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Decatur Public Schools bans student phone usage
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Decatur Public Schools has a new policy with their cell phones. After discussions at multiple meetings, the Decatur Public School Board of Education has voted to ban cell phones as a part of the new Electronic Devices policy for all students during the school day. All students will have to keep […]
Cancer Center at Illinois raises glioblastoma awareness
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) – Glioblastoma Awareness Day is dedicated to raising awareness about the incurable brain tumor. Researchers worldwide — including Illinois — are working to better understand the disease so they can find new ways to help patients. One of those researchers is Brendan Harley, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and […]
IDOT urges safe driving for Speed Awareness Day
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – July 17 is deemed Speed Awareness Day in Illinois. For the occasion, the Illinois Department of Transportation is collaborating with several agencies to remind drivers to drive slow and stay safe. IDOT said that speeding is the leading cause of car crashes. In Illinois, 1,241 people were killed in crashes just last […]
Mattoon Bagelfest announces Saturday parade lineup
MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — Mattoon’s 38th annual Bagelfest is rolling out a fun-filled parade this Saturday. This year’s theme is “Bagelfest Academy,” teaching the Central Illinois community about everything bagels — including “everything bagels!” Bagelfest officials said this year’s parade is spread on pretty thick with entries, so they advise participants to keep the gaps […]
IDPH reports Illinois’ first human case of West Nile in 2024
CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) – Illinois’ first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in 2024 has been announced by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The West Nile virus is passed on through the bite of a typical mosquito that has fed on an infected bird. Symptoms usually don’t show in people, but can include […]
Prairie Fruits Farm earns medals in national cheese competition
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery achieved grate-ness at the American Cheese Society Annual Competition this year. Competitors traveled to Buffalo, New York to face off against both small farmsteads and multinational manufacturers in producing American-made cheeses. Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery entered four categories and earned medals in each one — […]
Urbana native to be Allerton Park’s next artist-in-residence
MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — Allerton Park & Retreat Center offers a unique opportunity for select artists to live on the estate and explore creatively. For their next artist-in-residence, Allerton is welcoming an Urbana native. Lemareyè Jones is a visual artist and photographer. He also owns Glo & Glory, under which he will soon publish his […]
Community rallies for Sonya Massey; family meets with Sangamon Co. authorities
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Protestors have gathered outside the NAACP building Wednesday afternoon to rally for a woman killed in a deputy-involved shooting. The family of Sonya Massey is viewing the body camera footage inside. Sonya Massey was killed after calling 911 for a prowler near her home earlier this month, police said. WCIA has […]
Mattoon Fire Department responds to morning mobile home fire
MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — The Mattoon Fire Department is investigating a fire that started at a mobile home on Wednesday morning. At 7:33 a.m., firefighters arrived at the scene near Marion Avenue and South 7th Street. They found the abandoned home partially on fire. It nearly spread to three nearby structures, including an occupied mobile […]
WCIA welcomes new Morning Show anchor
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — There’s a new face to wake up to in Central Illinois. WCIA is proud to welcome Taylor Mitchell as the newest anchor of The Morning Show. Taylor was born and raised in Chicago and attended Illinois State University. Her career started in Amarillo, Texas before shifting north to Oklahoma City, where […]
Illinois 4-year-old boy competes in National Mullet Competition
Showcasing his mullet named after Patrick Swayze, a four-year-old from Millstadt, Illinois, will compete in the National Mullet Competition this month. Bohdi Fischer and his mullet, "The Swayze Special," will compete in the 1-4 age group while strutting the "business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back" hairstyle.
Champaign Park District wants your input on new Clark Park
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign Park District is asking for your help as they continue to decide how the new Clark Park will look. The $500,000 capital improvement project will redo the playground and make the park more handicap accessible. Following a public meeting last week, the district is now opening an online survey […]
Springfield man convicted on federal drug conspiracy charges
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A man from Springfield has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a drug conspiracy involving a known street gang. Prosecutors said Christopher Wallace, 32, was indicted in December of 2020 for his role the drug conspiracy. He was arrested two years later and he pleaded guilty […]
‘They’ve touched a lot of lives’: Stew-Stras holds memorial for three girls killed in crash
SHELBY COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Two communities in Shelby County are continuing to mourn for the three young girls who died in a UTV accident Thursday. The beginning of the healing process began with thoughts, prayers and a memorial service dedicated to their memory. 14-year-old Edie Wittenberg, 13-year-old Karly Wetherell and 14-year-old Sienna Bostedo were […]
Durbin, Budzinski echo Biden’s call for calm, cooling of political climate following Trump assassination attempt
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – Two of Illinois’ members of Congress are echoing President Biden’s message for calm and cooling of the political climate after the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump at his Pennsylvania rally Saturday. “It is a miracle that Donald Trump is alive today,” Sen. Dick Durbin said at a press conference […]
‘He is what the American dream is all about:’ Illinois Republicans praise Trump’s VP pick
MILWAUKEE (WCIA) — Illinois Republicans praised former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick: Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. “It’s a great choice,” Republican Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12), said. “If you’ve studied where J.D. Vance has come from, he truly is a person that has pursued the American dream. By all rights, he probably shouldn’t be a […]
Cam Janik drafted by Pittsburgh
(WCIA) — A second Illini was taken in this year’s Major League Baseball draft. Catcher Cam Janik was selected in the 12th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Janik was tied for the second-toughest batter to strikeout in the country this season, named third-team All America and first-team Big Ten.
Overnight I-70 closure to take place in Effingham County
EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) confirmed that a planned closure will be taking place on eastbound Interstate 70 beginning at 10 p.m. Tuesday in Effingham County. The closure will be between Effingham and Montrose. The purpose behind the closure is to remove a tractor trailer. IDOT said it is […]
Pritzker announces federal partner for quantum computing campus
CHICAGO (WCIA) — Illinois’ proposal to create a new quantum computing campus has a new partner with a federal agency. Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the partnership of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, part of the U.S. Department of Defense, with Illinois’ quantum computing campus Tuesday. The partnership is named Quantum Proving Ground. “The future of […]
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