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Mahomet-Seymour students exit through broken window as false alarm issued
MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — Mahomet-Seymour Junior and Senior High Schools had a false alarm on Tuesday afternoon when an emergency announcement was accidentally issued. Just after 3 p.m., the ALICE intruder alert was activated. As the announcement played throughout the schools, some students and staff evacuated. Assistant Principal Doug Fisher said that in one teacher’s […]
USPS moving forward with changes to Mattis Avenue Processing and Distribution Center
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — The U.S. Postal Service announces it will be proceeding with changes to the Mattis Avenue Processing and Distribution Center. The changes being made would include transferring mail processing outgoing operations to the South Suburban Processing and Distribution Center in Bedford Park and the Chicago South Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Forest Park.
Champaign man sentenced to probation for beating up man
URBANA — A Champaign man was sentenced this month to two years of probation for beating up a man last year who owed him $20 for pizza. Champaign County Judge Matt Lee handed down the sentence last Wednesday to Travonte D. Hardimon, 22, after he pleaded guilty to aggravated battery in a public place.
Mahomet High School Plant Sales to scholarships
MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — The horticulture and agriculture business students at Mahomet Seymour High School have been busy this year and joining ciLiving with The Dirt are Cooper Jay and Jama Craig. They share all the details about the upcoming plant sale in May. All proceeds from sales go to student scholarships. In addition, the store is managed completely by students.
Mahomet-Seymour hires former Champaign officer as SRO
MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — There’s a new face to keep students safe at the Mahomet-Seymour school district. The school district announced on Monday that Officer Jeff Thomas is now on duty as the school resource officer. He’s been training for the last month, visiting buildings and meeting with students ahead of his official starting date. […]
Piatt Co. Nursing Home takes steps to mitigate Legionella outbreak
MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — Progress on remediating a Legionella outbreak is happening at the Piatt County Nursing Home. On Tuesday, maintenance installed temporary filters on remaining hot water sources. The care facility got official results the bacteria was active in the hot water system on Monday. Administrators said finding the source of Legionella is a […]
Shoplifters steal $700 in dog food: Champaign Co. Crime Stoppers
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign Police Department and Champaign County Crime Stoppers are asking for help in solving a $700 theft of dog food from the city’s Meijer earlier this month. Officials said that on April 1, two men walked into the store, went directly to the pet care aisle and loaded a cart […]
Champaign man sentenced 7 years for setting apartment on fire in 2022
URBANA — A Champaign man was sentenced this month to seven years in prison for starting a fire in a Champaign apartment complex in 2022. Champaign County Judge Roger Webber handed down the sentence Friday to Khristian M. Williams, 32, after he pleaded guilty to one count of residential arson.
$44 million awarded in wrongful death suit of ISU graduate killed while driving for Lyft
The family of an Illinois State University graduate has been awarded more than $44 million related to the 2022 killing of a rideshare driver in Urbana. Tyjohn Williams, 18, of Champaign is accused of entering Kristian Philpotts' Lyft vehicle and shooting Philpotts in the back. Philpotts' family filed a wrongful...
Neighbors Urbana, Champaign have 'remarkably different bird communities': Study
Research done at the University of Illinois has found wide differences in bird diversity between Urbana and Champaign — neighboring cities with different histories that were found to have impacted bird populations.
State senator weighs in on Champaign School Board ‘chaos’
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Turmoil in the Champaign School Board is spilling over to Springfield. State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) is weighing in on the situation. He said conflicts between board members and the district are becoming a black eye for the area. Rose reached out to the state’s superintendent asking for help to bring […]
Champaign’s vacant properties can languish for years without correction; Fines increased in past two years
Building paint is peeling, junk litters the property and “no trespassing” signs sporadically adorn fences surrounding the approximately 330,000 square feet of property of the mostly vacant C.S. Johnson factory in Champaign. The factory, which used to manufacture equipment for the concrete industry before it closed nearly 20...
It’s time to rethink Moms and Dads Weekends
The University of Illinois recently celebrated Moms Weekend, a Spring semester weekend full of brunches, flowers, and various “mom”-themed things. With the U of I aiming for a more inclusive campus, why are we still resorting to separate weekends for moms and dads? It’s time to shift the focus to weekends that celebrate a student’s support system.
Harvest Moon Drive-In closes in on #1 in USA Today competition
GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA) — Gibson City’s beloved Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In Theatre is currently in second place for USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the Top 10 Best Drive-Ins. They are encouraging more votes to become number one. Voting has been open for a week so far, and will remain open through May […]
Two administrative appointments to Champaign schools approved
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign School Board voted to approve two administrative appointments at their meeting Monday night. Current Westview Elementary School Vice Principal Dan Nock was appointed to become Carrie Busey Elementary School principal. He said his experience at Westview for the past three years has shaped how he will serve as a […]
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