleson. “Amid a pandemic that has disproportionately affected older adults and people of color, efforts to remove barriers and create a more equitable health care system are more important than ever.”
They are between the ages of 55 and 64. | 2022-04-16T21:06:07Z | www.wcia.com | Illinois launches health care coverage for older immigrant adults aged 55 to 64 | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/illinois-launches-health-care-coverage-for-older-immigrant-adults-aged-55-to-64/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/illinois-launches-health-care-coverage-for-older-immigrant-adults-aged-55-to-64/ |
CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Season ticket holders got their first sneak peak the Illinois team Saturday morning, as practices have been behind closed doors this Spring.
The Illini didn’t open the playbook up too much though. Practice was only open for an hour, and while it was not a scrimmage fans got to see the offense and defense battle in preparation for the Spring game next week. With 12 practices down and three to go, head coach Bret Bielema likes where the team is at.
“I believe we’ve had 12 good practices. I explained to them Thursday post practice that that’s not the norm,” says Bielema. “I’ve been around a lot of good seasons, good football teams, championship level teams, I don’t know if I’ve ever put together 12 good practices. I don’t know how good it is, but I know it’s a good practice so I’m excited to see those guys work.”
The Orange and Blue game is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. It will be aired nationally on Big Ten Network. | 2022-04-17T00:52:31Z | www.wcia.com | Bielema happy with team after high level practices | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/bielema-happy-with-team-after-high-level-practices/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/bielema-happy-with-team-after-high-level-practices/ |
HOOPESTON, Ill. (WCIA) – One Hoopeston general contracting business has stood the test of time. The same family has run it for six generations.
“There’s not very many buildings in this town that Silver Bros. hasn’t built,” owner Brian Silver said.
The Silver family started operating there in 1879, only a few years after Hoopeston was founded. He was only 12 years old when he started working at Silver Bros. with his father, David, and grandfather, Dan.
David Silver sold him the business two years ago. His great, great, great grandfather established it after fighting for the Union in the Civil War. Since then, each generation grew up laying bricks or mixing concrete.
“A lot of kids probably play with toys. I got to play with the real equipment… I always liked to hear grandpa talk about the stories – him, dad and everybody. They got a lot of stories about how things used to be. They used to have 30 people working here, and that was before cell phones,” he said.
Silver Bros. has worked on a number of community projects, like the Hoopeston girls’ softball field last year. Now, they’re building dugouts for the boys’ little league.
The decades bring new challenges to the Silvers. He said it’s especially difficult to find truck drivers these days, but they do what they can to get by. And even though they’ve struggled to stay staffed over the past few years, he hopes to keep Silver Bros. around for a seventh generation. | 2022-04-17T04:12:47Z | www.wcia.com | 143-year old family business stands test of time | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/143-year-old-family-business-stands-test-of-time/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/143-year-old-family-business-stands-test-of-time/ |
HOOPESTON, Ill. (WCIA) – One Hoopeston alderwoman says there’s a handful of neglected houses they want to address, but one of them will be a hard goodbye.
“Honeywell Mansion – to see that going down – it’s sad to see. It was really a beautiful home,” Alderwoman and Civic Improvement Chair Kellie Ferrell said.
The “mansion” at 520 E Honeywell St. is one of six homes that will be torn down next week. Officials say they’re getting rid of some “eyesores” around the city.
She says most of next week’s demolitions will be average homes, but the mansion has some Hoopeston history behind it.
She said it used to be a “jewel” of the city. It sat across from the Honeywell Grade School that closed its doors several years ago.
The mansion’s recent owners hoped to fix it up, but it caught fire in 2015 – and they lost their chance to bring it back to life. So, it was added to the ongoing list of houses the city is tearing down. They’re working with the Central Illinois Land Bank to make it happen – and they’ve invested $50,000 into this round of demolitions.
“The majority of them are just neglected houses that have either sat empty for many years or just had owners that didn’t have the ability or means to take care of them and everything and they just continued to dilapidate,” Ferrell said.
After the structures come down, she said they’ll ask neighbors if they have any preferences for how the land is used – like potentially expanding their yards.
