(Undated--jc) --The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a question about immigration status will not be allowed on the 20-20 Census, a decision that marked a setback for President Donald Trump’s administration, but a potential win for Illinois. The reason is a large immigrant communities and billions of dollars in federal funding on the line. A lower court in New York previously ruled that the question would result in noncitizen households responding to the census at lower rates after Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced in March 2018 that he had decided to reinstate a question about citizenship on the 2020 decennial census questionnaire. Illinois, has been losing people and is reliant on immigrants to cancel out some of those losses
(Melvin--ba) Evie Ellis of Paxton continues to hand out ribbons and take lots of photos at the Ford County Fair in Melvin. Ellis will also compete next January in the State competition in Springfield. Ellis says Ford County has great leadership with the annual pageant…
Ford County Queen Evie Ellis of Paxton
(Undated--jc) Fill up your gas tank before Monday, when the state's gas tax will double and vehicle registration fees will increase. Governor. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign legislation today that would double the state’s gas tax to pay for a 45 billion dollar infrastructure plan along with another bill to hike the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 1 dollar. Monday marks the beginning of the fiscal year. Once Pritzker signs Senate Bill 19-39, which doubles the state’s motor fuel tax and increases vehicle registration and other driving fees, and Senate Bill 690, which expands gambling, taxes are on the rise in Illinois.
(Paxton--jc) Authorities have identified the woman who died in a mobile home fire in Paxton on Wednesday night. 67 year old Peggy Elkins was fatally injured in the blaze. No foul play was suspected. No damage estimates were available. The Ford County Record reports that cause of death was not the fire. Ford County Coroner Rick Flessner believes a cardiac incident was the cause of death.
(Paxton--jc) -- Ameren Crews continued some work on transformers along Route 9 in the city of Paxton on Thursday. Traffic along Route 9 near Signs and Designs, Casey’s and The NAPA store were one lane traffic. Area police agencies remind the motoring public to slow down, especially in construction zones.
(Springfield--ba) --The home of a former top political aide to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was raided by the federal government. Federal agents searched Kevin Quinn’s home, Quinn is the brother of Chicago Alderman Marty Quinn. He’s also central to a sexual harassment retaliation complaint filed by a former Democratic staffer. The focus of the federal investigation and whether it’s connected to Quinn's work with Madigan is unclear.
(Springfield--ba)- The Illinois Fire Marshal’s office is reminding the public about state fireworks laws and safety. Hundreds of people across the country head to the emergency room each year because of fireworks injuries around the Fourth of July holiday. One favorite, sparklers, can be especially dangerous, says Fire Marshal spokesperson JC Fultz.
Illinois Fire Marshal Office spokesperson JC Fultz.
(Gifford--jc) -- The 20-19 Gifford celebration is set for today and tomorrow. Tonight at 6-30 is the Marvin Lee Band. The movie “Moana” will be shown at 8-30 in Roessler Park. Emord Park in Gifford will be the location for many of the Saturday events. Starting at 7 tomorrow morning its a 5-K Run and walk. The annual parade steps off at 11. This year’s grand marshal is Linda Tiarks. She just retired after a 28 year career at Gifford Grade School. Afternoon events include the flag raising at noon, the Little Miss Gifford Pageant at 1pm and the Kiddie Tractor Pull at 2-30. New this year is a wing eating contest. Back at Roessler park at dusk are fireworks. WPXN will be broadcasting live at 10-30 with Becky Puetz It’s Summer Fun Tour Stop number 6.
(Paxton--jc) The cookout on Saturday from 10am until 2pm at the Paxton IGA will feature pork chop sandwiches, chips and pop. This week’s fundraiser helps the group called “Inner Guard Widow Sons.”
(Melvin--jc) -- It’s concert day at the Ford County Fair in Melvin. Montgomery Gentry performs after opener Mitchell Tenpenny. The concerts begin at 7-30 says Ford County Fair President Kirk Miller…
Ford County Fair President Kirk Miller.
WPXN will be broadcasting live over the noon hour today from the fair in Melvin.
LEWISTOWN, Ill. (AP) — A man suspected of fatally shooting an Illinois sheriff's deputy has been charged with first-degree murder and ordered held on $5 million bond. Forty-two-year-old Nathan Woodring of Avon appeared in Fulton County Circuit Court on Thursday. He's accused of killing 39-year-old Fulton County Deputy Troy Chisum after Chisum responded Tuesday to a battery and disturbance call at a home in Avon in rural western Illinois.
OAK LAWN, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Department of Public Health says it's investigating four cases of Legionnaires' disease in individuals at a suburban Chicago hospital. It said Thursday that two of the four were patients at Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn within the past two months. The agency says it will visit the hospital this week to test its water and that the hospital is working with it to strengthen its water management.
(Rantoul--jc) When the Rantoul 4th of July Parade steps off next Thursday morning at 9-30, the Grand Marshall is from town but also serves as the State Commander of the Veterans of Forein Wars. He is Brad Gould. Gould says he is originally from Indiana..
Rantoul 4th of July Parade Grand Marshall-Illinois VFW Commander Brad Gould
DECATUR, Ill. (AP) — For those kids looking to step inside a 7-foot eyeball, the Children's Museum of Illinois is the place to go. The (Decatur) Herald & Review reports the interactive display called "Peek Inside" that allows visitors to see the eye from the inside out will be open to the public within a few days. Dr. John Lee, a local ophthalmologist, designed it hoping that if people know more about the eye and eye diseases they will be better equipped to spot those diseases in time to protect their sight.
(Washington--jc) The U-S-D-A is making available to the public reports that break down information from the 2017 Census of Agriculture data by congressional districts. Stephanie Ho reports..
(Melvin--jc) -- The newly crowned Little Miss and Little Mister at the Ford County Fair are both from Gibson City. They are Mister Levi Johnson and Miss Autumn Eads.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker has activated an additional 80 Illinois National Guard troops for flood-fighting efforts in southern Illinois. The governor's office said Thursday about 140 Guard troops now are being used for sandbagging operations, levee monitoring and security in East Cape Girardeau, McClure and Gale.
