(Springfield--jc)  -- A bill that would keep insurance providers from removing a drug from a customer’s coverage plan mid-year is now on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk.If signed into law, the bill would keep an insurance provider from changing an enrollee's coverage of a drug during the plan year if the drug was previously approved for coverage in certain situations. Should the insurance company remove a drug, the bill would create an appeals process for providers to receive exemptions for their patients from plan changes, something supporters say ensures continuity of the medical care for the prescription drug benefits.

 

 

(Undated--jc)  It’s not Hawaii, but Illinois came in at No. 23 on personal finance website WalletHub’s 2018 Happiest States in America  report. Hawaii, Utah and Minnesota were at the top of the list. West Virginia, Arkansas and Louisiana were at the bottom. Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzalez says  Illinois did pretty well especially in the emotional and physical well-being category which was weighted the most heavily in the state. Gonzalez adds that Illinois has room for improvement in areas such as employment.While Illinois fell right in the middle, it did well in overall emotional and physical well-being with a ranking of 12th.

 

 

(Buckley--ab)  - The rain patterns for area farmers this past Spring and Summer was from heavy rain amounts to dry. NexGen Ag co-owner Todd Shively says the harvest yields show the difference in the amount producers have received....

 

Nextgen Ag co-owner Todd Shively.

Shively and partner Brian Dippel hosted Monday’s WPXN Farmers in the Field Harvest Lunch Program. Today WPXN will be broadcasting live at the Hildebrand farm in rural Thawville over the noon hour.

 

 

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A conference at the University of Michigan is bringing together experts to share ideas on dealing with a warming climate in the Great Lakes region.The biennial Great Lakes Adaptation Forum runs from Monday through Wednesday at the campus in Ann Arbor.Discussions will focus on four broad themes.

They include cooperation between U.S., Canadian and indigenous peoples; getting funding for climate adaptation initiatives; developing leadership in schools, businesses and government; and the latest innovative tools such as building design and smart sensor technology.

 

(Urbana--jc)  -- The University of Illinois is asking lawmakers to let it offer tax breaks to lure companies to campus. University of Illinois President Tim Killeen said to keep Illinois students in Illinois after they graduate, the school needs to bring employers to the state. Killeen says the school is pushing lawmakers to allow it to offer tax breaks for companies to come to Illinois, and work with the university.The issue could come up in the fall veto session following the November 6th election.

 

 

(Buckley--jc)   Abbe Insurance Agency in Buckley is hosting a Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event on Thursday, October 4th. The event takes place at Abbe Insurance’s home office in the big white building on the south edge of Buckley  from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- Paxton High School’s class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year class reunion during Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School’s homecoming week this Friday and  Saturday. The weekend will kick off with an informal gathering at Market Street Tap in downtown Paxton following the homecoming football game Friday evening. On Saturday, classmates will gather at 6:30 p.m. at the Cobblestone Hotel on Paxton’s west side.

 

 

(Springfield-jc)  The dry weather gave farmers plenty of time in the fields as we here in the weekly crop report. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says the harvest progress put corn at 28 percent in the bin..

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener..

75 percent of soybeans are dropping leaves and 17 percent of soybeans have been harvested.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  - Local State Representative Mike Marron is hosting an office hours event in Rantoul this afternoon. The 104th district state representative will meet with constituents from 1 til 3 this afternoon at the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce office in downtown. Marron has replaced Chad Hays in the state representative seat. Hays retired earlier this year.

 

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

 

 

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The third trial in the 1990 killing of a 9-year-old girl has ended in a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a verdict after three days of deliberations. A judge Monday declared the mistrial in the trial of Stanley Liggins. He'd twice been convicted of murder in the killing of 9-year-old Jennifer Lewis, of Rock Island, Illinois. Her burned remains were found Sept. 17, 1990, in a field in Davenport. She had been sexually abused, strangled to death and then doused with gasoline and set on fire.Liggins knew Jennifer's mother and investigators focused on him as a suspect. He was twice convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but both convictions were overturned.

 

(Rantoul--jc)  One Rantoul based Church is hosting a food distribution event later this week. The Christian Life Church in Rantoul is holding the event for Champaign County residents from 9 til 10-30 Saturday morning at the Community Center on Wabash Avenue in Rantoul. Those participating are asked to bring a box and identification with current address.

 

(Urbana--jc)  The city of Urbana is joining the efforts of other Champaign County communities in bringing in body cameras for its police force. Urbana city leaders made that known at its meeting last night. Rantoul and Champaign already have cameras in use for its police force.

 

(Springfield--ab)  With Flu Season around the corner,  Illinois Department of Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jen Layden says the shot is necessary. She adds that there are various spots to get your shot....

 

 

Illinois Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jen Layden.

 

(WASHINGTON) September 24, 2018 – The National Corn Growers Association Monday, called on leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to put partisan differences aside and find common ground on a farm bill. The  current bill expires September 30. In a letter to Senate and House Committee leaders, N-C-G-A President Kevin Skunes said a new farm bill would provide certainty to farmers during increasingly uncertain times for agriculture.

 

(Onarga--ab) The Ford-Iroquois 4-H auction is coming up in Mid november to help with costs associated with costs to operate local 4-H projects.  Ford-Iroquois extension Deb Mason says the kids will benefit from the auction.

 

**NWS 1907**

 

Ford Iroquois Extension Auction Spokesperson Deb Mason

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  --A new survey shows more Illinois community college students move on to complete a four-year degree than students in any other state. Illinois moved up from number 3 in the previous survey, jumping Iowa and Washington in the process. Nearly 54 percent of students who entered a community college in Illinois in 2010 graduated with a bachelor’s degree within six years. Illinois’ number is almost 12 percentage points higher than the national average.Eric Lichtenberger, deputy director of Information Management and Research with the Illinois Board of Higher Education, credits the top ranking to efforts to make the transfer process easy for students.

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Farmers have had time over the past 7 days to get harvest going. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 28 percent of corn is in the bin and the soybean crop is moving along at a good pace…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener.

Topsoil moisture is rated at 4 percent very short, 18 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus

 

 

Pesotum, Il. (09/24/18) – The Illinois State Police (ISP), assisted by the Champaign Police Department, conducted an Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement  Bar ID Check detail on Saturday. In a news release yesterday, state police say the purpose of the ACE program is to reduce and deter underage drinking. As a result of the ACE detail, 21 citations were issued for Possession / Purchase, 2 citations for Possession Prohibited on Public Property, and 1 citation for Adult Responsibility.  In addition, minors convicted of purchase, possession or consumption of alcohol will face a one year suspension of their driver’s license. During the detail, bar checks were conducted at five bar locations and a Street Sweep in Champaign County. Brothers Bar & Grill, The Red Lion and Kams were ticketed for 6 violations. Joe’s Brewery received 4 violations. The Illini Inn received zero violations.