She said it’s sad to see the houses in this condition, but taking them down will give them a blank slate to work with. And so far, they’ve got four houses lined up for the next round. | 2022-04-17T04:12:53Z | www.wcia.com | Hoopeston says goodbye to six ‘dilapidated’ homes | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/hoopeston-says-goodbye-to-six-dilapidated-homes/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/hoopeston-says-goodbye-to-six-dilapidated-homes/ |
NORMAN, Okla. (WCIA) — Illinois men’s gymnastics competed in its 14th NCAA Championships in the last 15 seasons, and finished 6th as a team with Hamish Carter and Ashton Anaya being named All-Americans in all-around and still rings, respectively.
Coming off being named Big Ten champion in rings, Anaya put up a 14.300. That was a good enough performance for 4th place in the country. Carter competed in every event, finishing best on floor grabbing 11th place. In all-around, the senior was good enough for 6th. | 2022-04-17T04:12:59Z | www.wcia.com | Carter, Anaya named All-Americans as Illini finish 6th at NCAA Championships | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/carter-anaya-named-all-americans-as-illini-finish-6th-at-ncaa-championships/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/carter-anaya-named-all-americans-as-illini-finish-6th-at-ncaa-championships/ |
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — As COVID-19 cases rise across the state, the CDC raised Champaign County’s risk level in its latest map of the country.
With more than 850 active cases in Champaign County, the CDC listed the county as having a medium risk level. People living in medium risk counties are advised to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccination and get tested if they experience symptoms or are exposed to someone who tests positive. People at high risk for severe illness are further advised to consider wearing a mask indoors and take other precuations.
The 101 other counties in Illinois are listed as having a low risk level. people living in these counties are only advised to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and, if they have symptoms, to get tested and wear a mask.
In the last week, more than 14,000 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the State of Illinois. More than 460 people are hospitalized and 45 people have died. | 2022-04-17T19:48:46Z | www.wcia.com | CDC elevates Champaign County COVID risk level | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/cdc-elevates-champaign-county-covid-risk-level/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/cdc-elevates-champaign-county-covid-risk-level/ |
HOOPESTON, Ill. (WCIA) — Construction on Thompson Avenue is expected to begin this week as part of a more than $990,000 project.
The construction zone will span from the CSX railroad crossing to 9th Street. Concrete curbs and gutters will be replaced and the road will be resurfaced. The road will remain open during construction, but will be reduced to one lane at times.
Drivers are advised to exercise caution when traveling through the construction zone. Construction begins on Wednesday and is expected to wrap up in late August after 55 working days. | 2022-04-17T19:48:52Z | www.wcia.com | Construction beginning on Thompson Avenue | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/construction-beginning-on-thompson-avenue/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/construction-beginning-on-thompson-avenue/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — After two-and-a-half years off due to COVID, the Downtown Champaign Wine Walk was held on Saturday.
Saturday’s event was only the second Wine Walk to be held; the first was held in August of 2019. The event allowed people with tickets to explore downtown Champaign, shopping at businesses in the area, while tasting 12 wines from around the world.
“You get to hang out in downtown Champaign and see a lot of great local businesses that you can’t find anywhere else and sample some pretty unique wines that you can’t find at the store,” said Xander Hazel, Executive Director of the Champaign Center Partnership. “And it’s a beautiful spring day too so it’s really great just to get out now that winter and the worst of the pandemic is behind us.”
Only 250 tickets were sold this year and they sold out quickly. | 2022-04-17T19:49:17Z | www.wcia.com | Wine Walk returns after COVID hiatus | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/wine-walk-returns-after-covid-hiatus/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/wine-walk-returns-after-covid-hiatus/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign Police have made an arrest in connection to a shooting that left a man hurt Sunday afternoon.
Officers responded to the area of Market Street and Bradley Avenue at 12:43 p.m. for a report of shots fired. A short time later, a 27-year-old man arrived at an area hospital by personal vehicle with a gunshot wound to the arm. The injury is not life threatening and he is in stable condition.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect were involved in a verbal altercation that turned physical. The suspect then produced a gun and fired one shot, hitting the victim. Champaign Police later identified and arrested the suspect near Bradley and Sixth Street.
