(Springfield-jm) – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has pleaded not guilty to racketeering and bribery. Madigan entered the plea through an attorney Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The former Democratic powerhouse is accused in a decades long bribery scheme in which utility company ComEd handed out subcontracts and no-work jobs to Madigan loyalists in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield.
(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,634 new Coronavirus cases and 32 additional deaths. Champaign County reported 40 new cases Wednesday. Vermilion County reported 2 new cases and 1 additional death.
(Hoopeston-tr) – The Lorraine Theater in Hoopeston is Celebrating 100 years with a Live Lyrical Showcase set for Sunday March 13th at 3pm. Lorraine Foundation vice president Jim Richards shares his passion for giving local talent a stage to shine on…
Lorraine Foundation vice president Jim Richards.
(Champaign-jm) – Vacancies are not unusual at METCAD 9-1-1, but they are unusually high right now at the dispatch center that answers all of Champaign County’s emergency calls. Staff members are often working 12-hour days, sometimes five or more days a week and it’s taking a toll. They normally have 33 full time employees. However, they have 9 vacancies. METCAD plans to hold in-person information sessions in April for anyone who might be interested in dispatching as a career.
(Pesotum-jm) – District 10 Illinois State Police will be conducting Nighttime Enforcement Patrols on March 12th. WPXN’s Jason Madden has the details…
(Urbana-jm) – A Champaign County jury returned a mixed bag of verdicts in the case of a Thomasboro man accused of raping and beating a former girlfriend. The jury deliberated about four hours before acquitting Mark Frandle of two counts of criminal sexual assault that accused him of raping the woman as she slept on two different occasions in June 2020. But jurors could not reach unanimous verdicts on two counts that alleged he used force to sexually assault her. They convicted him of aggravated domestic battery for a violent attack on her in March of that year.
(Paxton-jm) – Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce officials say country music legend Tracy Lawrence will headline this year’s Paxton Swine and Dine in September. Grandstand Concerts Spokesperson Leon Edwards says the country superstar will be in Paxton on September 17th…
Grandstand Concerts Spokesperson Leon Edwards. Tracy Lawrence has sold over 13 million albums and charted 18 number 1 hits. The concert is free to attend. Tickets for the special stage area are on sale now at the group’s website.
(Washington-jm) – USDA's World Supply and Demand report Wednesday projected limited short term grain market effects from the Ukraine situation, but more of an effect coming from what's happening in South America. Gary Crawford reports…
Paxton IGA will hold their cookout benefiting the Clare Peterson Pit Crew on Saturday, March 12th from 10-2.
The Iroquois County Genealogical Society will hold an Indians of Iroquois County program on Sunday, March 13th at 1 pm at the Old Courthouse Museum in Watseka.
(Rantoul-tr) – The Rantoul Recreation Department is hosting their March senior luncheon on March 17th. Rantoul Recreation Department Director Luke Humphrey is asking anyone who would like to attend to RSVP ahead of time…
Rantoul Recreation Department Director Luke Humphrey
(St. Joseph-jm) – The community of St. Joseph is preparing to say “good-bye” to a volunteer firefighter who died over the weekend while working as a tow-truck driver. Ross Booker was killed while cleaning up from a car accident in Champaign. The visitation walk-through will happen at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Booker’s funeral will be held on Saturday.
(Ford County-tr) – The Ford County Public Health Department is offering a Drug Disposal and Medical Sharps Take Back Program. Ford County Public Health Department Community Health Educator Kami Garrison is asking anyone planning to dispose needles or other sharps to have them in a secure, approved container prior to disposal…
Ford County Public Health Department Community Health Educator Kami Garrison. Drop offs are scheduled for each Tuesday and Friday in March from 8am-4pm at the FCHD. Contact Kami Garrison at 217-379-9281 for more information on the Drug Disposal and Medical Sharps Take Back Program.
(Champaign County-jm) – Governor JB Pritzker announced Wednesday morning that 36 Illinois museums will receive a total of $19.7 million in state capital investments to improve their facilities and develop new exhibits. Locally, the Champaign County Forest Preserve’s Museum of the Grand Prairie is receiving nearly $727,000.
(Washington-jm) – What does the March WASDE report have to say about the current global situation? Stephanie Ho reports…
