SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed five far-reaching laws that expand mental health services and Medicaid coverage of them. Advocates say the Republican's action Wednesday strengthens the attack on the opioid crisis and puts behavioral health care on par with other types of medical care. The governor says it helps those affected get the treatment they need…
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner
(Vermilion County--jc) -- A Westville man was seriously injured in a three way accident along route 1 in Westville around 11 Wednesday morning. State police say a pedestrian ran out into traffic where a vehicle slammed on the brakes and a motorcyclist following the car struck the vehicle in the rear. The motorcyclist was taken to a Danville hospital with serious injuries. The pedestrian was cited.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Committee says an attempt break into its database that houses information on tens of millions of voters nationwide has been thwarted. A party official says hackers created a fake login page to try to harvest passwords and usernames. The party's cybersecurity has been an issue since 2016, when Russian hackers compromised DNC servers and revealed emails that exploited divisions between Bernie Sanders' and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaigns.
(Chicago--jc) -- One of Illinois' political experts says a new poll that gives J.B. Pritzker a 16-point lead in the race for Illinois governor is more about Governor Bruce Rauner. In the new NBC-Marist poll released this week, 46 percent of voters surveyed want J.B. Pritzker for governor. Another 30 percent say they'll vote for Rauner. The poll also says twice as many people disapprove of Rauner's performance than approve. Chris Mooney with the University of Illinois' Institute of Government and Public Affairs said that's not good, but it's not too late for the governor. The poll gives Libertarian candidate Kash Jackson six percent of the vote, and gives third party candidate Sam McCann four percent. Fourteen percent of voters asked told pollsters that they are undecided.
(Paxton--jc) -- With the cool fall like temperatures today through the weekend, it seems mosquitoes are also on their way out. Next week, the hot temperatures return to the 90s plus and summer weather sees the opportunity for mosquitoes and the west nile virus. Ford County Public Health Department Spokesperson Christie Wallace says the pesky bugs are out dusk and dawn, but some even more…
Ford County Public Health Department Spokesperson Christie Wallace.
(Paxton--jc) -- Paxton police say a man who was preaching through a megaphone near the Paxton Buckley Loda Junior High School on Monday left the scene and no laws were broken. In updating our story from early this week, the man was questioned by Paxton police and their report said the man was on a public right of way and was expressing his right to freedom of religion. A group of religious people were at the place near the school on Monday
(Paxton --jc) -- Wednesday, ABATE of Illinois announced their support of Bruce Rauner for Governor of Illinois. Rauner responded by saying he is proud to received the endorsement. ABATE of Illinois is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting the rights of motorcycle riders across the state from safety, education and also promoting freedom to ride.
(Roberts--jc) -- The village of Roberts is changing light bulbs and using better technology. Roberts Mayor Rick Flessner says its also a cost saving way to do things for the village…
Roberts Mayor Rick Flessner.
(Penfield-dg)-The Buck Creek Tractor Pull will be held at the I & I Show Grounds in Penfield on Friday. I.P.A. Sanctioned Classes include Outlaw Tractor, Naturally Aspirated Tractor, and Farm Stock Tractors. Local Classes include 7500 lb tractors,
Street Diesel Trucks, and 20,000lb Out of Field Tractor. The event starts at 6pm.
(Bloomington--jc) One of the two remaining anchor stores in the Eastland Mall in Bloomington is closing. The Sears store will close in November and the Sears auto Store is closing next week. The Pantagraph reports that liquidation of the Sears operations at the Eastland Mall will start next week. Officials will Sears Holdings Operations say the national chain is closing 46 unprofitable stores by the end of the year. The closure means that Kohls is the only anchor store at Eastland Mall.
(Paxton--jc) There is one more free concert in the park this Sunday in Paxton. The Pride in Paxton annual Music Under the Stars series will feature the band Prairie City. The concert begins at 6pm in the pavilion at Pells Park in Paxton.
(Paxton--jc) -- The annual Paxton Swine ‘N Dine is less than one month away. Organizers are looking for volunteers and vendors for the event. Those interested are asked to call the chamber office. The Paxton Swine ‘N Dine is set for Saturday September 15th in the downtown area of the city.
(Undated--jc) -- Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s bicentennial minute…
(Undated--jc) When a newspaper closes, local governments in the area tend to borrow more, spend more, hire more workers and raise taxes, according to a study on the matter. The study by professors from Notre Dame and the University of Illinois at Chicago found a pattern of government growth shortly after a newspaper closes. The study is in the process of being peer reviewed and hasn't been published in a journal. The authors analyzed 204 counties with a single newspaper that closed between 1996 and 2015. They found local borrowing costs rose by up to 11 basis points more than they otherwise would. Government efficiency diminished as well. Locally, the Leader newspaper and the County Star in southern Champaign county are stopping operations at the end of this month.
(Rantoul--jc) One Rantoul police officer has retired from the department. Rantoul Police Department officials say officer Charles Casagrande was an officer in the department from January of 1994 through last week. He served as a patrol officer, K-9 Officer, investigator, SWAT operator and negotiator. Casagrande was also very active in Shop with a Cop and Cop on a Rooftop. Those with the local police department say congratulations to Officer Casagrande on his retirement
(Cissna Park--jc) Cissna Park School leaders will start the process to hire a new school principal after the retirement of a popular educator. Bethanie Marshall informed the board this month that she intends to retire. Marshall is from the Cissna Park area. The board is expected soon to look at how to fill that future vacancy.
(Springfield--jc) A package of 5 new laws for Illinois will increase health care options for mental health and substance abuse patients. Illinois Department of Insurance Director Jennifer Hammer says getting those affected the right treatment is the right thing to do...
Illinois Department of Insurance Director Jennifer Hammer
(Ford County--jc) The owners of a dog in Ford County that died due to rat poison want to find those responsible. Channel three reported that a dog owned by the Clement family died from the poison. Anyone with information about this act, is asked to call local authorities.
PESOTUM – Illinois State Police District 10 Commander, Captain Louis Kink, announces the I-S-P will conduct an Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrol in Champaign County during September. OREPs allow the state police to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws. Illinois law requires all vehicle passengers to be buckled up! Safety belts are still one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles, estimated to save nearly 14,000 lives each year. Half of vehicle occupants killed in a traffic crash were not properly buckled up. The objective of this program is to increase occupant restraint compliance through education, child seat inspections, and enforcement.
(Farmer city --jc) -- Leaders in Farmer City are looking for a new police chief. Terry Scott is leaving the position to take another position in Vermilion County. Those interested in the Farmer City police job are asked to contact the Farmer City city manager by the 14th of September. Farmer City council members would like to get a new police chief sometime in early fall.
(WASHINGTON DC--ab) U.S. and Chinese officials are having trade discussions this week in Washington. Gary Crawford has the story...
(Urbana--jc) Its the annual Urbana Sweet Corn Festival is set for tomorrow and Saturday in downtown Urbana. 70 vendors, lots of sweet corn and local entertainment hilite the two day event. On the stage Friday night includes 90s Daughter and on Saturday it’s the Lou Dubello Band.