Officers said the man appeared to be intoxicated at the time he was arrested and a search of his car turned up a gun and a spent shell casing. The gun was seized as evidence and the suspect remains in custody pending charges.
Although a suspect is in custody, Champaign Police are still investigating. Anyone who has additional information about the shooting is asked to contact the Champaign Police Department at 217-351-4545. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately.
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can submit information to Champaign County Crime Stoppers. Information can be submitted by calling 217-373-8477, visiting Crime Stoppers’ website or using the P3 Tips app. | 2022-04-18T00:49:48Z | www.wcia.com | Champaign Police: Suspect arrested in Easter shooting | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-police-suspect-arrested-in-easter-shooting/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-police-suspect-arrested-in-easter-shooting/ |
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The cherry blossoms at the japan house are a sight to see. They bring in people from far away.
Education Associate at the Japan House Diana Liao said, “People from all over the midwest come to see them because cherry blossom trees are not native to Illinois.”
The Japan house has 50 trees that were gifted from Japan in 2008. When they bloom you have to enjoy them while they last because it is dependent on how the weather is. The Japanese culture has a special celebration for the booming of flowers.
“In Japan, they have a pastime called hanami which means flower viewing. As you can see there are just so many people here to celebrate hanami. It’s a pastime that’s been celebrated for 100’s of years in Japan and we’re lucky we can celebrate it here in America as well,” said Liao.
The coming and going of the flowers hold special significants in life.
Liao said, “They come up one day and then if there is a strong wind or some rain they start blowing away, that in and of itself is reflective of our life. We come and go things always come and go and we should be accepting of that” | 2022-04-18T05:14:34Z | www.wcia.com | Japan House cherry blossoms bloom | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/japan-house-cherry-blossoms-bloom/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/japan-house-cherry-blossoms-bloom/ |
WCIA — It will not be long until Skyy Clark and Ty Rodgers gave fans a preview of what is to come on Friday at the Jordan Brand Classic, were both got to play with some of the best prospects in the country.
Clark did not play in the game as he is recovering from a torn ACL. Rodgers went for eight points, four rebounds, and four assists in the game. But this is not the first time these two have been teammates. The guards played together in Michigan when they were sixth graders, and they are looking forward to playing together again.
“It’s a blessing man. As I was saying earlier, it’s a crazy world that we played together when we were younger.,” says Rodgers. “Now we’re playing together now. It’s a blessing. I’m excited, I can’t wait.”
“I remember, it was fun. It was a lot of fun,” says Clark. “We had a lot of fond memories.
“I was alright. He’s being generous,” said Clark after being told about Rodgers praise for him.
They are two of four incoming high school recruits for the Illini that make up the 8th best class in the nation. | 2022-04-18T05:14:46Z | www.wcia.com | Clark, Rodgers looking forward to being reunited at Illinois | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/clark-rodgers-looking-forward-to-being-reunited-at-illinois/ | https://www.wcia.com/sports/your-illini-nation/clark-rodgers-looking-forward-to-being-reunited-at-illinois/ |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) –This week, Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in getting information regarding a shooting that happened in 2021.
On October 24, 2021, at around 1:15 p.m., Champaign Police were dispatched to the area of Town Center Boulevard and North Prospect Avenue in response to a report of a shooting with injuries.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found 24-year-old Liam Gasser inside a vehicle with a single life-threatening gunshot wound to the head. Gasser is still recovering from his injuries.
Investigators are actively pursuing all leads and seeking any information or video surveillance relevant to this case. They are asking any businesses or individuals with surveillance cameras or photos to review the footage for any persons or vehicles captured in the area either prior to or after the incident.
Anyone who has information regarding this or any crime in Champaign County is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 217-373-TIPS, 373tips.com or via the P3 Tips mobile app. Tipsters are completely anonymous when contacting Crime Stoppers. All tips submitted to Crime Stoppers are electronically stripped of any personally identifying information and processed by a third-party answering service, not law enforcement. Cash rewards of up to $5,000 are paid on tips received through Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest. Tipsters will never be asked their name and receive a personal code number to check on a possible reward. | 2022-04-18T14:36:27Z | www.wcia.com | Crime Stoppers seeking information on 2021 shooting | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/crime-stoppers-seeking-information-on-2021-shooting/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/crime-stoppers-seeking-information-on-2021-shooting/ |
Decatur fire department responds to early morning fire
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Firefighters rushed to the scene after learning about an explosion that occurred at the Voestalpine Nortrak early Monday morning.
