(Mahomet–jc)  –State officials are speaking out in support of Health Alliance employees and customers after the health insurer announced that all of their plans will be discontinued at the end of the year, with the exception of Medicare Advantage. Local State Senator. Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet, says he is “shocked, stunned, and saddened” by the news and said his office will stand by to try and help in any way he can in job training and recruitment efforts for the impacted employees.

(Washington-jm) – An Illinois Congresswoman has continued her fight addressing maternal deserts in the United States. U.S. Representative Robin Kelly of Illinois has taken action to address the maternal health crisis in rural America. She, along with Representatives from California, Pennsylvania and Washington have the introduction of the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act. The measure would improve rural healthcare facilities with essential resources and training for obstetric care. The bill comes as a critical response to recent findings from March of Dimes. The organization found over 2 million women, of childbearing age, live in maternity care deserts. These areas do not have hospitals, birth centers, or obstetric providers and they often see higher rates of chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes, intensifying the risks associated with pregnancy.

(Springfield–jc)  –The criminal trial in the Sonya Massey murder case could be moved outside of Sangamon County. An attorney for former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson filed a motion to have the trial moved, arguing that Sangamon County is too close-knit and there has been too much media coverage, which could influence local jurors. Body camera footage from July shows Grayson shooting Massey after she moved a pot of boiling water from her stove after she called police to report a prowler.

(The Center Square) – As officials with the Illinois State Board of Education propose their budget request, they say they are not complying with President Donald Trump’s order to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Despite the total number of students in Illinois going down over several years, the state board of education is asking for more tax dollars. State Superintendent of Schools Tony Sanders says they need 11 point 4 Billion dollars…

Illinois, State of Education President Tony Sanders. 110th District State Representative Blain Wilhour, Republican from Beecher City says investing in kids is very important, but results are needed too…

110th district State Representative Blaine Wilhour, Republican from Beecher City

(Paxton-jm) – A former Paxton pharmacist, whose license was suspended in 2023 after investigators found over 40,000 controlled substances in her home, is facing felony charges. The Ford County Chronicle reported that Jenna Lee Vogel, the former owner and head pharmacist of Doug’s Compounding Pharmacy was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. The charges allege that in March of 2023, Vogel possessed, with the intent to deliver, 100 grams or more of a substance containing hydrocodone, as well as amphetamine. In March of 2023, 43,893 controlled substances were removed from the Vogel home by investigators of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. If convicted, Vogel faces a mandatory prison term ranging from six to 30 years for the Class X felony. The Class 3 felony Vogel is facing could lead to penalties ranging from probation to up to five years’ imprisonment.

(Cissna Park–jc)  the Cissna park Economic Development Board continues to search for ways to support the local businesses in the community, look for new ones, and enhance the events and festivals in the Southern iroquois County community Cissna park Economic Development Board Spokesperson Rachael Bauer says a new group wants some sports courts to be built in Cissna Park…

Cissna Park Economic Development Board Spokesperson Rachael Bauer

(Watseka–jc) Iroquois County Clerk Breein Suver says the County Clerk’s office will be open for Grace Period Registration and Voting from March 5, through April first During this grace period, an unregistered qualified elector may register to vote and also a registered voter may submit a change of address form in person at the County Clerk’s office. Office hours for Grace Period Voting are as follows: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturday, March 29th office hours are from 8:30 a.m. – noon.

(Springfield-jm) -- As the state of Illinois, and the nation,  continues to see increasing prices on eggs, Illinoisans are searching for ways to maintain food sustainability. The U.S Department of Agriculture anticipates egg prices will increase up to 20% in 2025. In central Illinois, a dozen eggs are nearly $6, and residents are still facing the 1% grocery tax for another year. With permission from city governments throughout the state, some Illinoisans are relying on backyard chickens to provide food sustainability. In 2026, the 1% grocery tax will be left to the discretion of local governments. 

(The Center Square) – The Illinois Municipal League is asking state government for more local authority. I-M-L leaders outlined their 2025 legislative agenda in Springfield Tuesday. Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen, who also serves as the groups President, says Governor J B  Pritzker’s move to eliminate the state grocery tax was “not without consequences…

Champaign Mayor Deborah Feinen. The Illinois Municipal League has a “Moving Cities Forward” platform  designed to ensure the long-term success of Illinois’ cities, villages and towns and promotes local government efficiency and modern policies that reflect community needs and resources.

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a vehicle was taken from Hensley Township in Champaign February 23. The stolen vehicle is a white 2008 Ford Super Duty pickup truck which was pulling a rusted “Teske” single axle trailer. A green Land Pride side-by-side ATV was also stolen during the same incident. The stolen pickup truck contained approximately 12 trail cameras valued at $12,000 and a Stihl battery-powered saw. License Plate information on the pickup truck and trailer, and more pictures of the stolen property can be seen in the Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.

(Buckley–jc)  The voice of the Lutheran Hour, Doctor Michael Zeigler, will be in Buckley next month for a church service and luncheon. St John's Lutheran Church of Buckley Spokesperson Larry Abbe says a special service is set for 11am on Sunday March 9th…

St John's Lutheran Church of Buckley Spokesperson Larry Abbe

(Gibson City-jm) – The recycling program for Gibson City has been paused. City officials announced on Facebook Wednesday that they are putting their recycling collection service on hold indefinitely. This is because Andy Tull, the provider for recycling in Gibson City, is retiring after 20 years of service. Any current recycling pass holders who want refunds should contact Karen Kummerow at kbk19019@gmail.com or call her on the number on the recycling pass. Any non refunded money will go towards a recycled plastic bench honoring Tull on the west side of Gibson City.

(Rantoul–jc)  The Rantoul Sports Complex is gearing up for another season in 20-25. Hotel space has been a premium in the village since the popular sports complex opened several years ago. Several hotel chains  are set to be built this year near Interstate 57 says Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Springfield–jc)  Illinois lawmakers have issued a joint letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget demanding action on the approximately One-point eight Billion dollars in funding that they said is being withheld. Springfield leaders contend that many agencies and organizations in Illinois have reported an inability to access funds, with some in danger of needing to pause operations, cancel projects, or lay off staff. They said 14 state agencies, boards, and commissions are being impacted, including the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

WPXN News notes…

The Elliott Amvets will hold their pork chop sandwich dinner on Friday, February 28th from 5-7 pm. Meal includes pork chop sandwiches and your choice of potato salad or baked beans for $8.

The Central Illinois Home and Business Showcase will take place on Saturday, March 1st from 9-5 at the Mahomet Seymour High School.

Paxton IGA will hold their first cookout fundraiser of the season benefiting Boy Scout Troop 32 on Saturday March 1st from 10-2.

The Gibson City Melvin Sibley FFA Scholarship Auction will take place Saturday, March 1st. Lunch begins at 11 am, silent auction at noon and live auction at 1pm.

Mike Porter will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday, March 1st. Doors open at 5:30 with the show starting at 7. Cost is $10.

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Tuesday, March 4th from 9-930 at the St. Joseph library, 10-10:30 at the old high school ballpark in Ogden, 11-11:30 at the Homer post office, 12:30-1 at the Sidney community building, 1:30-2 at the Philo village office and from 2:30-3pm at The Oaks at Tolono.

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign-based insurance company Health Alliance will be ending all insurance plans other than Medicare Advantage by Jan. 1 2026, according to parent company Carle Health. In the announcement, Carle said that all health plans will maintain operations through 2025. The company was unable to reach a financially viable level to compete with other insurers, according to Carle.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois could see energy shortages as early as 2030. Now Democrats are working on a plan to prevent that by building more energy storage. Capitol News Illinois reports the legislation could incentivize companies to build batteries to store solar and wind energy. This would store extra power to use when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Senator Bill Cunningham says action needs to be taken now before its too late…

State Senator Bill Cunningham, Democrat from Evergreen Park . Republicans warned their colleagues that closing coal plants would lead to energy shortages when they passed a law to move to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. But sponsors of the bill say Illinois can’t go backwards and clean energy is the future.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois lawmakers are working on a new bill aimed at alleviating the financial burden teachers face when purchasing classroom supplies. The proposed legislation would provide teachers with an assistance card loaded with funds to buy necessary materials, with funding allocated to school districts based on a needs-based formula.According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 90% of teachers in the U.S. spend their own money on school supplies.

(Springfield-jm) – The organization representing all 1,295 local governments in Illinois wants state lawmakers to help make services more efficient and modern. Illinois Municipal League leaders are calling for lawmakers to pass a plan to give local governments the option to post notices on their website instead of paying to have notices printed in newspapers. Municipalities spend roughly $5,000 to $100,000 to place notices in newspapers or the mail. The group is also backing a plan to allow non-home rule governments to implement a motor fuel tax of 3 cents per gallon. Advocates said this change could offer an alternative revenue source to fund infrastructure projects.

(Mahomet–jc)  With Illinois Governor J B Pritzker's proposed new budget of just over 54 Billion dollars, one area lawmaker is questioning where some of the funds will come as the “covid” dollars are gone. 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet says it can not come from the taxpayers of Illinois…

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet

(Bloomington–jc)  – Investigators say a Bloomington man fatally shot his girlfriend, her 13-year-old son and her friend before he fatally shot himself at a home over the weekend.Dead at the scene were 33-year-old Christopher Simmons, who police said turned the gun on himself after killing the three victims. Police said he bought the gun legally in 2021, but his FOID card was revoked and he was no longer allowed to possess or purchase firearms.  

(Champaign-jm) -- The Parkland College Board of Trustees voted to approve an increase in tuition and other fees. They approved an increase in tuition and fees by 4.2% at the school, which will be in effect starting in the Summer 2025 term, according to a release from Parkland College. District 505 students will now pay $186 per credit hour in fees and tuition — an increase of $7.50 for the college’s Tier One programs, which includes most of Parkland’s programs that they offer.

(Springfield-jm) – The deadline for Real IDs is right around the corner but Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says there’s still confusion on what those IDs are used for. Capitol News Illinois reports starting May 7th, you’ll need a Real ID to fly in the U-S or visit a federal facility. A passport also works for getting on flights. Secretary Giannoulias says you don’t need a Real ID for identification, proof of citizenship or to drive a car…

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Check out the Secretary of State’s website to see if your local DMV requires an appointment along with the list of items you need to take with you.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois’ Class of 2024 has set new records in Advanced Placement performance and participation. The information comes from a report put out by the Illinois State Board of Education. The percentage of state graduates scoring a three or higher on an AP exam has increased by 6.7% over the last decade, rising from 21.6% in 2014 to 28.3% in 2024. This mark is also almost 6% higher than the 22.6% national average.

(Springfield-jm) – Right now, Illinois produces enough electricity to power its cities and even export some power out of state. However, with new technology such as AI, the state is predicted to receive higher electricity bills by 2030 if action isn't taken. The bill filed by State Senator Bill Cunningham would add new batteries to the grid. The batteries would store excess power from solar and wind energy when the sun is down and the wind is slow. According to Solar Powers Illinois, the plan could save Illinoisans up to $2.4 billion over the course of 20 years.

(Rantoul–jc)  Another business that is expanding in the village of Rantoul is Maverick Piping. The company is located in one of the former hangers of Chanute Air Force Base. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says they employ two dozen people…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Tuscola–jc)  —Six taxing districts have given the go ahead for a $750 million corn wet-milling plant in central Illinois. The former Equistar Chemicals plant in Tuscola, which closed in 2021, is being considered as a possible site. Officials said construction of the corn wet-milling plant would employ up to 1,000 workers and would take an estimated three years to complete.

(Undated-jm) – Although summer is still several months away, Central Illinois counties are already gearing up for their local fairs. And, two counties announced their headlining acts yesterday. On Friday, July 25, Grammy award winner Travis Tritt will take the stage at the Champaign County Fair. The Iroquois County Fair Board announced Country artist Chris Cagle would take the stage on Saturday, July 19.

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Tuesday, March 4th from 9-930 at the St. Joseph library, 10-10:30 at the old high school ballpark in Ogden, 11-11:30 at the Homer post office, 12:30-1 at the Sidney community building, 1:30-2 at the Philo village office and from 2:30-3pm at The Oaks at Tolono.

The Loda American Legion will hold their fish and chicken fry on Friday, March 7th from 4-7 pm. Dinner includes your choice of fish or chicken, baked beans, green beans, coleslaw and tartar sauce for $10.

The Loda American Legion Auxiliary will host a craft fair and bake sale on Saturday, March 8th from 9-2.

(Springfield-jm) – Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar announced a cancer diagnosis on Monday. Edgar served two terms as Illinois governor, succeeding Jim Thompson in 1990. He announced his retirement from politics in 1997 near the end of his second term in the governor's office.

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers continue to push for more regulatory control of pharmacy benefit managers, or P-B-Ms. They  act as third-party “middlemen” who negotiate the price pharmacies and insurance companies pay for prescription drugs from the manufacturers. Their role is supposed to involve negotiating the cost of drugs to save patients money, but critics contend they are actually driving costs up. Illinois Governor J B Pritzker says he is working on a prescription drug affordability Act…

Illinois Governor J B Pritzker

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that more than 4 thousand 2 hundred drugs saw an increase of more than 15 percent.

(Rantoul–dm)-The Community Service Center of Rantoul along with Meijer Stores are teaming up for a Double Match Day this Saturday March 1st.  Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford has more information.

Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford.  You can pick up your $10 donation cards at Meijers located at 2401 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign to provide food for families in Northern Champaign County.

(Urbana-jm) – Monday marked the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, so dozens of University of Illinois students and staff members rallied on the Main Quad, asking for peace and hoping to spread awareness. They also want to protect Ukrainian war refugees and reject what they call “American resource blackmail.” Many of those who rallied on the Quad were born and raised in Ukraine and now know people fighting on the front lines.

(Champaign–dm)Champaign County housing market sees rising prices amid tight inventory in January.  WPXN’s Dan Mushrush has more on this story.

(Champaign-jm) – Help is returning to those who need assistance with income tax filing. The University of Illinois’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is back to offer free tax assistance to low-income, gross income less than $67,000, elderly, disabled, and limited English speaking taxpayers. Those interested should bring ID and tax documents to Salt & Light on Philo Road in Urbana during assistance drop-off hours. No appointment is necessary.

(Paxton–dm)-There are a group of people showing interest in starting a new Rotary Club in Paxton.  District Governor Elect John Calderon has more information.

District Governor Elect John Calderon. Another informational meeting is being planned in March.  If you would like more information you can call John Calderon 

(Loda–jc)  – One local company is expanding its operations in the village of Loda. The  Weber Fertilizer-Trucking Company is in the process of adding a  new fertilizer blending plant. The building sits on the company's property in the village just off Route 45.  The Weber company has been in business  as a leading fertilizer specialist serving Iroquois and Ford counties since 1965.

