(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced a drawing on August 26 for youth to participate in the Illinois youth firearm deer season, scheduled from October 11 to 13. The hunt will take place at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County and the Sangamon County State Conservation Area.

(Urbana–jc)  A Rantoul man was found guilty of two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault on Wednesday. 39 year old Joshua Nibbe was arrested for sexually abusing a 10 year old in June of 20-22. WCIA reported that the jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes to convict Nibbe. He will be sentenced in October

(Illinois-bp) -  Traffic was slowed in Danville and towards the Indiana border on Wednesday afternoon due to a  stalled motorhome  in the west bound lanes. State police were called to the scene around 12-30 Wednesday afternoon. The motorhome was eventually removed. The accident caused a huge backup into Indiana. Traffic is back to normal.  

(Washington-jm) – Illinois will have a new Senator after Dick Durbin announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. U-S Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi is one of three candidates vying for the democratic nomination. Capitol News Illinois sat down with Krishnamorthi where he was asked about some people who think Democrats aren’t doing enough to fight back against the Trump administration and congressional Republicans…

U-S Representative and Illinois Democratic  U-S Senate Candidate Raja Krishnamorthi

(Undated-jm) – People with insurance through Health Alliance will be losing their coverage this year. CRIS Healthy Aging says they are here to help seniors find a new plan that’s best for them.  Open enrollment begins in October. You can call in to the CRIS office at 217-443-2999 to schedule a free appointment.

(Kankakee County-jm) – The 2025 Kankakee County Fair kicked off last night and runs thru Sunday at the fairgrounds, just off Route 45.  The gates open daily at 7 am.  4-H and FFA activities are featured daily, along with the carnival fun.  Tonight its the school bus figure 8 demo derby. Tomorrow night is the demo derby. Saturday tractor pulls during the day and rodeo at night. Sunday night another demo derby.  General admission is $10.  Free admission for those 5 years-old and under.  The Carnival Special offers unlimited rides with the wristband cost of $30. 

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Justice has until August 22nd to file an amended complaint against Illinois’ migrant sanctuary policies. Earlier this month, a federal judge in Chicago dismissed a lawsuit against Illinois Governor J.B  Pritzker and Chicago Democrats. The Department of Justice’s complaint says Illinois laws and local ordinances impede the federal government from safety detaining illegal aliens. The democratic leadership in the state and Cook County counter that  migrant sanctuary laws ensure  use of local resources to  protect their communities. 45th District State Senator Andrew Chesney, Republican from Freeport says democrats are not looking for the safety of citizens, but are putting politics and money into illegal aliens…

45th District State Senator Andrew Chesney, Republican from Freeport

(Cissna Park–jc)  Summer is still in full swing, but plans are being made for a fall festival in Cissna Park. Pumpkins in the Park, in Cissna Park, is set for Saturday October 4th. Among the events is a car and motorcycle show. Registration will start at 8 that morning. Schumacher Motorsports is sponsoring the car and motorcycle show. 

(Paxton–jc)  Paxton Mainstreet has two bands set to perform at the First Friday Concert series in downtown Paxton this Friday night. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper  says local artists…The Resurrection Brass Band will start around 6-30 on Friday and the featured band is Back in Time, a group from Chicago…

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

(Chicag0–jc)  –Northwestern University has announced the elimination of about 425 staff positions, nearly half of which are currently vacant. University President Michael Schill said the layoffs and other financial measures are in response to more than just a federal funding freeze.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Fair has unveiled an exciting lineup for its 2025 Grandstand concerts, featuring a diverse array of musical talent set to perform over ten days. The festivities kick off on Friday, August 8, with country star Jake Owen joined by Jo Dee Messina. The following night, The Black Crowes will take the stage with Southall. On Sunday, August 10, Megan Moroney will perform alongside Kameron Marlowe. Sheryl Crow is set to entertain audiences on Tuesday, August 12. Hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg will perform on Wednesday, August 13, followed by country favorite Brad Paisley with Tucker Wetmore on Thursday, August 14. The Chainsmokers will bring their electronic beats to the fair on Friday, August 15, while rock legends Def Leppard are scheduled for Saturday, August 16. The lineup concludes on Sunday, August 17, with a performance by the Turnpike Troubadours, featuring Whitey Morgan and the 78s. Concerts begin at 8:00 p.m.

(Springfield-jm) – As Governor J-B Pritzker prepares to campaign for another term as Governor, he’s doing so with a new running mate. Pritzker chose Christian Mitchell as his running mate after current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton announced her bid for the soon-to-be open U-S Senate seat held by Dick Durbin. Durbin announced earlier this year he will not be seeking another term. Mitchell worked under former House Speaker Mike Madigan. Madigan was found guilty of corruption charges and was sentenced to 7 years in prison. During an interview with Capitol News Illinois, Mitchell was asked if there were any concerns his connection to the former powerful speaker could impact their campaign…

Democrat, Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell.

(Vermilion County-jm) — The Girl Scouts of Central Illinois has been awarded a $25,000 grant from Earthrise Energy's RISE Grant program. The funds will be used to deliver outreach programming to 200 girls in Vermilion County, focusing on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, life skills, outdoor education, mental health, and STEM. The outreach program, led by a trained GSCI Program Specialist, targets girls ages 5 to 17, meeting bi-weekly over the school year. The initiative aims to provide a safe space with social support, friendship, and positive adult role models, particularly in areas where resources are limited.

(Springfield–jc)  Errors in the way the state of Illinois hands out SNAP benefits could cost Illinois taxpayers 700 million dollars annually. 53rd District State Senator  Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon says the state pays too much money to people who do not qualify for the benefits…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

GIBSON CITY, Ill. — The Gibson City Fire Protection District, in partnership with the Illinois Fire Service Institute  and with support from One Earth Energy, is wrapping up a 40-hour Hazardous Materials  Awareness and Operations Course this weekend, at the Fire Protection District building in Gibson City. The comprehensive training is designed to prepare firefighters and emergency responders to effectively identify and manage hazardous materials incidents.  It combines classroom instruction with hands-on training to ensure participants gain the practical skills and knowledge required to respond safely and effectively.

(Elgin–jc)  Nicor Gas is requesting another rate hike for its customers in the area and state. There is a public comment period coming up. WPXN’s Brayden Perzee has the story…

(Chicag0–jc)  –Former President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak in Chicago Tonightat the National Bar Association’s 100th annual awards gala.The group says Biden’s appearance underscores his ongoing efforts to strengthen the rule of law, defend voting rights, and support historically marginalized communities.

In April, Biden spoke at the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled conference in Chicago.

WPXN News Notes…

The Iroquois County Historical Society will host their 6th annual pork chop sandwich fundraiser on Friday, August 1st from 4-6 pm on the east side of the old courthouse museum. Cost is a freewill donation.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their Family Dinner on Friday, August 1st from 5-7 pm. Cost is $15 and includes fish, chicken or shrimp plus 2 sides.

Paxton Main Street will hold their 1st Fridays Concert Series on Friday, August 1st at Veterans Square. Back in Time, a band performing your favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s will perform.

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree on Saturday, August 2nd from 10-2.

The Bement Country Opry will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday, August 2nd at 7pm. Dinner will be served starting at 5:30pm.

(Springfield-jm) –  A plan awaiting final action from Governor JB Pritzker could address maternal healthcare deserts by empowering certified nurse midwives. The proposal could allow midwives to provide home birth services if they have a written collaborative agreement with local doctors or other healthcare providers. Advanced practice registered nurses certified as midwives would also have the ability to provide out-of-hospital births if they have been granted clinical privileges from a birth center.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker signed two bills focused on gun safety into law this week. Capitol News Illinois reports the Safe Gun Storage Act requires firearm owners to keep them in a locked container around minors, at-risk people, and anyone who can’t own a gun. Governor Pritzker says the law will help prevent gun deaths, suicides and accidental shootings…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The other law requires police to use a federal firearm tracing program on guns believed to be used in a crime or found at a crime scene.

(Undated-jm) – One of Central Illinois' largest car shows, the Powerlight Abe Lincoln Car Show, is set to roll into the capital city this week. The festivities kick off with the Friday Night Cruise, where classic cars will parade around Springfield starting at 6 p.m. The main car show will take place on Saturday. Adding to the excitement, Erik Estrada, star of the television series "C.H.I.P.S.," will make a special appearance at this year's event

(Springfield–jc)  Errors in the way the state of Illinois hands out SNAP benefits could cost Illinois taxpayers 700 million dollars annually. 53rd District State Senator  Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon, says the state needs to do a better job…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(Springfield–jc)  Illinois state workers are getting raises faster and making 9.5% more in salary than private sector workers. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois public sector pay has grown 57% faster than private sector pay between 2021 and 2024. State government employees now make an average salary of $85,689.

(Washington–jc)  –Producers in local Farm Service Agency areas have until August First submit to nominate candidates for upcoming FSA County Committee elections. Rod Bain reports…

(Normal–jc)  – Illinois State University raised a record $44.5 million in private support during fiscal year 2025, reflecting the strength of its mission, the trust of its community, and commitment to students, academic excellence, and long-term impact. More than 13,500 donors, including alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends, and organizations, contributed to students and programs. I S U Officials say this is the highest level of success in the school's 168-year history. The 2025 milestone surpasses the previous record of $37.3 million set in 2019. 

(Springfield-jm) – A bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk could allow people to have easier access to sterile hypodermic needles and syringes. The plan requires pharmacies to sell sterile syringes and needles if they are in stock. Sponsors said pharmacists would be able to use their professional judgment to sell the equipment to any customer for proper utilization or administration of medications. The bill was filed after a constituent was unable to receive the medical equipment from their pharmacist.

(Washington-jm) – Three Democratic candidates are vying to replace retiring U-S Senator Dick Durbin. One of those is Representative Robin Kelly, whose district extends from the southeast side of Chicago to all of Iroquois, most of Ford, the northern half of Vermilion and the northern third of Champaign Counties. Kelly describes herself as a doer and go-getter. In an interview with Capitol News Illinois, she talks about some of the things she’s accomplished…

U-S Senate candidate and current U-S Representative Robin Kelly. Her opponents in the primary are current Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and U-S Representative Raja Krishnamorthi.

(Urbana-jm) – In Tuesday’s continued pretrial hearing, it was decided that an Urbana man accused of shooting a man dead in Champaign on the Fourth of July will remain in custody while awaiting a trial. The detention hearing was a continuation of the hearing that began on Friday. At that meeting, Rynell Frazier pleaded not guilty, requested a trial by jury and waived his preliminary hearing. Frazier is accused of firing multiple shots that struck 32-year-old Martez Jones Jr. of Urbana in the 1900 block of W Bradley Ave. Jones later succumbed to his injuries sustained in the shooting at Carle Hospital.

(The Center Square) – Gun owners in Illinois are now required to lock up their firearms with a new law Governor J.B. Pritzker signed on Monday. Senate Bill 8 is known as The Safe Gun Storage Act. Illinois State Rifle Association spokesperson Ed Sullivan says one part of the new law is “unconstitutional”...

Illinois State Rifle Association Spokesperson Ed Sullivan. The issue is already being challenged in the court system. 

(Springfield–jc)--The Illinois Commerce Commission is encouraging Northern Illinois Gas Company  customers to publicly comment on the utility’s proposed rate hike at a hearing in Elgin Thursday evening. Nicor filed a request for a $308.6 million general increase in January 2025. Customers unable to attend the hearing may submit comments via the ICC website or call the Consumer Services Division.

(Washington–jc)  What does the crop look like locally, around the state and nation? U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey has the answer…

U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey

(Las Vegas–jc)  –A study by a Las Vegas law firm has revealed that Illinois has the second-highest gun violence rate across America. Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers analyzed shooting incident data between 2014 and 2024 via The Trace database. Illinois had 288 shooting incidents per 100,000 residents, second only to Louisiana.

WPXN News notes…

The Elliott Amvets will hold their Family Dinner on Friday, August 1st from 5-7 pm. Cost is $15 and includes fish, chicken or shrimp plus 2 sides.

Paxton Main Street will hold their 1st Fridays Concert Series on Friday, August 1st at Veterans Square. Back in Time, a band performing your favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s will perform.

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree on Saturday, August 2nd from 10-2.

The Bement Country Opry will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday, August 2nd at 7pm. Dinner will be served starting at 5:30pm.

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Tuesday, August 5th 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.

(Springfield-jm) – As summer continues, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is urging residents to adhere to proper safety practices when using grills. July is the peak month for grill fires, followed by June, May, and August, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The group reports that approximately 64% of U.S. households own at least one outdoor BBQ, grill, or smoker. Gas grills are involved in an average of 9,287 home fires annually, which includes 4,682 structure fires and 4,605 outdoor fires. Leaks or breaks are a significant issue with gas grills, causing 6% of gas grill structure fires and 13% of outside gas grill fires, based on 2019-2023 annual averages.

(Washington-jm) – Illinois will have a new Senator after Dick Durbin announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. U-S Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, is one of three candidates vying for the Democrat party nomination  He talks about why he decided to run…

Illinois U-S Senate Candidate Democrat  Raja Krishnamorthi.

(Undated-jm) – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have decreased by 4.8 cents per gallon over the past week, now averaging $3.35 per gallon, according to a survey conducted by GasBuddy of 4,378 stations across the state. The current prices are 12.8 cents per gallon lower than they were a month ago and are 68.2 cents per gallon less than the prices recorded a year ago.

(Melvin–jc)  The Village of Melvin will be looking for a new mayor. Current Mayor Austin Fancher resigned the position last night. The Ford County Chronicle reports that Fancher resigned due to frustrations with working with the village board. Fancher has been Melvin Mayor since elected in 20-23. 

(Springfield–jc)  Some Illinois Senate Republicans continue to oppose  Senate Bill 3-28 and hope Illinois Governor J B Pritzker does not sign it into law. The measure would allow out of state entities to bring civil lawsuits from outside the state, into the state. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, republican from Channahon, says the bill puts Illinois in a lawsuit “hell hole” …

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon.

(Buckley–jc)  July is almost over. That means the month of August and the start of School for area children. One choice for area high schoolers is Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley. The school isis dedicated to  teaching knowledge and skills for college and life and a Christian perspective. Christ Lutheran High School Junior Kaelynn Schwing talks about why her family chose Christ Lutheran…

Christ Lutheran High School Junior Kaelynn Schwing. Enrollment is open now for the upcoming school year at Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley.

(Gilman–jc)  State police continue to investigate  a two vehicle accident in Iroquois County that happened late Sunday night. In updating our story from Monday, one person has died and several were taken to area hospitals after the crash along U S Route 24 west of Gilman near La Hougue in the county. Police say the person who died was 28 year old Ryan Janis of matteson. 

(USDA–dm)-What producers paid for inputs and services in 2024 was slightly down year over year, per USDA’s annual Farm Production Expenditure Report.  Rod Bain has more.

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a new law empowering police to swiftly remove squatters from private property. A statehouse Republican says it reverses years of Democrat-backed policies that emboldened squatters. The shift comes after state Rep. Marcus Evans, Jr., D-Chicago, demanded action when squatters took over the home next door. Homeowners and Evans’ neighbors Linda Gomez and Rodrigo Leyva discovered that the locks on their listed-for-sale home had been changed and a family they didn’t recognize had moved in. State Sen. Chris Balkema, R-Channahon, acknowledged that COVID-era eviction moratoriums hindered the enforcement of evictions and may have emboldened squatters. Balkema also acknowledged around the same time, lawmakers passed House Bill 2877, known as the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act, which Pritzker signed into law on May 17, 2021, allocating over $1 billion in rental assistance, sealing eviction records filed between March 2020 and March 2022, and expanding foreclosure and mortgage forbearance protections. 

(Undated-jm) – Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski hosted a roundtable discussion Monday to address challenges facing the U.S. Postal Service in Central and Southern Illinois. Earlier this year, Budzinski introduced the bipartisan Protect Postal Performance Act. The legislation aims to prevent the downsizing of USPS facilities, increase oversight of delivery schedule changes, and enhance public transparency on proposed modifications. 

(Springfield-jm) – As Governor J-B Pritzker prepares to campaign for another term as Governor, he’s doing so with a new running mate. Pritzker chose  Democrat Christian Mitchell as his running mate after current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton announced her bid for the soon-to-be open U-S Senate seat held by Dick Durbin. Durbin announced earlier this year he will not be seeking another term. Mitchell spoke with Capitol News Illinois. Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell helped with the “Blue Wave” of 2018. He talks about how his experience then can help now…

 Democrat, Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills aimed at improving gun safety in Illinois. The Safe Gun Storage Act, strengthens gun storage requirements to prevent minors, “at-risk” people, or someone prohibited from using firearms from accessing the weapons. According to Pritzker’s office, the law outlines improved safe storage requirements and adds civil penalties for improper storage. It also requires gun owners to report if a gun has been stolen or lost within 48 hours. Pritzker also signed House Bill 1373. It requires every law enforcement agency in Illinois to participate in the federal firearm tracing platform — known as eTrace. Pritzker’s office said this will ensure consistent reporting and cross-county firearm tracing during investigations.

(Paxton–jc)  The First Friday concert series continues in Paxton on Friday. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says there will be two bands playing on Friday August First at Veteran’s Square in downtown Paxton …

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

(Urbana-jm) – A U.S. House subcommittee held its first field hearing at the Chez Veterans Center on the University of Illinois’ campus. The House Subcommittee on Technology Modernization — whose ranking member is Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Illinois — is trying to make sure rural veterans get easy access to healthcare. The subcommittee said former service members in these areas experience barriers to treatment like long drives to Veterans Affairs clinics and lost medical records.

(Urbana–jc)  The 20-25 Champaign County Fair is now over for the year, but duties for the now reigning fair queen continue. Sophia Hartke says representing the county at community events to the state pageant in January are in her future…

20-25 Miss Champaign County Fair Queen Sophia Hartke of Sidney

(Paxton–jc)  The Ford County Farm Committee is set to meet on Wednesday in Paxton and look to finalize their recommendations on county farm acres. Leased acres on county farm three, cash rent on all three county farms, and lease languages on agreements are on the agenda. The Ford County Farm Committee meeting is set for 4pm on Wednesday at the courthouse in Paxton 

(Iroquois County–dm)-The Iroquois Economic Development Association is working on a strategic plan to help the towns in Iroquois County grow and develop new ideas for the future.  Iroquois Economic Development Association Executive Director Angel Crawford tells us about the Planning process.

Iroquois Economic Development Association Executive Director Angel Crawford.

(Normal–jc)  – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has appointed Kris Lutt to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University. This appointment fills a vacant seat following the resignation of Trustee Scott Jenkins last Friday.

Lutt currently serves as President of Sustainable Materials and Strategic Initiatives at Archer Daniels Midland. 

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police  continues to target vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violent crimes using grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. ? The State Police was awarded a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, and additional grants of 677 thousand dollars last year and 637 thousand dollars this year.

WPXN News notes…

The Iroquois County Historical Society will host their 6th annual pork chop sandwich fundraiser on Friday, August 1st from 4-6 pm on the east side of the old courthouse museum. Cost is a freewill donation.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their Family Dinner on Friday, August 1st from 5-7 pm. Cost is $15 and includes fish, chicken or shrimp plus 2 sides.

Paxton Main Street will hold their 1st Fridays Concert Series on Friday, August 1st at Veterans Square. Back in Time, a band performing your favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s will perform.

St Malachy Catholic School in Rantoul will host their annual golf outing on Saturday, August 2nd starting at 8:30 am at Brookhill Golf Course in Rantoul. Cost is $80 per person.

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree on Saturday, August 2nd from 10-2.

The Bement Country Opry will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday, August 2nd at 7pm. Dinner will be served starting at 5:30pm.

(Rural Thomasboro-jm) – At least one person has died after a collision between a car and a train in Champaign County. Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said the accident took place on Leverett Road, just before 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Preliminary information indicates that a vehicle driving eastbound moved around activated crossing gates and was hit by an Amtrak train driving northbound. The impact caused the vehicle to catch fire, the sheriff’s office said. At least one fatality has been confirmed inside the vehicle, but there were no injuries reported among the train passengers or crew members.

(Kankakee-jm) – The Greater Kankakee Airport was shut down Friday afternoon after State Police said an unauthorized person tried to enter and was taken into custody. State Police said that around 12:30 p.m., troopers were notified that the unauthorized person tried to gain access to the property. State Police are leading the investigation, and local authorities are assisting.