Crews were dispatched at around 4:20 a.m.
Officials believe the fire was caused by the explosion of a molten metal foundry furnace. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it is considered accidental at this time.
All employees were able to safely evacuate without any injuries. | 2022-04-18T14:36:33Z | www.wcia.com | Decatur fire department responds to early morning fire | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/decatur-fire-department-responds-to-early-morning-fire/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/decatur-fire-department-responds-to-early-morning-fire/ |
Community Counts: Angel’s Youth Center Presents, “Taking it Back!”
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Teen violence has crippled so many families, left hearts empty and given organizations new ideas on how to combat the flood of pain in our communities. But those same organizations, like Angel’s Youth Center in Urbana, refuse to accept that as the future for our youth.
Angel’s Youth Center, a non-profit organization in Urbana, prides itself on offering kids in our communities an alternative to the destructive violence that has lingered for too long. They also aim to bridge the socio-economic gaps that form to show kids there are no limitations. Especially when it comes to their futures.
So that’s why the President of A.Y.C, Angelica Johnson, stopped in along with her mother and the Vice President, Pastor Angel Johnson. We were also joined by A.Y.C Director of the Mom and Pop parenting class, Jeshona Drake. All three visited the Morning Show to share a passionate plea for an end to teen violence.
That’s why the non-profit has introduced “Taking it Back,” a performance arts play that will be youth-led. Kids ages 13 to 18-years-old are invited to fill the roles in the play, something Pastor Johnson says will be eye-opening and life changing for all involved.
“The play is about every day issues of our youth in our community. We’re gonna deal with that. They deal with issues daily. We’re gonna bring it to a format of peace and understanding. Bringing them out of that. They may have worries, they may get frustrated. But come on over to the peace side and let’s help you out,” says Pastor Johnson.
Auditions for “Taking it Back” begin April 20th and this will be a summer production. Meaning parents who need a positive place for their kids to grow their skills, connect with others and steer clear from violence will have one. All you need to do is sign them up on the Angel’s Youth Center website or by emailing their team.
Angelica, Pastor Johnson and Jeshona are all God-fearing and God-led women who are joined by a team of like-minded volunteers and community members who want to see violence dissipate from our communities. Volunteers are also needed for the play, including for stage set-up, media related positions and much more.
To sign up your kids for auditions, you can click here or email angelsyouthcenter@gmail.com
For more on Angel’s Youth Center and all they provide our youth, click here. | 2022-04-18T19:28:19Z | www.wcia.com | Community Counts: Angel’s Youth Center Presents, “Taking it Back!” | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/the-morning-show/community-counts-angels-youth-center-presents-taking-it-back/ | https://www.wcia.com/the-morning-show/community-counts-angels-youth-center-presents-taking-it-back/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon has identified the man who was killed in a crash near Chatham over the weekend.
Allmon said the man is 27-year-old Craig Fuchs of Glenarm. An autopsy performed on Monday indicated that Fuchs died from multiple blunt force injuries he sustained in the crash. He died at the scene and was pronounced dead by Allmon a short time later.
The crash and death remain under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office and the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. | 2022-04-18T21:34:45Z | www.wcia.com | Coroner identifies man killed in car crash | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/coroner-identifies-man-killed-in-car-crash-3/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/coroner-identifies-man-killed-in-car-crash-3/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. — Two people were hurt over the weekend after they led police officers on a high-speed chase through Danville.
Just before 3 a.m. on Saturday, Danville officers spotted a silver Chevrolet Impala driving 100 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone on Gilbert Street near the interchange with Interstate 74. The car matched an earlier description from the Westville Police Department of a car driving at a similar speed toward Danville on Route 1.
Officers attempted to pull the Impala over, but were unable to get close enough due to the its speed. They pursued the Impala to the area of Robinson and Columbia Streets, where it crashed into two parked, unoccupied cars.
