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New-look Illinois opens the season against upset-minded Eastern Illinois

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New-look Illinois opens the season against upset-minded Eastern Illinois


Eastern Illinois at Illinois, Thursday, 9 p.m. ET (BTN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Illinois by 27 1/2.

Series record: Illinois leads 2-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

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Illinois needs a decisive victory to show it has tossed aside the disappointing conclusion to last season — two-point losses in the final two games cost them a bowl bid — and has the ability to make some noise in the Big Ten. Bret Bielema is 18-19 in three seasons in Champaign, with a promising 8-5 finish bookended by two 5-7 seasons.

Eastern Illinois, 8-3 a year ago and ranked No. 24 in the final FCS poll, has an opportunity to pull off a major upset against a foe just 56 miles from its campus in Charleston.

KEY MATCHUP

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, left, talks to referees during the NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Nov. 25, 2023, in Champaign, Ill. Credit: AP/Erin Hooley

Eastern Illinois QB Pierce Holley vs. the Illinois defense. Holley, a two-year starter, passed for 2,741 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, his first at Eastern Illinois after transferring from Georgetown. The Illini led the nation in scoring defense in 2022 (12 points per game) but slipped last season to No. 95 (29 points per game). The Illini hope CB Terrance Brooks, a transfer from Texas, will shore up their secondary.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Eastern Illinois: LB Elijawah Tolbert is a two-time first team All-Big South/OVC selection. He led the Panthers last season with 87 tackles, including seven for loss. Tolbert entered the transfer portal after last season and went through spring practice at Missouri State, but returned to Eastern Illinois during the summer.

Illinois: WR Zakhari Franklin, a transfer from Ole Miss, is college football’s active career leader in receptions (266), receiving yards (3,386) and receiving touchdowns (38). He’s been reunited with Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., who was Franklin’s OC at UTSA, where he began his college career.

FACTS & FIGURES

Illinois is 3-0 in season openers under Bielema, beating Nebraska, Wyoming and Toledo at home. … Former Eastern Illinois football player Chris Wilkerson returned to his alma mater in 2022 to coach the Panthers after a successful eight-year run as the coach at the University of Chicago. After a 2-9 season in Wilkerson’s first year as Eastern Illinois’ coach in 2022, the Panthers turned things around last season. They were one of the final four teams considered for the FCS playoffs. … Of the 120 players on the Illinois roster, 45 are new to the program. … Illinois offensive linemen have a combined 96 starts and 168 games in their collegiate careers … The Illini have 17 players, including nine transfers, who have started 10 or more games in college. … Illinois and Eastern Illinois last met in 2008. The Illini won 47-21.

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Severe storms cause major damage to homes, schools and trees in central Illinois; thousands without power – IPM Newsroom

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Severe storms cause major damage to homes, schools and trees in central Illinois; thousands without power – IPM Newsroom


Updated Friday, June 12, 2026 at 12:00 a.m.

Heavy storms caused major damage to at least two school buildings in Vermilion County last night.

Joel Bird is the Director of the Vermilion County Emergency Management Agency. He said the damage is widespread.

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“Danville has several homes with trees that have fallen near the garage or the home,” said Bird.

Mark Denman Elementary School in Danville lost its roof and that wasn’t all.

“Up in Hoopeston, there’s several spots where a tornado went through on the South side… some damage at the high school, east of town at the local bridge,” said Bird.

The Nutrien Plant also took a direct hit. Bird said as of late Thursday night, there are no reports of injuries or deaths.

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The sounds of chainsaws will fill the air in many Champaign County communities on Friday.

Kandy Powell was at home around 7:30 Thursday night when a storm blew through east Urbana.

“But then the winds got really strong. And as you looked out the window you can see that the trees were kind of bowing down a little bit. And from there we heard a very large snap,” said Powell.

The large branch of one tree fell onto her driveway just missing the house. A branch from another tall, mature tree fell, blocking her street. Powell did not lose power, but thousands of people in Champaign-Urbana had a long wait to get the lights back on overnight.

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Tree branch lying on East Washington Street in Urbana after severe storms on June 11, 2026. (IPM News)

Updated Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 8:30 p.m.

There are multiple reports of damage after severe storms passed through Champaign and Vermilion Counties on Thursday night. The National Weather Service issued Tornado Warning for Champaign County at 7:28 p.m. 

As of 8:42 p.m., Ameren reports more than 78,000 customers have lost power. Thousands of homes and businesses in the Springfield, Champaign-Urbana and Danville areas do not have electricity. To report a downed power line, call 800.755.5000.

power outage map
Ameren Outage map at 8:42 p.m. on June 11, 2026

 

Below are some pictures of storm damage. This story will be updated through the evening.

large tree branch lying across driveway

Large tree branch lying across driveway in Urbana after storms on June 11, 2026.

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tree damage
Tree damage in Champaign after storms on June 11, 2026. (IPM News)
tree damage
Tree damage in Champaign after severe storms on June 11, 2026. (IPM News)

 

 

 



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‘Best Coffee Shop In Illinois,’ Social Butterfly’s 1-Year Anniversary Offers Joliet Block Party Festival

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‘Best Coffee Shop In Illinois,’ Social Butterfly’s 1-Year Anniversary Offers Joliet Block Party Festival


What are the most popular drinks on the menu?

“Any cold brews and cold foam combination,” Bosi explained. “And our sourdough sandwiches sell like crazy. When we first opened, we did not open with a focus on food.”

Since adding seven sourdough sandwiches to the regular menu, the most popular selections include the Golden Hour, Fresco Italiano, Sunrise Sausage, Garden Glow and the Spicy Social.

The address for Social Butterfly Coffee is 310 N. Ottawa St., now known as the 3TEN Building. Back in 2018, the Old Steelworkers Union Hall property was purchased and remodeled by Joliet businessman Cesar Cardenas, who now serves on the Joliet City Council.

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The inside of Social Butterfly Coffee can accommodate around 75 people. There is plenty of seating, sofas, tables and chairs for people to relax, either by themselves or to strike up a conversation with someone else.





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Thousands lose power during overnight severe weather

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Thousands lose power during overnight severe weather


DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – Thousands of people lost power late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning as severe storms moved across Central Illinois. 

At 12:30 Thursday morning, PowerOutage.com reported the following counties with outages in Central Illinois.

  • Sangamon County – 12,500
  • Menard County – 2,500
  • Piatt County – 1,200
  • Macon County – 1,100
  • Cass County – 700
  • Vermilion County – 600
  • Piatt County – 300

Strong storms produced several tornado warnings Wednesday night and early Thursday. As of midnight, there have been no confirmed tornadoes but some severe storms were producing high winds and heavy rains. NWS Lincoln received reports of spotted tornados, but any surveys wouldn’t start until daylight Thursday. 

The National Weather Service in Lincoln was getting reports of downed trees in several counties. 

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The EMA Director in Sangamon County reported trees down along several streets. Public Works crews were being called in to remove them from the road. Drivers should use caution if driving at night as down trees may be hard to see. 

The Macon County EMA reported downed trees in Maroa, Argenta, and Orena. There were no reported injuries from the storms in that county. 

Viewer pictures to WAND News showed trees and power lines down along Taintor Road in Springfield near Turasky Meats. 

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.

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