WICD Top Stories

Urbana City Council Passes 4 Cent Local Motor Fuel Tax

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:05:26 CDT

URBANA-- The Urbana City Council votes five to two in favor of increasing the local motor fuel tax to four cents per gallon.

Heather Steveson and Diane Marlin were the only two to vote no on the measure.

The issue voted on Monday night was an ordinance amending the Urbana city code for the local motor fuel tax. ...

Greenup Man Charged With Child Abduction

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:40:36 CDT

URBANA-- A Greenup man has been charged with child abduction after allegedly trying to lure small children into his pickup truck in Urbana. It happened Saturday afternoon on the 1300 block of Silver Street. ABC Newschannel 15's Liz Lohuis has more. ...

Champaign Bank Robbery

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:38:27 CDT

CHAMPAIGN--A suspect is on the loose after police say he walked into the Marine Bank of Neil Street with a gun, demanded cash, and took off with an undetermined amount of money. It happened around 3:20 Monday afternoon. The suspect is a black man with a white t-shirt and white baseball cap. ...

Police Still Searching for Shooting Suspect

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:34:37 CDT

CHAMPAIGN--Champaign police are still investigating a shooting that killed a Champaign man. 20-year-old Torrie Smedley died Sunday. Investigators were still on the scene Monday morning trying to piece together what exactly happened at the Country Brook Apartments. ...

Lightning Strikes an Urbana Home

Sun, 20 May 2012 22:28:41 CDT

URBANA--The Urbana Fire Department responds to heavy smoke after the homeowner says lightning struck his rooftop.

Crews arrived at this home on Castlerock Drive, shortly after 7 Sunday night.

The homeowner and one other person were home at the time . ...

Champaign Shooting Leaves One Victim Dead

Sun, 20 May 2012 22:14:32 CDT

CHAMPAIGN--One Champaign man is left dead after a shooting incident Sunday afternoon.

The Champaign County Coroner's Office confirms Torrie Smedley, 20, was pronounced dead at Carle hospital shortly after 3:30 pm.

The incident took place in the 2500 block of West Springfield Avenue at Country Brook Apartments. ...

Rodney Davis Chosen as Republican Nominee

Sun, 20 May 2012 13:33:30 CDT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Rodney Davis says he's honored to be chosen as a replacement on the November ballot for longtime Republican Congressman Tim Johnson.

GOP officials from 14 Illinois counties met Saturday and chose Davis for the 13th District. ...

Dozens of People Attend Vigil for Mekhi Woods

Fri, 18 May 2012 22:06:55 CDT

URBANA-- "Gone but never forgotten" was one of the phrases from a vigil held Friday night to remember 3-year-old Mekhi Woods.

The toddler died after being accidentally shot by his 14-year-old uncle on Wednesday. ...

Driver Charged After Hitting Biker

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:32:54 CDT

A man has been charged with a DUI after hitting a woman, riding her bike, with his car.

25-year-old Casey Freeman is behind bars after the accident which sent both he and 24-year-old Lindey Snell to the hospital.

Police tell us, Snell and her boyfriend were riding their bikes, south on Coler Avenue, when Freeman, who was driving South, hit her. ...

Urbana Fatal Shooting Has Some Calling for More Gun Control

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:46:05 CDT

URBANA--The accidental shooting death of a three-year-old Urbana boy has some pushing for more gun control. Gun advocates however say education is the answer. ABC Newschannel 15's Liz Lohuis has more.

Danville Area Community College Breaks Graduation Record

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:51:43 CDT

DANVILLE-- The average graduation at Danville Area Community College is around 70 students, this semester, 219 are walking across the stage. The reason for this semester's record breaking ceremony, non-traditional students. "I think our average age right now is 31, which you might not notice during the day, you might not see. ...

PTI Closure Date

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:28:05 CDT

Despite efforts to keep the University of Illinois Police Training Institute open, a closing date is set. Administrators at the University report June 30th will be the last day.

Giant Garage Sale

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:30:45 CDT

Champaign County Humane Society GIANT Garage Sale Drop Offs

The Humane Society is looking for your good, usable but unwanted items for their annual GIANT Garage Sale, which falls on the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend (May 25-26).

Donations are being accepted this weekend at Kesler Hall, Champaign County Fairgrounds. ...

House Passes Child Care Bill, Now Heads To Senate

Thu, 17 May 2012 20:49:20 CDT

FISHER-- Some local daycare providers and their clients are breathing a sigh of relief.

On Wednesday the house voted to restore funds to a program that covers child care costs for low income families.

Two weeks ago the Department of Human Services said it could no longer afford to pay daycare providers for parents on state subsidized child care services. ...