(Washington-jm) – Three Democratic candidates are vying to replace retiring U-S Senator Dick Durbin. One of those is Representative Robin Kelly, whose district extends from the southeast side of Chicago to all of Iroquois, most of Ford, the northern half of Vermilion and the northern third of Champaign Counties. In an interview with Capitol News Illinois, Kelly describes how she sets herself apart from her opponents…

U-S Senate candidate and current U-S Representative Robin Kelly. Her opponents in the primary are current Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and U-S Representative Raja Krishnamorthi.

(Champaign-jm) – The pavement patching of ramps at the Interstate 57/72 interchange in Champaign is set to begin this week. In an announcement from the Illinois Department of Transportation, beginning at 9 a.m. today, the southbound I-57 ramp to eastbound I-72 will close for patching for one to two days and then move on as follows (with one or two days at each location): Southbound to westbound, Northbound to eastbound, Eastbound to southbound and Westbound to northbound. Additionally, patching in the I-57 mainline lanes will require lane closures for approximately two weeks. However, current lane and ramp closures will be unaffected by this work.

(Springfield–jc)  The main reason for higher electric rates in July and heading into August is supply and demand. But some cost reductions could be possible says one area lawmaker. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon says the supply is there but going elsewhere…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(Champaign-jm) – A man in Champaign County is pleading guilty to the murder of two people. It happened last year at a pop-up party in the area of Cynthia and Anita Drives in Champaign. 22-year-old Corey Butler was charged with 10 counts of murder and one of a felon in possession of a firearm but is getting most of those charges dismissed through his plea. The Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office said Butler pleaded guilty before the trial to one count of first-degree murder. The rest of the charges were dismissed as part of the deal, and Butler was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

(Gibson City–jc)  The ACT Production Company of Gibson City celebrated 25 years of youth productions over the weekend with two musicals at North Park in Gibson City. A large crowd filled the pavilion area to see “Space Pirates” and “Seussical.”  After the Saturday night performance, the ACT Production Company honored one of their own for being a part of the ACT Productions for 25 years. Honored on Saturday was Ann Spangler of Gibson City.  A winter production is being planned for December. 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man is facing charges alleging he committed sex crimes that involved children. Elliott Charles was arraigned on six charges Friday afternoon: two Class X counts of predatory criminal sexual assault, two Class 1 counts of indecent solicitation of a child and two Class 4 counts of sexual exploitation of a child. All of the counts involve a victim under the age of 13.

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton Mainstreet Group is looking for ideas and a plan for the future of the city of Paxton. Paxton Mainstreet has a survey available about the downtown area and have a goal of getting over 300 responses. To date they have just over 160. Paxton MainStreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper. Surveys are needed by around August 10th

(The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers could be on the hook for hundreds of millions in food subsidies if the state’s error rate isn't cleaned up. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program error rate measures how often states issue incorrect benefit amounts, either overpaying or underpaying recipients, based on a federal review of eligibility and payment accuracy. If the rate rises above 10%, the state will be required to reimburse the federal government for 15%, or $705 million annually, of SNAP costs under a new federal law, according to estimates shared by the governor’s office and reported by the Illinois Times. In fiscal 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Illinois’ error rate was 11.56%.

(Rural Roberts-jm) – Roberts Melvin first responders were called to a single vehicle rollover accident with entrapment Sunday evening. It happened on Route 115 near Roberts. Airlife was asked to be on standby.

(Chicago–dm)-A state government building in Chicago is now named after former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other political leaders gathered Thursday to announce the Jesse White State of Illinois Building at 115 S. La Salle St. Chicago offices of the Illinois Secretary of State and the Illinois Attorney General are among the more than 15 state agencies and constitutionals housed in the building.

(Undated-jm) – Nearly 30 percent  of "Gen-Z" college students decided where they would attend school based at least partly on political reasons, according to a new report. Public News Service’s Judith Ruiz-Branch has the details…

(Danville-jm) – The Danville Area Community College has finalized the contract for the 8th President in the school’s history. At a June 26 meeting, DACC’s Board of Trustees officially named Dr. Randy Fletcher as the next President of the college. Following his appointment, it was announced that the Board approved a four-year employment contract outlining key terms of his presidency. Dr. Fletcher, who had been serving as Interim President since December 2024, started his official term on July 1 and will continue in the role through June 30, 2029. The contract provides Dr. Fletcher with a base salary of $240,000, with the possibility of modest annual increases. On top of the standard insurance benefits, the agreement includes allowances for housing, vehicle use and professional expenses.

(Paxton–dm)-The Paxton Foundation has been working on restoring the old water tower in downtown Paxton for a year and a half.  Paxton Foundation President Royce Baier tells us everything that’s being done before the tank is set on the tower.

Paxton Foundation President Royce Baier.

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign County jury returned to the courtroom Friday night and delivered a verdict of guilty in the trial of William Wesley. Wesley was convicted on at least one of the four counts of first-degree murder he was facing. In finding Wesley guilty, the jury rejected his argument that he shot Marcus Catchings in self-defense. Its not yet known when Wesley will be sentenced.

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man is pleading not guilty after being accused of shooting another man dead in Champaign on the Fourth of July. Rynell Frazier is accused of firing multiple shots that struck 32-year-old Martez Jones Jr. of Urbana in the 1900 block of W Bradley Ave. Jones later succumbed to his injuries sustained in the shooting at Carle Hospital. In an arraignment hearing on Friday, Frazier pleaded not guilty, requested a trial by jury and waived his preliminary hearing. Frazier is facing three counts of murder/intent to kill/injure. He fled the initial scene of the crime and was arrested in Indiana on July 17, roughly two weeks after the shooting occurred.

(Paxton–dm)-If you are going to be painting inside your house, you will need to prepare your walls before you start painting.  Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen has some ideas on how to get prepared.

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

(Illinois–dm)-According to a new report, Illinois is the 27th most dangerous state for drunk driving in the US, with 18.5% of all fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023 involving a drunk driver. Healthcare publisher Recovered analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data on fatal collisions involving one or more drivers over the legal blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.08%.

WPXN News notes…

Paxton Main Street will hold their 1st Fridays Concert Series on Friday, August 1st at Veterans Square. Back in Time, a band performing your favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s will perform.

St Malachy Catholic School in Rantoul will host their annual golf outing on Saturday, August 2nd starting at 8:30 am at Brookhill Golf Course in Rantoul. Cost is $80 per person.

The Iroquois County Historical Society will host their 6th annual pork chop sandwich fundraiser on Friday, August 1st from 4-6 pm on the east side of the old courthouse museum. Cost is a freewill donation.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their Family Dinner on Friday, August 1st from 5-7 pm. Cost is $15 and includes fish, chicken or shrimp plus 2 sides.

(Paxton-jm) – The heat caused a portion of I-57 to buckle near Paxton Thursday evening. It happened in the southbound lanes near milemarker 259. IDOT was requested to fix the buckled road.

(Washington-jm) – Illinois will have a new Senator after Dick Durbin announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. Capitol News Illinois sat down with one of the candidates running for the seat, Raja Krishnamoorthi. He talks about the potential impacts he fears could come to rural hospitals and communities following the passage of President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill…

Democratic Illinois U-S Senate Candidate Raja Krishnamorthi. The Big Beautiful Bill has 50 Billion dollars assigned for rural hospitals to help with changes

(Urbana-jm) – A building on the University of Illinois campus suffered a partial collapse Thursday afternoon. Crews were working on the exterior of the Florida Avenue residence hall when a portion of the brick facade collapsed from the 9th floor. Two construction workers were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

(Thomasboro-jm) — Part of Interstate 57 in Champaign County closed briefly on Thursday after two separate crashes took place. Illinois State Police said the first crash happened in the northbound lane near milepost 246 in Thomasboro at around 2:21 p.m. According to State Police, two vehicles were involved, but no injuries were reported. About half an hour later, State Police said another crash took place at milepost 245. Troopers responded to the second two-unit crash at 2:53 p.m. Troopers temporarily closed both lanes before announcing around 5:30 p.m. that both lanes were reopened.

(Ford County–)-If you live in Ford County and need a ride to some place, CRIS  Rural Mass Transit District can help you out.  CRIS Rural Mass Transit District C-E-O Melissa Walters talks about their options….

CRIS Rural Mass Transit District CEO Melissa Walters.  That phone number once again is 217-443-2287.

Gibson City–jc)  –It’s Showtime in Gibson City tonight and tomorrow night. The Ford County based Act Theatre Company performs “Space Pirates!” and “Seussical (The Musical)” for two evening performances. The venue is  the  pavilion at Gibson City’s North Park. Cast members include area youth around the Paxton and Gibson City area.. “Space Pirates" begins at 7 each night and "Seussical" opens at 8 each night. Tickets are 5 dollars each

CHAMPAIGN, IL —Housing activity surged in June across Champaign County, with 281 properties sold, a 21% increase compared to June 2024 and a notable jump from May.  According to the Champaign County Association of REALTORS, limited inventory and elevated borrowing costs are keeping the market firmly in seller territory. While sales picked up locally, the National Association of REALTORS. Nationwide sales remained flat compared to a year ago and dipped slightly from May, continuing to hover near 30-year lows. So far in 2025, total transactions remain nearly on pace with last year, suggesting consistent local demand despite economic headwinds. The median home price settled at $245,000, a slight decline from the previous month.

(The Center Square) – The push continues to have Illinois opt in to the federal school choice scholarship tax credit program. The program giving a 100% federal tax credit to private donations of no more than $1,700 for school choice scholarships doesn’t start until 2027. Last week, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon said President Donald Trump wants school choice.

U.S. Dept of Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Despite having overseen Illinois’ Invest in Kids program during his administration, Pritzker was critical of the federal program.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

(Illinois–dm)-Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is claiming victory over the issue of birthright citizenship. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that birthright citizenship impacts the post Civil War era for the children of freed slaves, and not foreign nationals who give birth to a child in the U.S. Raoul joined three other states in the lawsuit. An appeals court affirmed a nationwide injunction against Trump. It’s possible the U.S. Supreme Court could take up the issue.

(Loda–dm)-Loda Good Ole Days are going on this weekend in Loda. President of the Loda American Legion Auxiliary Dianne Eilts tells us about Friday and Saturday’s activities.

Loda American Legion Auxiliary spokesperson . Dianne Eilts.  WPXN will be broadcasting the parade starting at 10am on Saturday.

(Springfield-jm) – As Governor J-B Pritzker prepares to campaign for another term as Governor, he’s doing so with a new running mate. Pritzker chose Christian Mitchell as his running mate after current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton announced her bid for the soon-to-be open U-S Senate seat held by Dick Durbin. Durbin announced earlier this year he will not be seeking another term. Mitchell spoke with Capitol News Illinois. Pritzker is considered a potential 2028 Presidential candidate. Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell says the work Pritzker has done in Illinois has garnered national attention…

Democratic, Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell.

(Urbana-jm) – A Champaign woman pleaded guilty in court to a charge stemming from last year’s unrest during a pro-Palestinian protest on the University of Illinois campus. Elizabeth Sotiropoulos, was facing two counts, a Class 4 felony of mob action and a Class A misdemeanor of obstructing a police officer. During the hearing, a deal had been reached between Sotiropoulos and the prosecution. She then pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor count with the felony count being dismissed. She was then sentenced to 12 months of conditional discharge and 100 hours of community service.

(Loda–jc)  For entertainment this weekend, take the family to the Loda Good Ole Days. Loda Fireworks and Events, Loda Mayor John Zalaker, says the band Back Paiges is playing on Saturday and there is also a kiddie tractor pull…

Loda Fireworks and Events, Loda Mayor John Zalaker.

(Urbana–jc)  The number of police-involved lethal force incidents in the U.S. dropped 24 percent over the past several years of reports. The Cline Center for Advanced Social Research and an interdisciplinary team of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign experts  have developed a nationwide registry on the uses of lethal force by police officers in the U.S. The Cline Center for Advanced Social Research team  was  designed to fill an important gap in the American public’s understanding of policing in the United States.

(Iroquois County–dm)-In September, Iroquois County city leaders will meet to map out future plans.  Iroquois County Economic Development Associate Executive Director Angel Crawford has more information.

Iroquois County Economic Development Executive Director Angel Crawford.

(Rantoul–jc)  Freedom Fridays continues tonight in the village of Rantoul. The event starts at 6 tonight at the Hap Park Aquatic Center in the village. Aces and rhythm will perform your favorites from the 60s to today. Food trucks with ET’s, Smith Burgers and the Main Scoop will also be there. There will also be inflatables and a photo booth. The event is sponsored by the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce.

(Illinois–dm)-Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood has filed a bill to rename a clinic in Bloomington after a Civil War medal of honor recipient. The Andrew Jackson Smith Medal of Honor Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic would have the namesake of the last African American Civil War soldier to receive a medal of honor. Smith’s descendants were recipients of the medal from former President Bill Clinton in 2001, 137 years after the Battle of Honey Hill.

WPXN News notes…

At the Champaign County Fair today and tomorrow.  Tonight, it's country music artist Travis Tritt at 7:30. On Saturday the IPA tractor pulls at noon and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6pm.

 Today at the Loda Good Old Days…4pm Little Miss and Mister pageant. 8pm Traveling Radio Show. 6pm start for vendors and beer tent

Loda Good Ole Days…on Saturday

10am Parade

10am to 3pm a Vendor Craft SHow

6pm Beer Tent opens

6-15pm tree Dedication to remember Roy and Margaret Hilgendorf

7pm Music with Back Paiges

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Hands of Christ Food Pantry on Saturday, July 26th from 10-2.

Paxton Main Street will hold their 1st Fridays Concert Series on Friday, August 1st at Veterans Square. Back in Time, a band performing your favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s will perform.

St Malachy Catholic School in Rantoul will host their annual golf outing on Saturday, August 2nd starting at 8:30 am at Brookhill Golf Course in Rantoul. Cost is $80 per person.

(Chicago–jc)  –Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has appealed his conviction on 10 counts of public corruption. Madigan’s defense attorneys filed the appeal notice Wednesday in federal court in Chicago. The longtime Chicago Democrat is scheduled to begin serving a 7.5 year prison term on October 13th.

The state of Illinois has settled with a company over allegations the firm misclassified workers through an online platform. The $600,000 settlement with Wonolo Inc. comes after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office investigated misclassification of independent contractors paid a regular hourly rate without premiums for overtime hours worked.

(Springfield-jm) – A funding increase for a federal tax credit could lead to more affordable housing for Illinois renters. Capitol News Illinois reports the latest federal domestic policy plan expands funding for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. The credit helps developers build apartments and houses at a lower cost, which leads to lower rental prices. Illinois Housing Council’s Executive Director Allison Clements says the expansion is a big win…

Illinois Housing Council’s Executive Director Allison Clements. Housing advocates say Illinois lawmakers should establish a similar credit to allow more developers to build affordable housing.

(Urbana–jc)  Today is 4-H day at the Champaign County fair at the fairgrounds on North Colar Avenue in Urbana.

8:15 am – 4-H Livestock Shows

10:00 am – Gates Open

1:00 pm-4:00 pm – Ride Booklets (Ages 3-12)

5:00 pm – Carnival Opens

7:00 pm - Motocross

7:30 pm – Big Guns, Beer Pavilion

.

(Danville-jm) – Court records show that a Danville nursing facility is being sued after the 2024 death of a patient. The wrongful death suit filed in Vermilion County Circuit Court claims that staff members at Goldwater Care Danville failed to adequately respond when the patient aspirated while eating his lunch on Sept. 19, 2024. According to the complaint, staff members did not contact paramedics or other emergency services and were not able to find the on-site medical equipment that could help clear the patient's lungs in a timely manner. A nurse practitioner at the facility was also not contacted in a timely manner, the complaint alleges. When staff members did contact the nurse practitioner, they were able to find the equipment and use it on the patient—who died later that evening.

(Gilman–jc)  The once every five years Gilman Old Boys and Girls Reunion is coming to the Iroquois County town in August. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the details…

(Springfield–jc)  –  A naturalization ceremony is planned for Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Illinois State Fair. The ceremony at the Orr Building on the fairgrounds in Springfield will feature 400 individuals from 72 different nations who have gone through the steps to embrace the rights and responsibilities of becoming a U.S. citizen.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor JB Pritzker is facing backlash after he said Texas lawmakers are cheating by planning to redraw congressional districts to give Republicans more power. Illinois Republicans said Pritzker is flip-flopping on gerrymandering after he approved maps drawn by Democratic leaders in 2021. The governor frequently told voters during his first campaign that he strongly opposed gerrymandering and would veto any partisan map sent to his desk. However, Pritzker signed partisan maps into law, giving Democrats an even larger supermajority.

(Livingston County-jm) – Four Pontiac residents received prison time when they were sentenced by a judge in Livingston County Court. The four were part of a major Livingston County narcotics case. There were six people arrested for the sale of drugs in July of 2024. 25-year-old Jacob Mascolo was handed a 20 year prison term after pleading guilty to delivering Meth. 42-year-old Gina Cullota pleaded guilty to delivering a controlled substance and was sentenced to two years probation. 48-year-old Misty Spiker of Pontiac pleaded guilty to delivery of cocaine. She was sentenced to 10-years in prison. And 44-year-old Chad Steffens of Pontiac received a four year prison term for possession of a controlled substance and 3-counts of Theft. Two other defendants had their cases continued.

(Urbana-jm) – Researchers at the University of Illinois are studying plum curculio – a weevil that poses a serious concern for peach orchards across the state. Plum curculio lays its eggs inside fruit, and the larvae feed from the inside, causing significant damage. In early spring, the plum curculio emerges after the winter — a critical time to stop them before they lay eggs. Once the eggs are inside the fruit, the insecticide no longer work. Research previously suggested that plum curculio damage could be identified by a distinctive crescent-shaped scar on the fruit’s skin. However, now scientists believe that this is common in apples, but not as common in peaches.

(Washington–jc) Harvest of this year's U.S. winter wheat crop is nearly wrapped up in the nation's Southern half and picking up pace in the Northern tier. Rod Bain reports…

(Chicago–jc) An Electricity price spike isexpected and ComEd customers may face another steep price increase in 2026 and 2027. Grid operator PJM Interconnection announced the results of its base residual auction Tuesday and said some customers could see an increase of around 5 percent.The Citizens Utility Board says PJM’s latest capacity cost is about 22% higher than the price that was set last year for ComEd territory.

(Paxton–jc)  The West Nile virus was found in a batch of mosquitoes in Ford County. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has an  update of our story from yesterday…

WPXN news notes…

The Iroquois County Historical Society will host their 6th annual pork chop sandwich fundraiser on Friday, August 1st from 4-6 pm on the east side of the old courthouse museum. Cost is a freewill donation.

Paxton Main Street will hold their 1st Fridays Concert Series on Friday, August 1st at Veterans Square. Back in Time, a band performing your favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s will perform.

St Malachy Catholic School in Rantoul will host their annual golf outing on Saturday, August 2nd starting at 8:30 am at Brookhill Golf Course in Rantoul. Cost is $80 per person.

The Bement Country Opry will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday, August 2nd at 7pm. Dinner will be served starting at 5:30pm.

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Tuesday, August 5th 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 Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, August 9th from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois residents are being warned of a text message going around claiming to be from the "Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles." The texts are a scam, and those threatening to suspend vehicle registration and driving are phishing attempts. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias' office said the scams seek to gain personal or financial data from Illinois residents.

(Washington-jm) – Illinois will have a new Senator after Dick Durbin announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. Capitol News Illinois sat down with one of the candidates running for the seat, Raja Krishnamoorthi. He talks about the potential impacts he fears could come to rural hospitals and communities following the passage of President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill…

Illinois U-S Senate Candidate Raja Krishnamorthi. 

(Piper City-jm) – West Nile has been detected in Ford County. The Ford County Public Health Department says a batch of mosquitoes in Piper City tested positive for the virus. The Ford County Public Health Department is urging residents to be aware of West Nile virus activity in their area and take steps to protect themselves and their family from West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.