Danville Police said the driver of the Impala was a 23-year-old man and the passenger was a 20-year-old woman, both of whom are from Danville. They were ejected from their car in the crash and were taken to the hospital; they are in stable condition. Due to their injuries, neither have been formally arrested yet.
Officers investigating the crash site found a gun, ammunition and open alcohol containers. The investigation is still open and anyone with information is asked to call Danville Police at 217-431-2250 or Vermilion County Crime Stoppers at 217-446-8477.
The case will be turned over to the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office for review of formal charges once the investigation is complete. | 2022-04-18T21:38:44Z | www.wcia.com | Two hurt after high-speed chase | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/two-hurt-after-high-speed-chase/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/two-hurt-after-high-speed-chase/ |
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — Indeed is teaming up with State Representative Mike Marron (R-Fithian) and nonprofit PCs for People to give people in Vermilion County who are looking for jobs a computer to aid their job search.
People who meet certain eligibility requirements can pick up a desktop computer, mobile hotspot and one year of internet service, all for free, at Vermilion County Works’ American Job Center (407 North Franklin Street) in Danville between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, April 25. To be eligible for this package, people must:
Receive SNAP, Medicaid, SSI Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans Pension Benefit Program, or have a household income less than 135% of federal poverty guidelines (for example, below $35,000 per year for a family of four)
Have an existing Indeed account or be willing to create one at time of pickup
Be enrolled in or have recently completed a workforce training and development program
People who meet the first requirement, but not the second or third, may still be eligible for a free desktop computer or a $20 laptop.
Preregistration is required and only a limited number of devices are available. Anyone who is not registered can create an account and register for a future event. | 2022-04-18T23:36:08Z | www.wcia.com | Indeed giving away computers to job seekers | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/indeed-giving-away-computers-to-job-seekers/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/indeed-giving-away-computers-to-job-seekers/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Several hundred people in Springfield were left without power early Monday morning due to an equipment failure and fire atop a power pole.
About 350 people living in the Indian Hills neighborhood and in the areas along Sangamon Avenue lost power. City Water, Light and Power crews found the source of the failure around 4 a.m. in a private right of way in the area of Sangamon Avenue and 24th Street.
The pole’s location made it difficult to find and replace. Crews had to manually dig a hole for a new pole, which delayed the restoration of power. By 11 a.m. however, the new pole was in place and power was restored. | 2022-04-19T03:13:49Z | www.wcia.com | Power restored after morning outage | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/power-restored-after-morning-outage/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/power-restored-after-morning-outage/ |
CHICAGO (WCIA) — As the pandemic subsides, the State of Illinois is looking to reopen to tourists with a new campaign. The face of that campaign will be Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress, New York Times best-selling author and Illinois native Jane Lynch.
Governor Pritzker announced the launch of the “Middle of Everything” campaign at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago on Monday. The campaign will highlight Illinois as the center of culture, food, history, architecture, nightlife and natural wonders.
Lynch not only acted in the campaign’s TV ads; she directed them.
“We are thrilled to partner with Illinois’ own Jane Lynch, the perfect ambassador to promote our state, in this new tourism campaign,” Pritzker said. “This campaign is a significant next step to aid our state’s tourism recovery and positions Illinois for future growth and success that our entire state can rally around – helping our economy, boosting tax revenues, and putting people back to work. As tourists gear up for a busy summer travel season, we welcome visitors near and far to find themselves in the middle of everything that Illinois has to offer.”
The ads starring Lynch feature iconic locations throughout Illinois, including the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Springfield’s Cozy Dog Drive-In and more.
The campaign’s ads will run on TV in eight Midwestern states starting this week and nationally on cable TV starting April 25. The ads will also appear in digital and print media across the country, including billboards and bus signs, and at events like the Chicago Pride Parade and NASCAR’s Enjoy Illinois 300. | 2022-04-19T03:14:02Z | www.wcia.com | State launches new tourism campaign starring Jane Lynch | WCIA.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/state-news/state-launches-new-tourism-campaign-starring-jane-lynch/ | https://www.wcia.com/news/state-news/state-launches-new-tourism-campaign-starring-jane-lynch/ |
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