(The Center Square) – From July of last year to now, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights has received over $63 million in Illinois taxpayer funds, according to the Illinois Comptroller vendor payment system. The group also received nearly $4 million of taxpayer money this month for Illinois Welcoming Centers. State Representative Adam Niemerg, Republican from Dieterich, suggested the federal Department of Government Efficiency come to the state of Illinois and uncover this “ridiculousness” and see how tax dollars are really being spent.

(Springfield-jm) – A new bill in Springfield could allow sexual assault survivors to use vouchers to pay for taxis or rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. Sponsors and advocates believe this is another way to help people going through trauma. The state currently requires treatment hospitals to provide vouchers to pay for ambulance, forensic, lab, and follow-up healthcare services for survivors. This plan would allow people to use the voucher to help get transportation to and from hospitals or other treatment centers. Although, some Republicans are concerned about the cost for survivors to use rideshare services. The Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services caps the current vouchers at $1,000 per service.

(Springfield–jc)  There has been a national movement for more Pharmacy Business Managers, regulation. The Trump administration is taking steps to meet with pharmaceutical companies to examine P-B-Ms and discuss reforms to possibly eliminate P-B-Ms.  Conner Rose with the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association said a study by the Federal Trade Commission looked favorable on P-B-Ms…

Pharmaceutical Care Management Association Spokesperson Conner Rose

(Champaign-jm) -- The Regional Office of Education announced that it will not be filling the vacancy on the Unit 4 Board of Education created by the resignation of Sam Banks. This decision comes as the district anticipates a significant change in the composition of the school board following the upcoming election on April 1. With five out of seven board seats up for election, the Regional Office of Education believes that appointing a temporary member would be disruptive to the board's long-term planning and governance.

(Washington–jc)  what are the trends in the cattle market across the state and nation as we head into March. U-S-D-A Livestock analyst Mike McConnell looks at the trends…

U-S-D-A Livestock Analyst Mike McConnell

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department is investigating after they said a student was sexually assaulted at a fraternity house. The police department sent two Campus Safety Alerts to the campus community regarding this incident, which happened early Thursday morning. The first alert said a student had been fondled early Thursday morning, with the exact location unknown to law enforcement. The second was sent after police learned new information over the weekend. Officials said they now consider the incident on Thursday to be an act of rape.

(Rantoul–jc) – With the ground breaking ceremony complete, the John Paul Buzzard Pipe Organ company continues the building phase of a new warehouse in the village of Rantoul. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the company brings with it a soon to be built warehouse and dozens of local jobs…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith. John Paul Buzzard started the pipe organ company in 1980 with the hopes of building the best pipe organs in the nation, with the best professional service. 

CHAMPAIGN - The City of Champaign invites residents, businesses, and community members to share their vision for the future of Downtown Champaign with input on-line The information gathered will help guide the Planning and Development Department in updating the 20-06 Downtown Plan and creating a shared vision for future change in the community. A Downtown Plan is an important tool for the City of Champaign and community stakeholders to guide private investment, capital improvement projects, and programming priorities within Downtown Champaign and surrounding neighborhoods. Anyone is welcomed and encouraged to share their perspectives and ideas for the future of Downtown Champaign – not just those who live or work downtown. The community input survey is available in both English and Spanish.

(Chicago–jc)  A recall has been issued for frozen shakes sold to nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Illinois and 20 other states after an outbreak of listeria was linked to several deaths. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the supplemental shakes are sold under the Lyon ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brands. According to the FDA, the shakes are responsible for at least 38 people falling ill in 21 states, with 37 hospitalizations and 11 deaths.

(Loda–jc)  A craft show and bake sale are coming to the Loda American Legion on the second Saturday in March. Loda American Legion Auxiliary President Diane Eilts says the event starts at 9am at the Loda American Legion on Saturday March 8th…

Loda American Legion Auxiliary President Diane Eilts

(Springfield–jc)  –For the first time in Illinois, the Secretary of State’s office is making Electronic Lien and Titling available when purchasing a vehicle from a participating dealer. The new program allows vehicle titles to be processed, stored and released digitally, eliminating the need for paperwork and in-person visits to a DMV facility. Illinois joins 25 other states that provide the service.

(Buckley–jc)  A new restaurant in Buckley is bringing back good meals and good conversation. Cindy’s Roadside Cafe is open from 6am to 2pm Mondays through Fridays. Owner Cindy Thielman says it’s all your breakfast favorites in the morning, lunch specials each day, and it’s all “homemade” goods…

Cindy’s Roadside Cafe Co–Owner Cindy Thielman

(Belleville–jc)--A 31-year-old man faces charges after attacking investigators during a well-being check in Belleville.  According to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the attack happened during a well-being check of a child at the residence. While at the residence, police say the man attacked officers and an investigator from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  One business that has chosen Rantoul for an expansion is the G-F-L Company. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the waste management and recycling company that serves the area…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(St Joseph–jc)  – A Champaign County author and University of Illinois employee has written a book about the state university. Author Kent  Brown lived in St. Joseph from 2000 until 2020 while working at the University of Illinois, Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, where he led the U of I Sports Information Office as an Associate Athletics Director. After retirement, Brown wrote “100 Things Illinois Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die” while drawing upon his 36 years of collegiate athletics experience and more than 50 years as a Fighting Illini fan. Monday April 14th at 6pm at the St Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library, Brown will host an event on his career and also talk about the new book. The book is currently available on Amazon. 

(USDA–dm)-A USDA website has available information for both ag producers and tax experts on various aspects of return preparation with a farm focus. Rod Bain has the story.

(gilman–jc)  Members of the Iroquois West school board have a special meeting set up for Tuesday at the high school in Gilman. On the agenda is a closed session concerning a new contract with the teachers union in the district. Action could be taken after a closed session of the school board. The Iroquois West School Board meeting comes to order at 7pm on Tuesday at the high school in Gilman

(Springfield–jc)  The several billion dollar increase in Illinois Governor J B Pritzker's budget,  a Republican Senator from Morris says Illinois lacks behind in many important categories. Reaction from 38th District State Senator Sue Rezin…

38th District State Senator, Republican,  Sue Rezin of Morris

(Springfield–jc)  –The Illinois State Fire Marshal is urging Illinois residents to review and practice their fire escape plans while testing and inspecting smoke alarms following a wave of recent deadly home fires. Since February 14th, there have been eight deadly fires claiming the lives of 10 people in Illinois. So far in 2025, Illinois has seen 16 fatal fires resulting in 19 fire related fatalities. According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths.

(Champaign-jm) --  After a year of concern from residents and local lawmakers, the United States Postal Service announced that local mail processing operations will stay in Champaign. A previous plan announced last year would have moved local processing to Chicago, meaning that mail sent from one Champaign address to another would have had to travel north before arriving back in Champaign. The newly proposed strategy will focus on boosting services at the Champaign facility to handle package mailing and shipping, letters, and flats, as well as express services and accept bulk and permit mail, further improving its delivery services.

(Springfield–jc)  -The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for instructors for 2025 summer fishing clinics at locations throughout Illinois for the department’s Urban Fishing Program. Available spots are based in several counties, including Boone, Macon, Madison, McLean, Peoria, Sangamon, and St. Clair counties. The Illinois Urban Fishing Program was established in 1985.

(The Center Square) – Democratic state legislators are again pushing a measure to change the state’s flat income tax to one with higher rates for higher earners. Introduced byState Senator. Robert Martwick, Democrat from Chicago, Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 4 would formally replace language in the Illinois Constitution to allow for a so-called graduated tax system. Republican State Representative Martin McLaughlin, of Barrington Hills, didn’t hold back in his criticism of the idea. McLaughlin said a progressive tax is exactly the wrong idea, at the wrong time. McLauglin added that a graduated tax will set up Illinois taxpayers for more government abuse. A state resolution proposal was voted down by Illinois voters 4 years ago 

(Springfield–jc)  One local Illinois State Senator says the democrats in the majority in Springfield want to change the Illinois flat tax to a progressive tax. The issue is moving forward without any figures, says 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet…

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet

(Gibson City–dm)-The Gibson City City Council is scheduled to meet tonight at 7:00. Items to be discussed are the status of the recycling program, the Ameren easement at the wastewater plant, and the adoption of the council and mayoral strategic plan.  The meeting will be held at the council chambers located at 101 E. 8th street in Gibson City.

(Springfield–jc)  It was the first committee hearings meeting at the state capitol last week. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington, says he has several bills to be heard…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington. 

(Springfield–jc)  –To address the ongoing housing shortage in Illinois, a bill has been introduced that aims to add more housing through tax credits. Lawmakers call the measure the Build Illinois Homes Act. According to co-sponsor, state Representative Ryan Spain, a Republican from Peoria, this would be a relatively small tax credit at  $20 million in total annually. The bill is currently being looked at by the House Revenue and Finance Committee.

(Champaign county–jc)  Several champaign county based fire districts were called to a field fire near Interstate 57 and Duncan road. The call came out around 1-45 Sunday afternoon.  Fire Departments from Eastern Prairie, Cornbelt, Thomasboro, Carroll, Savoy and Bondville assisted with the fire.

(Paxton-jm) --  A man from Paxton was arrested after police said he tried to intimidate a witness in a court case against a different man. The Ford County Chronicle reported that Alex Riblet, was arrested after he tried to intimidate the witness at the direction of Jerome Burkes, a 33-year-old also from Paxton. Police said Burkes was arrested in December in connection to an alleged domestic battery that happened the prior month. Riblet was one of two witnesses who were called by the state to testify during that hearing. The Paxton Police Department said Burkes allegedly instructed Riblet to intimidate and threaten another witness into changing their testimony.

WPXN News notes…

The Elliott Amvets will hold their pork chop sandwich dinner on Friday, February 28th from 5-7 pm. Meal includes pork chop sandwiches and your choice of potato salad or baked beans for $8.

The Central Illinois Home and Business Showcase will take place on Saturday, March 1st from 9-5 at the Mahomet Seymour High School.

Paxton IGA will hold their first cookout fundraiser of the season benefiting Boy Scout Troop 32 on Saturday March 1st from 10-2.

The Gibson City Melvin Sibley FFA Scholarship Auction will take place Saturday, March 1st. Lunch begins at 11 am, silent auction at noon and live auction at 1pm.

Mike Porter will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday, March 1st. Doors open at 5:30 with the show starting at 7. Cost is $10.

The Loda American Legion Auxiliary will host a craft fair and bake sale on Saturday, March 8th from 9-2.

(Springfield-jm) – The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is urging state residents to review fire escape plans and safety practices amid the recent deadly home fires. Since February 14, there have been eight deadly fires, claiming the lives of 10 people across the state. So far in 2025, Illinois has had 16 fatal fires, resulting in 19 fire related deaths. Space heaters were the type of heating equipment responsible for the largest shares of losses in home heating equipment fires, accounting for one-third of the fires, but nearly nine out of 10 deaths and four out of five of the injuries in home fires were caused by heating equipment.

(Springfield–jc)  More reaction from area lawmakers concerning Illinois Governor  J B Pritzker’s budget proposal this week. 110 th district State Representative Chris Miller, Republican  of Oakland says some things were good, but not the political rhetoric…

110th District State Representative Chris Miller, Republican from Oakland

(Kankakee-jm) – Kankakee County Circuit Judge Kathy Bradshaw-Elliott has marked the calendar for September 8 for Xandria Harris to stand trial for the murder of a Bradley police Sgt Marlene Rittmanic and the wounding of her partner.  The 29-year-old Harris is charged with murder and endangering the life of a child for the December 2021 incident in Bradley when Sgt. Rittmanic and Officer Tyler Bailey answered a call about barking dogs in a vehicle.  The officers were ambushed in the motel.  Rittmanic was killed, Bailey seriously wounded and forced into retirement. Harris' co-defendant, Darius Sullivan, has been convicted and is serving a mandatory life sentence for the murder of Rittmanic and another 80 years for shooting Bailey.

(Rantoul–dm)-Summer is a few months away, but the Rantoul School District is already making plans for summer projects.  Rantoul Superintendent Scott Amerio tells us what the planned projects are

Rantoul School District Superintendent Scott Amerio.

(Paxton–dm)-The Ford County Public Building Commission is scheduled to meet  this morning at 9:00am in the small courtroom in the courthouse. Items to be discussed include taking action on the building at 235 N. Taft Street, getting the property surveyed, advertising for sealed bids and setting a date for bid packets to be picked up and a date for the bids to be opened.  Also there will be discussion on painting of jail cells and replacement of jail doors

(Buckley–jc)   Lutheran Hour Ministries Sunday is March 9th at St John’s Church in Buckley.  Lutheran Hour Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler will be the guest speaker. St Johns Church Spokesperson Larry Abbe says the event has been in the planning stages since July 20-23…

St John's Lutheran Church Buckley Spokesperson Larry Abbe. More information is found by contacting Abbe or the church in Buckley.

(Springfield–jc)  – Legislation is advancing in Springfield that would allow agriculture courses to qualify for vocational education requirements for high school students. 48th District State Senator, Democrat Doris Turner is sponsoring the bill and says students should be able to use their agricultural studies to fulfill graduation requirements. The measure advanced out of committee and is headed to the Senate floor for consideration.

(Springfield-jm) – Gov. JB Pritzker hopes lawmakers will pass a plan this spring to lower prescription drug prices. His proposal could prevent pharmacy benefit managers from inflating medication costs by banning spread pricing. Pritzker also suggested that lawmakers should block pharmacy benefit managers from using arbitrary drug classifications that limit access and charge consumers more. His bill would ban PBMs from forcing consumers to use large scale pharmacies as well. The governor said Illinois should set new transparency measures and penalize pharmacy benefit managers when they fail to comply. His legislation could also increase resources for Illinois pharmacies in rural and underserved areas.

(Springfield-jm) – The deadline for Real IDs is right around the corner. But Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says there’s still confusion on what those IDs are used for.. Capitol News Illinois reports starting May 7th you’ll need a Real ID to fly in the U-S or visit a federal facility. A passport also works for getting on flights. A Real ID is signified by a gold star in the upper right corner of the ID card. Giannoulias says you don’t need a Real ID for identification, proof of citizenship or to drive a car…

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Real ID appointments can be made online at il sos dot gov and new appointments are added daily.

(Champaign County-jm) -- Officials in Champaign County are trying to teach people how to properly store firearms through a gun safety initiative. In September, Champaign County received more than $150,000 from the Illinois Department of Public Health. The program’s goal is proper gun storage and theft prevention. So far, they’ve given out over 200 safes to people across the county and are struggling to keep them in stock.

(Springfield–jc)  –Governor J-B Pritzker is proposing a fifty-five point two billion dollar budget for fiscal year 26, a two billion dollar increase over the current year’s spending plan. Last November, the state's budget and accounting office said there was a shortfall of 3 point 2 Billion Dollars. The governor said yesterday that the shortfall has closed some. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon says there is still a 3 point 2 Billion dollar budget shortfall…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

 (The Center Square) – The McLean County State's Attorney and the Illinois State Police have declined a request to investigate an “election interference” complaint.