(MAHOMET, Ill, - - July 22, 2025) Village of Mahomet will name David Smysor as its next Chief of Police at a special board of trustees meeting on August 12th. Smysor’s first day of the job will be October First. Smysor will replace the outgoing chief, Mike Metzler, who is retiring September 30, 2025. Smysor currently serves as Deputy Chief of Police for the City of Urbana Police Department. He has been a law enforcement officer for 24 years,

(Urbana–jc)  The 20-25 Miss Champaign County Fair Queen is Sophia Hartke from Sidney. Along with Little Miss Champaign County Fair, Slone Davis of Dewey has been busy at the local fair handing out ribbons, to attending events like the annual Demo Derby. Hartke provides some background information…

20-25 Miss Champaign County Fair Queen Sophia Hartke

(Watseka–jc)  –The Iroquois County Public Health Department has announced the appointment of Doctor Meena Purohit, as Medical Director. Doctor Purohit is a local pediatrician with over 10 years of experience providing quality care for countless children at Carle Health in Watseka, where she will continue to practice while serving as Medical Director for the county health department in her role as Medical Director, Doctor Purohit will provide clinical guidance and oversight to the Public Health nursing staff.

(Danville–jc)  – The first day petitions for established political parties may be circulated is Tuesday, August 5th in Vermilion County. Petition packets must

be filed with the Vermilion County Clerk beginning Monday, October 27th, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. thru Monday, November 3rd.  The order in which candidates file will determine their placement on the ballot. 

(Springfield–jc)  – Illinois law enforcement will soon have the power to remove trespassers from properties where the owner establishes legal ownership with a new law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Currently, Illinois law does not distinguish between overstaying tenants and squatters if the squatter claims to be a tenant or owner. The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

(Mattoon-jm) – A suspect in a Kansas double murder was apprehended in Mattoon, on Tuesday. Christopher Barnshaw, was wanted by the Topeka Police Department for his alleged involvement in a double homicide and the kidnapping of a child related to one of the victims. The Mattoon Police Department was alerted to Barnshaw's possible presence in the city just after noon on Tuesday. A short time later,  a Mattoon police officer spotted the suspect's vehicle and began following it eastbound toward Charleston. A traffic stop was conducted and Barnshaw was taken into custody. The missing two-year-old child was found unharmed in the back seat of the vehicle.

(Springfield-jm) – As Governor J-B Pritzker prepares to campaign for another term as Governor, he’s doing so with a new running mate. Pritzker chose Christian Mitchell as his running mate after current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton announced her bid for the soon-to-be open U-S Senate seat held by Dick Durbin. Durbin announced earlier this year he will not be seeking another term. Mitchell spoke with Capitol News Illinois. Recently, Governor Pritzker said he was looking for someone who could immediately step into the role of Governor. Mitchell was asked why he would be qualified to take over as Governor if needed…

Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell.

(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City’s Harvest Moon Twin Drive-in Theatre will be celebrating and honoring the memory of one of its owners. On Sunday, it is a Celebration of Life for Nora Harroun, who died following health issues. On the screens will be her favorite movie Pride and Prejudice. The show will be free to attend, but the drive-in will “graciously accept donations” from attendees.

(Loda–jc) The Loda Good Ole Days celebration is set for Friday night and all day Saturday in the village. Loda Fireworks and Events Spokesperson and Loda Mayor John Zalaker says this has always been a community type event…

Loda Fireworks and Events Spokesperson and Loda Mayor John Zalaker

Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is hosting the Summer Food Service Program , beginning this Friday The program provides free breakfast and lunch for children during the summer when area school districts are not running similar programs. The local food program  is sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education and will run through Monday, August 11th

Meals will be served to children aged one to 18 in the C-U Public Health Department lobby at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign, Monday through Friday. 

SPRINGFIELD, IL –With longer hours and discounted prices, the Illinois State Fair is offering more chances to save money on state fair fun. The Illinois State Fair Grandstand Box Office will be open extended hours for in-person and over-the-phone ticket purchases on Thursday,  from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, August 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Regular box office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday prior to the fair. Once the fair starts, hours will change from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. August 7 – 17.

(Urbana–jc) one of the most popular food items annually at the Champaign County Fair is Culler’s Fries. The Springfield family operation has been in business for over 80 years. Culler’s Fries Spokesperson Keith Cullers says its simply a great project with friendly service…

Cullers Fries Spokesperson Keith Cullers. Cullers Fries have been in the same spot at the Champaign County Fair for 80 years and also appear at the Fisher Fair and State Fair in Springfield each year. 

(Springfi3eld–jc)  –Illinois ranks 14th among U.S. states with the highest infection rates for sexually-transmitted diseases, with 832 new cases per 100,000 residents.

Researchers for Invigor Medical analyzed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. Louisiana reported the highest STD infection rate, while Vermont had the lowest.

WPXN News notes…

Today at the Champaign County Fair… it's the monster truck show at 7. On Thursday its motocross racing at 7. On the 25th its country music artist Travis Tritt at 7:30. On the 26th its the IPA tractor pulls at noon and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6pm.

Paxton Main Street will hold their 1st Fridays Concert Series on Friday, August 1st at Veterans Square. Back in Time, a band performing your favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s will perform.

St Malachy Catholic School in Rantoul will host their annual golf outing on Saturday, August 2nd starting at 8:30 am at Brookhill Golf Course in Rantoul. Cost is $80 per person.

The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, August 9th from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.

The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Coffee and Connections on Wednesday, August 13th from 8-9 am.

(Undated-jm) – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have decreased by 6.1 cents per gallon over the past week, now averaging $3.39 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.  Prices in the state are 3.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 50.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

(Chicago–jc)A federal judge has sentenced Anne Pramaggiore to two years in prison and ordered the former ComEd CEO to pay a $750,000 fine. A jury convicted Pramaggiore and three others in 2023 of conspiracy, bribery and falsifying records in connection with a scheme to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Pramaggiore is scheduled to report to prison on Dec. 1.

(Ford County–jc)  The summer heat is on and officials with the Ford County E-M-A want you to be prepared. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

(Rantoul-jm) – Rantoul City Schools are getting ready for the upcoming school year. School officials will tell  families of a change to how bus updates, routes and other transportation notifications. This August,, bus updates will be sent through the FirstView app instead of ParentSquare. District officials say families should download the app on your phone or computer.

(The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers still don’t have audited financials from fiscal year 2023, but the state’s comptroller says they’re working to speed annual reports up. Truth In Accounting founder Sheila Weinberg said Illinois continues to be among the states with tardy financial reporting.  The state’s audited annual financial report for 2024 is also not available, despite that fiscal year ending on June 30th.

(Washington–jc ) How are the prices of milk and milk products forecasted for July and beyond. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski has the numbers…

World Agriculture Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski

 EAST PEORIA – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that, weather permitting, at approximately 8 p.m.tonight , the McClugage Bridge carrying U.S. 150 will close as demolition continues on the old eastbound structure. The full bridge closure, including both directions of U.S. 150 between Illinois 29 (Adams Street) in Peoria and Illinois 116 in East Peoria, is necessary as the contractor utilizes explosives to demolish concrete piers 14-20, which are located toward the center section of the bridge. The closure is expected to last 30-minutes prior to the blast and will reopen as quickly as possible afterward when conditions are safe.

(Crescent City–jc)  –The 20-25 Iroquois County Fair is now complete for this summer. WPXN would like to thank all who stopped by our ice cream booth for charities. We have a donation going to the Iroquois County Fair Association, Christ Lutheran High School and the Panther Select Basketball program. 20-25 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Rae Stucki of Donovan had a busy week and says she will be representing Iroquois County at more events this summer and fall…

20-25 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Rae Stucki of Donovan. (‘Stew-key)

(Normal–dm)-With help from state taxpayers, an automotive seating company is planning to open an assembly facility adjacent to the Rivian manufacturing plan in Normal. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that Adient will make an investment of more than $8 million, with support from the state’s Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois program. The facility is expected to create 75 jobs.

(Springfield-jm) – A growing number of organizations are calling on Gov. JB Pritzker to veto a controversial bill regarding lawsuits while the same legislation faces a legal battle in Sangamon County. A vast majority of Republican lawmakers challenging the constitutionality of the civil procedure proposal passed on the final day of session. Democrats approved a plan allowing out-of-state businesses to be sued by out-of-state plaintiffs in Illinois courts, even if incidents did not happen in Illinois. The majority party used the gut and replace tactic to introduce the bill language and quickly pass it out of both chambers. Many organizations are concerned that the measure could allow businesses to face new legal action and liability by simply registering in Illinois.

(Gibson City–jc)  Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services is hosting the national rock group “Foreigner” along with singer John Waite for the 20-25 Summer Bash next month. Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee and Community Events Bill Kirby says the bash is an area event with many sponsors and a general admission ticket is just 10 dollars…

Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee and Community Events Bill Kirby

Tickets are available on line 

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department is still investigating a recent string of vehicle break-ins near campus. Crime Stoppers is now involved in the case with the hopes of identifying two suspects caught on camera. Between May 2 and July 17, a total of 12 cars parked in the Orchard Downs apartment complex were broken into. Surveillance footage recorded in the area captured two people that police believe are suspects in the break-ins. One was wearing a black hoodie, shiny black pants and white shoes. The other was wearing a gray or white hoodie with black lettering on the left arm, black pants and white shoes.

(Paxton–dm)- For a year and a half the Paxton Foundation has been working to restore the old water tower in downtown Paxton.  Paxton Foundation President Royce Baier gives us an update on the progress being made.

Paxton Foundation President Royce Baier.

(Springfield–jc)  Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is joining more than a dozen states to protect against what they say are “unlawful and baseless” attempts to strip temporary protected status from Honduran, Nepali and Nicaraguan immigrants.Raoul and others argue in a case against the Department of Homeland Security the move has devastating economic and humanitarian consequences.

(Sspringfield–jc)  – Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced Monday that applications are now open for the fifth round of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

The $25 million from state taxpayers will fund up to 45 programs intended to increase the representation of underrepresented groups in the construction trades.

(Urbana-jm) – The University YMCA at the University of Illinois is gearing up for an annual event which helps to keep several tons of items out of landfills in Champaign-Urbana each year. During Dump and Run, The University YMCA will collect usable items from the community at the U of I Stock Pavilion, located at 1402 W. Pennsylvania Avenue in Urbana. Collections will begin Monday, Aug. 4, and will continue each day, except Sunday, until Aug. 16. Donation times vary, and the schedule is as follows: August 4: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., August 5 to August 8: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., August 11 to August 15: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and weekend hours: Saturdays August 9 and 16: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

(Loda–jc)  it’s almost time for Loda Good Ole Days in the southern Iroquois County town. The two day event is set for Friday and Saturday of this week. Loda Fireworks and Events Chairman John Zalaker has info on the Friday afternoon and evening events…

Fireworks and Events Chairman John Zalaker. WPXN will be broadcasting the parade on Saturday live as part of our Summer Fun Tour 20-25. The broadcast is set for 10am

(Urbana–jc)  52nd District  State Senator Paul Faraci,Democrat from Champaign says a grantee in Champaign received 3 million dollars  in funding through the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grant Program – an initiative designed to support entrepreneurship and innovation in key growth industries throughout Illinois.

The TIEG (teeg)  Program was designed to modernize and revitalize tech incubators across Illinois to meet the evolving needs of startups. The initiative aims to support the transformation of tech spaces, fostering an ecosystem of innovation, collaboration and resilience. 

(Cissna Park–jc)  Got some talent? Cissna Park will be the venue for a  Talent Show during Old Settlers.  The talent show will be held Thursday, August 14 at 7:30 in the park.  Individual and group entries will be taken in junior, senior, and adult divisions.  The junior division is for ages 14 and under.  The senior division is for ages 15-21.  The adult division is for 22 and over.  First, second, and third prizes will be awarded in each division. Please contact Lynn Hasselbring at lynn.hasselbring@cpschool.org for entry forms or more information. Entry forms are due August 7.

WPXN News Notes…

Tonight at the Champaign County Fair its harness racing at 5.

The City of Paxton will hold brush pickup this week and go from the west side of town to the east side.

The Iroquois County Public Health Department will hold a safe sitter class on today and tomorrow from 9-noon for kids grades 9-12. Registration is $50. Call 815-432-2483 to sign up.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois currently lacks a clear regulatory system for digital asset businesses, but two bills on Governor JB Pritzker's desk could help protect consumers across the state. All cryptocurrency operators could soon be required to register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. One proposal could set transaction limits, a maximum withdrawal fee and create a live customer service portal. The other legislation would require operators to be transparent about the risks involved with their products, services and virtual currency by providing disclosures to customers. It also calls for crypto operators to provide a toll-free customer service line, establish anti-scam policies and have consumer protection officers enforcing the law.

(The Center Square) – Northern Illinois University, which state taxpayers fund with nearly $100 million annually, took a verbal lashing for a repeated audit finding about time keeping for faculty.The Legislative Audit Commission heard audit reviews for three public universities throughout the state. For Northern Illinois University, there were 15 findings officials said were not material and they are working on repeated findings.Presiden t Lisa Freeman said they hope to change a state law requiring tracking work hours in 15 minute increments.

(Washington-jm) – Illinois will have a new Senator after Dick Durbin announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. Capitol News Illinois sat down with one of the candidates running for the seat, Raja Krishnamoorthi. He talks about the potential impacts he fears could come to rural hospitals and communities following the passage of President Trumps Big Beautiful Bill…

Illinois U-S Senate Candidate Raja Krishnamorthi. 

(Chamapgin–jc)  The Interstate 74 entrance from the northbound Interstate 57 exchanged was closed for several hours early Sunday morning. A semi accident was reported in that area around 4am yesterday. No word on property damages or injuries was provided. The closure lasted for several hours 

(Champaign–jc) It’s Kids Day at the Champaign County Fair. at 8am its the Open Swine Show and at 8-30 the Open Dairy and Sheep Show. Gates Open at 10 with pre school activities from 10am to noon. The Carnival opens at 5 this afternoon with music at 6.There is also harness racing at 5 today.

(Paxton–dm)-If you are looking for a project to do inside, you might want to clean your grout on your tile floor or wall.  Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen,  has some suggestions 

Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen.  You can hear more from Scott Saturday Mornings at 730 on Scott’s tips for success.

(Urbana-jm) – Starting today, a new Guest Assistance service will be available at Carle Foundation Hospital for those parking in the North Garage on Orchard St. or the South Garage on McCullough Ave. This free, ADA-accessible wheelchair transport service will ensure safe travel for patients and visitors in need of assistance before and after an appointment. To use this service, visitors will need to park in the North or South Garages and call the number assigned to each garage once they have arrived. When requesting assistance, visitors will provide their location to a team member who will come to them with a wheelchair to assist them from their vehicle to the hospital. Each garage will have an ADA-designated section with numbered spaced. Visitors needing support are encouraged to park in these spaces and provide their assigned number when calling to help locate them within the garage. This service is available to anyone who needs support traveling from their vehicle to the hospital doors, even if they do not park in the ADA-designated sections of the garages or have a handicap placard for their vehicle.

(Springfield–jc)  Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker has joined a group of nine governors around the country calling on a power grid operator to implement governance reforms. Pritzker said PJM Interconnection is undermining Illinois’ efforts to have clean, reliable and affordable energy. The governors sent a letter calling on PJM to fill open board seats and establish a transparent nomination process.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker announced last month he will be running for another term as Governor. This time however, he won’t have Juliana Stratton, the state’s current Lieutenant Governor, as his sidekick. Stratton announced she planned to run for the soon-to-be open U-S Senate seat held by retiring Senator Dick Durbin. Pritzker announced Christian Mitchell will be his running mate. Mitchell sat down with Capitol News Illinois. He talks about what he brings to the ticket…

Illinois Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell.

(Champaign-jm) – An Urbana man has been arrested in connection with a shooting incident on July 4, that resulted in the death of a Champaign man. Champaign Police responded to the 1900 block of W. Bradley Avenue after receiving multiple reports of a shooting with injuries at 12:36 a.m. Upon arrival, officers learned that 32-year-old Martez Jones of Champaign had been transported to a local hospital by personal vehicle. An investigation led to 37-year-old Rynell Frazier of Urbana. Frazier was located and arrested in Merrillville, Indiana. Champaign Police are currently arranging for Frazier's transport back to the Champaign County Correctional Facility for arraignment.

(Champaign–dm)- Sore throats are pesky. They can be serious. And they’re not just a winter thing, as evidenced by the new COVID variant causing sore throats that feel like razor blades. Do a web search for sore throat at-home remedies, and you’ll get a lot of results. Which ones work? Which ones might feel good in the moment but don’t get the job done? Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has more.

 But, that’s not a license to eat spicy food. For example, the acidity in tacos can make sore throats worse. If your condition doesn’t get better in a few days, go to an urgent care.

(Bloomington–dm)-More than 150 Illinois National Guard soldiers from the 2-106th Cavalry have returned home after a ten-month deployment overseas. The soldiers conducted security operations in Africa before reuniting with friends and family in Bloomington.

(The Center Square) – Illinois legislators are raising concerns over a $500,000 budget item for Lincoln College, a private school that shut down in 2022.The earmark, added in a 2018 capital bill by then-state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, was never funded but continues to appear in the budget each year because it’s still written into state law.Critics call the situation “a banner of incompetence,” highlighting how such outdated line items can clutter the budget and fuel worries about mismanagement or misuse of taxpayer money.

WPXN News Notes…

The 2025 Champaign County Fair will take place through July 26 at the fairgrounds in Urbana. Today it's harness racing at 5. 

The City of Paxton will hold brush pickup starting today and going from the west side of town to the east side.

The Iroquois County Public Health Department will hold a safe sitter class on Tuesday, July 22nd and Wednesday, July 23rd from 9-noon for kids grades 9-12. Registration is $50. Call 815-432-2483 to sign up.

(Springfield-jm) – A bipartisan bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk could help address the shortage of emergency vehicle drivers across the state. Sponsors said people who live in neighboring states but work as public safety employees should be able to operate emergency vehicles in Illinois if they have the required driver's license in their home state. The proposal states that nonresidents must complete the fire service vehicle operator program with the State Fire Marshal to be eligible.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois unemployment has fallen, and nonfarm payrolls totals reached a record high in June, officials announced on Thursday. In June, payroll jobs increased by 9,400. Some of the industries which saw the largest job increases included private education and health services, government and leisure, and hospitality. Some of the industries with the largest decreases included professional and business services, manufacturing and trade, transportation and utilities. Illinois also saw its unemployment rate fall to 4.6% in June. This is the first monthly decrease since February and is the lowest unemployment rate since August 2023.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois leaders are sharing concerns over SNAP benefit changes as part of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. During a recent press conference, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton says the state will have to support those who lose benefits…

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton.

(Urbana-jm) – Classic rocker Steve Miller has canceled his U.S. tour because he said severe weather including extreme heat and unpredictable flooding poses a danger to his band, its fans and crew. This includes his stop at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Friday, September 26th. State Farm Center says ticket holders will be reimbursed to their original form of payment.

(Paxton-jm) – The Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District is searching for its next superintendent, and they’re looking to the community for input. The Board of Education is asking for community members to complete an online survey. It’ll give them an idea of what qualities staff, parents and other district stakeholders believe are important for a superintendent to have. Other questions include whether or not district stakeholders believe it’s important for the next superintendent to have teaching experience, principal experience, or live in the district. All survey responses and comments will be anonymous. The deadline to submit a response will be Friday, August 10. The survey is available on the districts website and Facebook page.

(Gibson City–jc) The 20-25 summer bash hosted by Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services is set for Saturday August 16th in downtown Gibson City. The headline act is the group “Foreigner.” Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee and Community Events Bill Kirby says the opening act is known nationwide in the person of John Waite…

Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee and Community Events Bill Kirby. Tickets for the entire evening of entertainment is just 10 dollars. They are available on line

CHICAGO — The University of Illinois Board of Trustees Thursday approved the purchase of a three-story office building at 901 W. University Ave., Urbana. The facility will help address growing space needs of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Carle Illinois College of Medicine and other campus units.

The nearly 32,000-square-foot structure will be purchased on the university’s behalf by the University of Illinois Foundation for approximately $3.6 million.

(Gifford–jc)  The 150th celebration in the town of Gifford in Champaign County starts on Friday. The 3 day event kicks off tonight with music in the downtown area at 6pm. A bags tournament takes place at 6-30 and from 8pm to 11pm its the band, “Brushville.” WPXN will be there live on Saturday at 10am, broadcasting the parade live. 

