PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Prosecutors say a central Illinois man waited until his parents were asleep to use pepper spray on them and then stab them to death. Jose G. Ramirez is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents, Bradley University professor Susan Brill de Ramirez and her husband, Antonio Ramirez Barron. A judge set bond for Ramirez at $3 million and a preliminary hearing date of Nov. 29. Police believe that have found the victims' bodies in a river.
(Springfield--jc) -- The State Board of Elections is reminding the public that any claims of On-Line voting in Illinois are fake. Voters should be aware that any website, app, social media account or text offering to let you cast a ballot on-line, is bogus. State Board of Election Spokesperson Matt Dietrich says on-line voting is NOT allowed anywhere in the United States…
State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich
If you receive this information you are asked to contacting authorities.
(Chicago--jc) -- Former President Barack Obama leads the list of minority trailblazers in the latest Illinois Top 200 project poll. The former president lead this list, followed by two native Americans says Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Spokesperson Chris Wills…
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Spokesperson Chris Wills…
(Champaign--jc) Champaign County authorities are investigating two shootings that happened on Tuesday in the city. The first shooting happened just after one pm near Third Street and the second just after 9pm near Vine Street. The victim in that shooting has died. The consensus of police is that the shootings were not just random. Anyone with information on the two shootings are asked to call Champaign County Crimestoppers or the local police department.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Candidates for Illinois attorney general in the November 6th election pledge to tackle a huge backlog of appeals on denied public-records requests. The attorney general's public access counselor was created in 2010 to referee bureaucrats' rejections under the Freedom of Information Act. But the workload is heavy. The PAC currently had over 2,300 FOIA cases pending as of October 12th without more than 1,300 at least three years old.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago plant that sterilizes medical instruments faces a lawsuit alleging air pollution violations. Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Republican DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin filed suit Tuesday against Sterigenics U.S. It accuses the company of "causing, threatening or allowing air pollution" and of a public health risk. Sterigenics issued a statement saying the lawsuit recognizes that the company "continues to operate well within" permitted limits.
(Paxton--jc) -- Art has come to downtown Paxton. Members of an art class at Paxton Buckley Loda High School have put their work on display in three downtown Paxton businesses. The art is on display at the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce office, Austin Curtis-Edward Jones office and Kief Realty in downtown Paxton.
(Undated--jc) --The new “Halloween” movie is in theaters now, rebooting the horror franchise from the first film that debuted 40 years ago, and Illinois plays a fictitious role.The modern myth of masked killer Michael Myers spurred by John Carpenter's 1978 horror movie “Halloween” was set in the Illinois town of Haddonfield. There is no Haddonfield, Illinois. The town in the film was based on screenwriter Deborah Hill’s hometown in New Jersey.Tommy Lee Wallace, a production designer of the first "Halloween" film, told The Biography Channel filming back then that the 1978 movie was filmed in California.
(Undated--jc) -- Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s Bicentennial Minute…
(Springfield--jc) The booming housing market has put many Illinois homes enticingly close to being back above the value of their mortgages, but property values may have peaked.After months of home values rising with the booming economy, Attom Data Solutions said the third quarter of 2018 saw 49 percent of markets across the nation slow down, indicating home prices may be close to topping out. Vice President Daren Blomquist said rising mortgage rates are a factor in the slow down.The Attom report shows homeowners who sold in the third quarter received an average of $61,232 more than their original purchase price, the highest average home seller price gain since summer 2007.
(Carbondale--jc) --Southern Illinois University is starting a new research initiative into cannabis.The SIU initiative announced last week is aimed at creating a program to support agriculture and industry with research and training. S I U officials say they are getting requests from stakeholders and students.Marijuana Policy Project Senior Legislative Counsel Chris Lindsey said the move is encouraging, especially as the cannabis industry continues to grow.The program includes a five-acre research plot focusing on hemp and medicinal cannabis. The plot is being cleared and will be planted with hemp this spring, university officials said in a statement.
CHICAGO — Governor Bruce Rauner and First Lady Diana Rauner got their flu shots on Tuesday and highlighted the importance of Illinoisans protecting themselves this flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend shots for everyone over the age of six months. The governor says to get your flu shot…
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner
Influenza activity often increases in October and tends to peak between December and February.
(Rantoul--jc) Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce officials say those wanting to attend the annual chamber banquet need to do so by tomorrow. The event is set for November 9 at 6pm at the Linden Banquet Center in the village. It is the 95th anniversary for the local chamber.
(Washington--jc) -- Size does matter for some pumpkin farmers. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield--jc) -- Two recent studies of public sector pay and retirement benefits show tens of thousands of retired Illinois public employees making six figures or more in all levels of government, dwarfing figures from states with more people.Two organizations that reviewed and released the information hope it encourages taxpayers to seek change.Illinois has more than $130 billion in unfunded pension debt for its five state-run pension systems. Adding in other post employment benefits, that number climbs to more than $200 billion. Municipal governments in Illinois also are struggling with unfunded pension liability .The group's founder, Jim Tobin, said that’s just the tip of the iceberg and the pensions are just out of line.
(Paxton--jc) -- Ford County Clerk Amy Frederick says her office will be open for early voting on Saturday from 8-30am until noon. The last day to early vote is Monday with election day on Tuesday. The fall mid-term election is Tuesday November 6th.
(Washington--jc) -- It’s Halloween, time for tricks or treats. USDA Historical Expert Anne Effland explains the origin of the word...Halloween…
USDA Historical Expert Anne Effland.
The Paxton Church of the Nazarene will host a Trunk-or-Treat event from 4:30 to 6 p.m. today in the church’s parking lot. The church is located at 302 W. State Street.
The Gibson City Pentecostal Church on Melvin Street is having food and fellowship today from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.. The event will feature free cocoa and coffee, cookies and hotdogs for anyone who comes. Add, goody bags will be provided to children.
(Undated--jc) The city of Paxton and Paxton Park District Halloween event is set for this afternoon in the downtown area of the city. The parade with kids in costume steps off at 4 this afternoon. Kids and parents will start from the Library north to the Paxton Firehouse. Kids will get trick or treat bags courtesy of WPXN. Also at the firehouse, representatives of the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, Paxton Police Department and Ford County Crimestoppers will also be handing out goodies, along with Halloween safety material.
