Rochester
GOVERNMENT
High schoolers in rural, western Illinois learn the history of why their town is white
CUBA — Nestled between vast stretches of cornfields in western Illinois, Cuba is home to about 1,100 people. It is also 95 percent white, according to the last U.S. census. Once in a while, Cuba High School history teacher Joe Brewer’s students ask him why. “My students want...
Pritzker signs several auto, medical service-related bills
CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) — Last week, Governor JB Pritzker signed several bills into law, including legislation involving vehicle safety and medical care. Some will go into effect immediately while others will not be actualized until January 1, 2025. Legislation like House Bills 4255 and 5370 were put forth to improve safety around emergency scenes. HB4255 […]
This World Famous Beer Will Finally Be Available In Illinois
When it comes to beer there is no lack of choices. You can get dark, light, hoppy, n/a, or just good old-fashioned American Lager. The beer of our forefathers. The one they brewed using donkeys to plow the fields and stream water. Now one of those that has been in...
When a Monster Tornado Destroyed 4 Illinois Towns, Took 60 Lives
March 19, 1948 should have been like any typical morning in these Illinois communities. An incoming storm system had other plans. By the time most would wake that morning, a monster tornado had nearly wiped away 4 Illinois towns completely and took 60 lives. That terrible March morning in 1948...
New Illinois Law Requires Weather Radios In Certain Homes
It's been a rough tornado season and a new Illinois law is taking aim at that. We can all agree it's been a messy summer. In the Chicago area alone last week, there were 33 tornadoes, compared to their usual 5 or 6 per year. With the derecho that moved through last week, 5 tornadoes rolled through the QCA. In Iowa, May was ridiculous. We average 11 tornadoes in May. But this year, we had over 80 tornadoes in May alone.
Local filmmakers bring Central Illinois to movie screens
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Central Illinois is working towards its Hollywood moment. One Danville filmmaker is ready to share his movie that features local actors and locations. He said they created this film independently and the mission was to keep it within the community. Chris Hightower is the co-producer and lead actor of the movie […]
Springfield 6th Street construction to begin Friday, last through Dec.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A $5.4 million street improvement project is coming to Springfield, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced Wednesday. The project will begin on Friday and impact Sixth Street from Stanford Avenue to Ash Street. Goals include resurfacing, replacing pavement and traffic signals, and upgrading sidewalks. IDOT said construction is expected to wrap […]
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.