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Charleston native to represent Chinese Taipei in swimming at the 2024 Olympics
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WICS) — The Champaign County YMCA Heat Swim Team announced that former participant Angie Coe, of Charleston, Ill. has been selected to represent Chinese Taipei in swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Angie Coe is the third Olympian to emerge from the YMCA Heat swim...
Sigma Alpha at UIUC
Meteorologist Jacob Dickey sits down with Sigma Alpha from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to learn more about what they do to help promote agricultural literacy efforts in Champaign County. See all of Jacob’s Ag in the Classroom segments on WCIA.com/agintheclassroom.
Arcola man dead in crash
PHILO — An Arcola man died from injuries he sustained when struck by a train west of Philo in Champaign County on Wednesday, July 3. Michael J. Dixon, 32, was pronounced dead by a Champaign County deputy coroner at 3:30 p.m. at the scene at 837 County Road 1500 East, said Champaign County Coroner Stephen Thuney. Mr. Dixon was walking west along the railroad tracks when he was struck by the train, according to witnesses, who indicated that he did not react to the train horn sounding prior to being struck, Thuney said.
‘It’s really starting to grow’: Rantoul welcomes back Freedom Fridays
RANTOUL, Ill. (WCIA) — The Fourth of July is over, but the celebration continues in Champaign County. The village of Rantoul welcomed back Freedom Fridays for another year. The festivities offer people a chance to go check out downtown and support local businesses. One couple said it’s nice to see the downtown filled with sunshine […]
Coroner identifies man struck by train near Philo
PHILO TOWNSHIP, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County Coroner has released the name of a man who was struck by a train near Philo on Wednesday afternoon. 32-year-old Michael J. Dixon of Arcola was pronounced dead at the scene — about a quarter-mile east of the railroad crossing and County Road 1500 E — at […]
Savoy hosting Beep Baseball tourney for visually impaired players
SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) — A type of baseball designed for players with visual impairments is coming to Champaign County this weekend. Beep Baseball has several changes to help blind, low-vision, and legally blind players play ball. Second base has been eliminated and batters have four strikes and one pass ball. All games have a sighted […]
Champaign County coroner IDs Arcola man hit and killed by train
TOLONO — The man struck and killed by a train Wednesday in Tolono has been identified as Michael J. Dixon, 32, of Arcola. Champaign County Coroner Steve Thuney said Thursday that Dixon was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the scene, 837 County Road 1500 East, Tolono. Dixon...
Kathy's #Mailbag, July 5, 2024
Drop in a question of your very own BY CLICKING HERE or by emailing Kathy Reiser at mailbag@news-gazette.com. Fond memories of a campus retail hub … musical chairs on the FM radio dial … historic houses in Champaign’s first neighborhood … and an update on Urbana’s ambulance franchise agreement with Carle Arrow. All in this week’s Mailbag.
Coroner identifies man killed while walking tracks near Philo
PHILO, Ill. (WAND) — The Champaign County Coroner has released the name of an Arcola, Illinois man who was killed while walking along railroad tracks near Philo on Wednesday afternoon. Michael J. Dixon, 32, of Arcola, was pronounced dead by a Champaign County Deputy Coroner at 3:30 p.m. on...
Champaign County Man Killed When Struck by Train
Champaign County Coroner Stephen Thuney has released the name of an Arcola man who died of injuries sustained when hit by a train west of Philo. 32-year-old Michael J. Dixon was pronounced dead by a Champaign County Deputy Coroner at 3:30pm Wednesday at the scene near Tolono. Preliminary information indicated...
217 Today: Baseball tournament for the visually impaired comes to Savoy
The Champaign County Freedom Celebration parade was canceled yesterday due to weather conditions. The Illinois Department of Public Health has added nearly 150 zip codes to its list of high-risk areas for lead exposure for children. Highland Park held its first parade, following a mass shooting two years ago. Illinois...
Pride Fest returning to Champaign-Urbana in September
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Uniting Pride of Champaign County announced that this year’s CU Pride Fest will be September 15 – 22. The week’s events will take place at several Champaign-Urbana locations. It will include drag shows, a block party, movie night, youth and family programs, live music — including “Queeraoke” night — and […]
Coroner identifies man killed by train in Champaign County
PHILO, Ill. (WICS) — The Champaign County Coroner has identified the man who has died of injuries sustained after being struck by a train west of Philo. Officials say Michael J. Dixon, 32, of Arcola, Ill, was pronounced dead by a Champaign County Deputy Coroner at 3:30 p.m. on July 3, 2024, at the scene, 837 County Road 1500 East, Tolono, Ill,
Root, Krasa win Freedom Celebration 5K
Jul. 5—CHAMPAIGN — Tina Ammerman's objective for the Champaign County Freedom Celebration 5K was to eclipse 500 participants. The race director's goal was met during Thursday morning's race — which played out under a steady downpour — as Ryan Root and Laura Krasa pulled ahead of the pack to win the men's and women's flights. "We as runners kind of know that even though it's raining, as long as ...
Coroner identifies man struck by train near Philo
PHILO TOWNSHIP, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County Coroner has released the name of a man who was struck by a train near Philo on Wednesday afternoon. 32-year-old Michael J. Dixon of Arcola was pronounced dead at the scene — about a quarter-mile east of the railroad crossing and County Road 1500 E — at […]
Homeless man dies after being struck by train in Philo, investigation ongoing
PHILO, Ill. (WICS) — On Wednesday, July 3, at approximately 2:09p.m., Champaign County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Marathon business at 102 S. Lincoln in Philo for report of a homeless person causing problems for the clerk who was working. While deputies were enroute, they were advised...
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