Dean Fletcher, an Illinois resident, lodged a complaint with McLean County State’s Attorney Erika Reynolds’ office after several McLean County school districts featured a website that urged voters to “approve” a sales tax referendum on their taxpayer-funded webpages.In 2017, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that a state’s attorney’s investigative powers are restricted, as their role is primarily to assist law enforcement rather than conduct independent investigations

(Rantoul–jc)  The new Culver's restaurant in the village of Rantoul is coming soon. Workers on site continue to build the new facility along Route 136 near the Rantoul Sports Complex. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the timeline for an opening is Spring, as construction moves to the next stage…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Bloomington–jc)  The Illinois Soybean Board  is seeking farmers for two Illinois director positions.  Eligible soybean producers must submit an application and "Agreement to Serve" to the Illinois Soybean Association by March 7. At-Large Directors are also needed. Elections are set for July. 

(Paxton–dm)-If you have bird feeders, where you put them can be just as important as what you feed them.  Paxton Hardware And Rental owner Scott Allen has more.

Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen.  You can hear more from Scott Saturday mornings at 7:30 on Scott’s Tips for Success.

Over one million FFA students has been participating in National FFA Week across the country. We were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters.

Karley Putnam from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

Trent Schmid from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

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Jacob Fox from Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

Kate McCall from GCMS ‘s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

Londyn Roderick and Keirgan Young from GCMS High School’s FFA Chapter talk about their upcoming auction.

WPXN Weekend News Notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile today from 9-930 across from the Piper City Community Center, 10-10:30 at the corner of Main and Melvin Streets in Thawville, 11-11:30 across from Melvin Convenient, 12:15-12:45 at the Gibson City city hall, 1-1:30 at the Elliott village hall and 2-2:30 at the north side of the Paxton fire station.

The Buckley Sportsman Club will hold their annual All you can eat Fish Fry at the Buckley American Legion on Friday from 4:30-7pm. Cost is $13 for adults 13 and over. $7 for kids 12 and under.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their Mt Oyster lunch on Saturday from 12-2 pm. Cost is $15.

The Carter Education and Community Foundation will hold A Night of Jazz Mix and Mingling on Saturday at The Linden Banquet Center in Rantoul. Live music begins at 5:30pm. Cost is $40 per person. More information is available by calling 217-722-7173.

The PBL Athletic Boosters will host a Glow Bingo at the Pueblo Lindo in Paxton on Saturday. Doors open at 5:30 with Bingo beginning at 7. 

The Gibson City Lions Club will hold their pancake day on Sunday from 8-12:45 at the GCMS Elementary School cafeteria. Cost is $10.50 for adults, $5.50 for kids 6-12. Kids under 6 are free.

(Springfield-jm) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is aiming to improve student achievement, social interaction and the mental health of public school students by proposing a statewide ban on cellphones in classrooms, an idea that is rapidly gaining traction nationally regardless of political persuasion. Legislation introduced in both houses of the General Assembly would require school districts to set policies that ban personal wireless devices during class time, with notable exceptions, create a means for secure but accessible storage of phones and tablets, and review those guidelines at least every three years.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is proposing a fifty-five point two billion dollar budget for fiscal year 26- a two billion dollar increase over the current year’s spending plan. Capitol News Illinois reports a November estimate projected a three-point-two billion budget shortfall. But the governor’s office now projects the economy to perform better and plans to spend about one-point-one billion less than what was projected in November. A large concern for the state is how much federal funding the state will receive based on recent policy actions of President Donald Trump. Pritzker says it will be a tough year and he’s ready to work with lawmakers, but he’s committed to signing a budget only if it’s balanced…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritker. One of the proposed cuts is to health benefits for low-income immigrants between ages 42 and 64.

(Paxton–jc)  The Ford County Executive Committee is set to meet this afternoon at 5pm. On the agenda is hearing a presentation from Steve Carter and Scot Wrighton. The county committee will also look to take bids for printer and copier services for Ford County.

(Springfield–jc) Some republican state lawmakers are looking closer to the numbers in the budget. 38th District State Senator Sue Rezin, Republican from Morris, says with a billion dollars in more taxes to Illinoisans last year, the state needs a closer look at spending money on those here illegally…

38th District State Senator Sue Rezin, Republican from Morris

(Urbana-jm) – The man accused of a fatal hit and run in Urbana was denied pretrial release Wednesday. Julio Cucul Bol was arraigned in Champaign County court on charges of leaving the scene of a personal injury resulting in death, reckless homicide, and aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death.  Cucul Bol will be back in court mid-March for a preliminary hearing.

(Buckley–jc)  Its Crop Insurance time for area farmers and those around the country.  Edge Insurance of Buckley owner Dylan Reetz says conversations with area ag professionals continue on some new options for crop year 20-25…

Edge Insurance of Buckley Owner Dylan Reetz

(Chicago–jc)  –Utility Regulators at the Illinois Commerce Commission are expected to issue a final decision today in their year-long investigation into the Peoples Gas pipe replacement program. In November 2023, citing delays, cost-overruns, and concern that the program was not properly prioritizing addressing safety risks, the ICC paused the program and ordered the investigation. Consumer advocates said the decision will not immediately reset rates but could have a significant impact on future Peoples Gas rates.

(Springfield–jc)  With the governor putting out his budget for the coming fiscal year, reaction from some area lawmakers. 106th district State Representative Jason Bunting -Republican, from Emmington, was disappointed not only with the budget proposal but also with the governor’s political rhetoric on national issues…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois community colleges may start offering bachelor degrees with a bill that has the support of the governor. Governor JB Pritzker announced the proposal at his State of the State address Wednesday. 24 other states allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees.

(Buckley–jc)  Those with area lutheran churches have a special day planned in March.  Lutheran Hour Ministries Sunday is set for Sunday March 9th at St John's Lutheran Church in Buckley. Lutheran Hour Speaker The Reverend Doctor Michael Zeigler is the guest speaker. The service will begin at 11am. Lunch will be served after the service at St John's School. A free will offering will be taken to give to the Lutheran Hour. 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is proposing a fifty-five point two billion dollar budget for fiscal year 26- a two billion dollar increase over the current year’s spending plan. Capitol News Illinois reports a November estimate projected a three-point-two billion budget shortfall.  Pritker says it will be a tough year and he’s ready to work with lawmakers, but he’s committed to signing a budget only if it's balanced. Representative Ryan Spain says the governor’s budget is full of gimmicks and is upset Pritzker didn’t promise to veto a budget that raises taxes…

State Representative Ryan Spain. The only proposed tax increase would be on some casino profits to raise about $100 million. The Governor also proposed delaying a sales tax transfer on motor fuel and creating a tax penalty amnesty program to raise another $369 million.

(Springfield–jc)  with Illinois Governor J B Pritzker giving his budget address at noon, those on the conservative side of government says the spending is out of control. Reaction from 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet…

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose Republican from Mahomet

(Iroquois County-jm) – With the bitter cold taking hold, the Iroquois County Emergency  Management Agency announces warming centers will be available for residents in Iroquois County, ensuring the most vulnerable of our residents are safe during the upcoming extremely cold winter days. The centers offer a warm location during periods of dangerous cold. Before heading to any warming center, it is recommended that a phone call be made to confirm availability. The warming centers include the Ashkum Coliseum, the Chebanse Community Center, Gilman City Hall or the Iroquois West School District Office, the Martinton Church of Christ, the Milford Christian Church, the Watseka Public Library, Watseka Walmart, the Iroquois County Administrative Center and Trinity Church.

(Rantoul–jc)  The new Culver's restaurant is in the fast paced building stage in the village of Rantoul. The new Busey Bank location will start this Spring.  Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith talks about the business expansion in Rantoul…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Springfield–jc)-- Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Wednesday announced that investment earnings on the state portfolio are up more than 11 percent as the state government faces tough budgeting decisions this spring. Investment earnings stand at just over 803 Billion dollars up from 732 Billion for the first 6 months of fiscal year 20-24.  The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s monthly report showed how important this extra income the Treasurer’s Office is earning is for state coffers. 

(Springfield–jc)  More reaction from area lawmakers on the proposed new spending in Illinois Governor J B Pritzker's proposed budget. 104th District State Representative Brandun Schweizer, Republican from Danville, said while some of the proposals the governor discussed in the first half of his speech were good, he was disappointed  with the political comments…

104th District State Representative Brandun Schweitzer Republican from Danville

Over one million FFA students will be participating in National FFA Week across the country. We were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Karley Putnam from the PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

Autumn Ruetter from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

EmmiLynne from the Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

Natalie Aberle from GCMS High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

WPXN would like to thank Weber Fertilizer in Loda, Ludlow Co Op, Knapp & Steiner in Cissna Park, and Birkey's Farm Stores in Gibson City and Hoopeston for sponsoring Nationall FFA Week.

WPXN news notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile today from 9-930 at Edge Insurance in Buckley, 10-10:30 at Durham Park in Onarga, 11-11:30 at the Crescent City community center, 12:30-1 at the Watseka Trinity Church and 1:30-2 at the Milford post office.

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper this evening from 4:30-6:30. The meal includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, kids 6-13 is $6, kids under 5 are free. Delivery is available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

The Buckley Sportsman Club will hold their annual All you can eat Fish Fry at the Buckley American Legion on Friday from 4:30-7pm. Cost is $13 for adults 13 and over. $7 for kids 12 and under.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their Mt Oyster lunch on Saturday, February 22nd from 12-2 pm. Cost is $15.

The Carter Education and Community Foundation will hold A Night of Jazz Mix and Mingling on Saturday, February 22nd at The Linden Banquet Center. Live music begins at 5:30pm. Cost is $40 per person. More information is available by calling 217-722-7173.

The PBL Athletic Boosters will host a Glow Bingo at the Pueblo Lindo on Saturday, February 22nd. Doors open at 5:30 with Bingo beginning at 7. 

(Springfield-jm) – A new measure has been introduced to help alleviate some costs for new mothers in Illinois by requiring all health insurance plans to cover car seats and cribs. Currently, there are a few programs in Illinois that provide assistance for expecting mothers to get a car seat or crib, but every insurance company has a different policy. This measure would ensure every Illinois mom that has insurance, whether private, through the state or Medicaid, has access to a car seat and crib after birth. Insurance companies would need to reimburse new mothers for the purchase of an approved car seat or crib or provide a car seat and crib directly to them.

(Washington–jc)  –U.S. senators reintroduced a bipartisan bill that would allow nationwide sales of gasoline with a higher blend of ethanol year-round, a plan that has the support of a leading oil trade group.Year-round sales of E15 have been long sought by the biofuel industry and the Illinois Corn Growers Association. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said it would do away with patchwork regulations that would have the blend containing 15% ethanol, known as E15, only available in certain areas of the country.

(Springfield–jc)  Republican lawmakers were in Springfield Tuesday afternoon. The subject is the new budget. Illinois 41st District State Senator John Curran, Republican from Lemont, says democrats have increased spending by 32 percent under current Governor J B Pritzker…

41st District State Senator John Curran, Republican from Lemont

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul woman was sentenced to probation after she pleaded guilty to child endangerment resulting in death. WCIA 3 reports 54 year old Rachelle Brown was facing a count of that crime along with involuntary manslaughter in Champaign County. As part of a negotiated plea deal, the manslaughter charge was dropped and she pleaded guilty to child endangerment. She was sentenced to 30 months of probation. The charges stemmed from the death of Brown’s grandchild on June 28, 2023.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The 2025 Insect Fear Film Festival at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will feature “Tarantulas: Hairy, Scary Spiders” as its theme and a Hollywood bug wrangler who works with the 8-legged creatures as a special guest. The festival, which is hosted by the Entomology Graduate Student Association and is in its 42nd year, is Saturday, Feb. 22 at Foellinger Auditorium. It is free and open to the public.

(Rantoul–jc)  – officials with the village of Rantoul continue to work on several major projects in the village from a downtown streetscape program, upgrades within the Rantoul Electric Department and a sewer-wastewater upgrade. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the actions taken now by the village will help the village continue to grow…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Paxton–jc)  Three new board members have been appointed to the Paxton Buckley Loda Education Foundation. They are Kennedy Glazik, Kandace Hofer and Dylan Reetz. Kennedy and Kandace will serve 2-year terms, while Dylan will serve a 3-year term. 

(Fairbury–jc)  the Fairbury Fair Board has their musical act set for the fair in August. This year, The Oak Ridge Boys  will be the  headliners at the fair on  August 15.

(indianapolis–jc)  –A bill to redraw the Indiana-Illinois border received initial approval this week in an Indiana House committee. The measure, authored by Speaker Todd Huston, would establish an Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission to research the possibility of adjusting the boundaries between the two states. In November, seven Illinois counties voted to secede from the state. That is in addition to the several counties that voted to secede in prior elections.

(Chicago -The Illinois Department of Revenue Tuesday reminded senior citizens about the availability of the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program. The program, which works like a loan, allows qualified seniors to defer all or part of their property taxes and special assessment payments on their principal residences. The deadline to apply for the program this year is March First.

(Springfield–jc) One local lawmaker says the state budget is the number one topic at the state capitol. 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet, says there is a 3 point 2 Billion dollar shortfall and democrats spent 1 billion on illegal immigrants and also raised taxes last year…

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet. 

(Rantoul-jm) – The Half Century of Progress farm show has reached an agreement with the Rantoul National Aviation Center to host its next three events, scheduled for 2025, 2027, and 2029. The Half Century of Progress show, the premier vintage farm event in the U.S., takes place the weekend before the Decatur Farm Progress Show, and has been held at the Rantoul National Aviation Center since 2005.

(Urbana-jm) – The suspect in a fatal Urbana hit-and-run, 29-year-old Julio Cucul Bol, was set to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon, but an issue with an interpreter caused that arraignment to be moved. WCIA 3 reports a wrong interpreter was obtained for the arraignment. Arraignment was rescheduled to today. Bol is facing two counts of leaving the scene of a personal injury crash resulting in death, aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death and two counts of reckless homicide.

(Cissna Park–jc)  The Cissna Park business community continues to thrive as a small town in East Central Illinois. The community boasts a furniture store, appliance store, an expanding hardware store, and a place to buy outdoor furniture, fresh pork and a coffee too. Cissna Park Economic Development Spokesperson Rachael Bauer says providing the number of homes for the future remains the focus of  local leaders…

Cissna Park Economic Development Spokesperson Rachael Bauer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Three Illinois scientists are among 126 recipients of the 2025 Sloan Research Fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. According to the foundation, the awardees represent “the very best of early-career science, embodying the creativity, ambition, and rigor that drive discovery forward.”

This year’s Illinois recipients are chemistry professors Angad Mehta and Lisa Olshansky, and materials science and engineering professor Yingjie Zhang.

(Champaign–jc) -  Round Room Live and Moonbug Entertainment announces that their brand-new show, CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE, will start its North American tour this Spring, with a stop in Champaign on April 29.  The performance is set for the State Farm Center in Champaign. Ticket sales started yesterday.

