Mahomet Police Chief Michael Metzler has announced his retirement, effective September 30, 2025, capping a distinguished 46-year career in law enforcement, including the last 14 years as chief of the Mahomet Police Department.
Compass Casting and Bokeh Background Casting will host a Photo Open Call at Parkland College on May 3, seeking a wide range of talent for a packed summer slate. The call is open to all, regardless of acting experience, and participation is quick and easy.
The Urbana Park District Board of Commissioners has announced the hiring of Rachel Lenz, Executive Director of the Macomb Park District, as the new Executive Director of the Urbana Park District. Lenz will officially assume her new role on May 21, succeeding long-time director Tim Bartlett, who is retiring after a 33-year career with the district.
The celebration will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Workers took down the 28-year-old PrairiePlay on March 2024 to begin construction on the new, inclusive and accessible playground for the community. The playground opened in October of 2024. Urbana parks will be celebrating the first spring and summer of the new PrairiePlay.
“It’s time to put a fresh set of eyes on DPI. We will see what the Auditor General’s office comes up with, in the meantime, I’m calling on the U of I to fully invest in the future leadership of DPI in the Urbana campus and out of the President’s office – he had his chance,” Rose concluded.
Illinois Field in Champaign will host the 2025 IHSA Class 1A and 2A baseball state finals on June 6 and 7, a move expected to significantly boost the local economy. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced the venue change due to a scheduling conflict at Dozer Park in Peoria.
To learn more about some of the children in need of a foster family, visit the Heart Gallery of Illinois at https://letitbeus.org/heart-gallery-of-illinois/. To learn more about becoming a licensed foster parent as well as learning more about becoming an Emergency Resource Home, fill out the online interest form on the DCFS website: https://dcfs.illinois.gov. Click on Loving Homes, then click on Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent.
On Monday, May 5, weather permitting, crews will begin sealing streets in the southeast one-third of Champaign. The residential streets will be closed for about four hours until cured. Heavily traveled streets and streets with businesses will have one lane open at all times. Residents will be notified by door flyers the day before closing, and they should have their cars parked outside the work area if needed.
In a collaborative effort to combat food insecurity, the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture have formalized a partnership to donate meat from the 2024 Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions to Feeding Illinois food banks. This marks the first time such a donation has been made under a formal agreement.
The Illinois Lottery has announced that the winners of the $349 million Mega Millions jackpot from the March 25 drawing have come forward to claim their prize. The fortunate winners, who wish to remain anonymous, purchased a single Quick Pick ticket at Casey’s General Store in Cortland, Illinois. For selling the winning ticket, the retailer received a bonus of $500,000.