Berlin, IL

Police, fire and other public safety reports from Jacksonville and the surrounding area.

Springfield’s police chief says local drivers need to know that when they hand money to people panhandling at busy intersections or in median strips, they may be falling victim to a fraud. Police have begun to implement Mayor Jim Langfelder’s order to move panhandlers away from those busy and...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – Springfield firefighters said they responded to a building fire Friday afternoon. In a Facebook post, officials said the fire was near East Cook Street and South Dirksen Parkway. The fire caused crews to shut down Dirksen. When firefighters got there around 2 p.m., they found heavy fire in the building and […]

Springfield police are investigating a fatal stabbing. A 26-year-old man was brought to HSHS St. John’s Hospital around 10:30 Thursday night with multiple wounds to his upper torso. He died there a short time later. Police believe the stabbing took place in the 15-hundred block of East Cook Street.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND)- The Springfield Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 704 S Dirksen Parkway, Friday afternoon. Seven units responded to the fire, and upon arrival Engine 5 reported visible smoke in the sky while en route and heavy fire on the front side of a 1 1/2 story commercial building.

Effective Monday, Monroe Street in downtown Springfield will be permanently closed at the 10th Street tracks. Vehicles will still have access to any businesses on Monroe between 9th and 11th, but will no longer be able to cross the tracks. The closure is part of the railroad relocation project and the development of the new multi-modal transportation hub.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Springfield firefighters responded to a large fire Friday afternoon at a business on South Dirksen Parkway. We're told it happened at Sports and Imports Specialties at 704 S. Dirksen Parkway. The call for the fire came in around 1:53 p.m. Friday. In total, it took...

Canon Jacob Steele is celebrating his first birthday.

Green Pastures Christian Retreat Center recently received a grant from the Illinois Masonic Children's Assistance Program.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — With home prices rising and fewer houses on the market, those looking to purchase a new home could be facing some difficulties in the next few months. Since the start of the pandemic things has changed. One of those things is the average price of...

Brigid Leahy said Planned Parenthood Illinois Action officials had been preparing for the end of the Roe v. Wade case for years. While Leahy didn't find herself surprised by Friday's U.S. Supreme Court decision, which said the Constitution does not protect the rights of women to choose abortion and instead leaves those decisions in the hands of state lawmakers, she was "shocked, outraged and terribly upset."

Expressions of sadness and celebration dominated Friday as Springfield residents reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court's historic reversal of the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision.  The high court's ruling allows states to outlaw abortion and is expected to lead to abortion bans among half the states.   ...

Kids from the Midwest Youth Services participate in the organization's Friday Funday at Bowl Inn.

Over 200 people rallied outside the federal courthouse in Springfield on Friday in response to the Supreme Court’s overturning of the 1973 Roe vs Wade landmark decision. Resistor Sisterhood, a group of Springfield-based activists, organized the rally against the decision that ends the constitutional right to an abortion. Ariana...

Departing the Gateway Arch and St. Louis and heading for Chicago, we faced the drive across flat farmland with dread. Then we realized our oldest daughter had made this drive many times. So we called and inquired about potential stops along the way. Her empathetic and informed response: “Well, duh, you could stop in Springfield – home of Abraham Lincoln!”

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) – Large groups gathered Friday protesting the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Dozens were outside the Champaign County Courthouse. Others – also protesting at the capitol in Springfield. But, it wasn’t all protesting. Many in support of the decision said they’ve been waiting for this day for decades. […]

Events going on in and around Jacksonville during the week ahead.

The Office of Public Works announced that Washington Street between 4th and 7th Street will be closed at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 25. Fifth and Sixth Street will remain open to traffic. The closure is for the Springfield Art Association’s Paint the Street event. Washington Street will reopen...

Club news from around the region ...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) —While much of the nation focused on the overturning of Roe versus Wade on Friday, a separate Supreme Court decision is also leading to controversy about gun rights. "This right to bear arms can't be conditioned in a way in a subjective factor in this case...