BREAKING NEWS: Car Hits Biker

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:32:38 CDT

Two people were sent to the hospital Thursday evening after a driver of a car hit a woman riding a bike.

Police report the driver was headed Southbound on Coler Avenue and hit the biker.

The car continued on for nearly two blocks before stopping in a yard. ...

Vigil for Fatally Shot Urbana Boy

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:29:59 CDT

URBANA--The community will come together Friday night to remember a 3-year-old Urbana boy accidentally shot to death by his 14-year-old uncle. A memorial will be held for Makhi Woods Friday night at Stone Creek Church in Urbana at 7. A memorial fund has also been established in his name at First Mid Illinois Bank and Trust. ...

Pizza Shop Robbed

Thu, 17 May 2012 22:42:22 CDT

Police are looking for a man who robbed a pizza place in Danville.

Authorities tell us, a white male wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt walked into "Papa Murphy's Restaurant", ordered a pizza then demanded the cashier hand over money.

After getting an undisclosed amount of cash, he ran off. ...

Fall Officers Remembered in Vermilion Co.

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:45:01 CDT

Danville, IL - As part of the local observance of National Police Week, May 11-17, the Danville Police Division and Vermilion County Sheriff's Department conducted a memorial service on Thursday, at the Everyday Hero Memorial at Sunset Memorial Park.

The service was to honor all the men and women in law enforcement that currently serve or have served their community, but especially those officers who died in the performance of their duties. ...

Fallen Officers Remembered in Champaign Co.

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:45:29 CDT

Local Leaders Blast State Pension Payment Proposal

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:48:25 CDT

DANVILLE-- Proposed legislation to pay for pensions would help out the state, but Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said it's not a solution."The detriment is to all of the services being offered by local governments to the tax payers."

That's because $1,700,000 of the city's budget would instead be handed over to the state, taking money away from places like the police and fire departments, public works, and parks. ...

Rep. Harris Talks Gay Marriage

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:40:56 CDT

The issue of gay marriage was elevated to a national debate after President Obama recently said he supports it. In January 2011, Illinois became the sixth state to allow Civil Unions.

We spoke with State Representative Greg Harris, who is gay, and a sponsor of a Gay Marriage Bill for Illinois. ...

Urbana Parks Vandalized

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:43:04 CDT

Urbana Park District hopes future park vandalism can be prevented

Over the past several weeks of warm spring weather, the Urbana Park District has seen the early emergence of wildflowers and leaves. And it has also seen the early emergence of vandalism that it hopes to head off with the help of park neighbors and users. ...

Stripper Tax

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:51:50 CDT

Hanging out at an Adult Entertainment Club, where alcohol is served may cost you a $3.00 surcharge. An Illinois Senate committee voted on Wednesday to allow, adult facilities to choose one of two options. Either pay the state a $3.00 per patron surcharge, on an annual basis. ...

Minimum Wage Increase?

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:51:24 CDT

Bill To Increase State Minimum Wage Moves Passes Out Of Committee

An increase to the state minimum wage hasn't happened in Illinois since 2006. But some lawmakers are working to change that this year.

A bill to hike the minimum wage passed a Senate committee Wednesday by a 9 to 5 vote. ...

14-Year-Old Boy Accidentally Shoots A 3-Year-Old Boy

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:06:03 CDT

URBANA-- A 14-year-old boy is behind bars as a 3-year-old boy is in the hospital recovering after being shot.

The case unfolded just before four in the 900 block of East Pennsylvania Avenue in Urbana.

Police tell us the 14-year-old carried the little boy outside and passed him off to someone walking by. ...

Morning Accidents Send Several to Hospital

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:23:32 CDT

Union Reps on Pension

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:12:22 CDT

Union Reps on Pension Reform

Concerns are growing at the union representing thousands of state employees. Mainly, what will a pension reform deal at the Statehouse look like for AFSCME members.

Childcare Bill Passes House

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:07:16 CDT

Childcare Bill Passes House

ABC Newschannel's Shantel Middleton reports on the latest development from the Capitol. She explains why childcare workers may not have to wait much longer before getting paid.

Some in Danville Hoping Gambling Expansion Fails

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:08:34 CDT

DANVILLE-- Danville Alderman Rickey Williams says the gambling expansion bill won't get past Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. "Even if it does pass the house and senate, the governor will veto it, and I really strongly believe they don't have enough votes in the house or senate, especially the house to overcome the governor's veto. ...

Urbana Gas Tax Increase & Roadway Projects

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:45:17 CDT

URBANA--A possible gas tax increase in Urbana could give some much needed relief on a multimillion dollar roadway project.

A more than 20-year-old stretch of road on Windsor Rd. continues to deteriorate because of an alkali-silica reaction breaking the concrete. ...