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Community Spotlight: Grazing Tables
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — Grazing Tables is a community vendor fair in Danville that brings together local small businesses. Set for August 10, it is organized by Chris Pratt and his wife Annette, the co-owners of Yummy to my Tummy. Chris came on The Morning Show to preview the event. There will be over 70 […]
UI Housing takes unusual measures amid influx of incoming students
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The University of Illinois is welcoming another class of thousands to campus in the coming weeks. But for some of those new students, their housing arrangements will look a little different this year. University Housing said the number of first-year students who signed contracts for dorm rooms is larger than anticipated. […]
Sangamon Co. Sheriff addresses hiring practices, dispatcher confusion
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Sangamon County officials have responded to multiple questions Friday about the Sonya Massey case, including whether there was confusion on Sonya Massey’s death being officer-involved or self-inflicted. Officials with the Sheriff’s Office assert they were never confused if the shooting was self-inflicted. The details were unclear in the office’s first news […]
‘Introduce the bill tomorrow:’ Family of Sonya Massey advocates for police reform after shooting video released
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Sonya Massey’s death is reigniting conversations around law enforcement reform, and her family is leading the charge. They are calling for real, systemic change across all parts of government after the Springfield woman was shot and killed in her home by a former sheriff’s deputy for Sangamon County earlier this month. […]
Drug kingpin ‘El Mayo’ arrested in El Paso
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Mexican drug kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the co-founder of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, and the reported son of incarcerated drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman were arrested on Thursday, July 25, in El Paso and are in U.S. custody, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney […]
Beluga whale calf born at Shedd Aquarium
CHICAGO – Shedd Aquarium welcomed a new resident Wednesday evening: a baby beluga whale born to 35-year-old mother, Naya! Earlier in the day, the aquarium said its animal care team realized Naya was going into labor and closed the Secluded Bay habitat to visitors. Naya delivered her calf shortly after 6 p.m. and animal care […]
Western Illinois University eyes laying off more faculty, union responds
MACOMB, Ill. (WCIA) — The union representing faculty and academic support workers at Western Illinois University is speaking out after university administration announced that more layoffs could be coming to the university. The university previously laid off 35 faculty members in June. On Thursday, the university’s interim president announced at a faculty senate meeting that […]
Teenager arrested in connection to Champaign armed robbery
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A teenager is under arrest after Champaign Police said he is believed to have robbed a man at gunpoint late Friday morning. The robbery happened at a gas station at Mattis Avenue and John Street. Lieutenant Aaron Lack said the victim was outside at 11:47 a.m. when two people, described as […]
Former Decatur City Council candidate sues mayor, city
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A former Decatur City Council candidate is taking the city to court, alleging that his civil rights were violated when the city removed his campaign signs during the last municipal election cycle. Marty Watkins filed the lawsuit against the city in federal court on Monday, naming former City Manager Scot Wrighton, […]
UPDATE: Coroner identifies Springfield shooting victim, suspect facing murder charges
Update at 4 p.m. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Sangamon County Coroner has identified the 47-year-old man who was killed in a shooting on Thursday. In a press release, Coroner Jim Allmon identified the victim as Sammie Tyrone McClinton. The investigation into McClinton’s death is ongoing. One person is under arrest and facing murder charges […]
UPDATE: I-74 reopens after broken down semi caused a backup
UPDATE at 2:25 p.m. CHAPMAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — State Police announced all lanes are open again after a semi-truck partially blocked I-74 West Friday afternoon. The closure lasted just over an hour. No further information is available at this time. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Traffic is backed up significantly on part of I-74 […]
IL FOP: Sean Grayson fired ‘without just cause’, files grievance
SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council filed a grievance saying the deputy that shot Sonya Massey in the face was terminated “without just cause.” Sean Grayson shot 36-year-old Sonya Massey in the head while responding to a call at her home. Grayson was charged with first-degree murder earlier this month. […]
Springfield man charged in relation to child’s drowning
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Sangamon County State’s Attorney has announced criminal charges in relation to a seven-year-old’s drowning in Springfield earlier this year. State’s Attorney John Milhiser said David Yankee was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday on four counts of endangering the life or health of a child. The charges come following an […]
2,000 left without power in Springfield Friday morning
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Power has been restored for over 2,000 people in Springfield after City Water, Light and Power had to briefly shut down their service Friday morning. CWLP officials said tree damage to power lines in the area of Oak Lane was to blame. Two poles were damaged and live wires were created […]
‘She needed a helping hand, not a bullet to the face’: Crump speaks out on Sonya Massey autopsy
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon has released the autopsy of Sonya Massey Friday morning, confirming her cause of death. The autopsy revealed that the bullet hit Massey beneath her left eye and exited on the posterior left side of her upper neck. The gun shot also resulted in a perforation to […]
Daughters of Central IL Olympian celebrating his legacy 100 years later
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris kick off Friday. The last time the “City of Love” played host was a century ago when an athlete from Central Illinois went for gold— twice. Now, the University of Illinois is celebrating Harold Osborn’s life and legacy ahead of the games. The university welcomed […]
Brown-Hagger, Vasconcelos credit coaching staff for transfer decision
CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Illinois Women’s Basketball has found success in the portal, landing a pair of high-major transfers with multiple years of remaining eligibility. The Illini have added center Lety Vasconcelos from Baylor, and in-state guard by way of Mississippi State, Jasmine Brown-Hagger. Vasconcelos and Brown-Hagger credit their bond with the Illinois staff for their […]
Malik Turner signs with 49ers
(WCIA) — Former Illini and Springfield native Malik Turner is back in pro football for a second stint in San Francisco on a one-year deal. The 28 year-old receiver last played for the 49ers in 2022. Turner spent 2023 with the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans practice squads and last years training camp with […]
90-year-old landmark to be torn down in Catlin
CATLIN, Ill. (WCIA) — In about a week, a piece of history will be gone in one Central Illinois community. For more than 90 years, a grain elevator has looked over the village of Catlin. But about three years ago, a Japanese grain bin corporation called Zen Noh bought the property and is now making […]
IDOC, police department issue statement on ‘inflammatory’ Facebook posts
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Two Illinois agencies have issued statements about offensive comments made on social media Thursday. The Illinois Department of Corrections issued a statement announcing a correctional officer has been placed on administrative leave after they made an offensive Facebook post. “The Department has been made aware of social media posting on Facebook […]
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