Illinois State University will honor its founding on Thursday, February 20 th with  a bell ringing ceremony and faculty-staff awards ceremony. The Old Main Bell Ringing Ceremony is open to the public and will begin at 10 a.m. in the Prairie Room, Bone Student Center. A long-standing Illinois State tradition, 168 nominated representatives of the campus community will toll a replica of the Old Main Bell to signify the number of years since the University’s founding in  1857.

Over one million FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Macy Sinn from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

Corbin White from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

We were able to talk with Sarah Higgins from GCMS High School’s FFA Chapter. 

Angel from Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

WPXN would like to thank Murdock's in Loda, AHW John Deere in Melvin, Buckley St. Bank, and Wallace Land and Auction in Fisher for sponsoring National FFA Week

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Thursday, February 20th from 9-930 at Edge Insurance in Buckley, 10-10:30 at Durham Park in Onarga, 11-11:30 at the Crescent City community center, 12:30-1 at the Watseka Trinity Church and 1:30-2 at the Milford post office.

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, February 20th from 4:30-6:30. The meal includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, kids 6-13 is $6, kids under 5 are free. Delivery is available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

The Carter Education and Community Foundation will hold A Night of Jazz Mix and Mingling on Saturday, February 22nd at The Linden Banquet Center. Live music begins at 5:30pm. Cost is $40 per person. More information is available by calling 217-722-7173.

The PBL Athletic Boosters will host a Glow Bingo at the Pueblo Lindo on Saturday, February 22nd. Doors open at 5:30 with Bingo beginning at 7. 

(The Center Square) – According to a new report, high inflation in the Chicago area is affecting the entire state of Illinois. WalletHub found that the Windy City’s Consumer Price Index metrics changed 4.3% over the last year. The updated inflation numbers landed the Chicago metropolitan area at the top of the report’s rankings for cities with the biggest inflation problem.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois public high schools may hold more military recruitment events thanks to a bill in the state capitol. Representative Mike Coffey of Springfield filed a bill earlier this month that would amend the School Code to require school boards to invite recruiters from branches of the armed forces to present on high school campuses annually. Coffey said students should know more information on serving to make the best decision for them after high school. 

(Rantoul–jc)  Leaders in the village of Rantoul are making major upgrades to water and sewer, a streetscape project, and upgrades in the local Electric Department. Village board members are putting millions of dollars into the future of Rantoul. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the investment is needed as the village expects to grow by 5 to 7 thousand people in the next 5 to 10 years…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Undated-jm) – Since 2020, COVID-19 has killed more people than any other respiratory disease — but this year may change that. The CDC published new numbers, and as of late January, the flu has been the cause of more deaths nationwide. They say the flu has accounted for 1.7% of total deaths in the country. And partial CDC data from Feb. 1 indicates the number could be as high as 2%. COVID-19 has been the cause of 1.5% across the nation.

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Police Department and Champaign County Crime Stoppers are asking for help in finding the people who tried to rob a gas station last month. Officials said the attempted robbery happened at 10:36 a.m. on Jan. 4. Two men entered the Circle K on North Prospect Avenue; one of them brandished a gun and demanded merchandise from the employee. They were “denied access,” officials said, and the two left empty-handed. Both suspects were recorded on the store’s surveillance cameras. They were Black males, aged approximately mid-teens to early 20s. One had a blue blanket draped over him and was wearing a black ski mask, a black jacket and light-colored pants. The other was wearing a brown hoodie with white lettering, a black ski mask and dark pants.

(Buckley–jc) There is a new spot for breakfast and lunch in southern Iroquois County. Its Cindy’s Roadside Cafe. They opened for business yesterday morning. Co-owner Cindy Thielman says  its a cafe, along route 45 in Buckley and she is Cindy…

Cindy’s Roadside Owner Cindy Thielman. Cindy and Ron Thielman are the owners of the new business. Today’s lunch special is baked pork chops, cheesy hash browns and baked beans. 

(Undated-jm) – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have increased by 3.2 cents per gallon over the past week, reaching an average of $3.25 per gallon, according to GasBuddy's survey of 4,378 stations across the state. Prices in Illinois are now 1.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago but remain 24.4 cents per gallon lower than the same time last year. The national average price of diesel has also seen a slight increase, rising by 0.8 cents over the last week to $3.632 per gallon.

(Washington–jc)  There are lower forecasts for corn in South America. 

World Agricultural Outlook Board Chairman Mark Jekanowski explains …

World Ag Outlook Board Chairman Mark Jekanowski

(Washington-jm) – Illinois congressional leaders and advocates argue the country needs a federal budget that prioritizes people over profits. Citizen Action Illinois said Congress cannot allow budget cuts to strip away vital services in order to give tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. Over 3 million Illinoisans rely on Medicaid for healthcare, but Republican plans to slash federal matching funds could force Illinois to generate an extra $3 billion to maintain current coverage. U-S Senator Dick Durbin and other congressional leaders said the Trump administration cuts could risk public health, viability of rural hospitals, and stability of local healthcare jobs. They also stressed that insurance premiums could skyrocket without the Affordable Care Act in place.

(The Center Square) – Migration data from a moving company shows Illinois is near the top of the list for states with the most outbound moves. The 2024 North American Van Lines Annual Migration Report shows Illinois was second in the country for outbound moves behind only California. In Illinois, 60% of moves were outbound while 40% were inbound. It is the first time in 10 years Illinois didn’t lead the country in outbound moves.

(Paxton–dm)-February is Heart Month, and you can help save lives by donating blood.  Impact Life Coordinator Kevin Hanson tells us about your chance to donate in Paxton this Saturday.

Impact Life Coordinator Kevin Hanson.  Kevin also tells us that because of the inclement weather, donations are down.

(Momence-jm) – The fire at a chocolate factory in Momence last week is estimated to have caused $20 million in damage. The fire happened at Gilster-Mary Lee factory which employed 80 employees. The 40,000 square foot building was ruled a total loss.  No one was injured. The Momence site produces hot chocolate mixes; chocolate, caramel and strawberry-flavored syrup. A cause has not yet been determined.

(Urbana-jm) – Three teenagers are under arrest after Urbana Police found them with a gun and drugs. Officials posted on the Urbana Police Department Facebook page that the arrests happened in the area of Silver and Vawter Streets. Officers on a “proactive patrol” saw a traffic violation and pulled the vehicle over. As they investigated, the officers found 39 grams of marijuana and a gun, with both a defaced serial number and an extended magazine. There were three people inside the car — all male and ranging between 16 and 19 years old. They were arrested for “various offenses,” officials said. They did not provide names or specific offenses.

(Rantoul–dm)-The Carter Education and Community Foundation in Rantoul is sponsoring a night of Jazz Mix this Saturday February 22 at the Linden Center.  Foundation Founder Tanya Carter has more information.

Foundation Founder Tanya Carter.  Tickets are $40 and music starts at 5:30

(Champaign-jm) – An annual staple in Champaign-Urbana is coming back this weekend: the IHSA Wrestling Individual State Championships. The championships have been held at State Farm Center annually since 1967, and this year’s edition is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Over 650 wrestlers are expected to come from 250 high schools across the state, with an estimated total attendance of 36,000 across the three-day event. Aside from the pride and bragging rights that the championships bring for young wrestlers, they also bring millions in economic impact to the area. Experience Champaign-Urbana estimates that $5.5 million will be generated for local hotels and businesses.

Over one million FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Georgia Busboom from Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what goes on today.

Rantoul  FFA member Georgia Busboom

Trent Schmid from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

Cissna Park FFA Member Trent Schmid

Alex Barnard from GCMS High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

GCMS FFA Member Alex Barnard

WPXN would like to thank Heritage FS, Heiser Insurance Agents Joe Weir and Valarie Rogers in Fisher, Edge Insurance and Abbe Insurance in Buckley, and J & L Auto Care in Paxton for sponsoring National FFA Week.

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Thursday, February 20th from 9-930 at Edge Insurance in Buckley, 10-10:30 at Durham Park in Onarga, 11-11:30 at the Crescent City community center, 12:30-1 at the Watseka Trinity Church and 1:30-2 at the Milford post office.

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, February 20th from 4:30-6:30. The meal includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, kids 6-13 is $6, kids under 5 are free. Delivery is available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

The GCMS Lions Club will hold their pancake day on Sunday, February 23rd from 8-12:45 at the GCMS Elementary School cafeteria. Cost is $10.50 for adults, $5.50 for kids 6-12. Kids under 6 are free.

The University of Illinois Extension will put on an Integrated Water Management Workshop for Farmers and Landowners Wednesday, February 26th from 9-4 and Thursday, February 27th from 9-3:30 at Farm Credit Illinois in Mahomet. Cost is $15. Registration is due by February 19th and can be made by calling 217-300-0576.

(Springfield–Rantoul–jc)  –On Friday, Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity  announced 35 awards totaling 2 point three million dollars through the Innovation Voucher Program to promote small business growth and fuel transformative collaborations across Illinois. Some of the projects receiving the grants are Ball Photonics of Springfield with a 71 thousand dollar grant, a 74 thousand dollar grant to BioAerium Technologies of Chicago. 75 thousand dollar grants were awarded to Cache Energy of Champaign, Electro Magnetic Applications of Champaign, Eleuthera Photonics of Champaign and also a 64 thousand dollar grant to Earnest Agriculture of Rantoul. Urbana based Tear-D-X netted a 46 thousand dollar grant

(Springfield–dm)-A non profit think tank is calling on former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to return thousands of dollars in pension payments back to the state. Madigan was found guilty this week of ten counts of corruption-related charges. Since retiring in 2021, Madigan has received nearly $600,000 in pension payments. The Illinois Policy Institute notes that under state law, he is required to repay the money back to taxpayers. They have sent a letter to the General Assembly Retirement System Board of Trustees calling for pension payments to cease and for Madigan to repay prior payments. 

(Rantoul–jc)  It's the investment in the village as it continues to grow and prosper. Officials with the village of Rantoul have three major projects underway, as we look forward to warmer weather. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the investment is the future for Rantoul…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Springfield–dm)-With a shortage of court reporters in Illinois courtrooms, the state is addressing the issue with a new, free training program. Currently, officials said there are 1,400 court reporters, but at least 100 positions are vacant. To boost interest in the career, the state started offering a tuition-free training program in 2024. It features guaranteed job placement and requires a two-year employment contract.

(Paxton-dm)-It’s Not too early to think about spring cleaning.  Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen tells us how to make your own all purpose cleaner.

Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen.  Scott also wants to remind you that now is a good time to get your lawnmower tuned up

Over one million FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country next week. Cissna Park FFA Adviser Jeff Clifton talks about what dress up days they have this week.

Cissna Park FFA Adviser Jeff Clifton

 Ally Wright from Paxton Buckley Loda High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what activities they have scheduled this week.

PBL FFA Member Ally Wright

WPXN would like to thank Cissna Park Grain and Feed and Paxton Wash Barn for sponsoring FFA week. 

(The Center Square) – Federal authorities and state lawmakers say they will keep fighting public corruption in Illinois after the conviction of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Morris Pasqual, acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, was asked if the Madigan case might be the one that would finally deliver the message to politicians who commit corrupt acts. Pasqual says enormous amounts of time and resources went into investigating and prosecuting the Madigan case. More than 10 years passed between the start of the investigation and the announcement of the verdict in court last week.

(Chicago–dm)-A Chicago man has pleaded guilty to charges of stealing more than $1.5 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by using over 1,200 cards. David Quinones, 44, pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge. He admitted that from 2018 to 2023, he gave cash and other items to SNAP recipients in exchange for access to their cards and ID numbers. Quinones then used the cards to purchase various goods at stores, resold most of the goods and kept the proceeds for himself.

(Champaign–dm)You might see more men than women lifting weights at the gym. Doctors want to change that. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare tells you why.

Talk to an expert like a health care provider or trainer to find the right exercise plan. O’Meara (oh-MERE-ah) also recommends looking into taking protein before and after your workout. That helps prevent muscle loss.-

SPRINGFIELD – More than 40 thousand dollars in grants for 26 Illinois schoolyard habitat action projects have been awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources  and the Illinois Conservation Foundation . Locally, Tri Point High School in Cullom received a 686 dollar grant for a pollinator garden program

The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program supports the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat on school grounds or other public places. The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation is the major sponsor of this program. 

With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Rantoul FFA Student Carmen Sage talks about what is going on this week.

Rantoul FFA Student Carmen Sage

Over one million FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several area FFA Chapters. Cissna Park FFA Adviser Jeff Clifton talks about the activities going on this week.

Cissna Park FFA Adviser Jeff Clifton

WPXN would like to thank IGSE in Cissna Park and Premier Cooperative  for sponsoring FFA week. 

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Thursday, February 20th from 9-930 at Edge Insurance in Buckley, 10-10:30 at Durham Park in Onarga, 11-11:30 at the Crescent City community center, 12:30-1 at the Watseka Trinity Church and 1:30-2 at the Milford post office.

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, February 20th from 4:30-6:30. The meal includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, kids 6-13 is $6, kids under 5 are free. Delivery is available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Friday, February 21st from 9-930 across from the Piper City Community Center, 10-10:30 at the corner of Main and Melvin Streets in Thawville, 11-11:30 across from Melvin Convenient, 12:15-12:45 at the Gibson City city hall, 1-1:30 at the Elliott village hall and 2-2:30 at the north side of the Paxton fire station.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their Mt Oyster lunch on Saturday, February 22nd from 12-2 pm. Cost is $15.

The Carter Education and Community Foundation will hold A Night of Jazz Mix and Mingling on Saturday, February 22nd at The Linden Banquet Center. Live music begins at 5:30pm. Cost is $40 per person. More information is available by calling 217-722-7173.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health  announced that it has posted the 2024 Fourth Quarter Report of Nursing Home Violations. A total of  305 violation reports were reported in the last three months of 20-24. Double A violations were found at Berkeley Nursing Center in Oak Park,Elevate Care Facility in Niles, Elevate Care in Waukegan, Goldwater Care in Gibson City and the Grove at the lake in Zion and the Morgan Park Health Care home in Chicago  Any member of the public can file a complaint with state health department against a healthcare facility in Illinois that is licensed by the Department.

(Chicago–jc)  –A Chicago man has pleaded guilty to charges of stealing more than $1.5 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by using over 1,200 cards. 44 year old David Quinones, pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge. He admitted that from 2018 to 2023, he gave cash and other items to SNAP recipients in exchange for access to their cards and ID numbers. Quinones then used the cards to purchase various goods at stores, resold most of the goods and kept the proceeds for himself.

(Buckley–jc)  It’s still winter, but area farmers are planning for crop year 20-25. Edge Insurance of Buckley Owner Dylan Reetz says there are new programs with this years crop insurance…

Edge Insurance of Buckley Owner Dylan Reetz

(Champaign-jm) – One of three men charged in connection with the 2022 shooting of an elderly couple in Champaign has been found guilty of attempted murder. Shamario Brown was found guilty on two counts of attempted first degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. The charges stem from a shooting on Heritage Drive from September 2022. A 76-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman were shot as they were pulling into a driveway.

