Dylan Smith
Multimedia Journalist
Quincy, Illinois
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Dylan Smith is a Multimedia Journalist for WGEM News. Originally from Charleston, Ill., Dylan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Multimedia Journalism from Western Illinois University.
While in college, Dylan was a reporter and executive producer for NEWS3, the WIU news station. It was at WIU that his passion turned from sports to news.
Before finding a home in news reporting, Dylan frequented the airwaves in East-Central Illinois at Cromwell Media Group by providing sports play-by-play commentary, producing commercials, and being a regular on-air talent.
When he's not at the station, Dylan enjoys working out, watching movies, and picking fights with his three younger siblings.
Updated: Sep. 20, 2023 at 2:39 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The Quincy man charged with shooting at an occupied car on Bonansinga Drive in January pleaded guilty in an Adams County courtroom on Wednesday.
Updated: Sep. 20, 2023 at 2:31 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Wyond Bynum Jr. pleaded not guilty on Wednesday morning with the words “I’m Innocent” written on the back of his jail uniform.
Updated: Sep. 19, 2023 at 5:36 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Work continues to reopen the former Blessing Health Keokuk hospital after the Michigan-based company called Insight acquired the building in March.
Updated: Sep. 19, 2023 at 4:49 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Upchurch said it took roughly 144 hours of work to get the job done, which she said was all monitored by different city officials.
Updated: Sep. 18, 2023 at 5:46 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
A victim is still in critical condition three days after 19-year old Heaton Brothers and 20-year old Dylan Test were arrested and charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery and armed violence.
Updated: Sep. 17, 2023 at 7:10 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Since Quincy’s first Pride in the Park three years ago, organizers believe it to be an event that continues to grow.
Updated: Sep. 17, 2023 at 3:27 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
On Monday, Sept. 18, Illinois will become the first state to fully eliminate cash bail. In July, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled provisions of the SAFE-T Act to be constitutional, then giving law enforcement roughly two months before it would be implemented.
Updated: Sep. 14, 2023 at 5:47 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Interim Vice President for Student Success John Smith said WIU is starting to focus more on the class-profile, or students that carry a higher GPA.
Updated: Sep. 13, 2023 at 11:58 AM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
It will be another week before the Adams County man charged with fatally shooting a 22-year-old in Camp Point, Illinois, will plead guilty or not guilty.
Updated: Sep. 12, 2023 at 5:34 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The Baring Area Recovery Team (BART) has been established to take recovery efforts a step further.
Updated: Sep. 6, 2023 at 8:16 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Keokuk is receiving $2.3 million in funding to test two models of the Amjet Turbine System and generator, which is designed to add power-generating infrastructure to non-powered dams.
Updated: Sep. 6, 2023 at 5:30 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Friday night lights will have a different look one year from now at Calvert Stadium.
Updated: Sep. 5, 2023 at 4:49 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Students at Illini West High School now have a new resource with the addition of a full-time social worker.
Updated: Sep. 4, 2023 at 4:16 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Since 1948, the Tri-State Rodeo has attracted thousands of visitors every year. 2023 marks the 75th year for the rodeo, and it got underway Monday with the Lil Spurs Rodeo.
Updated: Sep. 3, 2023 at 9:58 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The Gem City Summer Concert Series wrapped up Sunday night in a big way as Quincy welcomed the “Paint Me a Birmingham” singer, Tracy Lawrence.
Updated: Sep. 3, 2023 at 4:59 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
In the last three days, thousands have flocked to historic Nauvoo where the three-day Nauvoo Grape Festival made it’s annual return.
Updated: Aug. 31, 2023 at 4:36 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
A new position in the West Prairie School District is designed to help teachers, new or tenured, to reach a little further
Updated: Aug. 30, 2023 at 4:44 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The building that houses Torrence Pre-K in the Keokuk School District was built in 1924, and officials are ready for a change.
Updated: Aug. 29, 2023 at 5:23 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
This year the three-day event runs at the Nauvoo State Park from Friday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Sept. 3.
Updated: Aug. 28, 2023 at 4:20 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The La Harpe Ambulance Service is in dire need of volunteers in order to stay up and running.
Updated: Aug. 27, 2023 at 8:44 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The emergency 911 center in Macomb has been located at 120 S. MacArthur Street for more than 30 years. However, a move across town could be in the center’s future.
Updated: Aug. 27, 2023 at 8:36 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The League of Women Voters of Adams County gathered Sunday at the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County to commemorate the occasion.
Updated: Aug. 24, 2023 at 4:41 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
A new apartment complex at 8th, 9th and Jersey Streets will be fully complete by next summer, according to officials at Happel Realtors.
