A Paxton woman is dead following a house fire that happened around 10pm last night. Ford County Coroner Rick Flessner said the woman was alone and no foul play is expected. No word on what started the fire. The woman’s name hasn’t been released.

 

 

CHICAGO (AP) — The family of a scholar from China killed by a former University of Illinois doctoral student says they're aware he offered to divulge where her remains were but weren't convinced the body would actually be found. A Wednesday statement from Yingying Zhang's relatives says they were "leery" of Brendt Christensen's offer "because he had lied so many times in the past." The defense said in a Tuesday filing that Christensen made the offer, asking for a life sentence in exchange.

 

 

(Springfield--ba)  -- One of the key components of the state’s new marijuana law is addressing those previously convicted for minor violations. About 700 thousand records could be wiped clean under the law. More than half are eligible to be automatically expunged or pardoned if the offense involves less than 30 grams of weed. Governor JB pritzker says tough marijuana laws have hit minority communities especially hard...

 

 

Illinois Governor JB pritzker

 

 

(Springfield--ba)  -- Starting Monday, people younger than 21 won’t be able to buy tobacco products or e-cigarette in Illinois.The new law, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed earlier this year, was designed to discourage young people from smoking or using other products that contain nicotine by raising the age limit to buy those products from 18 to 21. Supporters of the measure said smoking leads to higher health care costs that could be picked up by taxpayers and the more smoking is reduced, the more taxpayers will save down the line.

 

 

(Washington--ba)--How much of this past season's crops are still in storage? We'll find out this week. USDA’s Gary Crawford has that story.

 

(Undated--jc)  What is the analysis on Illinois bad financial situation. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

 

 

 

(Paxton--ba)  -- Ford County, as Trustee, has completed their tax deed proceedings on real estate properties that were delinquent for 2015 and mobile homes that were delinquent for 2016 and prior real estate taxes. The County, as Trustee, will now offer for sale, the real estate and mobile homes obtained to the public. They will offer approximately 21 real estate items and 1 mobile home item through a sealed bid auction sale. All sealed bids must be in the Ford County Treasurer’s Office located at the Ford County courthouse no later than July 12th.

 

 

(Undated--jc)  The 7th annual mid-summer fun run sponsored by the Gibson City based American Legion Riders is set for Saturday July 13th. Group Spokesperson Tabitha Renfo says the motorcycle ride fundraiser for local Veterans goes through 4 counties on July 13th…

 

 

 

American Legion Riders- Ford County Old Timers Spokesperson Tabitha Renfro

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- There is a free swim this afternoon at the Paxton Park District Pool. The event from 1pm to 5pm is sponsored by Shields Auto-Mart of Paxton.

 

(Paxton--ba)  Evie Ellis of Paxton was crowned the 20-19 Miss Ford County Fair Queen. Ellis was a guest during our live broadcast yesterday and says her future plans are college and career....

 

 

Ford County Fair Pageant Queen Evie Ellis

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza publicly shared her frustrations with state agencies and the Illinois Auditor General’s office. The reason is  tardiness in getting Illinois’ official budgetary post-mortem from 2018 to her so that she can release it to the public. July 1 will mark the beginning of Illinois’ new fiscal year for accounting purposes but the state has yet to release its

 comprehensive annual financial report, from the fiscal year that ended in June of 2018. No timetable for the report was provided by the Auditor General’s office.

 

AVON, Ill. (AP) — A sheriff's deputy in Illinois has been killed as authorities surrounded a suspect barricaded in a home. Illinois State Police say the Fulton County sheriff's deputy was responding to a battery and disturbance call about 2 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Avon, about 165 miles southwest of Chicago. Multiple shots were fired. The sheriff's office says 39-year-old Deputy Troy Chisum was fatally shot. Additional details weren't immediately released. The standoff continued hours later.

 

(Urbana--jc) Bond was set at 250 thousand dollars for two Champaign men arrested in Rantoul earlier this week on armed robbery charges.  23 year old Trevoy Fonville and 24 year old Elijah Duckword were arrested on Tuesday. The Rantoul Press also reported that U-S Marshals helped in the arrest. The pair are due back in court July 9th. A third person, 25 year old Dashiona Fonville, remains in custody on 200 thousand dollars bond. 

 

(Paxton--jc) Work on the demolition of the former Paxton Hospital building continues this week. Around two-thirds of the building is now gone as crews continue the razing process. The building is owned by Carle Foundation Hospital. Hospital officials have not revealed any plans for the property, other than the demolition process to date. 

 

 

(Melvin--jc) --  Today at the Ford County Fair in Melvin, the Open Class and Junior Sheep Show begins in the 8am hour. The Open Beef Show and Junior Rabbit Show start at 9 this morning. Ford County Fair President Kirk Miller says expected numbers for cattle and sheep are about the same, but hog entries are up…

 

 

Ford County Fair President Kirk Miller

 Registration for the Childrens Tractor pull starts at 5-30 with the event to start at 6 in the dance building. In the grandstand tonight it’s the Illiana Truck and Tractor Pull. WPXN will be broadcasting live over the noon hour as part of our Summer Fun Tour Stop number 5.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  The Village of Rantoul and the Citizens Advisory Committee wish to invite public comments at a public hearing to be held at 6 tonight in the Board Room of the Rantoul Municipal Building on  South Tanner Street. The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment on the use of $337,165 of Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the fiscal year beginning in May of this year.. Last year, the Village spent CDBG funds for housing rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, demolition, social services, and administration.  

 

HOUSTON (AP) — An attorney for the family of a 2-year-old girl struck by a foul ball during a game last month between the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros says the girl suffered a skull fracture.Attorney Richard Mithoff on Wednesday provided the first update by the girl's family on her condition since she was hit during the May 29 game in Houston.Mithoff says the girl had bleeding and swelling in her brain as well as a brain contusion after she was hit. He says she had a seizure after she was hospitalized and is taking medication to prevent more seizures.