(urbana–jc)--  The April First election has several community and fire district questions for those in Champaign County. For the Ludlow Fire Protection District, voters are being asked to approve funds to operate the local district. If approved, property owners in Ludlow owning a 100 thousand dollar home would be taxed 104 dollars.

(USDA-dm)-Brooke Rollins becomes the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture after Thursday’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate.  Rod Bain has the story

(The Center Square) – Illinois is one of several states emerging as a leader in generating tax revenue from sports betting. A study by Doc’s Sports Service examines the significant impact of sports betting on state finances.  Illinois collects nearly a half billion dollars in sports betting tax revenue yearly, the fourth highest total of any state, but handicapper Raphael Esparza said other tax revenue is generated by sports gambling. New York collects the most taxes from sports wagering at more than $2 billion, followed by Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  The Rantoul Exchange Club is sponsoring the fundraising event at the Linden Banquet Center on Saturday night. The event has a tropical theme with Hula dancers, music, a delicious meal and more  Rantoul  Exchange Club Spokesperson Janet Brotherton talks about the mission of the local service group…

Rantoul Exchange Club Spokesperson Janet Brotherton

Tickets for tomorrow night  are available on the groups facebook page.

(Cissna Park–jc)  The Cissna Park Development Board has its Dueling Pianos fundraiser set for Saturday night at the Cissna Park American Legion. Cissna Park Economic Development Board spokesperson Rachael Bauer says the funds from the event help sponsor the “shop the park” on Saturdays in the summer and other town events…

Cissna Park Economic Development Board Spokesperson Rachael Bauer. The village is getting a new business in a Dollar General store on the north side of the high school and the Jim McCray family purchased the Knapp and Steiner True Value Hardware store. Several new lines of merchandise are now available at the hardware store in downtown Cissna Park.

(Champaign County-jm) – In a decisive move to safeguard the region’s primary drinking water source, the Champaign County Board has unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on carbon sequestration activities near the Mahomet Aquifer. The decision comes after months of growing concern over the potential risks posed by carbon capture and storage projects to this vital water resource. The Mahomet Aquifer, which supplies fresh water to nearly one million people across 14 counties in Central Illinois, has been at the center of a heated debate surrounding proposed projects. These initiatives aim to inject and store carbon dioxide deep underground as a method to mitigate climate change. However, critics argue that the technology is unproven and could pose significant risks to groundwater safety.

(Rantoul–jc)  The village of Rantoul has several major renovation projects started for calendar year 20-25. The downtown Streetscape program, a major sewer project to a wastewater project. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says one need going forward in the village is new housing…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(The Center Square) – Five state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission are suing John Deere alleging the company unfairly blocks farmers from using independent repair shops for their equipment, thus making those repairs more expensive and less efficient than they would be in an open market. Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona and Wisconsin filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Illinois. The John Deere equipment requires a software tool that only licensed repair shops have to diagnose electronic issues with the equipment.

(Buckley–jc)  The annual St Johns School in Buckley have their chicken dinner, carnival and silent auction set for Sunday starting at 3-30pm The event is sponsored by the St John’s P-T-L. St John’s P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher talks about the needs for the school…

St Johns P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher

(Champaign–jc)  The City of Champaign Plan Commission will meet on Wednesday, at 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers on Neil Street. Topics include a landmark designation for a property at 212 East University Avenue and a special permit use for a property at 919 West Hill.

WPXN Weekend News Notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile today from 9-10 at 185 W. Sangamon Avenue in Rantoul and 10:30-11 at the Ludlow Community Center.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner this evening from 5-7 pm. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread and salad for $10.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their pancake breakfast on Saturday from 7-10 am. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, hash browns and eggs for $8.

The Rantoul Exchange Club will hold their Tropical Evening fundraiser on Saturday from 6:30-10 at the Linden Banquet Center in Rantoul. Tickets are $35 each. More information is available by calling Janet Brotherton at 217-893-0703.

The GCMS FFA Boosters will hold their Dueling Pianos cash bash on Saturday from 7:30-10:30 pm at the Countryside Event Center in rural Gibson City. Tickets are $100 for 2 people. More information is available by contacting the GCMS FFA chapter.

The Ludlow Fire Department will hold their pancake and sausage breakfast on Sunday from 8-noon.

A Galentine’s Brunch at Lakeview Country Club will take place on Sunday at noon. Cost is $40. RSVP by calling Karleigh at 217-781-0456.

St. John’s PTL in Buckley will hold their annual chicken dinner, silent auction and carnival on Sunday from 3:30-7 at the school.

(The Center Square) – Government attorneys say the corruption conviction Wednesday of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was historic. In Courtroom 1203 at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse Wednesday, a jury convicted Madigan on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and use of a facility to promote unlawful activity. Morris Pasqual, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said the longtime speaker breached and violated the public trust over and over again.

(Champaign-jm) – A fabric store in Champaign is closing. Jo-Ann Fabrics is closing 600 of their 800 stores including the one in Champaign. It’s unknown when the store will close.

(Rantoul–jc)  Some streets in Rantoul need repair, some properties in the process of upgrades and more. It is the investment that Rantoul leaders are making throughout the village, as Rantoul continues to grow and needs more electricity and upgrades to its infrastructure. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the investment is being made for the future of Rantoul…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Undated-jm) – The Kankakee-Iroquois County Regional Office of Education will soon have a new Regional Superintendent.  Frank Petkunas has announced his pending retirement. His assistant-Superintendent Patricia High will assume the top position.  Petkunas has served the two-county area as Regional School Chief since 2022.  His retirement is effective February 28.

(Buckley–jc)  A silent auction is set for St John’s Lutheran School in Buckley on sunday. The annual event features a chicken dinner, dine in or carryout, a carnival  and a silent auction. St John’s P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher says there are a lot of silent auction items from school projects, gift cards and more…

St John's Lutheran School P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher. The event starts Sunday afternoon at the school at 3-30pm

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty member from The Grainger College of Engineering has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Marcelo Garcia, a professor of civil and environmental engineering is a member of the prestigious engineering body. Professor Garcia  

Garcia is one of the world’s foremost experts in water resources engineering. His distinguished research on sediment transport and river and marine dynamics.

(Springfield–jc)  – The Illinois Department of Agriculture has issued a 30-day suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auction markets in response to the ongoing threat of avian flu. The move is intended to reduce and prevent the spread of the disease, which has been detected in commercial and backyard flocks in Illinois. Poultry flock owners and managers are being asked to report any unusual findings in domestic poultry, such as increase in mortality, decrease in water consumption, decrease in egg production, or respiratory signs. While avian flu has also been detected in dairy cattle, no cases have been confirmed in Illinois to date.

(Rantoul–jc) Icy roads caused several accidents on Wednesday afternoon. State police say Interstate 57 near Rantoul was slowed for several hours after a multi vehicle accident around 3pm Local law enforcement agencies reported numerous slid offs and accidents yesterday due to road conditions. Its a sunny forecast for today, with another round of winter weather coming into the area on Saturday.
 

(Momence-jm) – A chocolate factory in Kankakee County was gutted after a large fire broke out late Tuesday night. It happened at the Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation around 11 p.m., according to the Momence Police Department. The 40,000 square foot cocoa plant manufactures chocolate products like hot cocoa mixes, chocolate syrup and instant chocolate drink mixes. 70 people are out of work following the fire.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  It's Hula party time in Rantoul on Saturday. The Rantoul Exchange Club is sponsoring the fundraising event at the Linden Banquet Center. A tropical theme with Hula dancers, music, a delicious meal and more says Rantoul Exchange Club Spokesperson Janet Brotherton…

Rantoul Exchange Club Spokesperson Janet Brotherton. Tickets are available on the groups facebook page

(Urbana–jc)  – Officials with the Champaign County Jail updated the  way they document use of restraint chairs after an Illinois Answers Project investigation raised questions about the facility’s record-keeping practices and failure to report incidents to a state oversight unit. The development comes as part of an ongoing Illinois Answers probe that found Illinois jails strap people down to chairs on average more than a thousand times a year. The records showed jail staff generally complied with best practices for restraint as laid out in state and county guidelines, but they also revealed gaps in the way the jail documented, tracked and reported restraint chair incidents.

(Urbana–jc)  – Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer has released information on a man, found stabbed to death on Tuesday.70 year old Richard Meek,of Urbana,  was pronounced deceased at the scene. An autopsy was planned for today.  The death remains under investigation. 

SPRINGFIELD, IL. - Each year the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) awards a summer internship. Drew Mickey has been selected as the 2025 IL Pork Ambassador. Drew is from Taylorville, Illinois and grew up on a fifth-generation family farm raising corn and soybeans, as well as building a cattle and swine operation over the past ten years. Throughout high school he was active in organizations such as 4-H, FFA, Tommy TV, National Honor Society, and Christian County CEO. His involvement in the swine industry has allowed him the opportunity to be a part of the Team Purebred and National Junior Swine Associations which has allowed him to develop a strong passion for the pork industry. Drew attends Kansas State University

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Friday, February 14th from 9-10 at 185 W. Sangamon Avenue in Rantoul and 10:30-11 at the Ludlow Community Center.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, February 14th from 5-7 pm. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread and salad for $10.

The GCMS FFA Boosters will hold their Dueling Pianos cash bash on Saturday, February 15th from 7:30-10:30 pm at the Countryside Event Center in rural Gibson City. Tickets are $100 for 2 people. More information is available by contacting the GCMS FFA chapter.

The Ludlow Fire Department will hold their pancake and sausage breakfast on Sunday, February 16th from 8-noon.

A Galentine’s Brunch at Lakeview Country Club will take place on Sunday, February 16th at noon. Cost is $40. RSVP by calling Karleigh at 217-781-0456.

The Illinois Ag Summit will take place on Tuesday, February 18th from 3-8:30 pm at the I-Hotel in Champaign.

(Undated-jm) – Winter weather is coming through the area today. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the entire WPXN listening area. 1-4 inches of snow are expected along with a chance of freezing rain. The combination of snow and freezing rain has caused some schools to go to remote learning today. The weather service says travel this afternoon could be treacherous.

(Emmington–jc)  One local legislator says it's time to quit grandstanding and try to fix a three point 2 billion dollar budget shortfall. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington says reforms and a balanced budget are needed…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign woman has been arrested following an investigation into a November 2024 stabbing death. The Champaign Police Department was ca;;ed on November 16, 2024, to the 2000 Block of Cynthia Drive for a domestic disturbance. On-scene, they located 71-year-old W. B. Curry with a potentially life-threatening stab wound. The initial investigation indicated that Curry had been involved in a domestic altercation with Dewandee Carter, 67, of Champaign when she stabbed him in the chest. For her role in this incident, Carter was initially arrested on a charge of First-Degree Murder.

(Kankakee-jm) – Three suspects are jailed in Kankakee County following a reported home invasion Monday in rural Kankakee.  All three are charged with home invasion.  41-year-old Marcus Phelan of Kankakee, 38-year-old James Schoeberl II of St. Anne, and 29-year-old Ryan McManimen of Bourbonnais are jailed at the Jerome Combs Detention Center.  A homeowner said an individual posing as a delivery-representative approached his door.  But as the homeowner engaged with the suspect, two additional individuals forced their way inside. The suspects then restrained the homeowner with zip-ties and then ransacked the residence --- stealing electronics, cash, and multiple firearms before fleeing the scene.

(Rantoul–jc)  The Community Service Center in Rantoul has several food and supplies pantries that benefit those in need in the village and surrounding areas. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford provides some areas of supply needs…

Rantoul based Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford

(St Joseph–jc)  A local author is set for a reading from his novel “Strawberry Gold” on Monday February 24th. The event is set for the Swearingen Memorial Library in St Joseph at 6pm. Chris Gerrib is the author. Signed copies of the book will be offered for sale

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department on Aging is seeking nominations for the 2025 induction class of the Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame, which honors the accomplishments of Illinois residents aged 65 and older. Governor J B Prizker says whether its a teacher who goes the extra mile to a helpful neighbor, seniors are the backbone of our communities and his office is  proud to honor four older adults for their contributions in community service, education, arts, and labor by inducting them into the Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame. Nominees must be submitted to the Illinois Department of Aging by June 2.

(Rantoul–jc) Work on streets and sewer continues for the village of Rantoul. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says village leaders are moving forward with a water and wastewater issues in the village…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Chicago–jc)  Small business optimism has dropped and the uncertainty index has risen, according to the National Federation of Independent Business Optimism Index. N-F-I-B Illinois State Director Noah Finley said small business owners remain on edge about the expiration of the federal small business tax dedication and lingering inflation and workforce pressures.

(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana Police Department will hold a press conference and community forum on Friday at 9:00 A.M. in the Urbana City Council Chambers to address the recent tragedies that claimed three lives, including a seven-year-old child. Chief Larry D. Boone will speak on the urgent need to address domestic violence and gun violence in our community. UPD will also provide key updates on the ongoing investigation to ensure accurate information is shared and to prevent misinformation from spreading.

(Fisher–jc)  Village of Fisher leaders are set to approve several TIF redevelopment agreements when they meet tonight at the Fisher Community Center. Several village jurisdiction agreements are also on tonights agenda. The Fisher Village board meeting comes to order at 6pm

(Watseka-jm) – John Grant of Donovan is the newest member of the Iroquois County Board. His appointment fills a vacancy from a few months back when Michael McTaggart resigned his seat. Grant will serve on the Tax and Health committees.

(Buckley–jc)  Theres a great chicken meal, a carnival and silent auction to benefit Christian education at one local school on Sunday. The St Johns School in Buckley’s P-T-L group is hosting the event that starts at 3-30 at the school onSunday. St John’s PTL President Tessa Pilcher says this years funds help with some tech needs and school needs…

St John’s School P T L President Tessa Pilcher

(Kankakee–jc)  Clove Alliance will be hosting its signature event, COSMIC BINGO, next month.The event is set for Friday March 21st at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds. Event starts at 4-30 with bingo at 6-30. More information is found on line at clovebingo-dot-.square-dot.site.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow is coming to the Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Tuesday, August 12th. Her first nine studio albums have sold 35 million copies worldwide; seven charted in the Top 10, and five were certified for Multi-Platinum sales. Tickets go on sale this Saturday

(Gilman–jc)  Iroquois West school board members are set to talk about negotiations with teachers for a new contract when they meet tonight at 6. Action could be taken on contract negotiations after the closed session. A public comment period will also be a part of tonight's meeting in Gilman.

WPXN News notes…

The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Coffee and Connections this morning from 8-9 am.

The Onarga American Legion will host a blood drive today from 1-6pm.