(Crescent City–jc)  20-25 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Rae Stucki (‘Stew-key) continues her busy reign at the fair this week. Stucki helped hand out trophies at last night’s Demo Derby. Stucki says she will be handing out ribbons and helping with the concert on Saturday night…

20-25 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Rae Stucki of Donovan

(The Center Square) – Illinois is one of the U.S. states hardest hit by inflation, an analyst says . The personal finance company WalletHub compared 23 major metropolitan areas across key metrics, including the Consumer Price Index, to measure inflation and how it impacts people in different cities. According to the report, two of the five major metropolitan areas with the biggest inflation problems have a large footprint in Illinois. WalletHub writer and analyst Chip Lupo said Chicago and St. Louis trail only Seattle and Boston.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois could soon continue the work of a task force addressing the affordable housing crisis. Democrats and Republicans believe the state should ensure access to housing loan products, grants and other assistance for buyers and owners located in community land trusts. Sponsors said community land trusts can be a powerful solution for homeowners facing delinquent property taxes or other financial threats to continued homeownership. The task force could consider incorporating community land trusts into the local tax sale process and increasing the number of state grants for organizational housing development. Senate Bill 1261 passed out of the House on a 71-37 vote and received unanimous support in the Senate.

(Gibson City–jc) The Gibson City American Legion Riders are hosting a motorcycle and vehicle ride on Saturday to benefit local charities. Gibson City American Legion Riders Spokesperson Aaron Nettleton says the money goes to local groups…

Gibson City American Legion Riders Spokesperson Aaron Nettleton

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department is warning the community about a string of vehicle burglaries that happened near campus this week. UIPD officials said that between Tuesday and Thursday, their department took six reports of cars being broken into. Several vehicles had damage to their rear windows and the steering columns were tampered with. Some of the cars were burglarized and one was outright stolen before being recovered. All of the reports were made in the Orchard Downs Apartments complex in Urbana, and all of them involved cars made by Kia, Hyundai and Nissan.

(Undated-jm) – The latest U-S Drought Monitor is out and it shows drought conditions expanding across the area. Parts of southwestern Iroquois, southern and central Ford, southwestern Vermilion, eastern Piatt and most of Champaign Counties are in moderate drought. The rest of the area is listed as abnormally dry. Almost all of Will County in north-eastern Illinois is in severe drought. The next drought monitor will be released on Thursday morning.

(Crescent City–jc)  –  The 20-25 Iroquois County Fair continues through Sunday night at the fairgrounds just north of Crescent City along Route 49. One popular place for food at the fair is the Ford Iroquois Pork Producers building near the grandstands. Ford Iroquois Pork Producers President Chuck Gocken says they promote pork and will serve around 8 thousand sandwiches at the event…

Ford Iroquois Pork Producers President Chuck Gocken

(Champaign–jc)  –The Champaign city council has agreed to hire a Chicago-based violence intervention group. The one-year contract with Acclivus, Incorportated. is not to exceed $450,000. The move comes in the wake of 14 shootings in Champaign last month.

(Cullom–jc)  –Tri Point School board members set the date for the fiscal year 20-26 budget hearing for Wednesday September 16th. Board members at their July meeting also approved a contract with R and M Incorporated to repair a floor at the kempton school at a cost of 7 thousand 2 hundred dollars. 

(Washington–dg)  –The latest Topsoil Moisture Condition Ratings Report for the period ending July 13th is out .U-S-D-A Meteorologist Brad Rippey has the details….

U-S-D-A Meteorologist Brad Rippey

(Bolingbrook–jc)  One-hundred and eighty workers at a printing company in Bolingbrook will be losing their jobs on September 5th. The Peoria Journal Star reports that L-S-C Communications Transport, doing business as Enru Logistics, reported the layoffs this month in accordance with the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

(Gifford–jc)  The Gifford Celebration starts today. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the details…

WPXN Weekend News Notes…

The 2025 Iroquois County Fair  continues today with the livestock sale at 1, 4-H style show at 4 and the T&A bucking bulls rodeo at 8. On Saturday its the tractor drive at 8 am, pedal tractor pull at 2 and country music artists Chris Cagle with Craig Campbell at 7pm. On Sunday, its the all faith church service at 9:30, tractor pulls and car show at noon and armband special from 1-5pm.

The 2025 Champaign County Fair kicks off today through July 26 at the fairgrounds in Urbana. Tonight its the Pro Rodeo at 7. On Saturday its the demolition derby at 5. On Sunday its the draft horse pulls at noon and draft horse show at 4. 

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the LIA Bass Club on Saturday from 10-2.

(Emington-jm) – State Representative Jason R. Bunting says the challenges facing the Illinois Legislature are greater than ever and he is asking voters in the 106th District to send him back to Springfield to continue to fight for the common-sense reforms Illinois desperately needs. Bunting announced Wednesday he's seeking re-election to another term as a voice for the 106th legislative district.

(Chicago-jm) – Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced Wednesday that she will not seek a fourth term in office. Mendoza made the announcement at a press conference held at a Little Village restaurant in Chicago. Mendoza, who was the first woman to serve as Chicago city clerk, held that position under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. She later won a special election to replace former Illinois Comptroller Judy Barr Topinka.

(Crescent City–jc)  –  The 53rd Annual Iroquois County Agricultural and 4-H Club Fair Talent Show was held on the fairgrounds stage. This year’s event featured a wide range of talented youth from across the county.

Junior Division Winners:

1st Place – Kolbee Shoufler, performing I Know Things Now from Into the Woods

2nd Place – Rhythm Rebels (Priya Kidwell & Avery Schroeder), dancing to a Janet Jackson mashup

3rd Place – Jude Meyer, performing Take Me Home, Country Roads on piano

Senior Division Winners:

1st Place – Isa Pina, singing She Used to Be Mine

2nd Place – Abby Tindle, singing The Truth

3rd Place – Paige Miller, singing Waiting on a Wish

(Iroquois County-jm) – Iroquois County Clerk Breein Suver has announced a purge of voter registration files, as required by state law, have been mailed out. All registered voters will receive a new voter registration card by mail. It is important that voters review their new voter registration card for accuracy.  If you feel you are a registered voter and have not received a card by July 31 st , or if you have any questions, please call the County Clerk’s office at: (815) 432-6960.

(Springfield–jc)  –Instead of another term as the Illinois Comptroller, Susana Mendoza announced she will be exploring what’s next for her career.

Speculation was she would be vying for Chicago mayor in the city's 2027 municipal elections, but Wednesday morning she said “stay tuned.” Mendoza said her career so far shows she’s focused on transparency to build trust in government.

The announcement opens up the comptroller’s office race for 2026

(Paxton–jc)  A blood drive is set for Paxton today at the First Lutheran Church. Impact Life Paxton Blood Drive Spokesperson Kevin Hanson has the details…

Impact Life Paxton Blood Drive Spokesperson Kevin Hanson. He says that they are still in need of 7 donors. Walk-ins are welcome. 

(Crescent City–jc)  The 20-25 Iroquois county fair continues today. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has today’s activities…

(Undated-jm) – Several nursing homes around the state received fines from the Illinois Department of Public Health including a few in the WPXN listening area. Accolade of Savoy was fined nearly $15,000 for failing to monitor the weight of three residents resulting in significant weight loss and failing to monitor a dialysis catheter resulting in an infection. Watseka Rehab and Health Center was fined $2,200 for failing to use proper equipment to move a resident resulting in a broken leg and failing to report the incident to the state. Country Health in Gifford was fined $14,000 for failing to contain nursing licenses of a registered nurse and a licensed practical nurse in their personnel files and background checks on those employees were not conducted. In addition, they allegedly failed to provide skin interventions to two residents resulting in pressure ulcers and wounds and allegedly failed to monitor a resident with difficulty swallowing after administering oral medication. Gilman Healthcare was fined $25,000 for failing to monitor a cognitively impaired resident using an electric assisted standing recliner resulting in the resident falling and fracturing a bone in their head.

(Washington, D.C.,) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the termination of the Regional Food Business Centers program. This pandemic-era, Biden program was created using one-time, temporary funding from Congress. The Department is terminating this program that should not have been established in this manner in the first place, but are doing so in a way to honor commitments made to farmers. She says the USDA will honor existing commitments for over 450 grants to farmers and food businesses to ensure planning decisions on the farm can continue as normal, however stakeholders should not plan on this program continuing. Any remaining funds will be repurposed to better support American agriculture.

(Bloomington-jm) – An Illinois Senate Democrat is renewing his calls for insurance reform following State Farm's announcement of a 27% increase for homeowner insurance premiums. Senator Michael Hastings told WAND News he is determined to pass a plan to help consumers as soon as possible. Hastings believes Illinois should require insurance companies to get prior approval for significant rate hikes and make their methodology transparent. He also said the state should cap any rate increases at 15% per year or require extensive notice for families to plan for hikes. Senate Bill 268 would ban insurers from passing the costs of out-of-state disasters like hurricanes and wildfires onto Illinois customers without proper justification. Yet, the University of Illinois Office of Risk Management and Insurance Research told WAND News in April that Illinois should examine unintended consequences states like California and Washington faced after implementing similar policies. The proposal could be discussed during the veto session in October.

(Washington–jm)  –The USDA forecasts a record of corn exports for our nation in the 2024-25 season. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chairman Mark Jekanowski explains the reasons.

World Ag Outlook Board  Chairman Mark Jekanowski

CHAMPAIGN – Two Champaign teenagers have been arrested for their role in a July 15th shooting incident that left a 14-year-old injured. Champaign Police were dispatched Tuesday afternoon just after 5, to the 1100 block of North. Third Street for a report of a shooting with injuries. On-scene, officers located a 14-year-old male victim with multiple potentially life-threatening gunshot wounds.. The victim is in  stable condition this morning. The initial investigation indicated that the victim was in the outdoor common area of the apartment complex when multiple subjects approached the victim and opened fire. The victim was struck multiple times by gunfire before the offenders fled the area. A scene was located with evidence of gunfire, including multiple shell casings and damage to a building. Two subjects were arrested , including a 15-year-old male and a 16-year-old male, both from Champaign. Two firearms were recovered during the investigation.

Champaign Police ask that anyone who has additional information please call 217-351-4545.

(Kankakee-dg)-Clove Alliance is proud to announce a one-day interactive presentation titled “Amplifying Voices: Empowering Survivors with Disabilities,” focused on supporting survivors of sexual violence with disabilities.

This event, tailored for community professionals, will take place from 8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. Aug. 8 at Kankakee Community College (KCC). This interactive presentation will outline best practices for supporting people with disabilities who are survivors of sexual assault. 

(Undated-jm) – In an effort to equip older adults with the tools and knowledge needed to outsmart today’s most deceptive fraud tactics, State Senator Paul Faraci is taking action to protect seniors from the rising threat of scams and identify theft with two upcoming fraud prevention seminars in the 52nd District. Both occurring on Friday, July 18 at CRIS Healthy Aging locations, the Vermilion County event will be at 10:30 a.m. at 309 N. Franklin St. in Danville. In Champaign County, it will take place at 4116 Fieldstone Rd. in Champaign at 1 p.m. Attendees will learn how to protect themselves, friends and family from scam artists, fraudulent businesses, identity theft and phone spoofing. Faraci will also discuss how to check credit reports and file a consumer fraud complaint. Seating will be limited, so interested individuals should make a reservation for either location by calling 217-443-2999.

Chicago – The Illinois Department of Revenue is reminding residents that when purchasing a vehicle from another state, sales or use tax is generally due where the vehicle will be registered and used, not necessarily where it was purchased.

This issue often arises when Illinois residents buy vehicles from out-of-state dealerships that mistakenly charge their own state’s sales tax, instead of properly documenting the exemption commonly available for non-resident buyers. As a result, Illinois taxpayers may find themselves having paid tax to another state and still legally responsible for paying vehicle use tax in Illinois.

(Gurnee–jc)  –Six Flags Great America in Gurnee is reactivating its chaperone policy.Starting Thursday, July 17, all guests under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who is at least 21 years old.No injuries were reported after police found evidence of a shooting in the Great America parking lot last week.

(Paxton–jc)  The Ford County Budget Committee is meeting this morning in Paxton. The focus  is the 20-26 budget for the county. The meeting comes to order at 9 this morning in the sheriff’s boardroom.

WPXN News Notes…

The 2025 Iroquois County Fair continues today with fun carvings by Brad Larson from 10-8, 2 for the price of 1 amusement ride and the demo derby at 7:30. 

Impact Life will hold a blood drive this afternoon from 3-6 pm at the First Lutheran Church in Paxton. To sign up email Kevin Hanson at emtcoor at hotmail dot com.

The 2025 Champaign County Fair will take place July 18-26 at the fairgrounds in Urbana. On the 18th its the Pro Rodeo at 7. On the 19th its the demolition derby at 5. On the 20th its the draft horse pulls at noon and draft horse show at 4. On the 22nd its harness racing at 5. On the 23rd its the monster truck show at 7. On the 24th its motocross racing at 7. On the 25th its country music artist Travis Tritt at 7:30. On the 26th its the IPA tractor pulls at noon and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6pm.

(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois Republican lawmaker has filed a bill to ban the use of renewable energy components made by foreign adversaries in any Illinois energy projects. Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin told WAND News her plan could protect the state's energy grid and national security. The Morris Republican said she is concerned about security risks tied to inverters, batteries, and other components of solar panels and wind turbines. A recent Reuters investigation found hidden communication devices in solar panel inverters and batteries manufactured in China. Although, Reuters has not named the company involved.

(Crescent City–jc)  –There is a new queen  for the 20-25 Iroquois CountyFair. Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant   Announcer Mary Quinn…

Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant Announcer Mary Quinn has the winner

Again,  Rae Stuckey of Donovan is the new Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen. Tinley Rust of Loda was named Little Miss Iroquois County.

The fair continues today. There is an I-P-A Tractor Pull at 6pm Swyear Amusements is on the midway and the WPXN Ice Cream Booth will be in operation  in the commercial building. 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced that a record $303.8 million in unclaimed funds has been returned to nearly 312,000 residents, businesses, and organizations through the I-CASH program in Fiscal Year 2025. I-CASH is one of the longest-running consumer protection programs in Illinois. The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is responsible for safeguarding and returning unclaimed property. This includes items like forgotten safe deposit box contents, unpaid life insurance benefits, old bank accounts, and unused rebate cards. The Treasurer is required by law to return these unclaimed assets to their rightful owners or heirs, regardless of how long it takes. Recently, Treasurer Frerichs set a new record by returning $303.8 million in missing money, surpassing last year's total of $301 million.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois leaders are sharing concerns over SNAP benefit changes as part of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. During a press conference Friday, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton says the cuts will impact families across the state…

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton.

(Gifford–jc)  The village of Gifford is celebrating its sesquicentennial this weekend. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the details…

(Urbana-jm) – A total of $7 million is going from the state to four organizations that are developing and building tech incubators. One of those organizations, affiliated with the University of Illinois. $3 million is going to EnterpriseWorks 2.0 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Their project is a new construction building in Research Park for startup companies with an emphasis on laboratory and manufacturing commercial spaces for scaling companies.

(USDA)-What are some of the indicators that plants in your vegetable and fruit garden are experiencing stress from extreme heat? Rod Bain reports.

CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission is looking to the community for input after what they say has been the worst first six months of the year for traffic fatalities in over two decades. Thirteen people were killed in traffic crashes in Champaign County in the first six months of 2025, according to information the RPC gathered from area news reports — and two more crash-related deaths occurred just after the six-month mark. The RPC is asking that county residents, including University of Illinois students, complete a survey on perceived traveling safety in the area and what they believe might be contributing to unsafe conditions. Contributors on the survey include driver behavior, poor street lighting and lack of traffic enforcement, to name a few. Residents are also asked to add comments to an interactive map, identifying specific locations they perceive as unsafe or where they see frequent traffic code violations.

(Washington-jm) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed Representative Robin Kelly’s bipartisan Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act to help farmers incorporate technology into their operations. The legislation now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate. The Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act would require the Federal Communications Commission to review its current satellite rules to determine if rule changes can be made to promote precision agriculture.

(Crescent City–jc)  – There is a new Little Miss for the 20-25 Iroquois CountyFair. 

Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant Announcer Mary Quinn…

Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant Announcer Mary Quinn has the winner

Again, Rae Stuckey of Donovan is the new Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen. Tinley Rust of Loda was named Little Miss Iroquois County.

The fair continues today. There is an I-P-A Tractor Pull at 6pm Swyear Amusements is on the midway and the WPXN Ice Cream Booth will be in operation  in the commercial building. 

(Springfield-jm) – A bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk could help more veterans have affordable housing without going through government red tape. Senator Sally Turner refiled her plan this year to allow tiny homes to be exempt from the 2023 state law requiring all homes to be built with electric vehicle charging capacity. The proposal ensures that the EV charging provisions of the Electric Vehicle Charging Act do not apply to tiny homes designated for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, provided the homes are funded and built by qualified nonprofit organizations. Turner said this change could remove an unnecessary barrier and allow nonprofit organizations to focus on safe housing for veterans.

(Undated-jm) – Senior advocates are sounding the alarm about the effects of social isolation on older people in Illinois, saying loneliness is comparable to smoking and can increase the risk of early death by 50%. Judith Ruiz-Branch reports…

(Springfield-jm) – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the freezing of $6.8 billion in education grants. In the lawsuit, Raoul and the coalition argue that the Trump administration’s actions violate federal funding statutes. Illinois is anticipated to receive an estimated $219 million in federal education funding that is now frozen, based on funding granted for the 2024-25 school year. Raoul said this would leave a large hole in the state’s education budget.

(Bloomington-jm) – A Bloomington woman was sentenced to 95 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following a 2024 investigation into child pornography and sexual assault. The investigation began in August 2024, when the Bloomington Police Department's Cyber Crimes Unit arrested Sarah Troutwine, also known as Sarah Howard, on 19 counts of various sexually related offenses. In May 2025, Troutwine pleaded guilty to two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and one count of child pornography production. Her sentence includes 40 years for each count of predatory criminal sexual assault, which must be served at 85%, and 15 years for child pornography production, which must be served at 50%. All sentences will be served consecutively, making her eligible for parole in the year 2100.

(USDA)-USDA researchers are using innovations such as artificial intelligence to locate microbes in irrigation surface water – contaminants that could cause a foodborne illness. Rod Bain reports.

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is touting Pure Lithium Corporation’s move from Boston to Chicago as a clean energy win, but some question whether taxpayers are getting a fair deal. Gov. Pritzker says he is excited to welcome the team at Pure Lithium to Illinois where they'll be an excellent addition to the business landscape and burgeoning clean energy ecosystem. After completing its research and development phase in Boston, Pure Lithium is relocating to Illinois to begin production, investing $46 million and creating 50 jobs in Chicago’s Fulton Market. The move is backed by $4.4 million in state Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois Act program tax incentives, according to Crain’s calculations.  Mark Glennon, founder of Wirepoints, explained that using taxpayer money to lure companies with promises of job creation often fails to deliver real economic value.

WPXN news notes…

The 2025 Iroquois County Fair continues today through Sunday. Today,  its fun carvings by Brad Larson from 10-8, armband night from 6-10 and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6. On the 17th its fun carvings by Brad Larson from 10-8, 2 for the price of 1 amusement rides and the demo derby at 7:30. On the 18th its the livestock sale at 1, 4-H style show at 4 and the T&A bucking bulls rodeo at 8. On the 19th its the tractor drive at 8 am, pedal tractor pull at 2 and country music artists Chris Cagle with Craig Campbell at 7pm. On the 20th, its the all faith church service at 9:30, tractor pulls and car show at noon and armband special from 1-5pm.

Impact Life will hold a blood drive on Thursday, July 17th from 3-6 pm at the First Lutheran Church in Paxton. To sign up email Kevin Hanson at emtcoor at hotmail dot com.

The 2025 Champaign County Fair will take place July 18-26 at the fairgrounds in Urbana. On the 18th its the Pro Rodeo at 7. On the 19th its the demolition derby at 5. On the 20th its the draft horse pulls at noon and draft horse show at 4. On the 22nd its harness racing at 5. On the 23rd its the monster truck show at 7. On the 24th its motocross racing at 7. On the 25th its country music artist Travis Tritt at 7:30. On the 26th its the IPA tractor pulls at noon and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6pm.

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the LIA Bass Club on Saturday, July 19th from 10-2.

