(Springfield-jm) – It’s now easier for Illinoisans to change the gender on their birth certificate. Under a new law that took effect July 1st, a person who doesn’t identify with the gender on their birth certificate can get it updated without a doctor's note. Senator Laura Fine of Glenview sponsored the measure last February…
State Senator Laura Fine of Glenview. The Illinois Department of Public Health has just modernized the process for updating a birth certificate to reflect the new law. You can get started by visiting: dph dot illinois dot gov and then look under “birth records.”
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning student loan borrowers about potential scam efforts now that the U.S Supreme Court has rejected the Biden Administration’s student debt relief plan to forgive as much as $20,000 of federal student loan debt. Payments are set to resume in October after the high court ended the repayment pause, paving the way for interest on the loans to again begin accruing on September 1. Borrowers should expect to receive a notice of payment several weeks before payment is due. With Raoul stressing the fraud attempts could come in the form of scam calls, emails and letters, his office has now set up a Student Loan Helpline at 1-800-455-2456 for those who may be seeking direction or feel as if they may have been the victim of such a repayment scam.
(Springfield-jm) – Legislation that would cut state funding to libraries that ban certain books has been signed by the Governor. 53rd District State Tom Bennett of Gibson City called the legislation controversial and says it takes local control away…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Mahomet-jm) – One Illinois State Senator wants to make sure that the next Fourth of July, the money Illinoisans spend on fireworks stays in the state. Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet wants to make some fireworks legal in Illinois. He’s talking about those that temporarily explode and make sound for amusement purposes, like bottle rockets and Roman candles. Commercial-grade fireworks, however, would remain excluded. Rose said he wants to legalize fireworks to boost tax revenue in Illinois. He pointed out all of Illinois’ surrounding states sell fireworks. The Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, representing 1,600 fire chiefs in the state, expressed their disapproval in a statement on its website, saying there are inherent dangers with handling fireworks that people may not recognize.
(Ford County-jm) – State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington has traveling office hours set up for next week. The representative will be in Paxton on Tuesday from 9 until noon at Kino’s Coffee and then in Piper City from 1 until 4pm at the Village Hall…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.
(Campustown-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department is investigating after they said four students were shot at with pellet guns Tuesday night. Officials said that they’ve received at least four reports of students being fired upon at various locations around campus. One student reported being shot at twice. In each incident, the victims reported that the occupants of a car fired upon them as the car drove by. None of the victims were hurt seriously enough to require medical attention. The offending car was described by the victims as being a black sedan, with its occupants wearing ski masks. Witnesses were unable to provide additional distinguishing characteristics of the car or its occupants.
(Washington-jm) – Many experts say a further look into USDA's acreage report shows that it should not have been as big a surprise as it initially was. Gary Crawford reports…
(GIbson City–jc) If you see a lot of motorcycles and other vehicles on a ride in Ford County on Saturday, there is a good reason. It is the annual American Legion Riders event to help Ford County veterans and first responders. Event Spokesperson Nikki Jayne says all are welcome to ride or just come to the silent auction and dance on Saturday…
American Legion Riders event Spokesperson Nikki Jayne. Sign up is at the Gibson City American Legion from 9am to 10-30am. The ride starts at 11am.
(Springfield-jm) – A new state law puts an end to detention centers keeping young offenders in solitary confinement. The practice is already banned at the five youth centers run by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. This law adds county detention centers as well and was supported by Senator Rachel Ventura of Joliet…
State Senator Rachel Ventura of Joliet. The ACLU of Illinois filed a lawsuit over the issue last week. They allege that kids as young as 11 years old are being locked up alone for up to 23 hours a day at the Franklin County Detention Center in downstate Benton.
(Springfield-jm) – A newly released audit of Illinois’ unemployment agency shows some of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was a major national security failure, according to a critic. In March 2020, when Governor J.B. Pritzker ordered all nonessential businesses to close in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, unemployment spiked. The federally-funded Illinois Department of Employment Security experienced a slew of problems including fraud. Without knowing the full scope of the fraud, the state had to take on debt to pay claims, debt that was later paid off with federal COVID-relief tax funds. Previous audits showed the state had at least $2 billion in fraudulent claims, but the full scope was not known because the agency didn’t keep proper records. A new audit released Thursday doubled down on those findings. One finding the Illinois Auditor General released Thursday notes the agency’s lack of information to be audited was because it contracted out with a vendor to conduct pandemic benefits programs. Records show for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, IDES entered into multiple contracts with Deloitte totaling $14.3 million.
(Champaign–jc) – The Champaign Fire Department responded to a fire in a detached garage at 912 Charles St., Thursday, July 6, at 10:16 p.m. Fire crews quickly extinguished this garage fire. Firefighters responded to a report of a detached garage on fire, initially called in by a passerby. Once on the scene, fire crews reported moderate smoke and fire coming from the front of the garage. Firefighters deployed a single hose line and kept the fire from extending beyond the garage. The cause of this fire has not been determined as investigators remain on the scene conducting their investigation. There were no firefighter or occupant injuries reported.
(Springfield-jm) – Paul Faraci has served in the state senate for a little over six months, after he was appointed to fill the vacancy following the passing of the late Senator Scott Bennett. Faraci talks about the spring session…
52nd District State Senator Paul Faraci of Champaign.
(Hoopeston-jm) – Tractor Supply has opened a new store in Hoopeston. The store is located at the corner of Routes 1 and 9.
(Vermilion County-jm) – State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian has seen his legislation dealing with county auditors signed into law by the governor. House Bill 1153, amends the Officers and Employees Article of the Counties Code and decreases the minimum number of inhabitants that must reside in a county for the county to be required to create the office of county auditor from 75,000 inhabitants to 70,000 inhabitants. According to the representative, the measure was an initiative of the County Auditors Association and Vermilion County. Vermilion County’s population has dropped below 75,000, as determined by census, and the CAA and Vermilion County wanted to maintain an Auditor…
State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian. The bill officially took effect June 30th.
(Paxton-jm) – A Paxton business will be sold later this month during a foreclosure sale. The building that once housed Doug’s Compounding Pharmacy will go on the auction block July 26th.
(Washington-jm) – Rains are expected to continue this week – aiding corn and soybean crops in major growing regions during a key time in production. Rod Bain reports…
WPXN Weekend News Notes…
Rantoul will hold their Freedom Fridays tonight with In Bloom performing in downtown Rantoul.
Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting the Loda Lutheran Church on Saturday, from 10-2.
The American Legion Riders will hold a benefit on Saturday at the Gibson City American Legion. Ride and silent auction begin at 11.
The Dixie Flyer Band will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday. Cost is $10 for adults 13 and older. Doors open at 5:30 with the concert beginning at 7.
