Category Archives: Headlines
Severe storms cause surge in claims for Country Financial
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 Je...
Jun 18, 2026
Effingham Fire Dept. said injuries reported after severe weather rages through the area
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 res...
Jun 18, 2026
Tornado Watch issued through 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 17
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...
Jun 17, 2026
Minonk flips switch on solar farm, powers thousands of homes
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 a...
Jun 17, 2026
Car seat safety event in Heyworth aims to protect children
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 che...
Jun 17, 2026
McLean County schools to close early due to possible severe weather
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 sp...
Jun 17, 2026
One McLean County siren is out, overlap expected to cover it
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 f...
Jun 17, 2026
Normal Town Council approves new apartment development
By WMBD TV NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) - The Normal Town Council approved an amendment to build two new apartment buildings on the west side of Normal, Monday night. "These apartments are part of an annexatio...
Jun 17, 2026
Lawmakers, stakeholders are ready for summer of data center negotiations
By NIKOEL HYTREK Capitol News Illinois nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Though lawmakers failed to advance data center regulations in the POWER Act this spring, some leaders plan to con...
Jun 17, 2026
Power outages begin to pop-up after storms roll through Central Illinois
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - As storms start to pick up in the area, so are the number of power outages in Central Illinois. While a majority of the power outages are just east of the coverage area, Warren a...
Jun 17, 2026
