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Destructive tornadoes and storms cause damage in several central Illinois towns | First Listen

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Michelle Eccles

Published June 18, 2026 at 7:15 AM CDT

IPM meteorologist Andrew Pritchard captured a picture of a large tornado in Charleston on June 17, 2026.

Petersburg, Blue Mound, Effingham, and Charleston among the cities hit hard by Wednesday's storms
A federal appeals court said this week that former a Commonwealth Edison CEO and a former lobbyist could be retried on charges related to bribery
Some lawmakers hope to continue discussions with constituents on data centers
Illinois lawmakers this spring approved a measure that would prohibit new immigration centers near schools, homes, day care centers, parks or places of worship

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Michelle Eccles

Michelle Eccles anchors NPR Illinois' Morning Edition. Michelle has more than 30 years of experience in broadcasting which all began at her high school radio station, Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois. She attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale for her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a focus in Radio Television and went on to become an award winning anchor and reporter for stations in Decatur and Springfield.

See stories by Michelle Eccles