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Rantoul Police make an arrest in Thursday afternoon shooting

(Rantoul--jc)  Rantoul Police have made an arrest in the shooting that took place yesterday afternoon. A 16 year was taken into custody around 1am this morning. Thursday afternoon at approximately 3:48PM, Rantoul Police Officers were dispatched to the 600 Block of Autumn Fields for the report of shots fired. Upon arrival, responding officers located a 17 year old male juvenile who suffered a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. The male was transported by Professional Ambulance Service to Carle Hospital where he was admitted for observation. The injury is believed to be nonlife threatening. Witnesses to the incident observed a group of ten to twelve teenage juveniles walking in the 600 Block of Autumn Fields moments before the shooting. A male in the group made an unprovoked comment to the shooting victim and then fired three shots from a handgun at him. The group then fled the area to the north immediately after the shots were fired. The incident currently remains under investigation. 

 

(Undated-jm) -- A new study found that 95 percent of baby foods contain toxic metals, including arsenic and lead. Over 160 baby foods from major producers in the U.S. were tested. About 95 percent contained lead, 73 percent contained arsenic, 75 percent contained cadmium and 32 percent contained mercury. One in five of the foods tested had over 10 times the ppb limit of lead. The foods with the highest levels were rice-based products, sweet potatoes and fruit juices. The tests were done by Healthy Babies Bright Futures, which is a nonprofit organization that tries to reduce exposure to neurotoxic chemicals for infants.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Treasurer Mike Frerichs’ Office is returning one million dollars to Illinois taxpayers as part of the “Money Match” Program. More than eight thousand Illinois taxpayers will be getting a check in the mail in the coming weeks for unclaimed cash they are due. Treasurer Frerichs explains how it works…

 

 

State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. Money Match was launched last year and has since returned more than 12 million dollars without people having to fill out a claim. Visit Illinois Treasurer dot gov and click on “I-Cash” to see if you’re owed any money. 

 

 

(Fisher-jm) -- The Champaign County village of Fisher has officially voted to prohibit dispensing of recreational cannabis in the village. Village officials voted to prohibit the sale at a recent meeting, while voting to allow a 3 percent tax if recreational sales ever do  get approved.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Medicare open enrollment is underway and runs through December 7th. Ford County Public Health Department Administrator Lana Sample says there are some changes people need to be aware of…

 

Ford County Public Health Administrator Lana Sample. The health department October 24th at Piper City Library from 9:30-11:30, November 14th at the Moyer District Library in Gibson City from 10 to noon and December 3rd from 2-4 pm at the health department in Paxton.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released their winter outlook. Wetter than normal conditions are expected across the region. As for temperatures, NOAA says there is an equal chance that temperatures will be above, below or near normal. 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Could a second interchange come to the village of Rantoul? Village leaders are exploring the option after announcing the development of a $20 million sports complex. Village leaders are working with state and federal representatives about the project. If built the new interchange would happen at Chandler Road and would not happen for another 5 to 10 years.

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA's Deputy Secretary provided an update to lawmakers Thursday on implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill. Rod Bain reports…

 

The Melvin Community Hall will show the movie Secret Life of Pets 2 tonight starting at 7 pm.

 

The rescheduled Cissna Park Pumpkins in the Park will take place on Saturday in downtown Cissna Park. Activities include carnival games, kiddie tractor pulls, craft vendors and more.

 

Paxton IGA and the Lake Iroquois Association Women’s Club will host a pork chop sandwich cookout from 10 until 2 on Saturday at the Paxton IGA.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A new report from an independent policy and advocacy organization is calling for increased state investment in public education in Illinois, particularly in early childhood and higher education.  Advance Illinois’ annual report tracks roughly 80 metrics pertaining to student performance in three categories: early education, K–12 and postsecondary. The report found that evidence-based funding formula, which was passed in 2017, has helped increase per-pupil state spending at the K-12 level. Illinois spent, on average, $7,503 per pupil in 2017, ranking it 29th in the nation. That’s up from $4,557 in 2007, when the state ranked 45th.Still, nearly half of Illinois’ 852 school districts are working with “less than 70 percent of the funds they need to adequately meet their students’ needs,” the report said.


 

(Iroquois County--jc) --Emergency crews were called to the  scene of a serious crash on Rt. 45-52 at the Iroquois/Kankakee County line last night. The intersection was closed for several hours and traffic was rerouted around the accident. More information is coming on later newscasts.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Nearly 300 thousand Illinoisans participated in the Great Shakeout Earthquake drill Thursday, with officials reminding that earthquakes are a real possibility here. During the drill, participants practiced the three keys for staying safe during an earthquake...drop, cover and hold on. That means if you feel the earth shaking you should drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it. It’s a lesson everyone should think about says I-EMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark…

 

 

I-EMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark. These two hot spots are the New Madrid Seismic Zone in far southern Illinois and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone in Southeastern Illinois. 

 

 

(Gifford-jm) -- Gifford village leaders were presented two plans for a water main project in the village at this months meeting. Plan A would run the new main along the west side of Main Street and would require acquiring easements from 19 properties. Plan B would run the main on the east side of Main Street and would require acquiring three easements. Village trustees showed more interest in Plan B, but have asked if the project could be done with no easements.

 

 

(Buckley-jm) -- Buckley village leaders are celebrating some good news. The village’s water tower project is complete and Mayor Sherry Stachura says that’s not the only good news with the project…

 

 

Buckley Mayor Sherry Stachura.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The State Board of Education invited public comments and solicited project requests ahead of making its official budget recommendation to the legislature next year during an open hearing. During the hearing, school board officials proposed a rule change to allow school districts more flexibility in how they code or count their expenses so they can accurately distinguish risk management or liability costs and keep them separate from the administrative expense column. The state board plans to hold three more budget hearings open to the public. The next meeting will be on October 23rd, in the Bloomington High School cafeteria. 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Fees for youth basketball are going up. The Paxton Park District upped the fees this year. For kids in Kindergarten through 1st grade, it will be $40 for Paxton residents and $50 for students in the PBL school district that don’t live in Paxton. For 2nd grade and up, its $45 for Paxton residents and $55 for students in the PBL school district that don’t live in Paxton. The increases are still below the average of other area programs. Park district officials say increases are possible for other major youth sports programs.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Perhaps an overlooked aspect of Halloween safety for trick-or-treaters, young or old, is the costume. Rod Bain has the details…

 

The Orpheum Children’s Science Museum in Champaign will hold their Robot Day on Saturday from 1-5 pm. Kids will be able to create their own 3-D robot and participate in a robot battle tournament.

 

The Watseka Park District will host a kids costume and pets costume parade on Saturday at 4pm.

 

Stephanie Foster Cunningham will perform at the Bellflower Country Opry on Saturday at 7 pm. Cost is $10 per person.

 

 

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