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Friday, February 14th from 9-10 at 185 W. Sangamon Avenue in Rantoul and 10:30-11 at the Ludlow Community Center.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, February 14th from 5-7 pm. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread and salad for $10.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their pancake breakfast on Saturday, February 15th from 7-10 am. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, hash browns and eggs for $8.

The Cissna Park Development Board will host Dueling Pianos at the Cissna Park American Legion on Saturday, February 15th.  Social hour begins at 5pm, dinner at 6pm with dueling pianos from 6:30-9:30. Cost is $65 per person or $500 for a table of 8. Call Rachel Bauer at 815-954-4806 for tickets.

WASHINGTON – Monday, Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin  U.S. Senator James Lankford, Republican from Oklahoma introduced the bipartisan Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act, which would support financially vulnerable rural hospitals facing risk of closure. The legislation would update Medicare’s “Critical Access Hospital” designation so more rural hospitals can qualify for this financial lifeline and continue to serve their communities with quality, affordable health care services. Small and rural hospitals are the backbone of their communities, and often the largest employers, contributing nearly $5 billion in direct spending on payroll, goods, and services in Illinois. Yet more than 135 rural hospitals have closed nationwide in the past dozen years, an estimated 50 percent of rural hospitals ran operating losses last year, and more than 400 hospitals are facing closure risk. Under C-A-H status, hospitals are paid a higher Medicare rate, as long as they have fewer than 25 inpatient beds; are located 35 miles from other hospitals

(Washington-jm) – President Donald Trump is expected to pardon Democratic former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a person familiar with his plans. Trump commuted Blagojevich's 14-year sentence for political corruption charges during his first term according to the person, who was not authorized to discuss the planned pardon publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Blagojevich, who appeared on Trump's reality TV show "Celebrity Apprentice," was convicted in 2011. He served eight years before Trump, a Republican, cut short his term. Blagojevich was convicted on charges that included seeking to sell an appointment to then-President Barack Obama's old Senate seat and trying to shake down a children's hospital.

(Watseka–dm)-The consolidated election is April 1.  If you’re not registered or if you have moved, you need to contact the County Clerk.  WPXN’s Dan Mushrush has more information.

(Rural Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City first responders were called to an accident late Monday afternoon. It happened just after 5:30 pm at 100 north 300 east. One person had to be extricated from the vehicle.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  The downtown area of Rantoul is currently under construction, and waiting for warmer days for the 20-25 Streetscape project to begin. Village leaders are moving forward with the 5 million dollar plus project says Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Hoopeston-jm) – A Hoopeston man was arrested for aggravated discharge of a firearm and domestic battery over the weekend. 57-year-old Charles Landers was arrested by police for two counts of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm; Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon; and Aggravated Domestic Battery, according to police following an incident at a home on West Lincoln Street.

(Paxton–jc)  The city of Paxton is a partner with the Experience Champaign-Urbana group. Local leaders continue to look at ways to reap the benefits of the alliance from marketing in the groups magazine, partnering with promotions and more. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says trying to reach the motoring public into Paxton is key for continued success in the city…

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

(Urbana–jc) –The Champaign County Democratic Central Committee is accepting applications for the upcoming Champaign County Treasurer-/Collector vacancy. Current County Treasurer-/Collector Cassandra “CJ” Johnson has announced she will retire at the end of the month. The individual nominated to fill the vacancy will serve the remainder of Treasurer Johnson’s current term and will be eligible to run for a full term in 2026.  Applications will be accepted until midnight on Sunday, March 2nd. More information about the Treasurer/Collector’s Office can be found on line.

(Washington-jm) – A group of Democrat Attorney Generals, including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is angling their support for federal workers against an order from President Donald Trump they view as a violation of the law. Last month, the Trump administration gave thousands of federal employees across the nation and in different departments the option to accept “buyouts”: if they resign, they will be paid until Sept. 30 despite not showing up to work. Employees only had a week to decide to stay or leave. More than 65,000 federal employees decided to take the offer and chose to resign, according to the White House.

(Rantoul–jc)  Some in Rantoul have been having issues with telephone calls. Rantoul Village leaders let community members know about the issues through facebook. Metcad is the back up for emergency calls. That number is 217-333-8911.

(Washington-jm) – A group of Democratic attorney generals, including Illinois’ Kwame Raoul, is challenging President Donald Trump over his decision to slash funding for medical research across the country. The Trump administration announced Friday that the National Institutes of Health is now implementing a standard indirect rate of 15% across all grants they fund. This means only 15% of a given award can go towards the facilities and administration needed to carry out the grants. They point out Congress has included language in appropriations law that forbid NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services from making universal changes to indirect cost reimbursements.

(The Center Square) – Gun confiscation from subjects of domestic orders of protection is now the law of the land in Illinois. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 4144 Monday in Chicago. Legislators approved the measure, which originally started out as a bill dealing with fire hydrants, during the 103rd General Assembly’s lame duck session in January. Karina’s Law is named after Karina Gonzalez, who was shot and killed by her husband in 2023, despite there being an order of protection.  State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, said victims have the right to leave their abuser and file domestic orders of protection.

State Rep Maura Hirschauer D-Batavia. Illinois State Rifle Association’s Ed Sullivan said convicted domestic abusers shouldn’t have access to guns, but Karina’s Law does away with an accused person’s due process rights.

Illinois State Rifle Association spokesperson Ed Sullivan

(Urbana-jm) – Urbana Police and Champaign County Crime Stoppers are asking for the public’s help in finding the people who stole a TV from Urbana’s Meijer last month. Officials said the theft happened on January 18 just before 8 p.m. Three men entered the store, walked to the electronics section and picked out a 50-inch TV. Two of the men distracted an employee while the third walked out the store with the $200 TV. The suspects were all described as being Black men between the ages of 18 and 25. Suspect 1 — a gray hoodie, black jeans and black shoes

Suspect 2 — a blue Champion hoodie, black jeans, black shoes and a medical mask

Suspect 3 — a black puffy jacket gray “distressed” jeans, black shoes and a medical mask

(Paxton–jc)  Spring is coming and road repair and repaving is on the minds of local officials in area towns and cities. For the city of Paxton,  council members are expected to look  at possibilities for use of state funds and motor tax fuel funds when they meet tonight. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says over 400 thousand dollars is earmarked for streets in Paxton this year…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold,  Paxton City leaders are also expected to approve its annual contract with M-C-S of Gibson City when they meet tonight. Local leaders will discuss approving a sponsorship of First Responders Night, which is an event set for the Cadillac on Saturday March 15th and funding for the southeast drainage project is also on the agenda. The Paxton City Council meets at 7 on the second floor of city hall. 

(Rantoul–dm)-The Rantoul High School is undergoing some expansion projects in the main gym and the east wing.  Rantoul School District Superintendent Scott Amerio tells us about the east wing expansion and the estimated completion date.

Rantoul School Superintendent Scott Amerio

(Urbana-jm) – Several people will soon be out of a job after a soybean research team based in the Midwest is forced to close.  According to a social media post from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Professor Peter Goldsmith, The Soybean Innovation Lab is set to close April 15th. Goldsmith said the closure was due to all funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development being ceased. The lab has more than 100 soybean experts from 24 countries.

(Springfield-jm) – Be warned—flu and respiratory illnesses are spreading across central Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that respiratory illness levels have increased from moderate to high. Children ages 5-17, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk. Emergency visits and hospital admissions are rising due to the flu. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms of illness—such as a fever, runny nose, sore throat, or cough—get tested and treated sooner rather than later.

(Urbana–jc)  Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer has released information on two individuals who have died from gunshot wounds after a shooting incident in Urbana on Saturday night.7 year old Darnell “DJ” Wicks,, was pronounced dead at the Carle Foundation Hospital on Saturday night. 43 year old Melvin Braxton, also on Saturday night at Carle Foundation Hospital. Autopsies are set for this week. These deaths are being investigated by the Urbana Police Department, Illinois State Police, and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.

(Springfield-jm) – At the Illinois Gaming Board’s first meeting of the year, it reported that the State and local governments earned more than $1.7 billion in tax revenue from Illinois’ 16 licensed casinos, 8,700 video gaming terminals, and 14 operating sportsbooks in 2024. This is excluding December sports wagering numbers.

(Danville-jm) – A Kankakee man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for the shooting deaths of two Danville men in 2021. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office prosecuted Gregory Burns, who was found guilty of murder for the death of Leslie Fisher. Raoul's office reports Burns and two co-defendants, Ezell Fulton and Darryl Jordan, confronted four men in a liquor store drive-thru in unincorporated Danville about a stolen handgun in September 2021. During the confrontation, Burns shot and killed two of the men while wounding two others. The murder weapon was later found in Burns' apartment.

(Emmington–jc)  –  The process is broken on how Illinois sets up its house and senate districts. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington, says redistricting is a subject that needs to be decided by a fair court of appeals process…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington.

(Springfield–dm)-In the first two weeks of being in office, President Trump began an independent audit of federal spending, ended federal DEI policies and took actions on immigration.  Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Friday blasted the Trump administration, vowing to fight a recent lawsuit that the U.S. Department of Justice filed against the state and Chicago over the state’s migrant sanctuary policies.

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.  State Representative. Blaine Wilhour,  of Beecher City, said it’s been a sight to behold watching Democrats in Illinois reacting.

State Representative  Blaine Willhour, Republican from  Beecher City

(Springfield–jc)  – Sales of cannabis in Illinois are at an all time high.The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on Thursday announced that over $2 billion of cannabis products were sold in 2024, a two and one half percent increase from the previous year.The sales came from the 244 adult-use cannabis dispensaries in the state. According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, the state collected more than $490 million in sales taxes.

(Springfield–jc)   After saying we should not resort to tax hikes to balance our state budget last week, the Governor has now conveniently walked back his statement and said it’s something he would consider. 88th District State Representative Regan Deering, a Republican from Decatur says Illinoisans already pay the highest effective taxes in Illinois…

88th District State Representative Republican Regan Deering of Decatur.

(Urbana–jc)  – Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer has released the name of a man killed in a motor vehicle crash on Thursday near Broadlands. 83 year old Junior Evans, of Sidell, was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash that happened near 2700 E. and 100 N. in Champaign County, the accident happened just before 5pm Thursday. An autopsy was held on Friday This death is being investigated by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.

(Hoopeston–jc)  The Hoopeston Library is giving away seeds for Spring. 

The Seed Library provides free garden seeds to any interested residents. Now entering its fourth year, the Seed Library has been a popular way for people to get started gardening or to try something new. Last year, more than 30 people visited and the library gave away more than 100 packets of seeds. Contact the Library is Hoopeston for flowers seeds to vegetable seeds and more.

CHAMPAIGN – In order to perform a sanitary sewer repair, A&R Mechanical Services is closing a portion of Market Street in Champaign  just south of Logan Street. Work began on Friday as is expected to be completed by this Friday.

(Chicago-jm) – The Department of Justice is suing Illinois, Chicago and Cook County because of their sanctuary policies. The lawsuit, claims the state’s immigration laws as well as Chicago’s and Cook County’s policies, interfere with the federal government’s ability to enforce federal immigration law saying it violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. That clause says that federal laws take priority over conflicting state laws.

(Paxton–jc)  Ford County leaders will look at the role of the Ford County Administrator when they meet tonight in Paxton. Electronic notepads for board members, a solid waste ordinance and county farm leases are also agenda items. The Ford County Board meets at 6 tonight in the Sheriff’s board room at the courthouse in Paxton. 

(Urbana-jm) – The Champaign County Coroner’s office has shared the name of the victim from a Friday night shooting in Urbana. The Coroner said, 18 year old Sherman McCraney Jr. was pronounced dead at Carle Hospital just before 9 p.m. on Friday. An autopsy is scheduled for today. The shooting remains under investigation. Urbana Police responded to the 2000 block of Vawter Street for a report of a shooting with injuries around 8:22 p.m.

(Rantoul–jc)  Bids for the high school football field is one topic for Rantoul Township High School board members when they meet tonight in monthly session. Board members will also look to approve a 10 year contract with the Upchurch Group to complete the Health Life Safety Survey. The board will also recognize Elijah Neitzel (“N-eye-tzl) as student of the month. The Rantoul Township High school board meets at 6 tonight at the high school.

(Champaign–dm)-Here’s something new to bring up the next time you visit your health care provider: Should I undergo a C-T calcium score screen to take stock of my heart health? It’s not for everybody, but it could mean the difference between a long, healthy life and finding yourself on an operating table. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has more.

People aged 40 to 65 or people with a family history of heart disease are candidates for this screening, but anyone can ask their provider about it.

(Springfield–dm)-In the first two weeks of being in office, Trump began an independent audit of federal spending, ended federal DEI policies and took actions on immigration, all things House Speaker Emannuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, criticized on the House floor last week...

State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, said Democrats continue to try and distract from what he said were their failed policies.

State Representative Chris Miller Republican from  Oakland.

(Springfield–jc) – With tariffs put on hold for the time being, Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker is working the phones with officials from Mexico and Canada.

The governor’s office said Pritzker spoke with the Consul General of Mexico regarding the economic relationship between Illinois and Mexico and the importance of preserving trade in sectors like agriculture and machinery. Pritzker also spoke with Canada’s ambassador to the United States.

(Gibson City–jc) – Gibson City leaders are looking to approve a request from Les Marti to replace a business sign at 706 South Sangamon Avenue when they meet tonight. Board members will also look to approve a  new city clerk. The Gibson City,  city council,  meets at 7 tonight in the city council chambers. 

WPXN news notes…

The Loda United Methodist Church will host a Valentine’s Senior Meal on Monday, February 10th at 10:30 am.

The 2025 Crop Management Conference will take place Wednesday, February 12th at the I-Hotel in Champaign from 7-4. Cost is $100. Call 217-265-5321 to register.

The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Coffee and Connections on Wednesday, February 12th from 8-9 am.

SPRINGFIELD – This Super Bowl Sunday, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and law enforcement agencies throughout the state are reinforcing vital safety messages that could save your life or someone else’s: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket.” Remember that walking impaired also can be dangerous, so designate a sober friend to walk home with you, if needed. Sober driving isn’t the only law that should be followed. Always make sure you and everyone else in the vehicle buckles up. It’s the best defense in a crash.

(Rantoul–dm)-The main gym at Rantoul Township High School is currently in the middle of an expansion project.  Rantoul High School Superintendent. Scott Amerio provides information on the expansion project….

Rantoul Supt. Scott Amerio .  The Expansion project is scheduled to be completed this spring.

(McLean County–jc) Thursday morning, Illinois State Police were alerted to a vehicle believed to be involved in an armed robbery in Texas traveling on I-74 in Champaign County. ? Officers began to track the vehicle as it headed north into McLean County. ? Around 10:30 a.m., the vehicle stopped at a gas station in Lexington and one occupant, 19-year-old Joseph Martin Hernandez from Texas, exited the vehicle and entered the gas station. ? Shortly after, officers arrived at the gas station and attempted to take Hernandez and the driver, 18-year-old Ryan Aeron Stanley Hurst from Arkansas, into custody. ? Hurst pointed a gun in the direction of officers and officers fired shots striking Hurst. ? Officers began providing first aid until Hurst was transported to the hospital, where he is currently listed in stable condition. ? Hernandez was not injured and was taken into custody for further investigation. ? No officers were injured. ? ? This investigation is open and ongoing. ? ISP is currently processing evidence and conducting interviews.

