Ellsworth, IL

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WICS/WCCU) — A Champaign man with outstanding arrest warrants is now in police custody after barricading himself in a residence. At approximately 10:18 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15, Champaign Police were called to the 2500 block of West Springfield Avenue for a reported domestic disturbance. At the scene,...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WICS/WCCU) — A man is recovering after rolling his vehicle in Champaign County. At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 14, police responded to the 1000 block of South Barker Road in Bondville for a rollover crash with injuries and possible entrapment. According to the Champaign County Sheriff's...

GIBSON CITY ─ The end of a community legacy and longtime service to Gibson City has come to an end as Lamb-Young Funeral Home has closed its doors permanently. The funeral home at 303 N. Church St. has operated for 134 years as a place where families and friends made final arrangements for loved ones.

Jolee Hastings was crowned the 2021 Ford County Fair Queen on Monday. Hastings is 19, of Loda, is a 2020 graduate of Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School. She is attending Parkland College and the University of Illinois through the Parkland Pathway program. Hastings is majoring in agricultural accounting. Lyndi Allen, 18, of...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WICS/WCCU) — Police say the accessibility of guns has continued to be one of the major issues when it comes to ending the gun violence crisis. One of the major issues is that many of these guns have been stolen or are untraceable with an altered serial number.

NORMAL — A free music festival with artists from across Central Illinois is returning. Make Music Normal is planned in uptown Normal, with bands performing 5-10 p.m. Sept. 10 and 1-10 p.m. on Sept. 11. The festival is free, family-oriented event celebration local and regional artists and musicians of all levels.

Six members of the Normal Town Council on Wednesday night excoriated the seventh, Stan Nord, for what some called bullying and others slander of City Manager Pam Reece. The special meeting came about after Nord questioned Reece's ethics last week on procurement and zoning policy, and over deciding who could attend a 2019 citizens summit. Council members said the first two were a matter of law and the third was a decision reached by the town council as whole, not Reece. City Attorney Brian Day also said he alone is responsible for issuing legal opinions on zoning and procurement and he did not consult with Reece, at all.

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man is being charged with aggravated domestic battery after allegedly strangling his ex-girlfriend over the weekend. Michael McCombs, 38, is being held in jail until his domestic violence risk assessment is complete, according to the McLean County Circuit Clerk’s Office. McCombs is also facing charges of strangulation and domestic battery.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WICS/WCCU) — People in the Champaign County area can watch a fireworks show this Independence Day. The Champaign County Freedom Celebration (CCFC) will hold a fireworks display on Sunday, July 4, at 9:15 p.m. It will take place at E-14 University of Illinois campus, between Kirby Avenue, Oak...

Last week we told you that the second annual 217 Black Restaurant Weekend will take place June 18-20. Here are the details, including which restaurants are participating:. Buy Black Chambana announces 217 Black Restaurant Weekend in honor of Juneteenth. Champaign County — Buy Black Chambana is back for the inaugural...

The Bloomington City Council on Monday approved a police request to buy 140 new handguns, which police leaders say allows the department to switch to a smaller 9mm model, and have enough weapons to issue city-owned guns to all officers. The 7-2 vote OKs spending about $81,500 for the set...

BLOOMINGTON (WJBC) – Dr. Rick Anderson has been named vice president and chief medical officer at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. Anderson will replace Dr. Paul Pedersen, who will retire later this year. Dr. Anderson will be accountable for driving superior clinical outcomes within OSF St. Joseph, according...

BLOOMINGTON (WJBC) – Bloomington Police will be carrying new handguns after a seven to two vote at Monday night’s city council meeting. 140 new Sig Sauer P320 PRO handguns, a 9 mm pistol from an Indiana-based company, will be purchased for the department. Right now the Sig Sauer P229R DAK,...

The Village of Mahomet board of trustees moved to place the purchase of a third “gateway sign” on the June 22 consent agenda. The Village once again awarded the $22,036.00 project to Bendsen Signs and Graphics Inc. The sign that will read “Welcome to Mahomet” will be placed on IL-47...

The truancy rate at Graymont Elementary School rose to 24 percent during the 2018-19 school year, according to a Illinois Business Daily analysis of the latest Illinois schools report card. The school's average daily attendance rate was 97 percent. Students are considered chronically truant if they miss five percent of...

NORMAL — Three people, including two Illinois State University alumni, will be recognized Saturday for their professional achievement and public service as recipients of the Order of Lincoln. The awards are the state’s highest honor and will be presented to Doug Collins, Robert Fraley and Donald McHenry at the Lincoln...

McLean County's legal community and housing advocates have a new plan to avoid—or at least minimize—a spike in evictions once the statewide moratorium is lifted in August. The group of judges, landlord’s attorneys, social service agencies, and local governments worked together to craft McLean County's first Eviction Diversion Program. Here's...