(Springfield--ba) Flooding this time of year often means more pesky mosquitoes. Blame the weather for the increase in floodwater mosquitoes, which like to breed in cooler, wet conditions. Illinois Department of Public Health spokesperson Melaney Arnold says the best way to protect yourself is to cover up.

 

 

Illinois Department of Public Health spokesperson Melaney Arnold

 

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — A witness is telling a jury that the former University Illinois doctoral student charged in the slaying of a visiting Chinese scholar used his computer to research serial killers, decomposing bodies and downloaded photographs of bound and gagged women. FBI Senior Forensic Examiner William O'Sullivan, on Monday,  walked the federal jurors through Brendt Christensen's computer use in the weeks before YingYing Zhang disappeared in June 2017. Zhang's body has never been found.

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- Good news for Northwestern University. Northwestern University finished 10th in a ranking of best education schools by U. S News that examined 258 campuses around the nation.The Evanston school’s tuition was not provided. The universities ranked by U.S. News were examined using weighted averages of 10 metrics, including a peer assessment by school deans, educational professionals’ assessments, student acceptance rates, verbal scores on standardized tests, doctoral degrees granted per year, research expenditures and student-faculty ratios.

 

(Iroquois County--jc)  The northbound lanes of Interstate 57 were down to one lane for several hours on Monday.  A semi rollover accident caused the slow down. State police continue to remind the motoring public to take extra precaution around construction zones and accident sites,  The area near the 300 mile marker near Chebanse is now back to normal.

 

(Sibley--ba)--  One local Ford County town is hosting an appreciation day in July

Sibley Appreciation Day is set for July 6th.Spokesperson Don Meyer talks about the origins of this event.

 

 

Sibley Appreciation Day Spokesperson Don Meyer

 

 

(Springfield--jc) --Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin is being called out by a fact checker about his claim that there are parts of Interstate 80 that are too fragile for school buses to cross.Politifact rated that statement "mostly false" saying the Department of Transportation has given a bridge along the route a low rating, but knows of no ban on the crossing.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Corn planting is nearly complete as we hear in the weekly crop report. After a very late start, 88 percent of corn has now been planted says State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener

70 percent of soybeans have been planted and 50 percent emerged.  6 percent of the winter wheat crop has been harvested

 

(Ashkum--jc)   Illinois State Police  District 21 Commander, Captain Don Aaron Harsy, announces the results of Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcementpatrols in Kankakee County on June 15. During the patrols 6 driver license, 5 registration violations and 3 insurance violations were reported.  The ACE patrols allow state police to focus on preventing, detecting, and taking enforcement action in response to violations associated with impaired driving and illegal transportation or consumption of alcohol or drugs.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- One local Senior Living Center is hosting a community garage sale later this month.  Accolade Healthcare of Paxton Senior Living Centers garage sale and bake sale is set for the home at 450 Fulton Street in Paxton. Officials with Accolade are currently accepting items for the sale.

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- An economist from a nonpartisan think tank said poverty rates could climb if Illinois changes from a flat income tax to a structure with higher rates for higher earners. Illinois' poverty rate is about 14.3 percent, which is right in the middle of the pack of all U.S. states and territories.  State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said the soon-to-be new adult-use cannabis industry will help address poverty in Illinois with more jobs. State Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, said another industry to create more jobs is the green and renewable energy sector.

Democrats also want to address income inequality, and some have said changing Illinois flat income tax to one with higher rates on higher earners will help. Illinois Policy Institute Chief Economist Orphe Divounguy said research shows tax increases hurt the economy and the move to increase taxes on small businesses through a progressive income tax could increase poverty. He cited Connecticut as an example.

 

(Champaign--jc)  Some wet weather is predicted for the next several days as we head into the first day of Summer on Friday. Illinois Water Survey Spokesperson Brian Kerscher says  the heaviest rain will be in southern Illinois…

 

 

Illinois Water Survey of Champaign Spokesperson Brian Kerschner

 

(Springfield--ba)  --Environmental advocates are considering it a win after Illinois passed a bill last month to ban a chemical that is often found in receipts and considered harmful. According to House Bill, 2076, “the Environmental Protection Act prohibits the manufacture, distribution, or use of paper containing Bisphenol A for the making of business or banking records.” The bill also “requires paper manufacturers to, among other things, replace Bisphenol A with an alternative chemical,” it states. B-P-A has been banned from receipts in other parts of the world, such as Canada and Europe, and Illinois has become the second state in the USA to ban it, after Connecticut.

 

 

(Washington--jc)  -- U-S-D-A officials continue to look for the most accurate acreage reporting from farmers. U-S-D-A National Ag Statistics Service Spokesperson Lance Honig says some farmers are still in the decision stage…

 

 

U-S-D-A National Ag Statistics Service Spokesperson Lance Honig

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The demolition of the former Paxton Hospital continues today. The work to raze the building began several weeks ago. Carle Hospital owns the property. No specific uses for the property are planned. The demolition is expected to continue into early Summer.

 

(Sibley--ba)  -- The Sibley Burr Tractor Drive is set for July 7,Sibley Tractor Drive Spokesperson Russ Tjarks talks about his own personal experience with cancer, and why he decided to be a part of this now annual event…

 

 

Sibley Tractor Drive Spokesperson Russ Tjarks

 

(Rankin--jc) State Fire Marshal officials were in Rankin on Monday to try and find a cause of the blaze that completely destroyed the former Rankin Grade school building. In updating our story, the building had been in disrepair for years and the owner of the property facing fines from the Vermilion County Public Health Department. The Ford County Record reports that Vermilion County Public Health Department Administrator Doug Toole will contact property owner Herbert Polchow to get a timeline for the clean up of the property