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Urbana residents deal with Monday storm damage
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — In Central Illinois, July 15 marked the hottest day of the year so far — but that’s not all. With wind speeds estimated up to 80 miles per hour, some communities experienced startling damage. Brian Hamilton lives in Urbana. He said he’s grateful the damage wasn’t worse, but now he’s concerned […]
U of I Wildlife Medical Clinic opening volunteer opportunities
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Starting August 1st, the U of I’s Wildlife Medical Clinic will be opening its doors to those at home. Anyone 18 and up can volunteer to come into the center every other day or throughout the week to feed the orphaned animals and assist with general care. The Centers’ Senior Manager […]
Garbage truck damages Campustown apartment building
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — It was a rough way to start the day at one Central Illinois apartment complex on Tuesday. A garbage truck backed into it. The collision happened on south Fourth and East Daniel Streets in Champaign. People who live in the building had to evacuate around 5 a.m. when the truck took […]
UPDATE: Woman missing in Champaign found, sheriff confirms
Update on 7/17/2024 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A woman reported missing from Champaign has been found safe. After being missing for a week, officials with the Champaign Police Department said Destiny Confer was no longer listed as such as in their database. The McLean County Sheriff’s Office then confirmed that officers in Urbana made contact […]
‘A huge burden’: Thomasboro Fire Chief discusses OSHA proposal’s impact on volunteer firefighters
THOMASBORO, Ill. (WCIA) — The Thomasboro Fire Chief is weighing in on a proposal that could hurt volunteer fire departments. OSHA wants to implement a new policy for all stations nationwide, but some some fire chiefs are worried about the strain it would put on volunteer departments. If passed, they would be required to update […]
Central Illinois animal shelters in need of adoptions amid rising intakes
EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — Central Illinois animal shelters are struggling to give pets homes as they deal with full-capacity spaces. Last week, staff with the Effingham County Animal Shelter said they have “never stayed this full for this long.” Now, we know why: there is a major increase in animal intakes and a decrease in […]
Parts of I-55 closed due to downed power lines; may take 24 hours to cleanup
CHANNAHON, Ill. — Interstate 55 is closed in both directions between U.S. 6 and River Road Tuesday due to downed power lines, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Severe weather slammed Illinois Monday evening, including across the Chicago area, causing extensive damage in some parts. Northbound traffic on I-55 in Will County is being […]
Clinton playground demolition paused due to storm
CLINTON, Ill. (WCIA) — One Central Illinois playground is getting ready to be torn down, but demolition was halted after Monday night’s storms. The Kiwanis playground in Clinton was set to be demolished at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The City of Clinton announced Tuesday afternoon that the storm put a halt on the park’s demolition. They […]
Man stops in Champaign while cycling around the world
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – One man is making his mark on the world with just two wheels by cycling around the globe. His journey around the world has now taken him to the United States, where he’ll be taking his next leg of the journey. He’s known on his social media as Shengqiang Xu, but […]
Monticello man charged with cruelty to animals
MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — A man in Monticello is being charged with animal cruelty. Court records show Devon Guttner has been charged with four misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. He has pleaded not guilty. The Piatt County Jail confirmed that Guttner was held in their custody Tuesday morning. He was given pre-trial release, according […]
NWS confirms 5 tornadoes in Chicagoland, including 1 in Chicago, during Monday storms
CHICAGO — Officials from the National Weather Service have confirmed that five tornadoes touched down in Chicagoland, including one in the City of Chicago, as a round of intense evening storms swept through the region on Monday. NWS officials said in a post on X on Tuesday afternoon that three EF-1 tornadoes and two EF-0 […]
Weather balloon lands on powerlines in Champaign County
SADORUS, Ill. (WCIA) — After a night of severe weather in Champaign County, there was something resting on powerlines just east of Sadorus — and this time, it wasn’t a tree branch. Chief Robert Russian of the Sadorus Fire Department confirmed that a weather balloon landed on powerlines on 600 North Road. The balloon and […]
Here’s why bird feeders could be harmful to birds
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Bird feeders seem like the perfect way to give back to nature while keeping your backyard serene. But did you know that bird feeders can actually hurt birds more than help them? The Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois explains. The clinicians strongly advise against feeding wildlife. They say it could result […]
New digital forensic tool approved for Decatur Police Department
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Decatur City Council has approved a new digital software to help their criminal investigations. On Monday night, the Decatur City Council approved of a subscription to Cellebrite Premium. The software helps law enforcement agencies analyze smartphones and other devices for any information related to investigations. “Cellebrite is solving investigative challenges […]
When and why Central IL counties sound outdoor warning sirens
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — As severe weather moved through Central Illinois Monday night, people may have heard their local outdoor warning sirens going off, even though there wasn’t a tornado warning in their area. This is because the sirens, commonly referred to as “tornado sirens,” now signal more than just tornadoes on the ground. The […]
Driver hurt after I-74 semi rollover near St. Joseph
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A semi truck driver was sent to the hospital on Monday night after a rollover on westbound Interstate 74. It happened before 9:25 p.m. near St. Joseph. At mile marker 194, a semi drove off the right side of the road, hit a guardrail, then overturned. Illinois State Police responded […]
Urbana storm damage: what should I do with downed tree limbs in my yard?
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Urbana Public Works is still cleaning up the damage from severe overnight storms, and has shared more details on their tree limb and debris removal. Crews worked through the night to clear trees and large limbs from blocking traffic. They are continuing to do so through the morning, and also addressing […]
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WCIA News in Champaign brings you the latest breaking updates, severe weather and coverage of the Fighting Illini and the Illinois Capitol on wcia.com.
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