Ben Machi

Decatur

News Anchor/Reporter at WAND-TV (Decatur, IL)

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Articles

Scholarship encouraging more to become teachers amid shortage

5 days ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

One scholarship is designed to encourage more students to go into teaching and stay to teach in Illinois. Amethyst Hamm, a senior at Illinois State University and recipient of the scholarship, told WAND News, "This scholarship has changed my life and allowed me to do more than I ever thought that I would be able to do."The ECACE scholarship helps pay for tuition up to $7,500 for qualifying students.
CASA raising awareness during Child Abuse Prevention Month

1 week ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Macon Co. Casa serves about 600 children in just Macon Co. alone. During April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, the organization is spreading awareness about what some children are going through.
Illini host Japanese college football team

2 weeks ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Monday night, Illini football hosted members of the Osaka University football team to watch practice and see the facilities. Bret Bielema has been friends with Atsushi Saijo, the head coach of the Japanese squad, since he was a Graduate Assistant at the University of Iowa. Saijo had come to a camp as a player coach. The two spent hours talking football and now Saijo has visited Bielema on four different stops, first at Iowa, then Wisconsin, Arkansas, and now Illinois.
New system to shorten Champaign Fire response time, assist dispatchers

2 weeks ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - METCAD unveils a new system designed to shorten response time, assist dispatchers, and help firefighters sleep better. The system is called 'Locution' and automatically dispatches trucks and engines to the address after the information is inputted by the dispatcher. It's quicker and allows the call taker to stay on the line with the person calling.
Macon Co. Health Dept. introduces free SHARPS boxes

4 weeks ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - If you use injectables as a form of medication or for any other reason, it can be hard to know how to dispose of your used needles. Now, the Macon County Health Department is taking the guessing out of it. "We've always received calls from community members wanting to know what to do with their SHARPS containers" Amber Holthaus, Director of Clinical Nursing Services at MCHD, said. "They've called their pharmacies and get no direction.
The math behind crafting a perfect bracket

1 month ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - The madness is nearly upon us, with the NCAA tournament set to tip off officially Thursday. You're probably putting together a bracket trying to find the perfect set of teams to beat your friends, win your office pool, maybe even put together a perfect bracket. Not so fast. "There's over 9 quintillion possible combinations," said University of Illinois Professor Sheldon Jacobson who also runs his own bracket analytics website.
Illini AD asks congress for universal rules governing college athletics

1 month ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman testified before a congressional committee in Washington, D.C. Tuesday. Whitman was joined by University of South Carolina Head Football Coach Shane Beamer and three former and current collegiate athletes. Whitman asked for the committee's help in creating universal rules governing college athletics instead of on a state-by-state basis.
Community survey results share insight for Macon Co. Mental Health Board

1 month ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The Macon County Mental Health Board's 'Unmet Needs' survey results are in. "The same top 10 unmet needs continue to be unmet," said Tim Macken, Executive Director of the MCMHB.
MacArthur senior becomes 'Principal for a day'

1 month ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Parsons Elementary School alumnus and MacArthur senior Nolan Evans returned to the grade school to become 'Principal for a day.'"I love interacting with the kids and just seeing them grow over time," Evans said. Evans went around to different classrooms throughout the day helping students with classwork, reading, and spoke about the importance of voting. "We all go through the same things," Evans said. "I was once [a student here]. I was in your position at the same time.
Decatur Public Schools holds community feedback session on topics like enrollment, Dennis Lab

2 months ago | wandtv.com | Ben Machi

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Thursday night, Decatur Public Schools leaders presented teachers, students, parents, and community members different scenarios for how to address various problems facing the district over the next five years. "We're looking at how we create the most efficiency with the square footage that we have and how do we create the most equitable spaces for all of our learners," said Dr. Jay Marino, an assistant superintendent with the district.