(Rantoul--ab) Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith has selected Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer as Rantoul’s next village administrator.The Rantoul Village Board will vote on the selection at tomorrow night’s monthly meeting. Eisenhauer would begin his duties on November 5th. Current Village Administrator Rick Snider, who announced he would be stepping down, has agreed to stay on through the end of October. WPXN news will continue to follow this story on newscasts later this week.

 

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois has earned sole recognition for the strongest mental health parity laws and policies in the country, according to new state report cards released this week.Illinois was the only state with an ‘A’ grade (100/100) on the test of compliance with the Federal Parity Law, which calls for providing coverage of mental health and substance use disorders on par with other illnesses. Tennessee was second in the grading with a ‘C’ (79/100). Thirty-two states received failing grades in the assessment ‘Evaluating State Mental Health and Addiction Parity Statutes’ jointly released by the Kennedy-Satcher Center for Mental Health Equity, The Kennedy Forum, The Carter Center, and Well Being Trust (WBT) Center.

 

 

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois Department of Public Health report says medical marijuana use is up more than 80 percent in the state. The Chicago Tribune reports that more than 46,000 people have used medical marijuana in Illinois this year. Almost 75 percent of patients are more than 40 years old. The report says the most common conditions treated are PTSD, fibromyalgia and cancer.

 

(Undated--jc) Friday was National Manufacturing Day in the U.S.  Speaking a rally, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner says he is committed to cutting taxes and helping with fair trade deals to keep manufacturing a leader in Illinois…

 

 

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner

 

(Central Illinois--jc)  Damage reports are few, but rain and wind were the weather words for parts of East Central Illinois on Sunday. The national weather service said rotation for a possible tornado was found near Fisher on Sunday. Several portions of Ford, McLean, Champaign and Dewitt counties saw significant rainfall over the past 24 hours

 

 

(Champaign County--jc)  Illinois State Police were called to a multiple car accident along Interstate 57 Sunday afternoon. The accidents were in the northbound lanes just north of Olympian Avenue. Traffic was slowed for several hours. No information was given on any injuries, as several vehicles were involved in the accident.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- The village of Rantoul is offering an amnesty program for those who owe storm drainage fees to the village. The program runs from today through Wednesday. Village officials say anyone that owes an outstanding storm drainage bill qualifies for the program. The bill payer must pay the outstanding balance, but the village will waive the interest and penalties on the account. Those interested in the program can call the village at 892-6832.    

 

(Buckley-dg)-The Village of Buckley will be having golf cart games and a free movie in the park at Buckley Lake Park this Saturday. Registration for the golf cart games begins at 3:30 with a variety of games beginning at 4pm. Entry is $10 per cart. Closing ceremonies will take place around 6:30. Then the free showing of the movie Sandlot will begin at 7pm. Food vendors will be on hand beginning at 4:30.

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  Today is Columbus Day and most schools are closed. Also closed today are banks and county offices. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is celebrating the day by attending the annual Columbus Day parade in Chicago. That event steps off in the noon hour today.

 

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

 

 

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Two Illinois youth football coaches are facing felony charges after police say a fight broke out between coaches and parents following a game and one coach displayed a gun. Forty-three-year-old Terrance Morris and 39-year-old Devorah Clark, both of Indiana, were being held Sunday in the Winnebago County Jail. Police say Morris and Clark are coaches for the Calumet City Thunderbolts. The team played the Rockford Renegades Saturday afternoon in Rockford.

 

YORKVILLE, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois man released on parole after spending decades in prison for murdering five people remains in prison as he awaits a viable housing option. The Beacon-News reports that 77-year-old Carl Reimann was granted parole in April. He's been back at the Dixon Correctional Center since May after being removed from two housing arrangements.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock's public corruption trial is now scheduled for June in federal court in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune reports the former Illinois Republican congressman will stand trial June 10. Schock was once a rising star in Congress. He's now accused of using campaign money and his congressional allotment for personal expenses. He resigned amid scrutiny of lavish spending, including a "Downton Abbey"-style redecorating of his Capitol Hill office.

 

SWANSEA, Ill. (AP) — Illinois conservation police have seized a pet bobcat from a family in Swansea. Lakesha Mayweather tells the Belleville News-Democrat reports that she received a permit to own a captive bobcat and that state officials renewed it. She paid $1,800 to a Missouri breeder for the declawed and neutered cat she calls Capone. But IDNR seized the animal last month and ticketed Mayweather for unlawful possession of a dangerous animal and unlawful import of a dangerous species.

 

 

(Rantouil--jc)  Rantoul firefighters were called to a home fire along Fairview Avenue in the village. Authorities believe that the home caught fire due to an electrical short. No word on the amount of damage was given. No one was hurt in the blaze

 

(Champaign--jc)  -- Rain over the weekend and harvest progress, remains a concern for area farmers. Area farmers have brought in a large portion of the corn and soybean crops over the past week. As far as rain and temperatures, State Climatologist Jim Angel with the Illinois Water Survey in Champaign says above rainfall is expected and the temperatures will be more autumn like…

 

State Climatologist Jim Angel with the Illinois Water Survey in Champaign.

 

(Rantoul--jc)  A Rantoul man was found safe after local police were seeking information about his whereabouts. Rantoul police say 25 year old  Melvin Fox was located around 9 on Saturday night. Fox has autism and is non-verbal. Rantoul police thank those who helped with the search.

 

 

(Danville-dg)-On Sunday October 14th, you can relive the past in form of political participation at the Truman Whistle Stop 1948 in Danville. This is an interactive all-ages reenactment complete with 1940s cars, posters, buttons, music, food, a replica Ferdinand Magellan train car, and, of course, Harry S. Truman. And then join in for a conversation with the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum archivist Sam Rushay and local historian Tim Smith about the political history of Danville and its significance in the 1948 campaign. This free event is being produced by the Vermilion County Museum and Illinois Humanities as part of the celebration of the Illinois Bicentennial.

 

 

URBANA, Ill. (AP) — The University of Illinois is dedicating a garden to a 26-year-old Chinese scholar who authorities say was kidnapped near campus and killed last year. Yingying Zhang disappeared June 9, 2017, after she arrived at the university in central Illinois. Former graduate student Brendt Christensen has been charged with her abduction and death. Authorities have not found her body. University officials say they'll hold a dedication ceremony Thursday for the Yingying Zhang Garden. The garden is located in Urbana, close to the last place she was seen on surveillance video getting into a vehicle. Authorities say she told friends she was on her way to sign an apartment lease. University officials are inviting students, faculty, staff and the public to the 2 p.m. dedication ceremony.

 

 

(Washington--jc) --  The cooler weather is on its way later this week. That means

Fireplaces and firewood. Nature Conservancy’s Forest Health Director Leigh Greenwood is urging people who want to gather and use firewood locally to make sure to follow the rules…

 

 

Nature Conservancy’s Forest Health Director Leigh Greenwood.