Latest news with #WCIA
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Urbana man charged with hate crime on U of I campus following erratic behavior
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — An Urbana man has been charged with a hate crime that occurred on the University of Illinois campus after a month of erratic behavior. On Wednesday, 39-year-old Tyler Kirkwood was arrested by the University of Illinois Police Department, and the Champaign County State Attorney's Office charged him with a hate crime. It came after an Asian student on U of I's campus claims he was chased and threatened with violence this week. Champaign School Board president responds after tense meeting outing superintendent 'His behaviors have been escalating to the point that he is dangerous,' said Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz Wednesday was the latest, but not the only incident Kirkwood has allegedly caused. Campus police were called for two other outbursts over the last month. Currently, he's being held at the Champaign County Correctional Center. As Rietz explains, all three situations included threats and racial harassment directed towards people on campus. 'It's unfortunate that we are put in the position sometimes of using the criminal justice system to get people the mental health treatment that they need,' Rietz said. That's been the case for Kirkwood. He's had three separate incidents on campus over the last 30-days. The first came on April 30, when witnesses said Kirkwood was yelling threats outside a U of I sorority house. 'He was yelling he was going to burn the house down,' Rietz said. 'And they took him to Carle at that time for an involuntary admission, and he stayed for a few days.' Champaign restaurant asks for help after cameras catch teens damaging property Fast forward to May 15, and officials were called once again after Kirkwood yelled at people on Wright and Green Streets. 'In the course of that conversation, he said specifically that he was upset with foreign students and that he felt they were taking our land,' Rietz said. The third incident happened the afternoon of May 28 on Springfield Avenue in Champaign and involved an Asian student. Rietz said Kirkwood asked the student for money, and that the student said he didn't have any. 'In response to that, Mr. Kirkwood started using racial slurs and threatening him, saying, 'I'm going to crack your head' or 'I should crack your head' and 'get out of this town,'' Rietz said. Rietz also said Kirkwood followed the victim with an object that appeared to be knife or pipe. Police were then called again, and they arrested Kirkwood on campus. He was then taken to the county jail, after Rietz's Office decided his actions met the criteria of a hate crime. 'Alternatives have been tried. Involuntary and voluntary commitment, medication, supports have been tried and his behaviors are escalating,' Rietz said. 'And so, this is what we feel we have to do to protect the public and to protect him.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Water survey analyzing flood risks in Central Illinois counties
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The Illinois State Water Survey is continuing data development to analyze flood risks in six Central Illinois counties. The data development conducted by ISWS is for the Embarras River watershed, part of a multi-phase study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning. Flood risks are to be analyzed in the following counties: Clark Coles Crawford Cumberland Jasper Lawrence Illinois bill strengthening rules on gun storage heads to Pritzker's desk Results from this new study will be used to update the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Flood Insurance Studies report. This usually depicts floodplains, including the 1-percent-annual-chance (100-year) and 0.2-percent-annual-chance (500-year) flood hazard areas. ISWS is working on this project in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water Resources and FEMA. Additionally, the second phase will study the tributary streams within the Embarras River watershed; starting with data collection, this phase began this month and will finish during the summer. The data collection process will involve surveyors conducting detailed channel and bridge surveys of the tributaries in the following counties and their respective communities: Coles County and Cumberland County (Trilla) Clark County (Casey) Jasper County (Newton and Ste. Marie) Lawrence County (Bridgeport and Summer) IDPH issues health warning on wildfire smoke Additionally, some of the survey work will be done in the rural areas of each county. Residents are asked to be aware of the periodic presence of survey crews in the area, and the surveys will be completed as stream conditions and weather allow. In the spring of 2024, the first phase of this project started with data collection on the Embarras River's mainstem. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Illinois bill strengthening rules on gun storage heads to Pritzker's desk
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — An Illinois bill strengthening the rules on storing firearms is headed to the Governor's desk. The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday evening requiring new rules for storing guns in homes where children and at-risk people are present. The proposal would also shorten the time firearm owners have to report a gun as lost or stolen. Illinois House passes bill to offer medical assist in dying to the terminally ill Also part of the bill is creating a registry for Illinois State Police to keep track of people who do not report lost or stolen firearms. The bill's sponsor said these changes will help guns from getting into the wrong hands. 'The number of guns stolen each year is rising, and this is a key factor in the cycle of gun violence,' Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-West Chicago) said on the House floor. 'Firearm theft compromises the effectiveness of our common sense gun laws. It often results in these weapons being acquired by people who are legally prohibited from possessing them.' Republicans criticized the bill, saying it targets legal gun owners instead of addressing criminal activity. 'Let's call this what it is: a reckless assault on the rights of honest citizens,' State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) said in a statement. 'Instead of addressing actual criminals, this legislation goes after hunters, sportsmen, and countless responsible firearm owners across our state.' Niemerg said he's confident that guns rights groups will challenge the constitutionality of the proposal in court if it's signed into law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
9 new officers sworn into Springfield Police Department
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — On Thursday, departing Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette had the honor of swearing in nine new officers. In his second to last day on the job, Scarlette swore in the nine officers during a ceremony held in the City Council Chambers. The ceremony was attended by Mayor Misty Buscher, city officials, and family and friends as the newest officers took their oath of service. Three Springfield police officers receive Life Saving Award The following officers were sworn into the Springfield Police Department: Parker Adams Jacob Burton Dawson Combs Alexander Deleon Dakota Moser Hannah Smith Hunter Thompson Matthew Von Behren Jr. Mark Williams Seven of the nine new officers graduated from the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center on April 25, where they were able to complete their basic law enforcement training. Additionally, the other two officers are joining the department through lateral transfer from other law enforcement agencies. 'Proudly making our country your new home': Citizens naturalized at Old State Capitol ceremony All nine officers are currently assigned to the Springfield Police Academy where they are undergoing additional department-specific training. Over the course of the next few weeks, these officers will be assigned to the Field Operations Division and start the field training program, in which they will work alongside veteran officers to finish their transition into active service. 'We're proud to welcome these individuals to our department and to the City of Springfield,' Scarlette said. 'They have demonstrated commitment, integrity, and the desire to serve their community—values we hold in the highest regard.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
One person dead in wrong-way crash on U.S. 150 in Danville
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — One person is dead following a crash on U.S. Route 150 near Danville Friday morning. The crash happened between Interstate 74 and Henning Road. Officials with the Illinois State Police said that at 1:30 a.m., a Chevrolet Equinox was driving the wrong way — going westbound in the eastbound lane — when it hit an eastbound vehicle head on. Vermilion Advantage gets grant to create jobs, improve economy The driver of the eastbound vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the westbound vehicle was airlifted from the scene and was taken to an area hospital with injuries. Route 150 was shut down in both directions for several hours after the crash, with traffic being diverted onto Henning Road and I-74. The road has since reopened, according to Danville Police. The investigation into the crash is still open, and State Police said no further information could be provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
