Cole Henke
WCIA News
Springfield, IL, United States
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Past articles by Cole:
Mendoza tours Decatur, visits law enforcement training center
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Comptroller Susana Mendoza toured Decatur Tuesday, making stops at several key institutions across the city. She stopped at Richland Community College to see the schools Enrich program in action. The program is designed to train people in certain trades and then connect them with employers. Then she went to Crossing Health […] → Read More
Comptroller Mendoza sides with governor, calls additional spend ‘necessary investments’
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — Governor Pritzker’s new budget proposal has some ambitious goals. His annual budget address included a proposal for universal preschool, an increase in MAP grant funding and a new initiative to combat homelessness in the state. Each of those ideas comes with a big price tag, too. The preschool initiative amounts to […] → Read More
Governor Pritzker prepares to give his budget pitch
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) will give his annual budget address Wednesday at noon from the House chambers of the Capitol. This is the fifth time giving the speech for Pritzker, but the first one held in the Capitol since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and a snowstorm in […] → Read More
Elimination of cash bail ruled unconstitutional by circuit judge, state to appeal to Supreme Court
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (NEXSTAR) — A Kankakee County Judge ruled Wednesday night that the Pre-Trial Fairness Act is unconstitutional. Over 60 State’s Attorneys filed suit against the SAFE-T Act, alleging that cash bail is guaranteed in the Constitution, among other counts. Judge Thomas Cunnington agreed with the State’s Attorneys that the elimination of cash bail is […] → Read More
Satanic Temple adds ‘Serpent of Genesis’ to Capitol Rotunda holiday display
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A controversial festive exhibit has returned to the Illinois Capitol. Each year, the Secretary of State’s office allows different religions to put up holiday displays in the capitol’s rotunda to celebrate their festivities. Joining a holiday tree, a Christian Nativity scene and a Jewish menorah is a display of Sol Invictus, […] → Read More
Champaign County changes process after lawsuit alleges ballot mishandling
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County Clerk’s office is changing their ballot security policies in the aftermath of a lawsuit. A court case filed by Champaign County GOP Chairman and Champaign County board member Jim McGuire alleged that official ballots were mishandled by Champaign County Deputy Clerk Michelle Jett. Attached to the lawsuit were […] → Read More
Madigan enters not guilty plea, does not attend his own arraignment
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan is pleading not guilty to the newest charge added to his docket. Lawyers for Michael Madigan entered a not guilty plea at an arraignment hearing Tuesday in Chicago. This arraignment focused on the newest charge Madigan is facing – a charge of […] → Read More
Teacher arrested after fight with student
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A Springfield teacher was arrested earlier this week after he became involved in a fight with a student. Adrian Akers, a teacher at Lanphier High School, was arrested on Monday and is now on paid administrative leave. The student involved in this fight with Akers was injured to the point that […] → Read More
Election officials celebrate National Voter Registration Day
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Tuesday, Sept. 20th is National Voter Registration Day. National Voter Registration Day is a holiday celebrated every fourth Tuesday in September to get more people registered to vote, seven weeks before Election Day. The holiday was first celebrated in 2012. Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray says it’s important for people to […] → Read More
Shots fired at Springfield park
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Springfield Police responded to a call of shots fired at a park in Springfield. Police responded to the scene just before 2 p.m. Monday. Officers marked several bullet casings found on the side of the road along 7th Street. According to eyewitnesses, the shooting happened in Enos Park in Springfield around […] → Read More
Shooting outside of Springfield bar leaves two injured
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A shooting outside of a bar in Springfield left two people in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police confirmed the shooting started near the corner of 5th and Washington Street in Springfield, outside of the bar Clique at 12:47 a.m. Sunday morning. Patrons at the bar reported hearing multiple shots […] → Read More
Proposed multi-state pipeline causes concern for county
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Sangamon County is getting involved in a fight over a private carbon capture pipeline that ends in central Illinois. Navigator Heartland Greenway filed a plan with the Illinois Commerce Commission in July to build a pipeline that transports liquid carbon dioxide through five states, including 13 counties in Illinois. The company […] → Read More
Democrats celebrate Governor’s Day at the fair
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – Democrats celebrated the Illinois Governor’s Day at the fair rallying together to push for gaining more power on election day. “Democrats deliver,” Governor J.B. Pritzker said. “And we’ve delivered so much over the last four years, I had to bring a cheat sheet.” The party was not shy in showing off […] → Read More
Dino Don stomps his exhibit into the state fair
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – The Illinois State Fair is bringing a new, ‘dino-mite’ exhibit to the fairgrounds this year. The fair is hosting a prehistoric habitat complete with 21 animatronic dinosaurs for kids, families and dinosaur fans of all ages. “What you’re doing is you’re walking through dinosaur time,” ‘Dino’ Don Lessem, the owner of […] → Read More
Pritzker issues updated mask order
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — The statewide mask mandate has been lifted – but masks will still be required at a handful of places. “If we need to, if we see another variant that is making people ill that we would be able to impose a mask requirement,” Governor J.B. Pritzker said. “But but we don’t […] → Read More
Chatham police investigating online threat to high school
CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — Chatham High School students and staff were put on lockdown after police found that somebody threatened the school online. The post was made on an app called YikYak. The app allows people to post anonymously, but police are able to trace the posts. The police department has a person of interest […] → Read More
National Guard helps Macon County Health Department with vaccines
MACON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The National Guard rolled into Decatur Friday to help people get their vaccines. The troopers opened one of the state’s many mobile vaccination units at the Macon County Public Health Department on Friday. The site at the Macon County Health Building was run by the National Guard. That freed up […] → Read More
Pritzker moves state into Bridge Phase
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — The state could fully reopen in just over a month if current trends hold. Governor Pritzker announced the state is set to enter the bridge phase on Friday, May 14th. The bridge phase is a 28-day period that the state needs to move through without a spike in cases before Pritzker […] → Read More
COVID survivor urges people to get vaccinated
SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Bill Jones tested positive for COVID in November, and his life has not been the same since. “I can’t do what I want to do. I can’t go fishing. I can’t work in my pool. I can’t even take my dog for a walk,” Jones sand. Jones is on his […] → Read More
Decatur Airport to celebrate 75th anniversary with air show
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Decatur Airport is celebrating their 75th anniversary with an air show. The show will be on August 14 and 15 on the airport grounds. Gates will open at 10 a.m. and the show is from 12 – 3 p.m.. Gates will close at 5 p.m. each day. “The Decatur Air […] → Read More