Updated: Aug. 23, 2023 at 6:10 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
After Monday night’s council meeting, Mayor Pro-Tem Sharon Upchurch was officially appointed as mayor, and the council also approved a citizens advisory committee to help oversee the chief selection process and the hiring of new officers.
Updated: Aug. 22, 2023 at 10:59 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
A proposed CO2 pipeline by a company called Navigator received mass opposition during Tuesday night’s Hancock County Board meeting.
Updated: Aug. 21, 2023 at 5:06 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Construction that was originally planned for this summer has been delayed to this school year at MacArthur Early Childhood Center.
Updated: Aug. 21, 2023 at 4:42 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Memorial Medical Clinic looks a lot different.
Updated: Aug. 20, 2023 at 10:01 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
On Sunday, around 100 of the victim’s friends gathered at the Quincy Skate Park to pay their respects, just a few hours after his funeral where many in attendance said it was standing room only.
Updated: Aug. 20, 2023 at 9:40 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Merissa Lewiston took on the challenge of finding more than 20 lost towns in Lee County.
Updated: Aug. 17, 2023 at 5:57 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
After early supply chain setbacks, the initial opening date was sometime last fall, then officials hoped for a partial winter break move in.
Updated: Aug. 16, 2023 at 3:33 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
While final enrollment numbers aren’t official until the 10th day of the semester, QU President Brian McGee is confident the school will continue the trend of increasing enrollment.
Updated: Aug. 15, 2023 at 12:50 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
According to Blessing Health allergist Dr. Julia Montejo, 1 in 13 -- or roughly two students in every classroom -- have a food allergy.
Updated: Aug. 14, 2023 at 5:21 AM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Authorities said one person is dead after a shooting early Monday morning.
Updated: Aug. 13, 2023 at 9:59 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
WGEM News sat down with Jones to reflect on the trial that took the Quincy community by storm.
Updated: Aug. 11, 2023 at 2:45 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Adams County Judge Robert Adrian hands down maximum sentence in the murder of Rebecca Bliefnick.
Updated: Aug. 10, 2023 at 7:23 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The Quincy woman charged with killing a Rushville, Ill. woman and her three grandsons in a car crash on Aug. 14, 2020 was sentenced to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on Thursday.
Updated: Aug. 9, 2023 at 6:57 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
It’s been five days since an EF2 tornado ripped through Baring, Mo., a town of roughly 100 people.
Updated: Aug. 8, 2023 at 7:22 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
In the next few months, police won’t be the only thing watching watching for speeders.
Updated: Aug. 7, 2023 at 4:56 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Noticeable changes are being made to a town where an EF-2 tornado ripped through just three days ago. Everyday, more and more volunteers are coming to Knox County to assist as needed.
Updated: Aug. 6, 2023 at 6:37 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Around 60 Ameren workers have been in town since early Saturday, having restored power early Sunday afternoon.
Updated: Aug. 3, 2023 at 5:54 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
Across the county, child care facilities have struggled to remain fully staffed. Lee County Health Department’s Community Outreach and Program Coordinator Breanna Kramer said the average pay for child care workers is around $10 an hour.
Updated: Aug. 2, 2023 at 5:28 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
School districts across the Tri-States are still trying to fill open teaching positions just weeks before school is back in session.
Updated: Aug. 2, 2023 at 3:40 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The murder trial for 26-year-old Demond Wilson Jr. has been set.
Updated: Aug. 1, 2023 at 5:23 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The McDonough County Health Department has partnered with the Macomb Police Department to distribute free gun locks to the community.
Updated: Aug. 1, 2023 at 5:22 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
IDPH is reporting more than two dozen bats have tested positive for rabies. Now, they’re urging the public to be on the lookout.
Updated: Jul. 31, 2023 at 3:45 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
The 23rd annual Adams County Market Animal Sale kicks off Tuesday at 5 p.m., and that’s where their work will be put on display.
Updated: Jul. 30, 2023 at 5:40 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
This year, the heat is no factor in all the fun that makes up the Adams County Fair. Instead, it’s quite the opposite.
Updated: Jul. 28, 2023 at 10:31 AM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
After roughly four months of a national search for Macomb’s next police chief, internal candidate and interim Police Chief Jeff Hamer has been selected.
Updated: Jul. 27, 2023 at 4:53 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
In the past two decades, hundreds of Kmart stores across the country have closed including the one in Macomb. It has sat empty for 8 years, but that could soon change.
Updated: Jul. 26, 2023 at 3:58 PM CDT
|By Dylan Smith
For the second straight year, batches of mosquitos in Hancock County have tested positive for West Nile Virus.