Illinois
Deadspin | Dominating first half propels Illinois past Little Rock
Freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis scored a season-high 21 points and Illinois reeled off 23 straight first-half points to trigger a 92-34 non-conference victory over Little Rock Monday night in Champaign, Ill.
Tomislav Ivisic posted 16 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois (5-1) while Tre White contributed 16 points and eight rebounds and Will Riley added 13 points. The Illini tied the State Farm Center record for fewest points allowed by limiting the visitors to 23.6 percent shooting from the field .
Jordan Jefferson paced Little Rock (3-4) with 11 points and five rebounds. The Trojans finished with just 13 baskets while committing 14 turnovers and getting outrebounded 56-26.
Little Rock’s Mwani Williamson opened the game with a 3-pointer, but it didn’t take long for Illinois to find ways to attack the Trojans’ man-to-man and get the visitors in foul trouble.
Illinois needed just 6 minutes, 7 seconds to get into the bonus — at which time Jakucionis canned two free throws to give the Illini a 17-8 lead and a 9-for-10 showing at the line.
The Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorites pulled within 20-13 on Jefferson’s 3-pointer coming out of a timeout, but Illinois answered with 23 straight points to turn it into a rout. Ivisic, Riley, Ben Humrichous and Jakucionis drilled 3-pointers during the run while Morez Johnson Jr., Riley and Ivisic threw down dunks.
Little Rock finally snapped its 7-minute, 46-second scoring drought with Johnathan Lawson’s 10-foot set shot at the 3:41 mark to make it 43-15, but Illinois took a 51-19 lead into the break.
At halftime, the Illini owned a 27-10 advantage on the boards and they turned their seven offensive rebounds into 14 second-chance points. Little Rock, meanwhile, shot just 24 percent from the field and 40 percent at the line. Illinois picked up where it left off in the second half. Jakucionis drilled two 3-pointers and White hit two layups as the Illini opened with a 12-2 run to push the margin to 63-21.
Little Rock went scoreless for the final 5:05 to finish with 34 points, which tied Wisconsin-Green Bay (Dec. 4, 1985) and Savannah State (Nov. 21, 2006) for fewest points by an opponent since Illinois’ home arena opened in 1963.
–Field Level Media
Firefighters in McHenry, Illinois, battled a large fire that broke out at a popular suburban bakery Sunday afternoon.
McHenry firefighters were called to the Riverside Bakery shop around 2 p.m. and found smoke billowing out of the roof.
The cold made fighting the fire difficult, and crews had to be called in from surrounding communities to get it under control. The fire has since been extinguished.
Two people, including a civilian and a firefighter, suffered minor injuries outside and were not involved in the fire. They were taken to Northwestern McHenry Hospital for treatment.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The Eastern Illinois Food Bank’s mobile food truck may be rolling near you soon. The program’s truck covers 21 counties and is adding more stops.
This month, the food bank has added two more stops in two different counties. The executive director, Amanda Borden, shares more on why the bank chose these areas to add.
“We’ve added two additional stops so far, one in McLean County and one in Vermilion County,” Borden said. “We looked at the data, and we assessed the areas that were the most impacted by the SNAP disruptions as part of the government shutdown. We were able to find some locations and add additional distribution so that we can ensure that we’re able to get more nutritious food into the hands of people who need it the most.”
She also said the government shutdown may be over, but people are still catching up. For the added dates, you can visit Eastern Illinois Food Bank’s website.
Illinois
Illinois’ Historic State Park An Hour Outside Chicago Has A Scenic Canal Trail, Camping, And Canoeing – Islands
Chicago is home to famous green spaces like Millennium Park, Grant Park, and Lincoln Park, which offer a number of outdoor activities in the metropolis. But if you need to escape the Windy City for something more rugged, there are plenty of nearby options. Close to Chicago — which was voted the “World’s Most Beautiful City” in 2025 — is Channahon State Park, a historic area that became a state park in 1932 and is certainly worth exploring.
Channahon State Park is located at the confluence of the Des Plaines, DuPage, and Kankakee Rivers, so there’s nature to enjoy as well as history. First, step back in time at Lock 6, where you’ll find the original locktender’s house on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. These historic sites were restored by the Civilian Conservation Corps, making them a well-preserved glimpse into the past. Elsewhere in the park, the Forgotten Warrior Memorial honors those in the U.S. Army who have been affected by PTSD.
Channahon State Park is well-known for its scenic canal trail — the Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail. This travels alongside the canal for 61 miles between Rockdale and LaSalle. It’s primarily composed of crushed gravel and paved surfaces, making it an ideal spot for bikers and hikers. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like great blue herons and other birds, as they’re common sightings in the area. Want to squeeze in even more miles? It’s possible to connect to more scenic trails in McKinley Woods and Gebhard Woods State Park along the way.
More activities in Channahon State Park
The state park has a number of other outdoor activities to enjoy. While the I & M Canal Trail provides recreation for hiking and biking, you can also canoe part of the canal itself. There are 15 miles suitable for canoeing between Channahon and Morris; Illinois DNR highlights the pretty scenery and opportunities for wildlife spotting you can enjoy on your paddle. Fishing is popular here, too — anglers can cast a line in either the DuPage River or the I & M Canal. Common fish include bluegill, crappie, bass, and more.
Camping is available at Channahon State Park, although it’s limited to basic tent camping. After getting a permit from the information center, you’ll need to carry your gear to campsites. One reviewer for The Dyrt notes that parking is close by, so it shouldn’t be much of an ordeal. Campground facilities include picnic tables, grills, and fire pits; there are also pit toilets and a drinking fountain nearby for campers to use.
Channahon State Park is easily accessible from Chicago — it’s just a 1-hour drive away, which makes it an appealing option for a day trip or weekend getaway. Although Midway International Airport is the closest airport, O’ Hare International Airport, the most well-connected airport in the country, is the best option with more flights and international connections. It’s about an hour’s drive from the airport to the park. As per the Illinois DNR, there is no admission fee to visit Channahon State Park. As it’s a rural area, you’ll want your own vehicle to get around.
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