(Undated--jc)  -- Today is the unofficial start to the final weekend of summer with the Labor Day holiday on Monday. State and local police are also stepping up patrols for the expected busy travel weekend. State Department of Transportation Spokesperson Guy Tridgell says too many people are dying on Illinois roads…

I-Dot Spokesperson Guy Tridgell

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is transferring former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock's public corruption case in central Illinois to a new prosecutorial team in another judicial district, two weeks after the trial judge was bumped from all of his criminal cases for commenting in emails about a trial he was overseeing. A filing from prosecutors Thursday doesn't specify which U.S. attorney's office would take over the Peoria Republican's case, but the one in Chicago may be the most likely to get it.

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago Catholic diocese has settled for $1.4 million a lawsuit filed by three men who allegedly suffered repeated sexual molestation at the hands of their priest. The three unidentified men were allegedly abused by Father Leonard Mateo of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet between 1980 and 1982 when the victims hadn't reached the age of 11. The unnamed plaintiffs came forward with their allegations against Mateo in 2014. The settlement was reached in Will County Circuit Court.

(Springfield--jc)  --A bill designed to discourage monopolies in the medical supply industry is making its way through the Illinois General Assembly.House Bill 5930, introduced by Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, and co-sponsored by Rep. Gregory Harris, D-Chicago, would eliminate payment cuts to companies that supply medical equipment for Medicaid patients.One of the reasons for the bill was this year’s reimbursement cuts of 10 percent to 50 percent to medical supply companies.

(Champaign--ab) Yesterday was the last day of the 70 miles per hour speed limit on Interstate 74 from the Interstate 57 exit  to Cunningham Avenue in Urbana. Illinois State Police Department Captain Louis Kink says this was all based on research from the Illinois Department of Transportation….

Illinois State Police Captain Louis Kink

The new speed limit along Interstate 74 from the I-57 exchange to Cunningham Avenue is now 60 miles per hour.

(Watseka--jc)  -- The Iroquois County Public Health Department will continue to

offer free water sample test kits until further notice. Testing for coliform bacteria will reveal whether your water supply may be contaminated with infectious organisms, but it will not provide a direct measure of pathogenic, or disease-causing, bacteria. Specific disease-producing organisms present in the water are not easily identified, and testing for these organisms in the laboratory is complex and time consuming. Coliform bacteria, on the other hand, can easily be identified in the lab. Call the Iroquois County Public Health Department for more information at 815-432-2483.

(Urbana--jc)  -- Former President Barack Obama is set to visit the University of Illinois one week from today. The U of I is honoring Obama with its Paul Douglas Award for Ethics in government. Obama will also present a speech at Foellinger Auditorium  at 11 a m on September 7th.

(Rantoul--jc)  -- If you are a Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce member, today is the final day to sign up for a luncheon with Illinois Attorney General candidate Erika Harold. The luncheon is set for one week from today. Those chamber members interested are asked to call the chamber office at 217-893-3323. Chamber members are also reminded that the new chamber year begins on Saturday and membership fees are due.

(Rantoul-jc)  -- One local state senator is hosting a town hall meeting next week.

Democrat Scott Bennett of Champaign says the event is set for Tuesday September 4th from 5-30pm to 6-3opm at the Rantoul Business Center.

(Paxton--jc)  -- The Paxton IGA is hosting a cookout from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow. The parking lot cookout is to raise money for the Paxton Buckley Loda class of 2022. On the menu is ribeye steak sandwiches, chips and  pop.

(Undated--jc)  - Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s Bicentennial Minute…