(The Center Square) – As critics contend it is setting a dangerous precedent, legislation is advancing through the Illinois General Assembly that would ban certain food additives. The Illinois Food Safety Act in Senate Bill 93 would ban specific food additives from being used in the manufacturing, delivering, distributing, holding or selling of food products. The additives include potassium bromate and propylparaben. Republican State Senator Seth Lewis of Carol Stream has more.

Republican State Senator Seth Lewis of Carol Stream

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have introduced legislation that calls for transparency in government spending on non-citizen residents. Republican state Sens. John Curran, R-Downers Grove, Li Arellano, R-Dixon, and Craig Wilcox, R-Woodstock, sponsored Senate Bill 1699, which was filed this week. The measure would require an annual report to the General Assembly detailing all state spending on non-citizen populations. State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, said Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised to make Illinois the most welcoming state in the nation for non-citizens.

(Springfield–jc)  One local lawmaker filed a bill to help make rural roads safer.106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington says the measure is need for rural safety…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington

(Washington–jc)  What does the U-S-D-A say about farm income for 20-25. U-S-D-A  Chief Economist Seth Meyer takes a look at the farm income forecast…

U S D A Chief Economist Seth Meyer

(Fisher–dg)  – A local longtime IHSA and IESA sports official passed away in December. John Heap of Champaign, formerly of Fisher, was an IHSA and IESA sports official for 43 years. He officiated Basketball, Baseball, Football, Softball, and Volleyball. John Graduated from Fisher High School in 1967 where he participated in all sports, and was later inducted into the Fisher High School Hall of Fame.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday Feb 9th from 12-2 at Fisher High School cafeteria. 

(Rantoul–jc)  If you see a lot of people wearing “red” today, there is a good reason. Today is National Wear Red Day to promote heart health. Everyone is asked to Wear Red to help raise awareness of the number one 1 killer of women, cardiovascular disease. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the village is also participating with a proclamation and more…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

Wearing Red, seeing buildings lit up with the color red, information events, a challenge to eat better, to a good walk, are some ways to participate

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago, and local officials alleging they are exacerbating the border crisis and thwarting federal officials with sanctuary city policies. The Justice Department asked a judge to declare the state and local laws unconstitutional under the federal government's supremacy clause. The complaint, filed Thursday, specifically referenced the Illinois Way Forward Act and the 2017 TRUST Act alongside Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance and Cook County policies. It further names Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.

(Gilman–dm)-If you have attended a High School or Junior. High School volleyball match in the last 46 ½ years you have probably seen Dee Trumble referee.  On February 24th, Dee is hanging up her whistle.  Dee Trumble tells us about the first game she refereed

Volleyball referee Dee Trumble. 

(Chicago–jc)  –Illinois bankers have not shown they have a likelihood of success in blocking the state's law banning swipe fees on taxes and tips paid with credit or debit card. That's according to a federal judge. The law Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted is set to take effect July First. In a mixed ruling Thursday, a judge denied a preliminary injunction requested by federal credit unions, but granted a motion to block the law as the case continues in respect to out-of-state state banks.

(Urbana–jc)-- Here’s something new to bring up the next time you visit your health care provider: Should I undergo a C-T calcium score screen to take stock of my heart health? It’s not for everybody, but it could mean the difference between a long, healthy life and finding yourself on an operating table. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has more…

(Chicago–jc)  – There is more movement by United Airlines about a potential move of its corporate headquarters from Chicago to Denver.In a new filing with the city of Denver, United said it may eventually build more than 1 million square feet of office space to accommodate more than 6,000 employees on land it purchased near the Denver airport.

(Broadlands–jc)  Champaign county authorities responded to a  two vehicle crash on a rural road near Broadlands on Thursday afternoon. The accident happened along county road 27 hundred East north of Broadlands. Emergency personnel were on the scene for several hours. No other information is available

(Washington–jc)  –The Super Bowl is Sunday. How might New Orleans style food dishes compare to traditional Super Bowl party fare regarding food safety, as some might incorporate a Cajun and Creole menu to coincide with this year’s Super Bowl? Rod Bain reports…

WPXN News notes…

CU at Home will host their One Winter Night tonight

The Loda American Legion will hold their fish or chicken fry tonight from 4-7 pm. Cost is $10. 

Elliott Amvets have their monthly dinner nite on tonight from 5pm to7pm. Chicken Fish or Shrimp dinners are available. Dine In or carry out

Grace Baptist Church in Paxton will hold their Men’s Rally on Saturday, February 8th from 8:30-4:30 pm.

The 36th Annual PBL FFA Farm Toy Show will take place on Saturday, February 8th from 9-2:30 at PBL High School. The featured tractor is Oliver 1800 Diesel.

Living Word Church will hold a craft and vendor show for their summer camp fundraiser on Saturday, February 8th from 9-3 at The Cadillac in Paxton. 

The ACT Theatre Company in Gibson City will hold their Valentine Mystery Dinner on Saturday, February 8th at 6pm at the Countryside Event Center. Tickets are available on their facebook page. 

The Loda United Methodist Church will host a Valentine’s Senior Meal on Monday, February 10th at 10:30 am.

The Onarga American Legion will host a blood drive on Wednesday, February 12th from 1-6pm.

(Springfield-jm) – Organizations that run after school programs throughout Illinois are calling on state officials to release fifty-million dollars that lawmakers included in this year’s budget to fund those programs. Capitol News Illinois reports lawmakers provided funding for the programs to make up for the loss of federal funding from an accounting error at the Illinois State Board of Education. Officials at the state board say they need more guidance from the General Assembly before they can release the funds. But State Representative Will Guzzardi, a lead budget negotiator for House Democrats, says lawmakers are anxious to deliver the funding so after-school programs don’t get canceled…

State Representative Will Guzzardi. Advocates say more than twenty-seven-thousand students have lost access to after-school programming this year and more than two-thousand staffers have lost their jobs because the funds have not been distributed.

(Rantoul–jc)  Those with the village of Rantoul are among many in the area and around the country to participate in the “go red for women-wear red” day.

 Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith announced that those in Rantoul will participate in the National, wear Red Day on Friday February 7th…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith.  Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women. Wear red to be seen, to be counted, to be heard, to make an impact. Together, we are all stronger than heart disease and stroke.

(Springfield–jc) –An Illinois lawmaker is pushing a new bill that would ensure parents have the final say before their kids are prescribed psychotropic medications. State Rep. Jed Davis says the proposed bill would require doctors to provide parents with printed FDA Medication Guides before prescribing psychotropic drugs to children. Under the legislation, parents must be given written, informed consent before any prescription is issued.

(Buckley–jc)  St John's Lutheran School in Buckley is setting up for their biggest fundraiser of the year. The annual P-T-L dinner, carnival and auction is set for Sunday February 16th. The silent auction starts at 3-30 with the chicken dinner from 4pm to 7pm. St Johns P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher says the carnival is a fun time for children at the event…

St Johns P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher

(Paxton-dg)-Two suspects in connection with a Paxton robbery have been arrested. Rayvonne D. Sampson 28, of Champaign and Brian Omand 26, of  Chicago were arrested on warrants charging them with armed robbery with a firearm in connection with the holdup on December 27 of Paxton Variety Liquors. The Ford County Chronicle, reported that  both men were arrested January 12 in Chicago. The car they were in was found in Rantoul and seized by police on January 20th. Paxton Police Chief Coy Cornett said authorities believe the 2 men also are responsible for a series of other armed robberies from Champaign County to Cook County.

(Springfield–jc)  –The Illinois Department of Revenue is encouraging eligible Illinoisans to take advantage of savings offered by tax credits when filing their 2024 income tax returns this year. The Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit is a benefit for working people with low to moderate income. The Illinois Child Tax Credit is a new tax credit for the 2024 tax year for taxpayers who qualify for the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit and have at least one child that is their dependent and under the age of 12 years old.

(Washington–jc)  There is a wide range of weather across the United States this week. Rod Bain reports…

(Springfield–jc)  Illinoiss House Democrats spent time on the House floor in Springfield Wednesday afternoon running a series of resolutions condemning President Trump for his January 6th pardons, his executive order freezing federal grant spending, his efforts on D-E-I initiatives and his immigration actions, making long. 90th District State Representative John Cabello, Republican from Machesney Park says democrats are grandstanding …

90th District State Representative John Cabello, Republican from Machesney Park

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have introduced bills that would end the practice of ticketing students for municipal code violations. Democratic State Representative La Shawn Ford of Chicago, and Democrat State Senator Karina Villa of  Chicago, sponsored measures that would ban school officials from fining students for truancy and other offenses.  Ford introduced House Bill 2502 on Monday. The measure would prohibit school personnel from issuing a monetary fine, fee, ticket, or citation for a municipal code violation.

(Chicago–jc)  Doctors at Northwestern Medicine said medical innovations helped them achieve two milestones 2024. One was the largest number of lung transplants in a single year and the other was the shortest median wait time for transplants. Medical advances allowed doctors to perform a record 148 transplants in 2024, the most in the program’s 10-year history, and reduced the median wait time for a transplant to four days.

(Springfield–jc) –Preparations are underway for Illinois to join in the nation’s celebration of 250 years of independence in 2026, and the Illinois America 250 Commission is encouraging people across the Prairie State to get involved in planning festivities and educational opportunities to mark the historic moment. The commission is encouraging communities, libraries, schools, historical societies and individuals to be part of efforts to develop an inclusive commemoration of the founding of the United States and Illinois’ role in the nation’s history. Celebrations marking the nation’s independence are expected to take place across the country in 2026, culminating on July 4 of that year.

(Paxton–jc)  There is baseball coming to Paxton with the Paxton Park District. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

(Paxton–jc)  One local grocery store is changing hands. Current owners of the Paxton IGA are retiring and the store is being purchased by Kirby Foods of Champaign. Kirby Foods has been in operation since 1969 and operates 16 IGA Stores in Illinois and Indiana. The new owners are expected to take over in late March. 

(Springfield-jm) – A new study from the University of Cincinnati Economic Center shows retail brings in over seven-billion dollars in tax revenue for Illinois every year. Capitol News Illinois Reports one-point-three million people work in retail across the state. This makes retail the second largest private industry in Illinois. President and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association Rob Karr says the study is the first of its kind to show the impact retail has on the state…

Illinois Retail Merchants Association President and CEO Rob Karr. While the study is good news for retailers, Karr says President Donald Trump’s plan to put tariffs on imports is causing uncertainty.

(Paxton–jc)  There is an Easter time event coming to the city of Paxton. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper has some details…

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professor will present on biotechnology at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium tomorrow.

U-I-U-C professor Sara Pedron Haba will present “Bioengineered Human Disease Models" as part of Parkland College's James B. Kaler Science Lecture Series Friday night at 7.

(The Center Square) – A new study reveals the economic impact of the retail sector in Illinois.  The Illinois Retail Merchants Association sponsored the study, which found retail directly contributes more than $112 billion in economic investment annually. The analysis, the first of its kind in Illinois history, also found the retail sector is the state’s largest private sector employer, with 1.3 million people working in retail.

(Rantoul–jc)  Those interested in jobs with the village of Rantoul can always check out their website for openings. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says one job they want to fill is one in judication…

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

WPXN News notes…

CU at Home will host their One Winter Night on Friday, February 7th.

The Loda American Legion will hold their fish or chicken fry on Friday, February 7th from 4-7 pm. Cost is $10. 

Grace Baptist Church in Paxton will hold their Men’s Rally on Saturday, February 8th from 8:30-4:30 pm.

The 36th Annual PBL FFA Farm Toy Show will take place on Saturday, February 8th from 9-2:30 at PBL High School. The featured tractor is Oliver 1800 Diesel.

Living Word Church will hold a craft and vendor show for their summer camp fundraiser on Saturday, February 8th from 9-3 at The Cadillac in Paxton. For more information about the show or to reserve your booth space call Melanie Bauer at 217-379-7852.

The ACT Theatre Company in Gibson City will hold their Valentine Mystery Dinner on Saturday, February 8th at 6pm at the Countryside Event Center. Tickets are available on their facebook page. 

(Undated-jm) – Winter weather is making its way through the area today. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the entire WPXN listening area for freezing rain. Check getting around illinois dot com for the latest road conditions.

(Decatur-jm) – Archer Daniels Midland will reduce its global workforce by 600 to 700 people in 2025. The company announced the layoffs in a quarterly and year-end financial report Tuesday. The reduction, along with other cost-cutting measures, is intended to save the company between $500 - $750 million in the next three to five years. ADM cited ongoing market challenges and global uncertainty for its cost-cutting measures.

(Springfield–jc)  –In an Illinois House Republican press conference Tuesday, members met with the media to discuss immigration and the impact on residents throughout the State of Illinois.  Republican House Minority Leader Tony McCombie of Savanna says Illinois families deserve transparency and accountability in the face of a migrant crisis that the governor and Chicago mayor Johnson recklessly invited into the state.  

Illinois House Minority Leader Republican Tony McCombie from Savannah. McCombie said the governor irresponsibly claimed that ICE was targeting schools in Chicago, a statement that was completely false. 

(Urbana-jm) – A man was arrested by University of Illinois Police after reports that he had a gun at Joe’s Brewery. 19-year-old David Ugalde was found with a pistol, two loaded magazines and a pocketknife on him. Ugalde was arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated assault, violation of an order of protection, resisting and obstructing a peace officer and a FOID card violation.

(Iroquois County-jm) – The Iroquois County Republican Women's Club is awarding a $500 scholarship to a resident of Iroquois County. Applications are now available.  The scholarship is open to a graduating high school senior.  The monetary gift, it's hoped, will enrich lives and encourage young men and women to become future Republican leaders. Applications are judged on submitted responses along with Republican Party activities, leadership activities, school activities, community/church and scholastic achievement. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, resident of Iroquois County,a registered voter of Iroquois County if 18 or older.  Applicant must also be a current graduating high school senior. Completed applications must be postmarked by April 3, 2025.  Direct them to Deb Monk... 1864 N 400 East Road... Gilman, IL 60938.

(Springfield–jc)  Illinois is seeing an uptick in respiratory viruses with a notable increase in hospital admissions for flu. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, hospital visits for the week ending Jan. 25 show that flu is circulating more widely than other respiratory illnesses. Health officials report five pediatric deaths have been recorded in Illinois from the flu, along with three from COVID-19 and one from RSV.

