On Tuesday night, 18 year old Kavion Kenneth Poplous is suspected to have shot his roommate at Western Illinois University. The incident occurred at just after 10:30 Pm on Tuesday night at Western Illinois University's Thompson Hall. This morning, Western Illinois University officials held a press conference to update the public about the situation and the search for the suspect who is considered armed and dangerous.

With an increase in need forecast on the national level, the Salvation Army of Kewanee has decided to start their annual red kettle campaign early this year. As soon as this week you may start seeing Red Kettles pop up at notable locations. The goal, according to Eddie Tolliver with the Kewanee Salvation Army, is to give people as much time as possible to make donations this year to meet what may be a greater need than ever. Eddie tells WKEI that the initiative is called "Rescue Christmas" and they hope that more time and more kettles will allow the Salvation Army to help more people. 

It's not just the red kettles that will be starting early however. Amber Patch Troxell also joined WKEI on Tuesday to announce that the Angel Tree would be going up soon as well. Fundraising in the era of COVID-19 has been nearly impossible and that means that there has been little money collected thus far for the purchase of Angel Tree gifts. The hope is that by getting the tree up sooner, the more people have time to buy items and get them saved up for Christmas. Contact Amber Patch Troxell for more information and keep an eye out for the Angel Tree at the Kewanee Wal Mart soon.

The Greatest Comeback continues for local businesses including Blooms On Elm in Princeton.  Owner Quinta Naffziger attended a floral design academy in Chicago and decided to open Blooms two and half years ago.

The business hours for Blooms are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.  They offer delivery in Princeton and the surrounding area.  For a time Blooms could not allow customers to enter the shop but still managed to take delivery and curbside pickup orders by phone, email and social media.

Quinta says the biggest hits to the floral industry during this time have been postponements of weddings and cancellation of proms.  But she says they have had a lot of customers looking to send something nice to brighten the day of people who haven’t been able to see many others during the restrictions and social distancing.

When you visit Blooms on Elm, keep in mind that social distancing is being practiced and face masks are required.  In addition to their website bloomsonelm.net they also have a Facebook page.  Blooms On Elm is located at 14 Elm Place in Princeton or you can give them a call at 815-915-8537.

Linda Bolls rarely slows down, even in retirement. After retiring from the Salvation Army in 2017, Linda wasn't about to let time go to waste at home. Instead, Linda contacted Etta La Flora, Kewanee Citizen of the Year, and an Ameri-Corps family member. Etta signed up Linda to help out local non-profits via Americorp and landed Linda a volunteer position at Abilities Plus that has been hugely rewarding and time consuming, just as Linda likes it. Linda Bolls and Etta La Flora were our guest on Tuned In on Tuesday.

Akbar Gbaja-Biamila is the co-host of the hit competition series American Ninja Warrior and he joined WKEI in the Noon Hour on Monday to take fans behind the scenes of American Ninja Warrior. We talked to Akbar about his love of telling stories, trying and failing to keep composure as contestants achieve unbelievable feats and what the rest of the bubble season in St Louis has in store for fans of American Ninja Warrior.

Kris Noble SVACC by Regional Media

Relay for Life 2020 Report by Regional Media

Kathy Werderman with the Kewanee Animal Control Pound was our guest on People to People on Monday. Kathy joined WKEI to talk about Kittens. Specifically, the pound has free kittens right now. Free in the sense that they can be fostered now and then become yours once you have paid to have the kitten spayed or neutered. We talked about the challenges facing finding homes for cats as opposed to dogs and the benefits of the new pet registration law in the City of Kewanee.

Dr Cliff Martin Vice President Chief Medical Officer serving OSF Saint Luke Medical Center, OSF Holy Family Medical Center, and OSF St. Mary Medical Center, was our guest on Tuned In on Monday, September 14th, 2020. Today, we talked about COVID-19 and the digestive system. New research has identified diarrhea as a symptom to watch for for COVID-19. Dr Martin says that it is unusual but there is evidence that COVID-19 is staying in the body longer by sticking in the digestive tract which may be indicated by issues related to disgestive issues including diarrhea.

The new season of Dancing with the Stars debuts on Monday, September 14th, and one of the most watched and talked about stars of the new season, other than Carole Baskin, is Bachelor and Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe. Kaitlyn has become a beloved fan favorite with fans of the Bachelor franchise on ABC and that fandom is part of what drove Kaitlyn to jump at the chance to join Dancing with the Stars. Kaitlyn tells WKEI that even with her ballet background the challenge has been more than she expected.