CHAMPAIGN — Champaign has a new plan to stop the recent spike in shootings. The Champaign City Council approved the plan unanimously on Tuesday night after hearing two hours of testimonies about gun violence in the city. Samantha Carter lives in Garden Hills, one of the most affected neighborhoods. “I would like to share with…
Updated at 4:30 p.m. CHAMPAIGN – School officials have lifted a lockdown at Champaign Central High School, which was imposed Friday after several fights broke out. Unit 4 spokesperson Stacey Moore says police were called after a large group of students rushed out of the school and one student claimed that a gun was involved in…
CHAMPAIGN – For two years, the Housing Authority of Champaign County’s YouthBuild program has helped young people finish their high school diplomas, while renovating public housing properties. The program managers also see the training program as a youth violence prevention initiative. “It’s a safe place where they can come in and talk, and we provide…
URBANA — School districts in Champaign and Urbana are considering installing metal detectors in response to a rise in youth violence. But a social science researcher says metal detectors are not as effective as more long-term violence prevention. Jun Sung Hong is a professor at the School of Social Work at Wayne State University and…
CHAMPAIGN – The rise in gun violence in Champaign-Urbana and elsewhere can be traced back to the trauma young people of color are experiencing. And addressing it effectively requires a united effort from the entire community. Those were takeaways from the discussion Monday night at the Pour Brothers Craft Taproom in downtown Champaign. The event,…
URBANA — Urbana High School students and staff may soon walk through AI-powered metal detectors to get to class. The District 116 Board of Education spent Tuesday night debating whether to install the new technology, called Evolv Express. Superintendent Jennifer Ivory-Tatum told the board that rising community violence has left staff drained. “They’re doing patrolling…
CHAMPAIGN — Ninth graders started this fall at Centennial High School with trauma. There were midday gunshots near the Champaign high school in September. Other incidents included a social media threat and a student who brought a gun to school. The rattled freshmen turned to their peer advisor, Centennial senior Hussein Al-Juboory. “They were asking,…
CHAMPAIGN – Chicago-based security company AGB will continue to guard Champaign public schools this year. The company won out against the other bidder for the work — Stockholm-based Securitas. The Champaign Unit 4 School District Board of Education unanimously approved the contract on Monday, with questions about how the company has done so far. “There’s…
CHAMPAIGN – A 20-year-old man was arraigned today for a deadly mass shooting that occurred in Champaign in July. The Champaign County State’s Attorney Office is charging Davucci Craig with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting at the American Legion post on Hickory Street. Police say Craig shot and killed 17-year-old Kieshaun Thatch, who…
DANVILLE – Hundreds filled Danville High School’s auditorium on Saturday, October 9, to celebrate the life of Jelani Day. The 25-year-old was reported missing in late August. At the time, he was pursuing a graduate degree in speech pathology at Illinois State University. Speakers celebrated Day’s dream of becoming a doctor. And how he pursued…
CHAMPAIGN – Police in Champaign are still searching for the person who shot and killed a Centennial High School student. On Friday, the city identified the victim as 17-year-old Jonathon McPhearson. Officers said McPhearson was sitting along West Kirby Avenue on Thursday afternoon when multiple people in masks walked up and opened fire on him. So…
CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign Unit 4 school bus was struck by gunfire Thursday while transporting students home. No students or staff were injured. A statement from the Champaign Police Department says officers responded to the area of Neil Street and Arcadia Drive just before 3 pm for the report of shots fired. Police found a crash involving…
URBANA – Family, friends and fellow police officers said farewell to University of Illinois Police lieutenant Aaron Landers Tuesday, at a funeral held at the Vineyard Church in Urbana. The 50-year-old Landers died August 23rd, from injuries suffered in a five-vehicle traffic crash the day before in Champaign. A driver involved in the accident has…
URBANA – A University of Illinois Police Lieutenant killed in an off-duty wreck will be laid to rest on Tuesday afternoon. The department says a procession honoring Lt. Aaron Landers will begin at The Vineyard Church of Central Illinois on Lincoln Avenue in Urbana. It is scheduled to start around 12:30 p.m. The procession will…
The Illinois State Police say they’re working to improve diversity at the agency and expand capacity, but this comes after years of criticism over a huge backlog in DNA evidence and the slow processing of firearm licenses. The 21st was joined by Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly to talk about it. GUEST Brendan Kelly Director, Illinois State Police Today, Illinois…