(Undated-jm) – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have increased by 6.8 cents per gallon over the past week, reaching an average of $3.45 per gallon, according to a survey conducted by GasBuddy across 4,378 stations in the state. Despite the recent rise, prices are only 2.7 cents higher than a month ago and remain 37.5 cents lower than the same time last year. GasBuddy's price reports revealed a significant price range within the state, with the cheapest station priced at $2.88 per gallon and the most expensive at $4.79 per gallon, marking a difference of $1.91 per gallon.

(Washington–jc)  –The adjustments to the export forecasts for corn and soybeans is good for farmers.  U-S-D-A Chief Economist Seth Meyer has the numbers…

U-S-D-A Chief Economist Seth Meyer

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect involved in a burglary to a motor vehicle, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and criminal damage. The incident occurred on June 20 at approximately 2:45 a.m. A male suspect was caught breaking into a vehicle by its owner in the 500 block of Westlawn Avenue in Champaign. When confronted, the suspect fled but turned and began shooting at the victim. Although there was property damage to two homes, no injuries were reported. Police described the suspect as a taller, thin Black male wearing all dark clothing.

(The Center Square) – While Illinois Democrats say hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans are going to lose health insurance and rural hospitals are going to close, Republicans say that’s not true. President Donald Trump’s one big beautiful bill has been criticized by Democrats like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who claims “people will die.”

Illinois Governor J B Pritzker

(Chicago–jc)  –Former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker has been sentenced to 1.5 years in federal prison and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine for his role in a scheme to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Hooker and three others were convicted of conspiracy, bribery and falsifying records in May of 2023. The remaining ComEd Four defendants are scheduled to be sentenced over the next few weeks.

(Washington-jm) – Two Central Illinois hospitals are one step closer to receiving federal funding, aimed at improving their facilities and the services they offer community members.  U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth announced that a bill has advanced in the Senate Appropriations Committee. It would see additional funding for several hospitals — including two in Central Illinois, along with money for agriculture projects, rural development, and the FDA in fiscal year 2026. Durbin said the Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA funding bill includes the following requests: $645,000 to the Iroquois Memorial Hospital and Resident Home. The money would be used to update the aged and outdated facilities, including the HVAC systems and flooring. $110,000 to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon. The money would go towards expanding rural telehealth efforts to include teledentistry with an emphasis on underserved children.

(Crescent City–dm)-  The Iroquois County Fair gets under way Today at the Iroquois County Fairgrounds located one mile north of Crescent City on route 49.  Competitive Exhibits Coordinator Deb Krones tells us about  Wednesday’s activities.

Iroquois County Fair Spokesperson Deb Krones

(The Center Square) – A new Truth in Accounting report pegs Illinois as being dead last among all 50 states when it comes to financial transparency.The Transparency Score Report assesses each state based on such criteria as audit quality, clarity of retirement liabilities and how clearly finances are presented free of distortion. Researchers found Illinois’ standing is further hampered by its delay in publishing its fiscal year 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports, which offers the most accurate view of a state’s financial outlook. While no states received a top score of 100 for most transparent financial reporting, Weinberg said it’s easy to see why Illinois lands where it does in the study. The state’s 2022 report also came with a disclaimer of opinion, meaning auditors were unable to provide assurance that the financial statements were free of material misstatement.

(Springfield-jm) – Legislation on Gov. JB Pritzker's desk could require trauma-informed response training for law enforcement handling sexual assault cases. This plan would require the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board to teach police officers how to identify conflicts of interest and options to address those conflicts when officers know a sexual assault victim or the abuser. Senator Mary Edly-Allen said law enforcement must use the utmost care when survivors come forward to report their abuse. She filed the legislation after hearing about a negative experience a constituent went through.

(Illinois–dm)  –While Illinois Democrats say hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans are going to lose insurance, and rural hospitals are going to close. Christian Maxwell, a Republican running for Illinois’ 1st Congressional District, said Democrats are fearmongering and rural hospitals will get support in the federal legislation.

Republican candidate for congress Christian Maxwell

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign woman was sentenced to three years in prison after she pleaded guilty to a pair of charges in a shooting incident earlier this year. Court records show that Reyanna Dodd, 22, reached a plea deal with prosecutors last month. She pleaded guilty to a felony count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon and a misdemeanor count of reckless discharge of a firearm. The count of reckless discharge was added to her case once the plea deal was reached, records show. The unlawful possession count was an original charge she faced since the beginning of her case. Four other original charges — two each of attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm — were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

(Crescent city–jc)  – The 20-25 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen pageant is set for Crescent City on Tuesday. WPXN”s Joel Cluver has the details…

WPXN’s Becky Puetz will have more with the pageant winner on Wednesday morning. 

(The Center Square) – A new Truth in Accounting report pegs Illinois as being dead last among all 50 states when it comes to financial transparency. The Transparency Score Report assesses each state based on such criteria as audit quality, clarity of retirement liabilities and how clearly finances are presented free of distortion. Researchers found Illinois’ standing is further hampered by its delay in publishing its fiscal year 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports, which offers the most accurate view of a state’s financial outlook.

Champaign County, Illinois – The Champaign County Board and the Scott M. Bennett Dedication Committee invite the public to attend the building dedication celebration on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, in memory of the late state Senator Scott M. Bennett.Senator Bennett served his community with an uncommon blend of humility, passion, and tireless dedication. A proud native of Gibson City and longtime resident of Champaign County, he championed causes that profoundly improved the lives of everyday Illinoisans. From expanding mental health services and advocating for early childhood education to fighting for clean water in Mahomet and promoting environmental protections, his work was grounded in a deep concern for community well-being. He was instrumental in securing critical resources for local schools, advancing sustainable agriculture, and ensuring greater access to justice for vulnerable residents across the region.

(Buckley–dm)-Ardell “Goat” Goetting of Buckley, along with Thriviant Insurance is raising money to help the victims of the recent floods in Texas.  Ardell Getting tells us how you can make a monetary donation.

Goat’s Hardware store owner Ardell Goetting. Goat’s Hardware store is located at 104 S. Railroad Ave. You can also make a donation at the Buckley Bank under Goats special account.  Donations will be accepted until Monday July 21.

(Illinois–dm)-Gov. J.B. Pritzker has announced more than $13 million in grants for 46 new electric school buses. The grants are funded by a multi-billion dollar Volkswagen settlement and will be distributed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The state EPA plans to add future funding from the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act Program.

WPXN News notes…

The 2025 Iroquois County Fair will take place July 15th-20th. On July 15th,  its the talent contest at 5pm, $2 amusement rides from 6pm until close and Queen and Little Miss Pageant at 7pm. On the 16th its fun carvings by Brad Larson from 10-8, armband night from 6-10 and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6. On the 17th its fun carvings by Brad Larson from 10-8, 2 for the price of 1 amusement rides and the demo derby at 7:30. On the 18th its the livestock sale at 1, 4-H style show at 4 and the T&A bucking bulls rodeo at 8. On the 19th its the tractor drive at 8 am, pedal tractor pull at 2 and country music artists Chris Cagle with Craig Campbell at 7pm. On the 20th, its the all faith church service at 9:30, tractor pulls and car show at noon and armband special from 1-5pm.

Impact Life will hold a blood drive on Thursday, July 17th from 3-6 pm at the First Lutheran Church in Paxton. To sign up email Kevin Hanson at emtcoor at hotmail dot com.

The 2025 Champaign County Fair will take place July 18-26 at the fairgrounds in Urbana. On the 18th its the Pro Rodeo at 7. On the 19th its the demolition derby at 5. On the 20th its the draft horse pulls at noon and draft horse show at 4. On the 22nd its harness racing at 5. On the 23rd its the monster truck show at 7. On the 24th its motocross racing at 7. On the 25th its country music artist Travis Tritt at 7:30. On the 26th its the IPA tractor pulls at noon and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6pm.

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the LIA Bass Club on Saturday, July 19th from 10-2.

(Springfield-jc) – The measles outbreak in Southern Illinois is over. The Illinois Department of Public Health said there have been no new cases since May 22. The agency credits rapid responses from state and local health officials they say kept the virus spread to a minimum. Health officials said immunization against measles is the best protection for children and adults.

(Undated-jm) – Two Democratic members of Congress running for U-S Senate visited central Illinois last week to discuss federal spending cuts to social service programs. Capitol News Illinois reports that Democrats  Robin Kelly and Raja (rah-jah) Krishnamoorthi (krish-nuh-more-thee) say everyone will feel impacts from the cuts, no matter how much money they make. Projections show some rural hospitals in Illinois could close because of Medicaid cuts that will begin next year. Krishnamoorthi says it's important to let people in Illinois know how these cuts will affect them…

Democrat Illinois U S Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi. Robin Kelly says it’s the part of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill that concerns her the most…

2nd District Congressman and Illinois Senate candidate Robin Kelly.

(Undated-jc) – Ninety-five troopers graduated to join the Illinois State Police Friday. The agency announced the Springfield ceremony was the largest cadet class in 25 years. The class included traditional cadets who complete a 29-week program and a lateral class of 52 cadets who completed a 12-week program for certified police previously graduating from an accredited academy with two years of full-time as an officer.  

(St. Joseph-jm) – Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer has identified the victim of a fatal single-vehicle crash as Samuel Shonkwiler, an 18-year-old from St. Joseph. The crash occurred on Thursday, near County Road 1380 North and County Road 2400 East at approximately 10:30 p.m. Preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle struck a utility pole at a high rate of speed. Shonkwiler was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy has been scheduled. The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

(Washington–jc)  Ag Producers with eligible crop losses due to natural disaster over the past two years can now sign up for a new U-S-D-A disaster assistance program. Farm Service Agency Administrator Bill Beam has the details…

Farm Service Agency Administrator Bill Beam

(Savoy-jm) – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth announced that the University of Illinois Willard Airport will receive $400,000 in federal funding. The funds, provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Authority, are earmarked for runway rehabilitation.

(Paxton–dm)-With the dry hot weather you might not be mowing your yard as much.  If your lawn is brown, but you need to “even” the grass, you might want to make sure your mower blades are sharp.  Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen has more.

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

(Gibson City–jc)  –  Gibson City leaders will look at an improvement project for the Gibson City Police Department building when they meet tonight. The council is expected to approve a special liquor license for the annual Harvest Fest and will look to approve the 20-25 to 2-20-26 appropriation ordinance. The Gibson City, City council meeting comes to order at 7 pm on tonight in the council chambers. 

(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois urban search and rescue team went to Texas overnight on Friday to help with operations after deadly flooding killed over 100 people and left hundreds more missing. The group consists of 39 rescuers from various fire departments. Governor JB Pritzker authorized the help by directing the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to activate the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The EMAC is an agreement among states to provide help across state lines during emergencies and disasters. The team will be in Texas for up to 14 days.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois leaders are sharing concerns over SNAP benefit changes as part of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. During a press conference Friday, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton says she is sounding the alarm on the cuts coming to Illinois…

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton.

Republicans have countered that we are 36 trillion dollars in debt and the effort is to take off the waste, fraud and abuse of such benefits. 

(Urbana-jm) – Another person charged in connection with the unrest during a pro-Palestinian protest on the University of Illinois campus last year has pleaded guilty. Sachi Roy, 22, was in court for a pretrial hearing on charges of felony mob action and misdemeanor obstruction of a police officer. They were identical charges to what eight other people were or are facing in connection to the protest that took place at Alma Mater on April 26, 2024. During that pretrial hearing, Roy agreed to a plea deal that saw her plead guilty to the obstruction count while the mob action count was dismissed. Accepting the guilty plea, Roy was sentenced to a year of conditional discharge and 100 hours of community service.

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton Buckley loda School Board is set to meet in an executive session this afternoon at the high school in Paxton. The release stated just a closed session to talk about personnel. 

(Champaign–dm)-  Here’s another Tik-Tok health trend that’ll raise your eyebrow: does a McDonald's snack cure a migraine? Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare put it to the test.

 If your headache is sudden and severe...or if the constant headaches prevent you from daily activities...see a health care provider.

(Champaign County-jm) – Champaign County workers officially voted to ratify a new union contract on Saturday. The workers represented by the AFSCME Local 900 union struck a tentative agreement with the county on Tuesday, just a day before their Wednesday morning strike deadline. 94% of votes were in favor of ratifying the agreement. The union says the minimum wage for full-time employees will increase from less than $16 an hour to $18 an hour. Other benefits include lowered health insurance premiums and free rabies vaccines for Animal Control employees.

(Iroquois Co–dm)-It’s County Fair season and the Iroquois County Fair is just around the corner.  Competitive Exhibits Coordinator Deb Krones talks about entries and more

Competitive Exhibits Coordinator Deb Krones.  Other Tuesday activities include the 4-H food sale at 2pm and the midway is open from 6 to 10pm.

(Paxton–jc)  Ford County Board members will look to set the Ford County Public Defenders salary when they meet today. A printer contract and some engineering services are on the agenda. The Ford County Board meeting starts at 6 on Monday night in the Ford County Sheriff’s Board room at the jail. 

WPXN News notes…

Impact Life will hold a blood drive on Thursday, July 17th from 3-6 pm at the First Lutheran Church in Paxton. To sign up email Kevin Hanson at emtcoor at hotmail dot com.

The 2025 Champaign County Fair will take place July 18-26 at the fairgrounds in Urbana. On the 18th its the Pro Rodeo at 7. On the 19th its the demolition derby at 5. On the 20th its the draft horse pulls at noon and draft horse show at 4. On the 22nd its harness racing at 5. On the 23rd its the monster truck show at 7. On the 24th its motocross racing at 7. On the 25th its country music artist Travis Tritt at 7:30. On the 26th its the IPA tractor pulls at noon and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6pm.

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the LIA Bass Club on Saturday, July 19th from 10-2.

The City of Paxton will hold brush pickup starting Monday, July 21st and going from the west side of town to the east side.

The Iroquois County Public Health Department will hold a safe sitter class on Tuesday, July 22nd and Wednesday, July 23rd from 9-noon for kids grades 9-12. Registration is $50. Call 815-432-2483 to sign up.

The East Central Illinois Community Action Agency will hold their 5th annual golf fundraiser on Friday, July 25th at Rivercrest Golf Club in Covington, Indiana.

(Rantoul-jm) – The Rantoul Fire Department is searching for the person that threw a brick injuring a firefighter during the village’s 4th of July parade. The department said it happened near Wabash and Frederick. The firefighter had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for their injury. Anyone with information is asked to contact Rantoul Police.

(Bloomington-jm) – Homeowners in Illinois covered by State Farm could see a large insurance rate increase. The Bloomington-based company revealed in a July 10 statement that the plans for a substantial hike are due to rising home improvement costs and more frequent severe weather events. Inflation was one of the main factors for the hike, as the costs of materials and labor have risen, affecting the costs of repairing or rebuilding homes. The company also cited damaging storms like wind, hail and tornadoes on the rise throughout the state as another factor. In 2024, Illinois was second in the nation with $638 million in hail damage claims, just behind Texas at $1.1 billion. Illinois customers will now be required to have a minimum 1% wind/hail deductible included in their home insurance policy. Additionally, auto insurance rates in Illinois will decrease an average of 5.7%, with some customers seeing premium reductions up to 15%. The rate adjustments will apply to new and existing policies beginning July 18.

(Penfield-bp) There are a lot of food options at this year’s Historic Farm Days in Penfield. One of the vendors has set up at the Historic Farm days.. Jojo's Grill. Owner Jody Pound talks about the food she serves … 

She says they have been providing great food for a long time…

Jojo's Grill Owner Jody Pound… 

(Champaign County-jm) – Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman has announced his intention to seek re-election for a third term in 2026. Sheriff Heuerman was first elected in 2018.

(Fisher–dm)-The Fisher Fair continues tonight in Fisher.  WPXN’s Joel Cluver had a chance to talk to Fisher Fair Jr. Miss McKinlee Robison about what the benefits are of being Fisher Fair Junior. Miss.

Fisher Fair Jr. Miss McKinlee Robison.  Activities tonight at the Fisher Fair include gates open at 4, the commercial building opens at 4,Fisher Amvets Fish Fry starts at midway is open from 6 to 10 and at 730 country singer Jarrod Nieman will take the stage

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Clerk and Recorder’s Office has relocated to the first floor of the Bennett Administrative Center as of Thursday. Most of the office's services are now operational.  Residents can inquire about specific services or request further assistance by calling the office at 217-384-3720.

(Illinois-bp) -Birth to five Illinois region 9 Champaign  and Ford County has announced the release of its new action planned progress infographic WPXN’s Brayden Perzee has the story…

CHAMPAIGN - The Champaign Police Department conducted a traffic enforcement campaign to reduce impaired driving and address seatbelt violations from June 20 to July 7, reminding motorists to share the road and ensure that everyone gets home safely around the Independence Day holiday. The effort was conducted by Champaign Police in partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police, and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies. During this 18-day period, efforts by Champaign Police led to:

11 arrests for Driving Under the Influence

2 warnings and 6 citations for speeding

3 citations for driving without insurance

2 citations for driving without a valid license

2 citations for moving violations

1 warning and 1 citation for equipment violations

(Springfield-jm) – Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, will lead a media briefing Today to provide an update on Illinois' measles outbreak. The briefing will take place at 10 a.m. at the Sangamon County Health Department in Springfield. Other public health and healthcare leaders will join Vohra to discuss the status of the outbreak and the importance of immunization in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases.

(USDA–dm)-- USDA's July World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report will be released Friday, July 11, at Noon Eastern Time. Rod Bain explains

What some of the key data points that will make up USDA's latest look at monthly supply and demand estimates for crops?

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Auditor General says the Pritzker administration failed to meet key equity requirements of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act from June 2022 to June 2024. A new compliance audit shows the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity missed the mark on multiple provisions of the law moving Illinois toward 100% clean energy by 2050. There was about $30 million into these programs that were set for local grants for job opportunities and had goals to be tracked that weren't met. Auditors found Illinois did not dedicate at least one-third of the clean jobs workforce network program placements to applicants living in areas impacted by economic and environmental hardship. They also reported DCEO failed to administer the clean energy contractor incubator program for 13 community-based organizations across the state during the two-year period. Auditors also said Illinois did not start the returning residents' clean jobs training program despite the mandate taking effect in 2021. This was likely because DCEO did not select and approve administrators for the returning residents program before the end of the audit.

(Farmer City–jc– Illinois State Police responded to a three car accident near Farmer City along Interstate 74 on Thursday. Traffic was re routed for several hours in that area. No word on injuries or property damage has been provided by State Police.

(Penfield-bp) -The Historic Farm days are going on now through July 13th… Historic Farm Days SpokesPerson Chris Karr expresses how excited he is for this year’s show…

Historic Farm Days Spokesperson SpokesPerson Chris Karr. Among the large number of static displays is the feature tractors of the Oliver brand.. Oliver Club Board Director Doug Jones talks about a few of the tractors…. 

Oliver Club Board Director Doug Jones..

(Savoy-jm) – Members of the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division executed a search warrant in the 100-block of Sterling Court in Savoy. The search was part of an ongoing investigation into an aggravated battery to a child case. During the search of the residence, detectives located two firearms and ammunition. As a result, Latroy Hodges, 28, was taken into custody and arrested for aggravated battery, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, and on an outstanding arrest warrant for driving while license suspended.

(Gibson City–dm)-The Gibson City American Legion Riders is a group of motorcycle riders that raise money to help support veterans and first responders.  Legion Riders President Wayne Link lets us know how to join the Legion Riders.

Legion Rider President Wayne Link.  The Legion Riders next fundraiser is July 19th

(Illinois–jc)  –Illinois’ median personal income for 2023 was $115,000, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau Thursday. That ranks 19th among all states. Illinois’ ranking is up two spots from 2013 where $79,000 was the median income, but down from ranking 15th in 2021 with the median income of $116,000. 

WPXN Weekend News Notes…

The 84th annual Fisher Community Fair continues tonight and Saturday. Tonight, its $30 armbands from 6-10pm with country artist Jerrod Niemann performing at 7:30. On Saturday, its the 5k at 7:30 am, mutt show at 9 am, amusement rides 1-10 pm and the demo derby at 6.

The 2025 Historic Farm Days in Penfield continues through Sunday with the featured tractors of Oliver, Cockshutt and White. Today its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm and ITPA tractor pulls at 5pm. Saturday, its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm, kiddie tractor pull at 2:30pm and IPA tractor pulls at 5. Sunday, its the tractor drive at 9 am, church service at 9:30 am and tractor parade at 1pm.

