CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — The University of Illinois says it has a system-wide record number of students enrolled for the fall semester, including an eighth straight year of record enrollment at its main campus in Champaign-Urbana. University officials announced Wednesday that total enrollment at its three campuses grew 2.7 percent to nearly 85,600 students. The Champaign-Urbana campus saw a 3.2 percent boost in its student body to 49,339.
(Rantoul--jc) A home fire in Rantoul caused damage to a garage and the attached house early Wednesday morning along Juniper Drive. Fire officials say the blaze caused 60 thousand dollars in damage to the structure. No one was injured in the fire.
(Paxton--jc) --Due to set-up, event hours, and tear down for the Paxton Swine ‘n Dine, the following streets will be closed starting at 8 p.m. Friday, September 14th:
Market Street: from Center to Holmes
Pells Street: from the alley behind Harvest Ale House and Frederick Community Bank to the Route 45 stop light
The post office will be accessible during office hours.
Frederick Community Bank plaza will be accessible during office hours from the alley.Streets will be open as the activities finish. Market Street from Pells Street to Center Street will be closed until Sunday, September 16th at noon.
(Leverette--jc) One railroad crossing in Champaign County will be closed to through traffic starting on Monday. Railroad workers will be fixing the crossing that is located in Leverette, just north of Champaign starting on the 17th at 7am. Work should take around 5 days. Motorists are asked to seek alternative routes in that area.
(Iroquois County-dg)-As farmers are getting into the fields for this harvest season, Iroquois County Sheriff Derek Hagen tells his deputies to remind the public to be aware of all the large slow moving equipment that will be out on the roads for several weeks.
Iroquois County Sheriff Derek Hagen
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A central Illinois Catholic priest has been removed from ministry after church officials say he misused money from two parishes and pornography was found among his possessions. The Springfield diocese says the Reverend Barry Harmon went on medical leave last October from Mother of Dolors Parish in Vandalia and St. Joseph Parish in Ramsey. The diocese says reviews found Harmon misappropriated up to $29,000 from the parishes and was to repay the money. Diocese officials say Vandalia police determined no child pornography was involved, but that Harmon was charged in July with drunken driving.
NEW YORK (AP) — The #MeToo movement is coming to the Golden Arches. McDonald's workers have voted to stage a one-day strike next Tuesday at some of the company's restaurants in 10 cities in hopes of pressuring management to take stronger steps against on-the-job sexual harassment. Organizers say it will be the first multistate strike in the U.S. specifically targeting sexual harassment. McDonald's is defending its anti-harassment efforts and says it is recruiting outside experts to offer advice.
(Carolina--jc) With the arrival of Hurricane Florence to the Southern Mid-Atlantic area today, what is the impact on crops and livestock. Rod Bain reports…
(Kankakee--jc) Kankakee Community College will begin the process to choose another college president. Current president John Avendano announced this week he will step down from the position at the end of June next year.
(Chicago--jc) --Illinois trails the rest of the nation in terms of wage growth since the Great Recession. Tied with Mississippi, Illinois employees had the second slowest wage growth in the country. One analyst says it’s because the cost of state government regulations limit what companies can offer.The Pew Charitable Trusts released data on all 50 states to show the growth or decline of personal income since the end of the Great Recession.While the national wage growth from late 2007 to the first quarter of this year was 1.6 percent, Illinois’ income growth was 0.7 percent. Only Connecticut had slower growth at 0.6 percent.Analyst Mark Glennon of Wirepoints said the high cost of doing business in Illinois limits what employers can offer employees, adding that is why some companies are leaving Illinois and the state is out of sync with what’s happening with the rest of the country.
(Undated--jc) -- Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state Here is today’s Bicentennial minute…
(WASHINGTON) In a letter to President Trump Wednesday, the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, National Sorghum Producers, American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, and Renewable Fuels Association urged the administration to act immediately to restore the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard and allow year-round sales of E15 and other mid-level ethanol blends. The groups also expressed concern that any benefit from year-round E15 sales and proper implementation of the RFS could be nullified if refiners are given further regulatory bailouts that undercut the spirit and intent of the law.
(Paxton--jc) -- A handful of household hazardous waste collections will be held this fall. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Spokesperson James Jennings says this is a time to get rid of chemical cleaners, oil based paint, antifreeze to weed killers…
I-E-P-A Spokesperson James Jennings.
Locations for the household hazardous waste collections include Danville and Decatur.
(Springfield--jc) Illinois State police are taking a different look at distracted driving. State troopers were driving semis along Interstate 55 on Wednesday and looking for distracted drivers. State police officials say it is one more way to help keep Illinois roadways safer.
(Washington--jc) A congressman from Illinois has filed legislation to make last winter’s federal tax cuts permanent. U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis filed legislation this week that would make them permanent.The lower rates, the higher standard deduction, child tax credit, and other provisions would all become permanent under Davis’ bill. Davis says this is an opportunity for Democrats in the Senate to support tax relief for working Americans. Illinois residents save an average of 2 thousand 300 dollars annually under the cuts, according to the Heritage Foundation.
(Springfield--jc) -- The state’s leading manufacturers’ group said Illinois could miss out on the benefits of a growing manufacturing sector despite a tentative U.S-Mexico trade deal. Even before President Donald Trump's administration announced a tentative deal with Mexico, the U.S. manufacturing sector was growing. Some have attributed the growth to federal tax cuts enacted this year and Trump’s deregulation efforts allowing for easier expansion and more operational investments, among other economic factors.The Institute for Supply Management recently reported positive growth for the U.S. manufacturing sector for August.
(Chicago--jc) The infant mortality rate is two to three times higher for black babies and one major cause is Sids. Rush University Medical Center Pediatrician Gina Lowell says parents are still bringing their babies to bed, putting them at risk. Looking at the issues from another perspective is also key says D-C-F-S Acting Director B J Walker...
D-C-F-S Acting Director B J Walker
(Rantoul-jc) Rescue crews are on the scene of a multiple car crash along Route 45 south of Rantoul. The Southbound lanes of route 45 are closed at this time. Police are reporting several injuries. WPXN News will update this story as more official news becomes available.
(Rantoul--jc) Most Rantoul village officials will receive the same compensation with no raises for the coming year. Rantoul Village board members voted to keep the salaries at their current rate this week. One exception is a 12 hundred dollar raise for Village Clerk Janet Grey.
(Rantoul--jc) The man who was taking several vintage planes apart has been charged with money laundering and theft. Channel 3 reports that 68 year old Ken Morrison on WHiting Indiana is accused of selling 2 ejection seats. Local police say he sold them for 125 dollars. Air Force officials say the seats are worth 40 thousand dollars.
