By WMBD TV BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) - A Chiddix Junior High teacher has been arrested Wednesday after he was indicted for alleged child exploitation. A 42-count bill of indictment was returned by a McLean County grand jury Wednesday that included charges of indecent solicitation of a child, grooming and possession of c...

By WMBD TV PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - In the past week, Country Financial received 1,700 claims, with 70% of those claims in Illinois and the vast majority reporting property losses. That's according to Jesse Kohlbecker, the vice president of claims and client services. He said they've had a busy month due to the storms. &q...

By WCIA & WMBD TV EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) - Several people were hurt as severe weather swept through Effingham County on Wednesday evening. Effingham Fire Chief, Brant Yochum, said crews responded to "numerous storm-related" emergencies, mainly in the Shumway and Siegel areas. This included reports ...

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - A tornado watch has been issued for the area through 10 p.m. Wednesday. The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of Central Illinois under a Level 4 (Moderate Risk) for severe weather. This upgrade was driven by the high likelihood of tornadoes, some intense, across the region. With a tornado o...

By WMBD TV MINONK, Ill. (WMBD) - With a drum roll from the audience and a flip of a switch, a new clean energy source became available for the residents of Minonk. Nearly two dozen community members and dignitaries gathered June 16 on a windy day at the Woodford County village's new Community Solar Farm. It's the count...

By WMBD TV HEYWORTH, Ill. (WMBD) - The McLean County Health Department hosted a free car seat check event in Heyworth, aiming to ensure the safety of children in cars. The goal of the event was to check as many car seats as possible, done by trained technicians, while also informing people about safe car seat practices...

By WMBD TV BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) - Unit 5 and Heartland Community College have canceled classes and programming for Wednesday afternoon due to the threat of severe weather. Dayna Brown, a Unit 5 spokeswoman, said the district will close at 2:30 p.m. Second and third shift employees should not report to work she said...

NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) - One McLean County emergency siren is not operational on a day with severe weather predicted, but other neighboring sirens that overlap it will cover the community. WMBD learned from a social media notice and a follow-up conversation that the McLean County Emergency Management Agency conducted a te...