The 2025 Kempton’s Day in the Park will take place on Saturday with a tractor drive at 8 am, bounce house, lego show and vendor show at 10 am, kids water fight at noon, mechanical bull at 4pm, live music with Seasonal Disorder at 7 pm.

The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.

The Buckley Sportsman’s Club will host a Hunter Safety Course Saturday and Sunday. The course takes place at the Buckley American Legion . 

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Girl Scouts on Saturday from 10-2.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in L’Erable will hold their annual parish homecoming on Sunday. Mass will begin at 11 am with chicken and pork chop dinner from noon to 5, kiddie tractor pulls and games start at 1. Raffles, bingo, crafts and food round out the days activities.

(Springfield-jm) – This summer, Illinois is set to distribute $45 million in unclaimed funds to a record-breaking 600,000 residents through the state's Enhanced Money Match program, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced Wednesday. The initiative, part of the state's I-CASH unclaimed property program, aims to return money to individuals without requiring them to file a claim. The Enhanced Money Match program, founded in 2018, has returned more than $130 million to over 870,000 people. 

(The Center Square) – Political rhetoric around the one big beautiful bill President Donald Trump signed July 4 continues to ramp up in Illinois. Earlier this week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said provisions in the law will impact food assistance and health care for hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans. He even took aim at the federal school choice scholarships tax credit the bill enacts..Republican Congressman Ray LaHood of Peoria counters saying the Chicago Mayor is putting forth falsehoods. 1st Congressional District Republican Candidate for Congress, Christian Maxwell of Bellview says Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is “fear mongering”...

1st Congressional District Republican Candidate for Congress Christian Maxwell

(Urbana-jm) – A plaintiff’s motion has been passed by the Court in a settlement case against Carle Foundation Hospital, which in total is worth over $10 million. A former Carle employee, initially filed a complaint against the hospital on May 23, 2023, claiming they violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, Illinois Minimum Wage Law and Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. More specifically, the plaintiff, on behalf of herself and others in a similar situation, claimed that the hospital had unlawfully rounded the clock in and clock out times of hourly employees, among other things.

(Fisher–jc)  Last night at the Fisher Fair was the Drone games and Swyear Amusements on the midway. Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter looks at the activities for today and Friday…

Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man was sentenced for a crime he committed during a police chase in October that sent a Champaign elementary school into a soft lockdown. Anthony Wilkins was scheduled to go on trial this week for a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. He had originally been charged with being an armed habitual criminal, with prior convictions for aggravated battery and unlawful possession of a weapon, but the charge was later downgraded and he pleaded guilty to avoid a trial. Wilkins was sentenced to 11 years in prison, a length agreed to by both prosecution and defense.

(Paxton–jc)  Paxton resident and former Paxton Buckley Loda graduate Samantha Majors spoke to the Paxton Buckley Loda School Board last night during their regular meeting. The subject matter was the on going litigation concerning alleged student abuse in the district. In the statement, Majors called on the board to put into place procedures to protect the students in the district. The Ford County Chronicle reported that the board did go into executive session, but no decisions on employment were announced. 

(Paxton–jc) The months that begin with J are considered tough months for local retailers. One for the cold and two for summer events, vacations and the heat. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper provides an update on the summer business climate in Paxton…

Paxton MainStreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

(Bloomington–jc– Between 2022 and 2024, Rivian company in Bloomington  filed over 2,000 H-1B and 400 green card applications while receiving significant Illinois state incentives. A researcher says this raises concerns about replacing American workers and the use of taxpayer dollars.According to MyVisaJobs, a site where immigrants explore U.S. work visa opportunities, 89 Rivian positions are listed in Normal, many in common tech roles like software developers and product managers.

(Illinois–jc)  Three Illinois lakefronts made a list of most sought after properties across the country.  On the list of 186 lakefront real estate platform Calgary Homes compiled through a survey of 3,000 Americans and Canadians, Fox Lake landed at No. 85. Lake Springfield ranked No. 122. Lake Sara in Effingham ranked No. 156. The top lakefront in the country was Big Bear Lake in California.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois could soon collect and publicize data on contraband found in prisons thanks to a bipartisan bill that arrived on Governor JB Pritzker's desk. The legislation could require the Illinois Department of Corrections to document the contraband, where it was found, and any method of entrance to the facility. That includes employee and visitor entrances, vendor entrances, mail delivery, or attorney visits. If signed into law, the Illinois Department of Corrections would be required to start collecting this data on July 1, 2026 and publish the information on or before August 1 of each year.

(Barrington Hills–jc)  –52nd District State Representative Martin McLaughlin, Republican, from Barrington Hills continues to slam the latest round of tax increases that took effect on July First in illinois. Governor JB Pritzker signed off on Democrats’ Fiscal Year 2026 state budget in June, which includes the largest spending plan in Illinois history. Representative McLaughlin says the taxes on gas and diesel continue to increase and  are now 48 point 3 cents per gallon…

52nd District State Representative Martin McLaughlin, Republican from Barrington Hills

(Vermilion County-jm) – A new wind farm could be coming to northern Vermilion County. The Vermilion County board learned there is an application that has been submitted to the county for a wind farm between Rankin and Hoopeston. 

(Urbana–jc)  A Rantoul man was arraigned in Champaign County Court on Wednesday on a child pornography possession charge. Champaign CountySheriff Dustin Heuerman says officers arrested 40 year old  Cristobal Mendoza, on Monday. Mendoza pleaded not guilty to the charge yesterday in court. A pre trial conference was set for August 5th .

(Penfield–jc)  the 20-25 Historic Farm Days starts today at the I and I grounds in Penfield. Among the activities are field demonstrations, says I and I Club Spokesperson Russ Buhr…

I and I Club Spokesperson Russ Buhr. WPXN will be broadcasting live over the noon and 1pm hour today to kick off the event. It is Summer Fun Tour stop 10. 

(McLean County-jm) – The McLean County Health Department's Environmental Health Division has confirmed the first mosquito pool in the county to test positive for West Nile virus this year. The positive test was identified on July 7, 2025, in the 61705 zip code area. In 2024, Illinois recorded 69 confirmed human cases of WNV and 13 deaths, marking the highest number of fatalities since 2018, when 17 deaths were reported, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

(Undated–jc) With the Big Beautiful Bill signed into law some federal farm tax laws will help families, but an Illinois law does hurt some farm sales. WPXN’s Brayden Perzee has the story…

MORTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that as part of ongoing work on the westbound Interstate 74 ramps at Morton Avenue in Morton, the work zone will include the ramp from Morton Avenue to westbound I-74 continuing through early Friday morning. This stage involves patching on the ramp, and traffic from the ramp will be required to merge into westbound I-74 because the third lane at the bottom of the ramp will not be available to traffic. This part of the project could last until the end of the week. 

(Fisher–jc)  – The Fisher Community Fair continues today through Saturday night. The 20-25 Miss Fisher Fair Queen is  Natalie Moore. The new queen talks about growing up and now representing the community…

20-25 Miss Fisher Community Fair Queen Natalie Moore

Today at the Fisher Community Fair, it's Swyear Amusement on the midway  from 6-10 pm and the ITPA tractor pulls at 7. On Friday, it's $30 armbands from 6-10pm with country artist Jerrod Niemann performing at 7:30. Saturday has the annual 5k run and walk  at 7:30 am, mutt show at 9 am, amusement rides 1-10 pm and the Demo Derby at 6.

WPXN News notes…

The 2025 Historic Farm Days in Penfield will take place starting today through the 13th with the featured tractors of Oliver, Cockshutt and White. Opening ceremonies begin at 9 am, tractor parade at 1pm and antique tractor pulls at 6pm. On the 11th, its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm and ITPA tractor pulls at 5pm. On the 12th, its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm, kiddie tractor pull at 2:30pm and IPA tractor pulls at 5. On the 13th, its the tractor drive at 9 am, church service at 9:30 am and tractor parade at 1pm.

The 2025 Kempton’s Day in the Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th with a tractor drive at 8 am, bounce house, lego show and vendor show at 10 am, kids water fight at noon, mechanical bull at 4pm, live music with Seasonal Disorder at 7 pm.

The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in L’Erable will hold their annual parish homecoming on Sunday, July 13th. Mass will begin at 11 am with chicken and pork chop dinner from noon to 5, kiddie tractor pulls and games start at 1. Raffles, bingo, crafts and food round out the day's activities.

Impact Life will hold a blood drive on Thursday, July 17th from 3-6 pm at the First Lutheran Church in Paxton. To sign up email Kevin Hanson at emtcoor at hotmail dot com.

(Chicago–jc)  Oral arguments are set for a case the U.S. Department of Justice has against the state of Illinois over how it implements the federal e-verify system for employment eligibility. A federal judge ordered an in-person hearing for Aug. 12 on a motion by the state to dismiss the case. A separate case the DOJ has against Illinois, Cook County and the city of Chicago over migrant sanctuary policies is pending.

(Champaign-Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man was arrested on Tuesday after reportedly firing a gun at another person during a road rage incident, fleeing from police during a traffic stop, and crashing the car. The Champaign Police Department responded to the intersection of Bloomington Road and N Prospect Avenue just before 3 p.m. after a road rage incident involving a gun was reported. Police said once on scene, they learned that a driver, later identified as James White, 65, of Urbana, pointed and fired a weapon at a victim in traffic. No one was hurt. Police worked to figure out which route White took after the incident, and soon found the vehicle at Green and First Street. White fled a traffic stop, and crashed at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Green Street in Urbana at 3:07 p.m. White and another person were both transported to the hospital from the scene of the crash. After being evaluated, White was arrested on charges including aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated driving under the influence, and aggravated fleeing and eluding.

(Illinois–jc)  It’s July, it’s hot and its summer. July is Extreme Heat Safety Month. WPXN’s Brayden Perzee has some tips to keep cool …

(Champaign County-jm) – A tentative deal has been reached between the Champaign County Board Labor Committee and AFSCME Local 900.The agreement includes a 3 percent salary raise in fiscal 20-25 with a 3 thousand dollar bonus. There is also a 3 percent raise for fiscal year 20-26. Another part of the agreement is a 5 percent reduction in health insurance premiums. A final vote on the agreement awaits  AFSCME Local 900 and the Champaign County Board

(Southside–jc)  Seven individuals, aged between 22 and 44, are charged with federal drug and gun crimes after an investigation on the South Side of Chicago.

Federal prosecutors announced they seized 2,000 pounds of marijuana, around 81 firearms and over $700,000 in cash and jewelry. In addition to the federal charges, 15 individuals were charged in state court as a result of the investigation

(Springfield–jc)  Another status hearing has been set for a challenge to a measure statehouse Republicans say will be bad for Illinois’ business climate. Republican leaders sued the Illinois House speaker and Senate president for alleged violations of the three readings rules on a bill opponents say will increase frivolous litigation in Illinois. The next status hearing is July 15 in Sangamon County. Democratic leaders are set to respond to a separate lawsuit challenging the budget on alleged three readings violations by July 14. A hearing in that case is set for later this month.

(Iroquois County-jm) – Through a partnership, the Iroquois County EMA is providing the community with an improved way to stay informed during emergencies. The partnership is with Regroup Mass Notification System to provide a new mass notification platform that better prepares Iroquois County residents in emergency situations. As a result, Iroquois County EMA is transitioning away from its HyperReach system. The new advanced platform is designed to deliver critical updates through outlets including text messages, emails or phone calls in a timely manner. The system will provide real-time alerts relating to everything from severe weather to emergency incidents to keep Iroquois County residents safe and up to date. This alert system is powered by Regroup’s notification platform. Iroquois County EMA is encouraging the whole community to sign up for the new platform.

(Fisher–jc)  – Events at the 20-25 Fisher Community fair continue today through Saturday night. It’s kids games this morning with Drone racing at night. Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter talks about admission fees for the ITPA Tractor Pull, Jerod Nieman Concert on Friday at the Demo Derby on Saturday…

Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter

(Champaign–jc)  Gun Violence will be the topic of a city of Champaign Committee on Thursday at 4pm. The city of Champaign is sponsoring the event and invite the public to offer solutions for gun violence in Champaign and Champaign County. 

(Springfield-jm) – A bill to ban the use of forever chemicals in common household items has arrived on Governor JB Pritzker's desk. This plan could ban PFAS from being added to cosmetics, dental floss, children's items and toys, menstrual products and underwear, among other items. Lawmakers set a 2032 implementation date.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and Learfield Communications have announced a long-term first-of-its-kind partnership today. The reimagined partnership embeds Learfield's sponsorship and Learfield Impact N-I-L services and staff directly into the Illinois Athletics Department, combining them into a single, cohesive team. The combination of these services and the tight integration of resources will drive sponsorship revenue and grow N-I-L opportunities for student-athletes during a pivotal time in college athletics. This partnership extends Illinois Athletics' 12-year relationship with Learfield through a multi-year agreement.

(Paxton–jc)  The Save the Pool Committee is disbanding for the Paxton Park District The group has been instrumental in helping raise funds to improve and keep the local pool open. The group also had some good news for the Paxton Park District at their meeting last night. They gave the Paxton Park District a check for the amounts they had left in their accounts. That total was just shy of 42 thousand dollars. Members of the Paxton Park District Board, and members of the community, thank the Save the Pool Committee for their efforts over the past several years.

(Springfield–jc)  Legislation to control Pharmacy Benefit Managers was signed into law earlier this month. Reaction from local 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana Police Department reported an increase in sexual assaults following first-time meetups through dating apps. The police department notified the community of this troubling finding through a post on Facebook. And, they said it’s important for residents to make a safety plan to protect themselves. This includes: meeting in a public place, telling someone where you’re going and arranging your own transportation.

(Springfield–jc)  – Illinois is ranked Number. 21 in being the most prepared state to win the race in artificial intelligence. Brainly released the study using metrics across all 50 states for share of use of AI, AI-related degrees and jobs per capita and more. Illinois ranked No. 9 for rate of AI-related degrees among young people.

(Penfield–jc)  The 20-25 Historic Farm Days starts on Thursday at the grounds in Penfield. I and I Tractor Club Spokesperson Russ Buhr talks about this years feature equipment line in Olivers…

I and I Tractor Club Spokesperson Russ Buhr. WPXN will be broadcasting live on Thursday from noon til 2pm to help kick off the 4 day event. 

CHAMPAIGN - The City of Champaign has launched a new website to showcase entertainment programming on the new Downtown Plaza stage. VisitDowntownChampaign.com is now the public’s go-to source for up-to-date information about events and activities happening at this vibrant public venue throughout the summer.  As part of the City’s new summer programming, two weekly series have officially launched:  They are Sound Bites – A lunchtime concert series held every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and  Rhythm & Roots – Live music hits the stage every Tuesday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. during the Champaign Farmers Market. 

(Rantoul–jc)  The budget will be the topic for the Rantoul Township High School board this week. The finance committee will meet on Thursday at 5pm in the boardroom at the high school.

(Clinton–jc)  On your things to do this summer, a Honey presentation event is set for Sunday, August 3, at 1:30pm, at the C.H. Moore Homestead & DeWitt County Museum in  Clinton.      Amber Boring Rutledge of Wild Harvest Honey Farm will present Honey through the Ages.  Those who attend this event will also have the opportunity to take part in a honey tasting. 

(Paxton–jc)  A blood drive is set for Paxton on Thursday July 17th at the First Lutheran Church. Impact Life Paxton Blood Drive Spokesperson Kevin Hanson has the details…

Impact Life Paxton Blood Drive Spokesperson Kevin Hanson

WPXN News notes…

The Fisher Community Fair Continues today with children’s day with games beginning at 9:30 am, ice cream social from 6:30-8, petting zoo from 6-9, $30 armbands from 6-10 and drone racing in the grandstands at 8:30. On the 10th, its amusement rides from 6-10 pm and the ITPA tractor pulls at 7. On the 11th, its $30 armbands from 6-10pm with country artist Jerrod Niemann performing at 7:30. On the 12th, its the 5k at 7:30 am, mutt show at 9 am, amusement rides 1-10 pm and the demo derby at 6.

The 2025 Historic Farm Days in Penfield will take place July 10-13th with the featured tractors of Oliver, Cockshutt and White. On the 10th, opening ceremonies begin at 9 am, tractor parade at 1pm and antique tractor pulls at 6pm. On the 11th, its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm and ITPA tractor pulls at 5pm. On the 12th, its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm, kiddie tractor pull at 2:30pm and IPA tractor pulls at 5. On the 13th, its the tractor drive at 9 am, church service at 9:30 am and tractor parade at 1pm.

The 2025 Kempton’s Day in the Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th with a tractor drive at 8 am, bounce house, lego show and vendor show at 10 am, kids water fight at noon, mechanical bull at 4pm, live music with Seasonal Disorder at 7 pm.

The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.

The 2025 Iroquois County Fair will take place July 15th-20th. On July 15th,  its the talent contest at 5pm, $2 amusement rides from 6pm until close and Queen and Little Miss Pageant at 7pm. On the 16th its fun carvings by Brad Larson from 10-8, armband night from 6-10 and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6. On the 17th its fun carvings by Brad Larson from 10-8, 2 for the price of 1 amusement rides and the demo derby at 7:30. On the 18th its the livestock sale at 1, 4-H style show at 4 and the T&A bucking bulls rodeo at 8. On the 19th its the tractor drive at 8 am, pedal tractor pull at 2 and country music artists Chris Cagle with Craig Campbell at 7pm. On the 20th, its the all faith church service at 9:30, tractor pulls and car show at noon and armband special from 1-5pm.

(Undated-jm) – Average gas prices in Illinois have fallen 7.5 cents per gallon, according to GasBuddy. According to GasBuddy's survey of 4,378 stations in Illinois, prices in Illinois are 5.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 37.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

(Rantoul–jc) Those traveling on the west side of Rantoul along Champaign Avenue, near Interstate 57 can see a new growth of businesses, especially near the Rantoul Sports Complex. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says one of his visions for the village is to pursue additional neighborhood shopping areas for local businesses…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for help from the public in finding a suspected car burglar. The burglaries happened near the U of I campus the morning of May 6. Officials said that around 5 a.m., a man entered several cars parked near Third and Daniel Streets. He stole items from two of them; the value of the stolen items has not yet been determined. The suspect was captured on video; he was described as a light-skinned Black male who was wearing a black jacket over a gray hoodie. He was also wearing black pants and black shoes.

Paxton–jc)  — A second lawsuit has been filed in Ford County Court that alleges inappropriate touching of students by a Paxton-Buckley-Loda teacher and former coach Rob Pacey. . The civil complaint was filed Monday by a Chicago civil rights attorney  on behalf of “Jane Doe.”

(Undated-jm) – State Senator Paul Faraci is hosting a Senior Fraud Seminar in Vermilion and Champaign County on July 18.  The Vermilion County event is at CRIS Healthy Aging at 10 am in Danville.  In Champaign County, it will take place at CRIS Healthy Aging in Champaign at 1:00 pm. Make your reservation for both locations by calling 217-443-2999.

(Washington–jc)  –: What are some of the areas of interest within the recently signed federal budget law to the ag industry, producers, and agribusinesses? Rod Bain reports…

The Champaign Fire Department responded to a fire outside a single-family residence in the 600 Block of North James Street, Monday afternoon around 4-30.  Fire crews were able to quickly get the fire under control.    Once on the scene, crews reported moderate smoke coming from the rear of the home.  Firefighters deployed a single hose line and were able to quickly extinguish the fire before it extended into the home.   The cause of this fire has not been determined. There were no firefighter or occupant injuries reported. 

(Paxton–jc)  The Ford County Sheriff's Committee is set to talk about how to spend ARPA funds when they meet on Wednesday morning in Paxton. Additional agenda items include a correctional healthcare plan for the Ford County Correctional Facility and a possible donation of a used truck to the Elliott Fire Department. The Ford County Sheriff’s Committee meeting comes to order at 9am Wednesday at the courthouse in Paxton.

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign Police Department says a second victim in a June 29 shooting homicide tragically succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning. An active investigation into this incident remains ongoing, and Champaign Police continue to seek assistance from the community in identifying those responsible for this loss of life. At the request of the family, the name of the second juvenile victim is not being released. Officers were dispatched just after midnight on June 29th, to Holly Hill Drive following a report of a shooting with injuries. As officers searched the area, they quickly located two teens from Champaign unconscious in the front yard of a residence in the 1500 block of Holly Hill Drive with life-threatening gunshot wounds.  Champaign Police continue to ask anyone who has any information on what happened in this incident to please call 217-351-4545 and share it with investigators. 

