10+ hour, 14+ min ago (124+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A 68-year-old Springfield man has been arrested for possessing'child sexual abuse materials, according to Illinois State Police. ISP said that it began a child sexual abuse materials investigation in Springfield in October, and after gathering enough evidence, identified 68-year-old Merle Monroe as the suspect.' Monroe was arrested Nov. 24 and charged with five counts of possession of child pornography (Class 2 felony) and three counts of possession of child pornography (Class 3 felony).' Monroe is currently being held at the Sangamon County Jail. Health officials share tips to prevent foodborne illness this Thanksgiving 19-year-old Springfield man found shot multiple times inside crashed car Community campaign being held to name new Decatur Baseball Club...

12+ hour, 39+ min ago (239+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) -A 19-year-old Springfield man is dead after police say he was found shot multiple times inside a vehicle that crashed into a detached garage late Friday night. According to the Springfield Police Department, officers were called around 10:47 p.m. on Nov. 21 to the 2400 block of S. 13th Street for a report of a vehicle that struck a garage. When officers arrived, they found a man, later identified by the Sangamon County Coroner as 19-year-old Leslie Broomfield of Springfield, unresponsive inside the vehicle after being shot. Broomfield was taken to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries. The coroner's office shared that an autopsy confirmed that Broomfield had died after being shot multiple times. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Scene Investigations were called to the scene and are now handling the case. This is an ongoing investigation, and…...

16+ hour, 14+ min ago (151+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A Springfield man has been charged with creating and possessing child pornography." Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged Brandon Heimsness, 39, in Sangamon County Circuit Court with 11 Class X felony counts of creating child pornography and three counts of Class 2 felony child pornography possession." Heimsness is being held at the Sangamon County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 12. 2026. On June 17, Raoul's investigators and the Springfield police searched Heimsness' home in the 1900 block of N. 19th St. in Springfield. Police said they found child sexual abuse material files on his digital devices." Search underway for suspect after man shot in Decatur Historic Powers Mansion back on market after over 2 years Wisconsin woman in 2014 Slender Man stabbing is found a day after walking away from group home Champaign-Urbana renters call for lift on rent control ban...

4+ day, 12+ hour ago (148+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) " An investigation is underway after police found a woman's body inside of a garbage bin Wednesday afternoon. According to the Sangamon County Coroner, 65-year-old Nancy Corbin's remains were recovered from a garbage bin inside of a shed on a property in the 1100 block of North 11th Street. According to the coroner, the remains were badly decomposed and scientifically identified Thursday during an autopsy. The cause of death is pending additional studies. The death remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Springfield Police Department. WAND news has reached out to the Springfield Police Department for more information. Decatur man found guilty of sexually assaulting 12-year-old Skull found in Springfield now identified as remains of man who went missing in 2021 Woman dead after crash in Edgar County ICC cuts over $58 million from Ameren Illinois gas rate request...

1+ week, 10+ hour ago (401+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - The Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL) will hold all of its games next year at Robin Roberts Stadium. The WPBL is launching four teams next year, based in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston, and thought Springfield was a great middle ground between the East and West Coast." "Robin Roberts Stadium is a first-grade, 5,000-plus seat venue that will provide the highest quality experience for players and fans alike," said Kat Williams, WPBL Advisory Board Member. "The players of the WPBL will have exclusive access to that stadium. They will not be sharing with anyone. It is a beautiful venue, and it is historically a culturally significant location."" Games will start Aug. 1 and run through mid to late September. They will not impact the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes season, which ends in July." Jamie Toole is the…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago (312+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) " Congressional candidates are gearing up for the 2026 U.S. House of Representative election. A community in Springfield hosted a forum inside of First Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening, where voters interacted with candidates running for the 15th Congressional District. "I want a representative that's going to represent us, not corporate interests, not Donald Trump, but represent the 15th congressional district," said Terry Redman, an audience member at the forum. Voters got the chance to hear directly from candidates running for Illinois' 15th congressional district. The forum gave voters the opportunity to ask tough questions and eventually decide who they want representing them in Washington. Republican candidates and Incumbent Representative Mary Miller were invited to the forum. Organizer Karen Broquet said the community should hear from all candidates regardless of the political party. "That personal touch is huge. And our hope is that the…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (142+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A former Springfield police sergeant could face 12 years in prison for being drunk behind the wheel and crashing into a motorcycle." Two people were left with serious injuries in September 2024 after a vehicle driven by"Michael Egan"was going north on East Lake Shore Drive while a motorcycle was traveling south. Officers at the scene said Egan failed to yield the right of way and made a left turn in front of the motorcycle." Egan pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI Friday. The sentencing range is one to 12 years in prison. He will be eligible for probation." Egan is due back in court in January for sentencing." Lanphier HS assistant principal arrested for battering student resigns Person dies after being found unresponsive in Shelby Co. jail cell Armed man arrested after standoff with Danville police...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (220+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Catholic Charities, Diocese of Springfield recently received a massive donation to help with food insecurity in the area." Catholic Charities, Diocese of Springfield shared that it received 4,211 pounds of food from Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA)." The donation included one pallet of vegetables and fruits, one pallet of shelf-stable milk, and five pallets of items like pasta, rice, beans, soup, etc., along with other common household supplies." "Government programs such as SNAP are very important, however, they fall way short of addressing the depth of food security in our country. That is why the generosity of our parishioners and donors is so critical in helping us to address hunger all year round," said Executive Director"Steven Roach in a press release." Catholic Charities operates several programs in the area, including"St. John's Breadline in Springfield, Meals on Wheels of…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (148+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Come one, come all, and join the Ansar Shrine Circus in November!" The circus will have showtimes at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, and at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, all performances at the Bank of Springfield Center in Downtown Springfield." For more information, call 217-525-1771 or follow the circus on Facebook." Tickets can be purchased online"at the Ansar Shrine Center's website, or at the BOS Center box office." Bobbie Lane's 'pay it forward wall' helps feed Decatur community 5 things to do this weekend across central Illinois Oct. 31 - Nov. 2 Gobble up the fun as the 51st annual Turkey Trot returns to Decatur Local food pantry, organization ready if SNAP benefits aren't paid out...

4+ week, 1+ day ago (232+ words) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) " A drug take back event was held in Springfield for national prescription drug take back day on Saturday. The Sangamon County Sheriff's Office and State Representative Mike Coffey teamed up with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to host the event. The DEA and its partners collected tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs. "Unused or expired medications are a hidden danger in many homes," said Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch. "By taking part in events like this, we are helping prevent misuse and accidental ingestion." The event went from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at KC Hall in Springfield." Coffey said the event had a great turnout, and it is important to get rid of the expired drugs before they can become a danger. "It's been really overwhelming how many people have come back, so we've taken a lot…...