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Illinois cheer families could be owed money after massive settlement against Varsity Brands
Illinois will now be part of a proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit against Varsity Brands, a company that puts on cheer camps and competitions and that was accused of using monopolistic tactics to raise prices and undercut competition. According to Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Illinois has signed onto the...
Illinois Police Departments Show Troubling Patterns in Use of Traffic Stops
Investigation Finds Chicago Police Officers Routinely Fail to Report Traffic Stops. A recent investigation by a watchdog organization found that Chicago Police officers have routinely failed to document instances of traffic stops that do not end in arrest or charges, as many as 20,000 a month last year, in violation of a 2003 law which mandates that every traffic stop must be documented. This information stands in stark contrast to CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling reporting this past June that traffic stops in Chicago were down by approximately 87,000 stops from last year. What is particularly troubling about these numbers is that rates of traffic stops increased just as the department announced it would move away from the controversial “stop-and-frisk” tactic of patrolling, with some believing the practice is just a replacement to the policy that advocates say violated individuals Fourth Amendment rights. “It is quite concerning, especially if CPD is intentionally not recording traffic stops so they can claim they’re fixing the problem, when all they’re doing is hiding it behind an absence of data,” said Alexandra Block, director of the Criminal Legal System & Policing Project at the ACLU of Illinois. Many advocates believe that officers use minor traffic stops as a pretext to search for drugs and weapons in minority neighborhoods. CPD leadership seems to know that traffic stops present an issue, with Snelling asking that traffic stops be brought under the supervision of the federal courts under the federal consent decree that CPD has been under since 2019. However, advocacy groups remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the consent degree and what change it can bring to drivers who feel they are being profiled and the routine traffic stops are an infringement on their rights.
Temperatures drop slightly, thunderstorms expected this week
Illinoisans are catching a little break from the extreme heat seen earlier this week with temperatures soaring to the 100’s. An Excessive Heat Warning was in effect Tuesday 11am-8pm causing the Danville Consolidated School District to transition to an E-learning day and all outdoor programming sponsored by the Champaign Park District was cancelled.
WATCH: Lightning in Central Illinois spotted from miles away
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Lightning was visible late Tuesday night as storms swept through Illinois, and viewers in several areas shared some videos with WCIA of what they saw. Video from Champaign around 9:50 p.m. WCIA Chief Meteorologist Kevin Lighty said the lightning was from Chicago-area storms more than 100 miles away. If you captured […]
Red Lobster to Potentially Close Three Illinois Locations Amid Nationwide Retreat During Bankruptcy Proceedings
As Red Lobster navigates choppy waters in its ongoing bankruptcy saga, court documents reveal that the seafood chain is shuttering a slew of restaurants across the nation, including three eateries in Illinois. As per NBC Chicago, if a judge approves the latest court filing, the state will see the closure of its Geneva and Bourbonnais locations as well as a Peoria establishment. The last days for these restaurants are not set in stone, but Red Lobster is pushing for lease rejections by Aug. 31.
As IL deals with non-citizen migrants, TX judge blocks Biden’s citizenship plan
(The Center Square) – As Illinois grapples with the influx of non-citizen migrants, a Texas federal judge has blocked the Biden administration’s latest immigration policy. President Joe Biden announced in June a policy that allowed undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to apply for green cards without leaving the country. The White House estimated that 500,000 people were eligible for the program. Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, recently attended...
Illinois election integrity advocate raises concerns
(The Center Square) – With elections coming down the pike, an Illinois election integrity advocate is raising concerns. In Illinois, you can request permanent mail-in voting to where the local election official sends out a mail-in ballot for every election. Carol Davis is with the Illinois Election Integrity Program. She said mail-in voting has greater potential for fraud. Davis suggested voters request a mail-in ballot, not a permanent one, and...
Sample pawpaw fruit in September at Allerton Public Library
DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — In September, the University of Illinois Extension office will teach you about the pawpaw tree and even let you sample its banana-like fruit. On September 17th, at 2 p.m., participants will learn about the native tropical fruit for one hour at the Allerton Public Library. They will learn the history of the pawpaw tree, how to grow the fruit at home, and even eat some pawpaw bread.
Decatur fire leaves 3 adults, 3 children displaced
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Decatur Fire Department is investigating an overnight fire that left six people displaced. The fire happened at Main and Hilton Streets around 6:30 p.m. Department officials said it started in a bedroom; smoke detectors alerted the people living there and they were all able to escape. Firefighters arrived to find […]
City of Decatur welcomes new patrol officers to the force
August 28, 2024 – The Decatur Police Department welcomed five new patrol officers at a swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, as well as two lateral transfers that have already started working officially for the DPD. New officers include Tyler Byers, a Richland and Millikin graduate who has been working at...
U of I Extension to host “Monarch Madness” September 21st at Rock Springs
August 27, 2024 – The monarch butterfly’s migration cycle is a natural wonder facing unprecedented challenges. Habitat loss and other factors have placed this iconic species at risk. To raise awareness and celebrate the monarch, the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners, and Master Naturalists invite the public to an educational event at Rock Springs Nature Center.
Village of Blue Mound fires employee for ‘detrimental’ actions
BLUE MOUND, Ill. (WCIA) — An employee was fired from the village of Blue Mound for putting the municipality in jeopardy. Minutes from a meeting showed Jennifer Prasun was fired unanimously at their July 1 meeting. In the minutes, Blue Mound Chief Chad Lamb said he would pack up her personal belongings. The board said […]
Dim Sum House is open on Green Street
Dim Sum House has opened in Campustown. Located at the corner of Fourth and Green Streets beside Northern Cuisine, the new restaurant is in the same space that used to be unlimited hot pot restaurant Chong Qing House, which has moved inside Hot Wok Express. Before that, the corner restaurant was Lai Lai Wok.
Accident at new church building in Casey
CASEY, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)— An accident occurred this morning at a construction site for the Casey Westside Church of Christ according to a post on Facebook. According to the post, two men working on a construction site for the church were severely injured. The post stated that the two men were injured due to falling trusses. […]
County and Enel talk improved communications
CLINTON — Enel renewable operations manager Justin Trenary addressed the county board on August 22 to try to improve his company’s communications with local officials. County board members have expressed frustration with Enel’s response to concerns related to how Enel’s local wind project operators deal with severe weather warnings.
‘Just nothing but harassment’: Rankin residents arrested for dangerous behavior affecting Rt. 9 drivers
RANKIN, Ill. (WCIA) — Two people were arrested in the Village of Rankin following harassment of drivers on Route 9. Some people in town say this wasn’t a one-time instance. One adult and one juvenile were arrested Tuesday afternoon by the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office following what neighbors are calling dangerous behavior on a major […]
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