(Springfield-jm) – People charged with their first weapon-related offense could soon have the ability to apply for a FOID card while they participate in a pretrial detention program. Current state law allows nonviolent offenders charged with their first offense to participate in divergence programs such as the First Time Weapons Offense Program in Chicago. Upon completion, the state's attorney dismisses the charges but the individual cannot apply for a FOID card until after the charges are dismissed. A bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk could allow eligible first time offenders to apply for a FOID card much earlier. All of the current requirements for legal gun ownership in Illinois would remain the same. The Illinois State Police could also deny someone's application for a FOID card if they are ineligible.

(Channahon–jc)  With the legislative session complete and a new budget in place, what does the summer look like for 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon. The local senator says it's touring the district, but also keeping some key legislation going…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that it will be joining a state-wide effort to increase traffic safety patrols. Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said in a news release that more than 200 local law enforcement agencies — along with the Illinois State Police — will increase patrols for speeding and other traffic violations throughout the month of July. In the past seven months, the Sheriff’s Office investigated 173 crashes — 51 of those crashes involved injuries. Heuerman added that five people died in three different fatal crashes. The patrols will increase in Champaign County — and the state — from July 8 to July 31.

(Urbana-jm) – University of Illinois researchers are aiming to help farmers by improving production and irrigation. The team is developing ways to monitor soil and crop moisture with drones; the drones use a sensor that allows them to see through the plant and into the soil. Many farms in Illinois don’t have irrigation systems, which can negatively impact their crops. But if farmers can detect droughts early, then they can adjust and improve production. The Center for Digital Agriculture and the Prairie Research Institute teamed up to help fund the project. The research team also includes State Climatologist Trent Ford and a member of the US Forest Service.

(Fisher–jc)  –  There is a lot of activities set for the Fisher Community Fair this week. Today,  it's Bingo in the afternoon, the fair dedication at 6pm and Karaoke in the commercial building and Redneck Rumble in the grandstands. Wednesday sees “Drone racing” with an I-T-P-A Tractor and Truck pull on Thursday. The national Country Concert with Jerrod Nieman is set for 7-30 Friday night and a demo derby on Saturday. Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter says throughout the run of the fair on the midway is Swyear Amusements…

Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter. WPXN will be broadcasting live at the fair on Wednesday morning at 9am during the kids’ games. It is Summer Fun Tour Stop number 8. 

(Rantoul–jc)  Rantoul village leaders will look to appoint Janet Gray as Village Freedom of Information Officer when they meet tonight in regular session. Village leaders are also expected to authorize a payment of 263 thousand dollars to design work for the ongoing Prospect substation project.  Rantoul leaders may also approve a municipal grocery retailers tax and set fees for Electric Utility services. 

Firefighters Whitney Shreves, Thomas Compere, Michael Lynch and Austn Hunter will also take the oath of office. The Rantoul Village Board meeting is set for 6pm Tuesday at the village offices on Tanner Street. 

(Iroquois Co–dm)- If you live in Iroquois County, your  first installment of your property taxes were due on Monday.There are several ways to pay your tax bill says   Iroquois County Treasurer Kurt Albers….

Iroquois County Treasured Kurt Albers

(Danville–jc)  Danville Area Community Colleges Board of Trustees will look at employment issues when they meet in a closed session on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting is at noon on Wednesday at Vermilion Hall on the DACC campus.

WPXN News notes…

The 84th annual Fisher Community Fair  continues today through Saturday night. Today is Sywear  amusement rides from 6-10 pm, along with Karaoke Night at 6:30 and Redneck Rumble in the grandstands at 7. On Wednesday, its children’s day with games beginning at 9:30 am, ice cream social from 6:30-8, petting zoo from 6-9, $30 armbands from 6-10 and drone racing in the grandstands at 8:30. On the 10th, its amusement rides from 6-10 pm and the ITPA tractor pulls at 7. On the 11th, its $30 armbands from 6-10pm with country artist Jerrod Niemann performing at 7:30. On the 12th, its the 5k at 7:30 am, mutt show at 9 am, amusement rides 1-10 pm and the demo derby at 6.

The Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County will host their annual charity golf outing on Friday, July 11th at Willow Pond Golf Course. Cost is $340 for a 4 person team. 

The 2025 Kempton’s Day in the Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th with a tractor drive at 8 am, bounce house, lego show and vendor show at 10 am, kids water fight at noon, mechanical bull at 4pm, live music with Seasonal Disorder at 7 pm.

The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in L’Erable will hold their annual parish homecoming on Sunday, July 13th. Mass will begin at 11 am with chicken and pork chop dinner from noon to 5, kiddie tractor pulls and games start at 1. Raffles, bingo, crafts and food round out the days activities.

Impact Life will hold a blood drive on Thursday, July 17th from 3-6 pm at the First Lutheran Church in Paxton. To sign up email Kevin Hanson at emtcoor at hotmail dot com.

(Springfield-jm) – Gyms across the state offer lifetime membership plans, but Illinois lawmakers say some contracts have provisions in fine print that either decrease benefits or increase costs as time goes by. A bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk states that gyms can no longer advertise lifetime memberships, as members need to renew their contract annually. It also requires gyms to display contract changes clearly, rather than using fine print.

(Livingston County-jm) – A Sheldon man was arrested in Chatsworth after deputies seized over 1,200 doses of acid and nearly 4,000 grams of THC concentrate among other things following an ongoing investigation. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office says on July 2, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department Pro-Active unit and the Iroquois County Detective Section completed an ongoing narcotics investigation. David R. Fredericks of Sheldon was taken into custody in the 300 block of E Locust St. in Chatsworth. A search warrant was conducted on a residence in Chatsworth and Sheldon. 1,209 doses of LSD, 298g of Psilocybin Mushrooms, 3,866g of THC concentrate, 184g of Cannabis Flower, Multiple prescription pills and over $3,000 were seized. Fredericks was arrested on the following charges: Manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance x3 and possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance. Further charges pending investigation.

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Clerk and Recorder’s Office will be temporarily closed, beginning today. The office will be moving from the Brookens Administrative Center to the Bennett Administrative Center. The move will take place from July 7 to July 18 with the office is expected to reopen on July 21. While the office is closed, community members will still be able to access some services online. This includes: making an appointment to pay Delinquent Property Taxes and Registering to Vote. The County Clerk and Recorder’s Office did note, however, that it may take longer than usual for the office to process the requests.

(Hoopeston-jm) – A Hoopeston home was damaged by fire over the holiday weekend. Firefighters were called to a house fire in the 500 block of North 7th Avenue. No injuries were reported.

(Paxton-jm) – Strong winds Sunday evening brought a tree down on power lines on Paxtons east side. It happened at Pells and Washington. Paxton Emergency Response Service had the road closed for a couple of hours while crews cleaned up the debris.

(Undated–jc)  It’s hot its July and some areas need some rain. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey looks at the drought monitor on the 4th of July…

U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey

(Urbana–jc)  –Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer has released the name of an individual who has died after a shooting incident in Champaign, early Friday morning. 32 year old Martez L. Jones Jr., of Urbana,  was pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois, at 2:10 Friday morning. An autopsy has been scheduled. This death is being investigated by the Champaign Police Department and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.

(Fisher–jc) the 2025 Fisher Community Fair started on Sunday. 3 pageants were held on Sunday. Selected as 2025 Miss Fisher Community Fair was Natalie Moore.. Miss Junior Fisher Community Fair is McKinlee Robison and Little Miss Fisher Community Fair  is Victoria Perez.

(Springfield-jm) – A controversial bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk could allow medication abortion and contraceptives to be provided on public university and community college campuses. The plan would require campus healthcare professionals to discuss contraception and abortion options with students before sending prescriptions to campus pharmacies. It also states that these services could be provided through in-person appointments, telehealth, or other licensed providers. The legislation also calls on each college campus with student health services to publicize information online on how students can access medication abortion or contraception on campus. Students would be able to pay out-of-pocket or use their health insurance to receive reproductive healthcare. If signed into law, campus health centers would be required to provide reproductive healthcare services at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

(Champaign-jm) – A condemned multi-family apartment building caught fire over the weekend in Champaign. The Champaign Fire Department responded to Kenwood Road, near West White Street, around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. According to officials, the fire in the three-story apartment building was reported by someone passing by. When the fire crews arrived on scene, they found smoke and fire coming from the building. Fire officials said crews put the fire out quickly and no firefighters were injured. Now, fire investigators are working to figure out how the fire started.

(Savoy-jm) – One driver was arrested for a DUI on the Fourth of July following a crash involving multiple vehicles that hospitalized two people in Savoy. Friday night at approximately 9 p.m., the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a crash involving multiple vehicles at the intersection of E Curtis Road and Paddock Drive E. The situation was “initially convoluted” and was originally thought to be a hit and run. This accident involved “at least” two vehicles according to the Sheriff’s Office. The driver of one of the vehicles involved was arrested on DUI charges after being taken to the hospital with minor injuries and was released on tickets he was given. The driver of another vehicle involved was also hospitalized with minor injuries.

(Chatsworth-jm) — Multiple departments were called to a house fire in Chatsworth early Sunday afternoon. Piper City, Chatsworth and Forrest-Strawn-Wing firefighters were called to the fire in the 300 block of Cherry Street just after noon.

(Iroquois–jc)  When you see teenager Aubrey Chandler of Onarga at area parades, events at the Iroquois County Fair this month, there is  a good reason. Aubrey is the new Miss Ford-Iroquois County Pork Queen. Chandler will be taking up the challenge to promote pork and the pork industry from the local group.

(The Center Square) – Congress passed the “one big beautiful bill” and in it a provision that temporarily exempts certain tipped income from federal taxes, a major shift from long-standing tax policy treating tips as taxable income.

Alex Morishaner, an analyst with the Tax Foundation, said their estimate from last year found that excluding tips from the income tax but not the payroll tax would impact federal tax funds by $107 billion over 10 years, assuming no behavioral change in tipping.

WPXN News notes…

The 2025 Historic Farm Days in Penfield will take place July 10-13th with the featured tractors of Oliver, Cockshutt and White. On the 10th, opening ceremonies begin at 9 am, tractor parade at 1pm and antique tractor pulls at 6pm. On the 11th, its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm and ITPA tractor pulls at 5pm. On the 12th, its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm, kiddie tractor pull at 2:30pm and IPA tractor pulls at 5. On the 13th, its the tractor drive at 9 am, church service at 9:30 am and tractor parade at 1pm.

The Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County will host their annual charity golf outing on Friday, July 11th at Willow Pond Golf Course. Cost is $340 for a 4 person team. 

The 2025 Kempton’s Day in the Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th with a tractor drive at 8 am, bounce house, lego show and vendor show at 10 am, kids water fight at noon, mechanical bull at 4pm, live music with Seasonal Disorder at 7 pm.

The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Girl Scouts on Saturday, July 12th from 10-2.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in L’Erable will hold their annual parish homecoming on Sunday, July 13th. Mass will begin at 11 am with chicken and pork chop dinner from noon to 5, kiddie tractor pulls and games start at 1. Raffles, bingo, crafts and food round out the day's activities.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois residents can expect to see their phone bills rise. The telecommunications excise tax rate is rising. The Illinois Department of Human Services manages the 988 crisis and suicide hotline. And they said the new increase will fund contact centers and mobile crisis response teams. The surcharge will be expected to generate about 400 million dollars’ worth of funding for 9-8-8. Officials say the tax will replace expiring pandemic funds. Taxes are rising by 1.65%, which is charged based on the gross amount paid to a retailer like AT&T. For messages that begin or end in Illinois, and belong to an Illinois address—residents can expect about a 40-cent increase on their phone bills.

(Gilman–jc)  –  Are crops going to make it to “Knee High by the 4th of July?” Those who look at crops can see it may even be “shoulder high.”  Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager Casey Claire says this year’s corn crop is well on its way…

Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager Casey Claire. The Wheat harvest in East Central Illinois also continues now with around 25 percent harvested to date. 

(Gibson City-jm) – The Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In Theatre in Gibson City is mourning the loss of Nora Harroun, the wife of co-owner Ben Harroun, who passed away on Thursday.  Harroun expressed a heartfelt message on social media on the cancer journey for Nora. A service is set for Tuesday in GilmanA tribute night will be held at the Harvest Moon Twin Drive Inn in the coming weeks.

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton 4th of July celebration starts at 8 This morning at Pells Park in Paxton. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says the Masonic Lodge 5-K starts the day and a worship service follows to start the activities…

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper. WPXN is sponsoring the Old Fashion Kids games at 11-30. We have cool prizes to give away.

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Police responded to an unusual incident when a vehicle ended up in a detention pond on the 3000 block of N. Prospect Avenue. Officers were dispatched at 7:34 p.m. following a report of the submerged vehicle. Upon arrival, police conducted an interview with the driver, who explained that a mechanical failure had caused the vehicle to veer off the road and into the water. To assist in the recovery of the vehicle, the Champaign Police called upon the Cornbelt Fire Department’s Dive Team. The dive team worked alongside tow operators to retrieve the vehicle from the pond.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  The village of Rantoul parade is set to step off at 10 this morning at the corner of Maplewood and Champaign Avenues in the village. One entry will be the Village of Rantoul Mayor’s office. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says his family will be walking in the parade and then hosting a family cookout…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

(Paxton–jc)  Ford County 2024 Payable 2025 tax bills are scheduled to be mailed on Friday, July 11th  The first due date will be August 15th,  and the second due date will be October 3rd. Taxes may be paid at the courthouse, online  or at any Ford County bank  After August 15th, interest amounts must also be included in the payment. 

(Paxton–dm)-Hot weather is hard on the water in your swimming pool.  Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen has some suggestions on keeping your pool water clean.

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

(Gilman-jm) – A boil order has been issued for a portion of Gilman following a water main break.According to ERH Enterprises, Inc., the boil order is being issued for people living on North Hartwell Street between East 2nd and 3rd Streets until further notice.

(Springfield-jm) – As peak roadside mowing season unfolds, the Illinois Department of Transportation is urging drivers to exercise caution and remain vigilant around mowing equipment and personnel. The department's efforts are part of a strategy to preserve and promote pollinator habitats, with the heaviest mowing period continuing until August 15. During the summer, IDOT conducts two primary types of mowing. Safety mowing occurs directly adjacent to the road as needed, while maintenance mowing, which lasts approximately six weeks starting around July 1, includes areas next to culverts, ditches, traffic control devices, and other structures. This is done in accordance with the Illinois Monarch Project Mowing Guidelines for Pollinators, aiming to protect as much habitat and nectar resources as possible.

(Channahon–jc)  Reaction continues to come from state lawmakers on Governor J B Pritzker's announcement to seek a third, 4 year term. Republican State Senator Chris Balkema from Channahon says he ran on a platform to lower taxes and bring more jobs back to Illinois and says the governor has raised taxes and spending and cost jobs in Illinois…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(Urbana-jm) – A University of Illinois student who took part in the April 2024 pro-Palestine protests at the University of Illinois was sentenced after being found guilty of obstructing a peace officer. Yafa Issa was found guilty of the misdemeanor charge and was sentenced Thursday to 12 months of conditional discharge, 100 hours of public service, a $514 fine and an order to abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs. Back on May 15, Issa was found not guilty of her felony charge of mob action, but her misdemeanor charge was not dismissed. 

(Paxton–dm)- While most of Paxton’s 4th of July activities will take place at Pells Park, there is going to be a Pickleball tournament taking place at Cody Park.  Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper tells us more,

Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper

(Champaign county–jc) 52nd District  State Senator Paul Faraci, Democrat from Champaign  joined the Illinois Secretary of State in announcing libraries in Champaign, Rantoul and Urbana are receiving state funds. The Rantoul Public Library is getting just over 18 thousand dollars, the Urbana Free Library 56 thousand 500 dollars and the  Champaign Public Library: 130 thousand dollars.

(Illinois-bp) - Make sure your independence day travel Checklist includes driving sober or picking a designated driver… WPXN’s Brayden Perzee has the Story…

WPXN Weekend News Notes…

Paxton’s Old Fashioned 4th of July will take place today at Pells Park in Paxton. Activities include 5k at 8 am, community worship service at 9:45, car show 10-2, antique tractor show 11 am, bingo 11-1, kids games and zone 11:30–3, live music with Jake and Mikayla from 12-2, penny scavenger hunt 1-2.  Vendors open at Bixby Park from 6-9 pm, golf cart parade at 8:15 with fireworks at 9.

Sibley will host their 4th of July celebration today with a fishing derby at 9 am, petting zoo from 10-noon, parade at noon, climbing wall from 2-4, bingo from 3-5, kids games and inflatables from 4-7, live music at 6 and fireworks at dusk.

The Onarga Chamber of Commerce Independence Celebration will take place today with food and live music starting at 5pm. Then tomorrow it kicks off with the parade at 11am, tractor pulls at noon, live music 12:30-6,  car show 1-3, inflatables 1-4, bingo 2-4, kiddie tractor pull at 3 and fireworks at dusk.

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Loda Legion on Saturday from 10-2.

Erica Neal will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday at 7pm. Dinner will be served starting at 5:30pm.

The 84th annual Fisher Community Fair will take place July 6th-12th. On Sunday, its the horse and hog show at 10 am, little miss fisher pageant at 2pm and the Junior Miss and Miss Fisher Fair pageant at 3. On Tuesday, its amusement rides from 6-10 pm, Karaoke Night at 6:30 and Redneck Rumble in the grandstands at 7. On Wednesday, its children’s day with games beginning at 9:30 am, ice cream social from 6:30-8, petting zoo from 6-9, $30 armbands from 6-10 and drone racing in the grandstands at 8:30. On Thursday, its amusement rides from 6-10 pm and the ITPA tractor pulls at 7. On Friday the 11th, its $30 armbands from 6-10pm with country artist Jerrod Niemann performing at 7:30. On Saturday the 12th, its the 5k at 7:30 am, mutt show at 9 am, amusement rides 1-10 pm and the demo derby at 6.

(Paxton-jm) – Two men and a woman from Paxton were arrested by police after a search warrant executed on Tuesday found stolen property and drugs inside a home. Yesterday, the Paxton Police Department took a report of a residential burglary in the 600 block of East Patton Street, in which collector cards and fishing equipment were stolen. Additionally, on Monday, Paxton Police took a report of a residential burglary in the 500 block on N. Union Street, where Harley-Davidson parts were stolen. Then on Tuesday, officers executed a search warrant at a home in the 600 block of E. Center Street. During the search, they found stolen property that included Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, collector cards and fishing equipment, as well as multiple baggies of methamphetamine, cannabis, hydrocodone and digital scales. As a result of the search, three Paxton residents, 57-year-old James Hawk Jr., 31-year-old Megan Hawk and 50-year-old Chad Matherne were arrested.

(Fisher-bp)

The Fisher Community Fair starts on Sunday. Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter says the queen pageant  to kids games start the fair in Fisher 

Fisher Community Fair President Todd Cotter

(Champaign County-jm) – Champaign County employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have moved closer to striking after sending a five-day notice of intent to strike to county management. This notice, required under Illinois state law, allows the union bargaining committee to call a strike once the period has elapsed. The employees are demanding fair wages that align with the rising cost of living and affordable health insurance. Despite a vote five weeks ago authorizing a strike, management has yet to agree to the union's terms for a new contract. The previous agreement expired at the end of 2024, and union members express growing frustration with what they describe as disrespectful wage and benefit proposals from management.

(Barrington Hills–jc)  52nd District State Representative Martin McLaughlin, Republican from Barrington Hills, slammed the latest round of tax increases that took effect this week. McLaughlin says Illinoisans can not afford the Billion dollars in more taxes and the Billions in more spending by the Democrats in Springfield…

52nd District State Representative Martin McLaughlin, Republican from Barrington Hills

(Paxton-bp)-- The City of Paxton “Old Fashioned 4th of July” Celebration is set for Friday in the city . Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper says the full day of events starts with a 5-K Run and Walk..

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper. 

WPXN will have kids games at 11-30 tomorrow morning at Pells Park

(Arcola-jm) – The most recent winner of America’s Got Talent is set to perform at this year’s Broomcorn Festival in Arcola. In a Facebook post, the Arcola Chamber of Commerce announced that Richard Goodall, the janitor turned singer, will be performing at the 54th Annual Broomcorn Festival. Goodall, who won season 19 of America’s Got Talent in September 2024, is set to perform on the Chamber of Commerce’s stage at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 7. The concert is family friendly and free for all attendees. The three-day festival will take place from Sept. 5-7 in Historic Downtown Arcola.