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Tuesday, announced a Vermilion County judge sentenced a Kankakee County man to prison for his role in the shooting deaths of two Danville, Illinois men in September of 2021.   Attorney General Raoul’s office prosecuted Gregory Burns, 26, of Kankakee, Illinois, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison by Vermilion County Circuit Court Judge Mark Goodwin. Burns had been found guilty of murder for the death of Leslie Fisher, 20, of Danville

(Rantoul-jm) – A former Rantoul police chief has passed away. The department announced on Facebook Paul Farber passed away in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Farber served as chief from 2005 until he retired in 2015. Services will be February 15th at 11 am at the Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt, Iowa.

(Washington–jc)   What are some things to know regarding takeout or delivery food and how to keep it safe from food borne bacteria while available during your Super Bowl event? Rod Bain  reports…

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois’ retail industry brings in $112 billion dollars in economic investments every year. That’s based on data from a study from the University of Cincinnati Economics Center. The retail sector includes businesses like restaurants, clothing stores, pharmacies and health businesses, along with stores that sell building material and garden supplies. Data from the report, which is from 2022, shows that retail businesses bring in more than $7 billion dollars in income and sales tax revenue annually. In Champaign-Urbana, it generates more than $69 million in income and sales tax.

(Rantoul–dm)-The Community Service Center in Rantoul has some fundraisers coming up. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford tells us about some of the upcoming events.

Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign city councilman who posted a swastika on social media last week has apologized. The City of Champaign released a statement from Davion Williams Tuesday, in which he wrote a “sincere and heartfelt” apology. He said it was never his intention to cause harm, but he acknowledged the pain he caused and said he takes full responsibility for the impact of his words.

(Gibson City-jm) – Four people were arrested on felony meth charges Monday during a drug bust led by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office. Our partners with the Ford County Chronicle reported that police seized about a half pound of meth. The four people arrested were allegedly involved in a major drug distribution ring in Gibson City at North Park. Those taken into custody include: Allen Burgin of Loda on three counts of meth delivery and one count of delivery or possession with intent to deliver meth, Kenenth Koltveit of Gibson City on one count of possession of less than five grams of meth and two counts of meth delivery, Tara Kall of Gibson City on one count each of possession of less than five grams of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia and Angela Rutledge of Hoopeston on two counts each of meth delivery and delivery or possession with intent to deliver meth.

(Paxton–jc) The 36th annual Paxton Buckley Loda F F A Toy Show is set for Saturday at Paxton Buckley Loda High School. Paxton Buckley Loda F F A Vice President Allie Wright says with the displays and toy sales there are a variety of things to do at the event…

Paxton Buckley Loda F F A Vice President Allie Wright

The PBL FFA Toy Show runs from 9am to 2-30pm on Saturday at the high school

(Chicago–jc)  Northwestern is one of five universities that are being accused of "tolerating widespread anti-Semitic harassment.” Pro-Palestinian encampments were set up across college campuses last year in response to the Israel-Hamas War. Northwestern University officials met with students and faculty and eventually reached an agreement to end the encampment. Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order vowing to take aggressive action to fight antisemitism on college campuses.

WPXN News notes…

Living Word Church will hold a craft and vendor show for their summer camp fundraiser on Saturday, February 8th from 9-3 at The Cadillac in Paxton. For more information about the show or to reserve your booth space call Melanie Bauer at 217-379-7852.

The ACT Theatre Company in Gibson City will hold their Valentine Mystery Dinner on Saturday, February 8th at 6pm at the Countryside Event Center. Tickets are available on their facebook page. 

The Loda United Methodist Church will host a Valentine’s Senior Meal on Monday, February 10th at 10:30 am.

A Red Cross Blood Drive is set for today. The drive is at the Cissna Park American Legion Post 527. 

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Friday, February 14th from 9-10 at 185 W. Sangamon Avenue in Rantoul and 10:30-11 at the Ludlow Community Center.

The Cissna Park Development Board will host Dueling Pianos at the Cissna Park American Legion on Saturday, February 15th.  Social hour begins at 5pm, dinner at 6pm with dueling pianos from 6:30-9:30. Cost is $65 per person or $500 for a table of 8. Call Rachel Bauer at 815-954-4806 for tickets.

The Rantoul Exchange Club will hold their Tropical Evening fundraiser on Saturday, February 15th from 6:30-10 at the Linden Banquet Center in Rantoul. Tickets are $35 each. More information is available by calling Janet Brotherton at 217-893-0703.

(Undated-jm) – The IL Corn Growers Association is reacting after President Trump levied a 25 percent tariff on products from Canada and Mexico this weekend, as well as a 10 percent tariff on China. IL Corn Growers Association President and Waterloo, Illinois farmer Garrett Hawkins said each of these countries is an important market for U.S. corn farmers, especially Canada and Mexico who are the largest market for ethanol and corn. Late Monday, the president paused the tariffs on Canada and Mexico for 30 days after meeting with the leaders of both countries.

(Paxton–jc)  –  City of Paxton leaders continue to look for grants and more to complete downtown and other projects for Paxton. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says they are pursuing several options…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Undated-jm) – The University of Washington Board of Regents on Monday announced that Robert Jones, who is currently concluding a nine-year tenure as Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been selected as the 34th President of the University of Washington.

(Urbana-jm) – Multiple households have been displaced, and one person was given medical care for smoke inhalation at a fire in Urbana Monday. The flames coming out the third floor of the building, located in the 2000 block Philo Road, were noticed by a construction crew nearby who called it in.

(Ford County–dm)-Another election day is coming up on April 1st. Ford County Clerk Amy Frederek tells us what is on the ballots….

Ford County Clerk Amy Frederick.

(Illinois–dm)-The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing a month-long focus on heart health during American Heart Month in February. The annual observance serves as a reminder to the public about the dangers of cardiovascular disease and the resources that are available to help people maintain heart health.

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Police Department and Champaign County Crime Stoppers are asking for help in identifying three people who stole more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from Meijer. The theft happened the night of January 17. Officials said the trio walked into the store, split up and separately picked out items. The suspects were described as being: Black male, 5′ 10″ to 6′ 2″ tall, 26 to 35 years old, wearing a black hat, jacket and shirt and blue jeans, a Black male, 5′ 3″ to 5′ 9″ tall, 26 to 35 years old, wearing a black hat, black puffy coat and black pants and a White female, 5′ 3″ to 5′ 9″ tall, 26 to 35 years old, wearing a gray hoodie with a pink design and blue jeans.

(Springfield-jm) — Small businesses and contractors often struggle with delayed payments and limited job growth due to state retainage policies. Lawmakers could pass a plan this spring to end the practice of withholding payments for contractors and adopt federal standards for project payment. Democratic lawmakers argue the state should adopt federal standards that impose retainage only when certain project issues arise. This change would only apply to state agencies and public universities. However, advocates said it is critical for thousands of workers and businesses.

(Paxton–dm)-The Paxton Park District youth basketball season is close to wrapping up for the year.   Paxton Park District Director Jordan Chapman tells us about “black-out family day”.

Paxton Park District Director Jordan Chapman.  The Youth basketball games are played at the PBL Jr. High Gym.

(Savoy-jm) – After years of discussion, the anticipated underpass in Savoy just got a new price tag.  The Village Board of Savoy proposed a new underpass at E Curtis Road and N Dunlap Ave. The project total has gone up from nearly $40 million to more than $54 million. This is due to inflation. Savoy is working with several local, state and federal agencies to help cover this increase of $14 million dollars. They hope to start the project in 2027. It will take roughly two years until completion.

(Undated-jm) – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have fallen 2.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.21/g, according to GasBuddy's survey. Prices in Illinois are 1.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

(Paxton–jc)  The 36th annual Paxton Buckley Loda F F A Toy Show is set for Saturday at the high school in Paxton. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says the event draws people of all ages from a wide area…

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper. The event starts at 9am on Saturday at Paxton Buckley Loda High School. 

(The Center Square) – While the White House rescinded its federal funding freeze, an Illinois lawmaker is echoing the comments president Donald Trump made about the order. Trump said the freeze didn’t affect Social Security and Medicaid. Rather, his administration was looking at parts of the “big bureaucracy” where there has been waste and abuse. Illinois state Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, said one of the reasons why the administration walked it back is because of what he called the dishonest media and “fear mongering politicians” like U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Board of Education is looking for help from across the state in ensuring that children have access to meals over the summer. Last year, Illinois had 144 sponsors and 1,585 meal sites. An additional 187 sponsors with 379 sites participated through the Seamless Summer Option, a similar program for school districts already operating the National School Lunch Program. The program served more than 4.3 million meals and snacks last year, a 12% increase from 2023.

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Today 4th from 9-930 at the St. Joseph library, 10-10:30 at the old high school ballpark in Ogden, 11-11:30 at the Homer post office, 12:30-1 at the Sidney community building, 1:30-2 at the Philo village office and from 2:30-3pm at The Oaks at Tolono.

CU at Home will host their One Winter Night on Friday, February 7th.

The Loda American Legion will hold their fish or chicken fry on Friday, February 7th from 4-7 pm. Cost is $10. 

Grace Baptist Church in Paxton will hold their Men’s Rally on Saturday, February 8th from 8:30-4:30 pm.

The PBL FFA will host the 36th Annual Toy Show Saturday February 8th from 9-2:30pm

Living Word Church will hold a craft and vendor show for their summer camp fundraiser on Saturday, February 8th from 9-3 at The Cadillac in Paxton. For more information about the show or to reserve your booth space call Melanie Bauer at 217-379-7852.

The Loda United Methodist Church will host a Valentine’s Senior Meal on Monday, February 10th at 10:30 am.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s office on Friday issued a letter barring those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol from being considered for state jobs, according to NBC News. The letter reportedly directs the state’s Department of Central Management Services to deny jobs to applicants who participated in “infamous and disgraceful conduct that is antithetical to the mission of the State.” It justifies the decision by citing the state’s personnel code, which “provides the basis for the civil service merit system in Illinois.”

(Undated-jm) – Tax season is underway, and the IRS expects 140 million people will file returns by April 15. The agency has also debuted a new online tool to help taxpayers check the status of any refund they may be entitled to. If you file your tax return electronically, the IRS says it should take 21 days or less to receive your refund. If you choose to receive your refund with direct deposit, it should take even less time. If you file a paper return, the refund could take four weeks or more, and if your return requires amendments or corrections, it could take longer. Taxpayers can use the online tool Where’s My Refund? to check the status of their income tax refund within 24 hours of e-filing and generally within four weeks of filing a paper return.

(Illinois–dm)-The state of Illinois is reporting that unemployment is down in most areas in the state.  WPXN’s Dan Mushrush has more.

(Paxton-jm) – Paxton first responders were called to a two vehicle accident early Saturday morning. It happened in the northbound lanes of I-57 about a mile north of Paxton around 4:30 am.

(Rantoul-jm) – The Rantoul Police Department, with the help of the Champaign County Metro SWAT Team, assisted the Chicago Police Department in an ongoing homicide investigation. At approximately 4:10 p.m., on Friday, authorities executed a court-authorized search warrant in the 1100 block of Falcon Drive. A subject wanted on a Cook County arrest warrant for homicide was found inside the residence and arrested without incident. The individual's name is not being released due to the ongoing investigation, police said.

(Paxton–jc)  – Parking for one downtown Paxton business will make it easier to shop there. Owners of the Pop Loft business in the city asked city leaders for a parking position along Market Street to help with access to the home based business. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says after consulting with state officials and the council, a specific parking spot will be placed just north of the Pop Loft…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Spirngfielld–jc)   Illinois Republicans continue to call out the democrats in the majority on the gerrymandering of the legislative maps in the state of Illinois. Illinois  House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, Republican from Savanna, says it's nothing more than “Cheating”...

Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, Republican from Savanna

 McCombie, in her official capacity, filed a lawsuit with the Illinois Supreme Court to declare the current map unconstitutional and ask for a special master to draft a redistricting plan that complies with the Illinois constitution

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign city council member is under fire for posting a swastika symbol on his personal Facebook account. Multiple media reports, the since deleted post by Council member Davion Williams drew a strong rebuke from Champaign's mayor, at least one other member of city council, and members of the public.

(Paxton–dm)-The Ford County Board Farm Committee is scheduled to meet this afternoon. Items on the agenda include possible action to reimburse the Loda Sportsman club for FSA reporting penalty, possible action on cash rent lease language, possible action to obtaining deeds for Ford County farms and possible action on seeking sealed cash rent bids for farm #3 for the 2025 crop year. The meeting starts at 4:30 in the small courtroom at the Ford County Courthouse.

(Springfield-jm) – Real ID appointments are filling up "super fast," officials with the Illinois Secretary of State's office said, and with the deadline fast approaching, the number of people looking to book is growing.Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said last year that his office was stepping up efforts to ensure that residents get REAL ID-compliant identification prior to the May 2025 deadline, but acknowledged there are "tremendous concerns" about what will happen as the deadline arrives. According to state data, as of Dec. 31, 2024, the office has issued 3,295,078 Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state IDs. This represents just 25.34% of all currently valid driver’s license and state IDs.

(Channoohan–jc)  The new 104th State legislature is set. 106th district State Representative Jason Bunting talks about his committee jobs in Springfield…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington

(Springfield-jm) – The state of Illinois is announcing new college credit opportunities for Illinois State Police troopers. Eastern Illinois, Governors State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Western Illinois University teamed up with state police for the opportunity. Illinois State Police Director Brenden Kelly says the classes troopers take at the academy are similar to those getting a criminal justice degree…

Illinois State Police Director Brenden Kelly.

(Savoy-jm) – A Savoy man is dead after he crashed into a tree Friday night. It happened in the 400 block of Wesley Avenue around 10:45 p.m. Champaign County Sheriff's Office said, Gaddis McAfee, 48, was driving north on Wesley Avenue at a high rate of speed when his car left the road and hit a tree. McAfee, the sole occupant, was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. McAfee was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, the sheriff's office said. Deputies also said alcohol and/or drugs may have been a contributing factor. This crash remains under investigation by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.

(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City firefighters were called to a fire Sunday afternoon. They were called to the fire in the 500 block of South Wood around 3pm. There’s no word on the cause of the fire.

(Paxton–dm)-If you have a room in your house that needs painting or maybe just touched up, you need to make some repairs. The first thing is to make sure the area is clean.  Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen tells us how to make the repair.

Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen.  You can hear more from Scott Saturday mornings at 730 on Scott’s Tips for Success

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man will spend the next 20 years in prison for a 2021 murder he committed when he was 17 years old. Tony Brock, 20, was charged three years ago with adult counts of first-degree murder, accusing him of killing Brandon Kelly the morning of Halloween 2021. Trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday, and a jury had been selected, but Brock reached a plea deal with prosecutors and avoided trial. He pleaded guilty to one of the murder charges against him with the rest being dismissed.

(The Center Square) – The jury is set to resume deliberations this morning at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain in Chicago. Jurors deliberated for less than five hours Friday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse before they wrapped up for the weekend. Deliberations began last Wednesday afternoon in a trial that began with jury selection October 8th.