Jen Lask
WCIA News
Champaign, IL, United States
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Past articles by Jen:
Two Central Illinois men charged in January 6 Capitol attack
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Two Central Illinois men have been charged in connection to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. According to arrest warrant, Bruce J. Harrison and Douglas K. Wangler are accused of: Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority Disorderly and disruptive conduct in […] → Read More
Three Firefighters Injured as Large Fire Breaks Out in Beardstown
BEARDSTOWN, Ill. (WCIA) – A large fire broke out in Beardstown just before 8:40 p.m. Sunday night, according to the local fire department. According to the Beardstown Fire Department, calls went out at 8:38 for a fire near 4th and Bay. Crews arrived on scene to discover heavy smoke coming from inside an apartment building. […] → Read More
Officers corral bulls on the loose
CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — Police mooooved some bulls off the road on Saturday. Chatham Police helped corral two big bulls on the loose. They were found on Chatham Road in front of Glenwood Intermediate School. Police say they were able to get the bulls back into their fenced-in home with the help of a few […] → Read More
Police respond to multiple reports of shots fired
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Police responded to multiple reports of shots fired late Saturday night into early Sunday morning. The first call came in around 11:10 p.m. near South Jasper and Sedgewick Street. The resident said she heard multiple gunshots. Bullets struck the front door and shattered glass. No one was hurt. The second call […] → Read More
Crews knock down fire at agricultural building
MAROA, Ill. (WCIA) — Fire crews in Maroa responded Wednesday morning after heavy smoke was seen coming from a structure. A Facebook post from the Maroa Fire Department says it happened before 7 a.m. Wednesday. Firefighters say when they got to the scene, heavy smoke was coming from an agricultural storage building. Crews then put […] → Read More
Child hurt after accidentally discharging gun
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign Police Department is investigating after a three-year-old accidentally discharged a gun, hurting himself. Police say they were called to the 600 block of South Crescent Drive Friday morning for an initial report of a shooting. Once there, they found a 3-year-old boy with a gunshot wound. He was taken […] → Read More
Springfield firefighters respond to house fire
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Springfield firefighters were called to a house fire on Tuesday night. In a Facebook post, fire officials said it happened in the 1100 block of Virginia. When they arrived, they saw smoke coming from the back of the house. They said they found “the seat of the fire on the first […] → Read More
$100,000 donated to Delphi double-murder investigation reward fund
DELPHI, Ind. (WCIA) — Indiana State Police is getting an anonymous donation of $100,000 towards the Delphi Investigation reward fund. A press release from ISP says that brings the total to $325,000. It says that amount will be rewarded to whoever provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect responsible for killing Abigail […] → Read More
Champaign County Sheriff’s Office launches new mobile app
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman says his office has released a new mobile app. A press release says the app has three main objectives: Increase transparency in Sheriff’s Office operations. Provide timely information to those who need it when they need it. Facilitate two-way communication with people living in Champaign […] → Read More
Mahomet-Seymour School District works with therapy dogs
MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — The Mahomet-Seymour School District officially started working with therapy dogs. It is a goal that has been three years in the making. Now, Jordyn, a certified therapy dog, spends her days visiting kids in the district. She will soon be joined by her younger brother and a golden doodle who are […] → Read More
Police chief calls for end to gun violence between rival gangs
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Police Chief Jim Getz released a statement calling for an end to gun violence between two gangs, citing property damage, injuries and death. “Most recently, a shooting in death in Springfield led to several retaliation shootings in Decatur which resulted in another loss of life here in Decatur on Tuesday Afternoon,” […] → Read More
Graduate students call for more financial support from UIUC during pandemic
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Graduate Employees’ Organization is demanding the University of Illinois to draw upon its reserve funds to help students and staff who are suffering financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The “People First, Cancel Debt” committee of the GEO held a virtual meeting today for members of the campus community to address […] → Read More
Sullivan Police K9 passes away from pre-existing health condition
SULLIVAN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Sullivan Police Department lost its first K9 unit on Sunday. A Facebook post says officers found out he had an undiagnosed pre-existing condition. “Renzo had just started his first week of K-9 training with Officer A. Smith,” says SPD. “Renzo showed signs of distress and was seen by a veterinarian […] → Read More
State senator to run for governor in 2022
EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — State Senator Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) is running for governor. The Republican is holding an event at 7:00 p.m. at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham. His website, Bailey for Illinois, has a clock counting down to that time. However, a bus covered with a campaign ad for Baily was seen at […] → Read More
17-year-old pronounced dead after Thursday shooting
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A 17-year-old who was shot Thursday died Saturday afternoon. The 17-year-old was found near the 2200 block of East Enterprise in Springfield with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at HSHS St. John’s Hospital at 2:55 p.m. The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, said an autopsy has been scheduled for […] → Read More
City, community leaders meet to discuss gun violence
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — City and community leaders met Tuesday night to address a rise in gun violence in Champaign. Officials reported in 2020, there were 189 confirmed shooting incidents, up from 100 in 2019. There were 57 shooting victims in 2020, compared to 34 in 2019. There were 9 gun-related homicides in 2020, up […] → Read More
Ford County Public Health Department to get 1,100 Pfizer vaccine doses this week
FORD COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Ford County Public Health Department (FCPHD) is expecting a big shipment of COVID-19 vaccines this week. In a press release, the department says the county is in Phase 1b, meaning essential workers and 65 and older are eligible. “This week, Ford County will receive and administer 1,100 Pfizer doses,” […] → Read More
Macon County Health Department announces 2nd dose clinic
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Macon County Health Department has scheduled a second dose clinic for people who live or work in Macon County and received their first Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from the MCHD on or before January 15th. The clinic is scheduled for February 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It will take […] → Read More
University of Illinois to notify accepted students in February
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The University of Illinois plans to let high school students know if they were accepted on Friday, February 19. Normally, the U of I releases decisions twice: once in mid-December and then later in February. This year, because of the pandemic, they wanted to give students more time to take […] → Read More
Peoria Charter ‘stabilized’ by latest COVID relief bill
PEORIA, Ill. (WCIA) — After gearing through months of major revenue losses, Peoria Charter is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In October last year, the company said it would have to shut down without more financial assistance from the government. Last month, it got a Business Interruption Grant — […] → Read More