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1 week ago | 
wcia.com | Gabriella Morando
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — On a cold January day, Cece Hu took her first breath. After two miscarriages, it was a moment years in the making for her parents and two older sisters, ages 9 and 10. “The girls would actually come in first thing in the morning to say, ‘Hi’ to her and they would do homework in the room she’s sleeping in because they want to hang out,” Cece’s mother Evelyn Huang said.
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1 week ago | 
wcia.com | Bradley Zimmerman |Gabriella Morando
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A Champaign woman made her first appearance in court on Monday to face charges that she caused a crash that killed a 2-month-old baby last month. Kartila Brooks appeared via Zoom in the courtroom of Judge Brett Olmstead for arraignment on four counts of aggravated DUI. Three of the counts were for causing great bodily harm, Class 4 felonies, and the fourth was for causing death, a Class 2 felony.
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2 weeks ago | 
wcia.com | Gabriella Morando
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — 6-year-old Noah Edwards didn’t come home from school on Thursday. He never made it there to begin with. Police said the kindergartener was crossing Oakland Avenue around 7:21 a.m. when a 41-year-old woman hit him with her car. He later died at the hospital. “I don’t want to live in a world where there’s no Noah,” Noah’s Mother Rekyia Smith said. It was a special morning — pajama day at school.
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2 weeks ago | 
yahoo.com | Gabriella Morando
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — 6-year-old Noah Edwards didn’t come home from school on Thursday. He never made it there to begin with. Police said the kindergartener was crossing Oakland Avenue around 7:21 a.m. when a 41-year-old woman hit him with her car. He later died at the hospital. 6-year-old killed in Decatur car vs. pedestrian crash “I don’t want to live in a world where there’s no Noah,” Noah’s Mother Rekyia Smith said. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt was a special morning — pajama day at school.
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2 weeks ago | 
yahoo.com | Gabriella Morando
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — The first Child Advocacy Center in the country got its start 40 years ago. The one in Vermilion County is much newer, but its mission is the same. They’ve served about 480 children in five years, Jonathan Munoz, Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center executive director, said.
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2 weeks ago | 
wcia.com | Gabriella Morando
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A Republican speaker known for striking up debates with college students made his way to the University of Illinois Tuesday night. Hundreds made their way to Foellinger Auditorium both for and against Charlie Kirk’s presence on campus. Supporters stood in lines that went on for yards while proudly flaunting MAGA hats. “He’s a good guy, he likes Trump, you know, Trump is a good guy,” a male community member said.
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2 weeks ago | 
wcia.com | Gabriella Morando
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — In the last five years, Champaign Police have responded to more than 80,000 calls for service that could have benefitted from a mental health professional, the city’s fire chief said. Now, they’re working alongside the fire department pushing for a new way of handling calls that would employ those kinds of experts. They’re asking city council for their approval to move forward with their co-response model.
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2 weeks ago | 
wcia.com | Gabriella Morando
THOMASBORO, Ill. (WCIA) — Thomasboro officials said they’ve lost count of how many times they’ve been called to car crashes along a stretch of U.S. 45. The Illinois Department of Transportation has taken notice, too, and is working to prevent future tragedies from unfolding on the roadway. They’re proposing the implementation of J-turns at the intersections at Flatville Road in Thomasboro and about four miles south at Leverett Road.
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2 weeks ago | 
wcia.com | Gabriella Morando
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A historic Champaign theater stage has been empty for months while under renovation. But now, shows are back in the spotlight. The Virginia Theatre hosted a soft opening on Monday to screen “Drop,” a PG-13 thriller. About 250 people snacked on popcorn, and cracked open candy boxes as they found their seats. The venue has been home to movies and local productions for more than 100 years, but staff said it was well overdue for some TLC.
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2 weeks ago | 
wcia.com | Gabriella Morando
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A patch of land at Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery will be buzzing with activity before long. The farm announced that they’re developing a pollinator patch and a beehive on their property. Several kinds of flower species will be planted in the coming months to make sure bees and butterflies have plenty of food and a place to call home. Organizers said although the results won’t be immediate, the infrastructure is an investment into the farm’s future.