(Springfield–jc)  Illinois taxpayers who missed the April 15 deadline are reminded that it is not too late to file and minimize penalties and interest if a balance is owed.While the deadline was almost three months ago, the Illinois Department of Revenue grants an automatic six-month extension of time to file a return with the deadline being Oct. 15. 

(The Center Square) — The Trump administration Tuesday withheld $6.8 billion in federal funding from state education departments across the U.S. The freeze is affecting 10% of federal money for K-12 education. Programs like after-school initiatives, English language and professional development for teachers are usually funded by the federal government. Illinois Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders criticized the freeze of federal funds, saying the delay by the Trump administration in issuing federal education funding allocations is deeply disruptive, irresponsible and damaging to Illinois’ 1.9 million public school students,

(Urbana-jm) – The OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana is looking to discontinue some services, citing financial losses of more than $361 million, declines in the use of several services and the inability to recruit and retain specialty physicians. OSF HealthCare recently announced several changes to their services in Central Illinois, which were detailed in a 71-page application document filed with the Illinois Health Facilities and Review Board this week, The company would eliminate 85 medical/surgical beds, and the four-room cardiac catheterization service and open-heart surgery program would be discontinued. Following the closure of those units, inpatient care at the hospital would feature a 40-bed Acute Mental Illness service and 25 medical/surgical beds. All of these changes would be implemented in January  of next year, pending approval by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. 

(Champaign-jm) – A 31-year-old Champaign man was arrested on aggravated sexual assault and battery charges after police found a woman with injuries walking with him. An officer was on patrol in the area of Logan and Neil Streets and saw a woman with multiple apparent injuries walking alongside a man. As the officer spoke with the pair, the woman identified herself as the victim of a battery and attempted assault by the man she was with, identified as 31-year-old Shavone Gunby. Gunby was then arrested on the initial charges of aggravated sexual assault and two counts of aggravated battery. Earlier this week, Gunby waived his preliminary hearing, entered a plea of not guilty and requested a trial by jury. Gunby is also involved in three other ongoing cases in Champaign County, including burglary, possession of controlled substances and criminal damage to property, among other things.

(Fisher–jc)  Their will be three queens crowned in Fisher on Sunday as the community starts this year’s fair. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the details…

(The Center Square) – As Congress weighs the “big, beautiful bill,” a proposed hike to the state and local tax deduction cap is drawing fire for favoring taxpayers in high-tax states, like Illinois. Taxpayers who itemize can deduct up to $10,000 in state and local taxes from their federal taxes—a cap set by the 2017 tax law. A provision in the legislation the U.S. Senate sent back over to the House yesterday would raise that cap to $40,000 for most people, but phase it out for those earning over $500,000. The bill is a tax savings for Illinois residents

(Rantoul-jc)  The village of Rantoul has fireworks tonight and a parade and more on Friday. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says its these types of events, that make Rantoul a great place to raise a family…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

(Springfield–jc)  –102nd District Illinois State Representative  Adam Niemerg, Republican from -Dieterich, has introduced legislation to return control over solar energy projects to county governments. Niemerg said his constituents are frustrated that they have no say in solar developments in their backyard. House Bill 4078 would return solar regulation to county governments.

(Springfield–jc)  –  The Illinois Department of Transportation is joining state and local law enforcement agencies in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign this weekend.According to provisional IDOT data, 21 people died in 17 fatal crashes across the state during last year’s Independence Day weekend.Drivers are urged not to get behind the wheel if they use alcohol, cannabis or other drugs.

WPXN News notes…

Fisher will hold their 4th of July celebration this evening with food trucks from 5-8 pm, live music by Tony Lindsey and the Smoke Wagon from 6-8 and fireworks at dusk.

Rantoul will do their fireworks on tonight at 9pm with their parade at 10 am on Friday, July 4th.

The Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County will host their annual charity golf outing on Friday, July 11th at Willow Pond Golf Course. Cost is $340 for a 4 person team. 

Paxton’s Old Fashioned 4th of July will take place on Friday, July 4th at Pells Park in Paxton. Activities include 5k at 8 am, community worship service at 9:45, car show 10-2, antique tractor show 11 am, bingo 11-1, kids games and zone 11:30–3, live music with Jake and Mikayla from 12-2, penny scavenger hunt 1-2.  Vendors open at Bixby Park from 6-9 pm, golf cart parade at 8:15 with fireworks at 9.

Sibley will host their 4th of July celebration on Friday, July 4th with a fishing derby at 9 am, petting zoo from 10-noon, parade at noon, climbing wall from 2-4, bingo from 3-5, kids games and inflatables from 4-7, live music at 6 and fireworks at dusk.

The Onarga Chamber of Commerce Independence Celebration will take place Friday, July 4th with food and live music starting at 5pm. Then Saturday, July 5th it kicks off with the parade at 11am, tractor pulls at noon, live music 12:30-6,  car show 1-3, inflatables 1-4, bingo 2-4, kiddie tractor pull at 3 and fireworks at dusk.

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout be

(Springfield-jm) — As summer begins, Illinois State Police is emphasizing the critical importance of motorcycle safety, following a week in which they responded to four motorcycle fatalities. Historically, summer months see the highest number of motorcycle crashes and fatalities, with a National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration assessment indicating that 47% of motorcycle fatalities from 2013 to 2022 occurred during this period. According to NHTSA, 59% of motorcycle fatalities involved impaired driving, while 40% of serious injuries were linked to speeding.  Illinois State Police are reminding motorcyclists to wear helmets and protective gear, such as eye protection, sturdy jackets, pants, boots, and gloves. Riders are also encouraged to make themselves visible by wearing high-visibility colors and retro-reflective materials, and to avoid riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

(Springfield-jm) – Democrats in Illinois are criticizing proposed cuts to Medicaid. Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined other Illinois Democrats to call out Republicans over a proposal they say would hurt several demographics of people in the state…

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. Republicans argue the move cuts waste, fraud and abuse. 

(Springfield-bp) – The Illinois Department of Public Health has expanded its list of ZIP codes requiring lead exposure testing for children, adding 180 new areas across 47 counties.  WPXN”s Brayden Perzee has the details…

(The Center Square) – Legislation focused on access and affordability of college in Illinois is now law, something advocates say could keep younger people in the state. Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker signed a package of bills into law Monday in Chicago.  22nd District State Senator Christina Castro, Democrat from-Elgin, says college credits taken in high school benefits the students and state colleges…

22nd District State Senator Christina Castro, Democrat from Elgin

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul grocery store is closing later this summer but will reopen under a new name and business model. County Market will become a Price Cutter grocery store. County Market is selling off items at a discount until August 3rd. On August 4th, the store will close for six weeks for remodeling which will involve reducing the size of the store with the plan to reopen the week of September 14th.

(Washington–jc ) Farmers are planting more corn this year. But what about other crops. Rod Bain Reports…

(Crescent City–jc)  –  The Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant will be hosting the 5th annual Little Miss Pageant to be held at the Iroquois County Fair.  The pageant will be held in conjunction with the Miss Pageant on Tuesday, July 15th starting at 7:00 pm. There are 14 little girls from Iroquois County that will be vying for the title of Little Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen currently held by Riley Willms. Please join us at the Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant where a new Miss and Little Miss will be named. The 14 contestants are: Cecelia James Bakken, Liv Rutledge, Rhetly Vaughn, Tessa Schroeder, Tayelynn Wilson, Tinley Rust, Emery Pool , Emmalyn Langellier, Madison Schroeder, Ella Thomas, Blake Valandingham, Ava Corriveau, Ella Bruens, and Kambrie Medina.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and local law enforcement agencies are issuing a stern warning to drivers: operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or any impairing substance will not be tolerated during the July Fourth "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. Provisional data from IDOT reveals that during last year's Independence Day holiday, from 6 p.m. on July 3 to 11:59 p.m. on July 7, Illinois experienced 17 fatal crashes resulting in 21 fatalities. 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J–B Pritzker signed a bill into law Tuesday, aimed at helping lower prescription drug costs and protecting small independent pharmacies. Pharmacy Benefit Managers act as middlemen between drug manufacturers, health insurers and pharmacies; the new law will put more regulations on PBMs. Capitol News Illinois reports the law will ban PBMs from spread pricing. This is when PBMs charge health insurers more for drugs than they pay pharmacies and keep the difference. 46th District  State Senator Dave Koehler (kay-ler) of Bloomington  says this law helps people and pharmacies…

46th District State Senator Dave Koehler Republican from Bloomington. The law also creates grants to help pharmacies in rural, low-income and medically underserved communities. PBMs will pay the state a $15 fee for every person enrolled on their plan to pay for the grants.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois landowners and farmers could soon have more flexibility to hunt deer on their property thanks to a bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk. Farmers across the state have told Democrats and Republicans that nuisance deer have caused expensive and costly damage to their crops and farmland. This plan would allow the state to issue antlerless-only deer removal permits based on the percentage of permits redeemed in the previous season. It could also expand youth hunting tags from one to two.

(Springfield–jc)  One local State Senator does not agree with the changes made by state leaders and signed by Governor J B Pritzker. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon says Prisoner Review Board members have longer appointments and that is too long…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(Fisher-jm) – A Fisher man’s guilty plea to sexual abuse of a child was vacated by a judge who said the man had since expressed that he was not guilty. Andrew Caviness, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a family member who was 4 years old at the time in April. Champaign County Judge Matt Lee said he had concerns about Caviness’ responses to the sex-offender risk assessment he was required to complete after his plea. He also told the evaluator that he only took the plea deal because he thought the charges were going to be reduced to a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

(Iroquois County-jm) — The Vermilion County Health Department announced the opening of a new satellite Women, Infants, and Children clinic in Iroquois County.  The Vermilion County agency is partnering with the Iroquois County Public Health Department to enhance access to vital nutrition services for families. The new clinic will operate at the Iroquois County Health Department, at the Administrative Center in Watseka. Services will be available on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, from 9 am to 4 pm.  Appointments are encouraged to ensure timely service. WIC is a federally funded program that provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other health services for eligible pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children. To schedule an appointment or for more information, contact the Vermilion County Health Department at (217) 431-2662, option 1.

(Crescent City–jc)  6 are vying to become the 2025 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the details…

(Urbana–jc)  –The University of Illinois System’s Office of the Vice President of Economic Development and Innovation announced today the transfer of EnergySense Resilience Center to provide better alignment with the unit’s mission and goals. EnergySense was formerly known as Smart Energy Design Assistance Center and was housed in the department of landscape architecture within the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Fine and Applied Arts. The transfer is effective July 1.  The mission of EnergySense is to empower organizations with practical solutions for climate, energy and sustainability. This team works in partnership with state agencies, local governments, community colleges, and schools and businesses, and it has significant experience delivering community-focused social impact programs in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability, climate, outreach, education, and community and stakeholder engagement.

WPXN News notes…

Fisher will hold their 4th of July celebration on Thursday, July 3rd with food trucks from 5-8 pm, live music by Tony Lindsey and the Smoke Wagon from 6-8 and fireworks at dusk.

Rantoul will do their fireworks on Thursday, July 3rd at 9pm with their parade at 10 am on Friday, July 4th.

Paxton’s Old Fashioned 4th of July will take place on Friday, July 4th at Pells Park in Paxton. Activities include 5k at 8 am, community worship service at 9:45, car show 10-2, antique tractor show 11 am, bingo 11-1, kids games and zone 11:30–3, live music with Jake and Mikayla from 12-2, penny scavenger hunt 1-2.  Vendors open at Bixby Park from 6-9 pm, golf cart parade at 8:15 with fireworks at 9.

Sibley will host their 4th of July celebration on Friday, July 4th with a fishing derby at 9 am, petting zoo from 10-noon, parade at noon, climbing wall from 2-4, bingo from 3-5, kids games and inflatables from 4-7, live music at 6 and fireworks at dusk.

The Onarga Chamber of Commerce Independence Celebration will take place Friday, July 4th with food and live music starting at 5pm. Then Saturday, July 5th it kicks off with the parade at 11am, tractor pulls at noon, live music 12:30-6,  car show 1-3, inflatables 1-4, bingo 2-4, kiddie tractor pull at 3 and fireworks at dusk.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Democrats are criticizing proposed cuts to Medicaid. Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined Senator Tammy Duckworth to criticize a Republican proposal they say would impact thousands of people in Illinois…

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. Republicans argue the cuts are meant to curb waste, fraud and abuse.

(Springfield-jm) – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have increased by 5.3 cents per gallon over the past week, reaching an average of $3.46 per gallon, according to a survey conducted by GasBuddy across 4,378 stations in the state. Prices in Illinois are now 9.6 cents per gallon higher than they were a month ago. However, they remain 36.1 cents per gallon lower compared to the same time last year. The national average price of diesel has also seen an uptick, rising 2.7 cents in the last week to $3.676 per gallon.

(The Center Square) – The countdown is on for who Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker thinks should be his lieutenant governor because the job of governor “may come” to them. If Pritzker wins a third term in November 2026, he’d be in office ahead of the 2028 presidential election cycle. Speculation continues that he’ll seek the presidency then. If he were to run for president and win, the lieutenant governor would take over as Illinois governor. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton won’t be joining Pritzker for a potential third term. She is seeking the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin, who announced he’s not running again. At an unrelated event in Chicago Monday, Pritzker was asked about the diversity of the lieutenant governor candidate, whoever it may be, and if it’s a priority.

Illinois Gov JB Pritzker

(Fairbury-jm) – 30-year-old Tyler Webb of Fairbury could be sentenced to 180 years in prison.  He'll be sentenced in August after a Livington County jury convicted him last week of 3-counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault.  The jury reached its verdict after 40 minutes of deliberation. The Fairbury Police Department reported Webb sexually assaulted a 10-year-old female three separate times between October of 2023 and January of 2024 at an apartment complex in Fairbury. The Livingston County State’s Attorney’s Office said the victim was Webbs biological daughter, who shared her story in the presence of the jury. Webb was arrested by the Fairbury Police Department on January 30th, 2024. Webb remains jailed in the Livingston County Detention Center. He faces from 18 to 180 years in prison. He will be sentenced in August by Judge Jennifer Bauknecht in Livingston County.

(Washington–jc)  The June Acreage report shows there are still some areas that need to be planted. U S D A Chief Economist Seth Meyer looks at areas for soybeans and corn…

U S D A Chief Economist Seth Meyer

(Champaign County-jm) – A five-year wait for new public transportation vehicles is nearly over in Champaign County. In 2020, the Champaign County Area Rural Transit System was awarded 11 new vehicles to completely expand and replace their existing collection. But, due to supply chain issues, it took longer than expected for the vehicles to arrive. Now 7 new vehicles are ready to take to the streets. 

(Iroquois County–dm)-If you own Property in Iroquois County, the first installment on your property tax bill is due Monday July 7th.  Iroquois County Treasurer Kurt Albers has more information.

Iroquois County Treasurer Kurt Albers

(Illinois–dm)- Because of a new tax from the democrat majority,  starting today, Illinois’ gas tax will rise to 48.3 cents per gallon. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, the tax hike will cost drivers an average of 143 dollars each  year. Combined with federal and local fuel taxes, the average tax per gallon in Illinois could be as high as 85 cents.

(Paxton–dm)-This year’s 4th of July celebration in Paxton has a lot of your favorite activities going on.  Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper tells us about a new activity going on this year.

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper 

(The Center Square) – Starting Today, Illinois taxpayers will be funding the largest budget in state history. The $55.2 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2026 includes higher taxes on telecommunications, tobacco products, sports wagering and long-term rentals, along with corporate income tax rule changes which are expected to bring in more tax revenue from businesses. The budget legislation signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on June 16 .

(Springfield-jm) – A new law could make it easier for high school students to go to college in Illinois. The Direct Admissions Program requires most state schools to automatically make admission offers to Illinois  high schoolers based on their GPA starting in 2027. Capitol News Illinois reports the program allows high school juniors to sign up and give their information to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The agency then notifies students which schools they qualify for. Senator Chris Belt says getting rid of applications and fees takes away a student’s anxiety from not knowing if they’ll be accepted to a school…

57th District State Senator Chris Belt. Community college students can also sign up to transfer to a four year university. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois Chicago are not part of the program.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health is urging Illinoisans to celebrate July 4th safely by following proven safety guidance so as not to spoil the fun. Follow food handling safety tips to protect friends and family from foodborne illnesses. Avoid sunburn and heat stroke by using sunscreen and proper summer attire. Protect yourself from disease carrying pests like mosquitos and ticks. And leave the fireworks to professionals. This summer, IDPH is joining the Illinois State Fire Marshal in pointing to a 44% spike in fireworks-related injuries reported to Illinois hospitals. In 2023, 108 fireworks injuries were logged at 34 hospitals; last year, 156 injuries, including one fatality, were recorded by 45 hospitals.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  The landscape along Route 136, Champaign Avenue, in Rantoul continues to change. Several new businesses have popped up near the Rantoul Sports Complex on the village's west side near Interstate 57. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says the Culvers restaurant is open, and Busey continues to build in that area of the village…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

(Crescent City–jc)  Village of Crescent City officials have issued a boil order for the entire town. The boil order is in effect until further notice.

(Gibson City–dm)-For 8 years the Gibson City American Legion Riders has been sponsoring a motorcycle hometown hero’s rides to raise funds for veterans and first responders. American Legion Riders President Wayne Link tells us about an upcoming ride.

Gibson City American Legion Riders President Wayne Link

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect involved in a robbery at the Wild Side Smoke Shop. The incident occurred on June 3, 2025, at approximately 3:00 p.m. at the store located at 604 South Neil Street. According to police, the suspect entered the shop and initially asked to purchase a lighter. He then reached over the counter, grabbing cash from the register drawer and from the employee's hand before fleeing the scene. Authorities have released a description of the suspect, who was captured on video. He is described as a Black male, approximately 50 to 60 years old, with a gray beard and longer gray braids. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a black beanie cap, black shirt, blue jeans, and white shoes.

(Washington–jc)  Food safety is a key for 4th of July cookouts to summer grilling and beyond. U S D A Food Safety Expert Meredith Carothers has some suggestions…

U S D A Food Safety Expert Meredith Carothers. The national food safety line is 1-8-8-8-M-P-Hotline

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton business community lost two popular businessmen. 

87 year old Raymond Jennings passed away on Saturday. Jennings operated several businesses in the city including Jenning’s AutoBody and Jennings Collision Center. Jennings was also an avid fisherman and member of the Loda Sportsman’s Club.  The Paxton community also lost  Jim Fox over the weekend. Fox was operator of Fox Transport Company for decades in the city. Fox was a Paxton High School Sports standout and also played and helped with the Paxton Swedes E I Baseball team.  Both men will be missed by family and community. 

(Gilman–dm)- We’ve had plenty of rain and heat this summer and Ford Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager Kaci Claire has the latest crop conditions for our area.

Ford Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager Kaci Clair

WPXN News Notes…

Fisher will hold their 4th of July celebration on Thursday, July 3rd with food trucks from 5-8 pm, live music by Tony Lindsey and the Smoke Wagon from 6-8 and fireworks at dusk.

Rantoul will do their fireworks on Thursday, July 3rd at 9pm with their parade at 10 am on Friday, July 4th.

Paxton’s Old Fashioned 4th of July will take place on Friday, July 4th at Pells Park in Paxton. Activities include 5k at 8 am, community worship service at 9:45, car show 10-2, antique tractor show 11 am, bingo 11-1, kids games and zone 11:30–3, live music with Jake and Mikayla from 12-2, penny scavenger hunt 1-2.  Vendors open at Bixby Park from 6-9 pm, golf cart parade at 8:15 with fireworks at 9.

Sibley will host their 4th of July celebration on Friday, July 4th with a fishing derby at 9 am, petting zoo from 10-noon, parade at noon, climbing wall from 2-4, bingo from 3-5, kids games and inflatables from 4-7, live music at 6 and fireworks at dusk.

The Onarga Chamber of Commerce Independence Celebration will take place Friday, July 4th with food and live music starting at 5pm. Then Saturday, July 5th it kicks off with the parade at 11am, tractor pulls at noon, live music 12:30-6,  car show 1-3, inflatables 1-4, bingo 2-4, kiddie tractor pull at 3 and fireworks at dusk.