Latest news with #Neoga
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
One dead following vehicle vs. semi-truck crash on I-57 in Neoga
NEOGA, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois State Police are on scene at a passenger vehicle versus semi-truck crash that killed 'at least' one person on Interstate 57 in Neoga. At approximately 11:20 a.m. on Saturday, Illinois State Police Troop 9 responded to I-57 northbound near US-45 milepost 177 for the report of a crash involving a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck. Preliminary information shows that the vehicle crossed from the southbound into the northbound lanes and struck the semi-truck. Five-vehicle crash in Champaign Co. leads to four hospitalizations The vehicle became fully engulfed in fire, and at this time, at least one occupant from the vehicle has been declared deceased. Additionally, I-57 northbound lanes will be shut down for an extended period of time. This is an active investigation and there is no further information at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mascot ban bill passes in IL House, what it means for local school districts:
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — A bill just passed in the Illinois House of Representatives that could change local school districts in a big way. The legislation, nicknamed the 'Mascot Ban,' was voted through on Thursday. If it gets through the Senate, any school with a native name, logo or mascot would be forced to change them. Pritzker invited to testify to Congress about sanctuary state policy The bill states a school can continue to use uniforms or other materials with native logos until September 2028. However, districts around Central Illinois aren't sure this will help. Several schools in the area have mascots that would need to change including Neoga, currently they're the Indians. Superintendent Kevin Haarman said in a statement to lawmakers last year that changing the mascot would cost around $500,000. Now, one year later, he brought up those concerns again and said the money would be better spent on students. State representative Maurice West proposed this bill in January and has introduced a similar legislation in the past. 'A lot of people look at this within the lens of tradition, and I understand and respect that: however, I ask them to look within a lens of empathy as well, because there are indigenous young people who look at these Native American mascots and imagery and feel some type of way about it,' West said. 'It makes them feel less than, it makes them feel objectified.' Other Native Americans disagree, like Becky Clayton-Anderson who descended from the Hadatsa tribe. She played basketball for the Sullivan High School Redskins and did receive a bit of mocking. Illinois House passes 'Dillon's Law' to help more people carry Epi-Pens 'Perhaps my freshman year, a few of the area schools kind of taunted me a little bit because they knew I was Native American,' Clayton-Anderson said. But now, she has a different perspective. 'There's nothing wrong or degrading about the mascot names.' Clayton-Anderson said she's more worried about Native Americans being pushed out of sight. 'By getting rid of these mascots like the Redskins and the Braves, it just further pushes the Native Americans out of people's minds,' Clayton-Anderson said. A study published by the American Psychological Association said native mascots can be harmful to all students. The APA said they undermine the education of all people, present wrong stereotypes of American Indians and negatively effects their mental health. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Neoga strong': People ready to rebuild after EF-2 tornado
NEOGA, Ill. (WCIA) — 'Neoga Strong,' has been the rallying cry for many people in the community — and beyond — as they begin to rebuild in the aftermath of our first severe storm of the season. The National Weather Service said Neoga was hit by a confirmed tornado on Friday. It caused damage to the school — homes — and more, leaving people in limbo. Neoga CUSD #3 closing all schools for week following tornado damage 'I'm surprised that it happened. I'm surprised there was so much damage,' 6th grade student Amari Rivers said. On Friday the town of Neoga felt the full force of what a tornado can do. On Saturday, James Auten — a meteorologist with the National Weather Service — was out looking for damage at the school. 'It helps us in being able to validate and verify what we're seeing on radar as far as like, 'Okay, seeing rotation of this strength is going to give us this kind of wind speed.'' Auten said. Neoga School Campus damaged in tornado According to preliminary findings from the NWS, an EF-2 tornado touched down. Auten said wind pushed into the school through its weakest point: the garage. 'When the wind pushes through those and get those doors open, the wind's got to go somewhere,' Auten said. 'Either goes out the back the side or goes out the top. And obviously with the high school, it went out the top and it took off a bunch of the roof that's there.' But the school has more than just roof damage. '[The Agriculture] Department is in pieces and it hurts my soul because I spent a lot of time there,' Neoga resident Tyler Worthey said. 'A lot of my high school career was spent in the Ag Department, so it hurts to see so much damage done.' Two tractor-trailers overturn in Cumberland Co. during tornado It could have been worse. The superintendent said no one was hurt. The school hosted a dance Friday — but one student said they moved the time up 30 minutes to finish before the storm, giving him and his family enough time to get home before it hit. 'Scary. My whole family was we had mattresses over our heads trying to duck down the corner. I had such an adrenaline rush,' Rivers said. Now Neoga is looking to build themselves up again. But even when the outward signs of damage are fixed — the inward ones will be harder to mend. 'I'm just scared. I'm scared if it ever happens again,' Rivers said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Community Spotlight: National FFA Week kicks off at Neoga High School
NEOGA, Ill. (WCIA) — National FFA Week is coming up and the Neoga chapter has a full slate of events scheduled for the occasion. Community Spotlight: Champaign Firefighters Benevolent Fund event Macy Morgan and Dane Fearday, the President and Vice President of the Neoga FFA chapter, came on The Morning Show to preview the week's events and explain the role the FFA plays in the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
