(Paxton-jm) – Fireworks will go off in the city of Paxton this summer. Fireworks will be held on Saturday, August 5th at Bixby Park with a rain date of Sunday, August 6th. A parking map is available on the Paxton Emergency Response Service’s facebook page.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker concluded his visit to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom, where he promoted Illinois’ commitment to electric vehicle manufacturing with automobile and parts manufacturing leaders. Over the upcoming days, the delegation of business and education leaders will meet with their counterparts in London to discuss the expansion of partnerships between the state of Illinois and the United Kingdom. Officials said Pritzker and the delegation will focus on promoting clean energy and economic developments.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Supreme Court is expected to announce their decision on whether the end of cash bail in Illinois will go into law or not later this morning. Several lawsuits were filed over the provision in the Safe-T Act. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Corn sweat? Yep, it’s a real thing in the midwest. More than 90 million acres of corn are planted each year in Illinois. As those seedlings grow, they can put off a lot of moisture, says University of Illinois Extension Climate Specialist Duane Friend. Corn sweat peaks during the tassel stage, with just one acre pumping up to four thousand gallons of water into the air each day…

 

 

U of I Extension Climate Specialist Duane Friend. Friend says the corn sweat hasn't been as bad this summer since it’s been so dry.

 

(Paxton-jm) – Paxton first responders were called to a two vehicle accident Monday afternoon. Crews were called to the accident on Market Street in downtown Paxton around 2:30. One of the vehicles involved in the accident caught fire. There’s no word on if there were any injuries.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in solving a burglary that resulted in over $4,000 worth of cash and merchandise being stolen. The burglary happened the morning of June 11 at Soma Ultralounge, located at 320 North Neil Street in downtown Champaign. Officials said that someone entered the business through an unsecured door at 3:44 a.m. and pried open two cash registers, stealing the cash inside and multiple other items before leaving. Officials said the same man came back with a second man hours later at 8:21 a.m., and they together stole more than $4,000 worth of alcohol.

 

(Paxton–jc)- Work on the New La Cafeteria in downtown Paxton continues. This is the third business being planned for the downtown area of the city with Victor Torres. Torres has La Hacienda Cantina, Lucky’s Place and soon La Cafeteria. Torres says a wide variety of pastries are planned…

 

 

Paxton Businessman Victor Torres. 

 

CHAMPAIGN - A Champaign man has been arrested following an investigation into a June 2023 homicide on Springfield Avenue. On June 24th, Champaign Police were dispatched to the 2500 block of West Springfield Avenue just after 11pm for a shooting with Injuries. On-scene, officers located 34-year-old Keith Marrissette from Champaign with a life-threatening gunshot wound. He later died at a local hospital Police say 29-year-old Daviet Henderson of Champaign fired shots at  Marrissette. On Saturday, Henderson was stopped for a traffic violation and was subsequently arrested for his involvement in this incident. Henderson  remains in the custody of the Champaign County Correctional Center awaiting arraignment on charges including Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Use of a Firearm by a Felon, and Defacing a Firearm. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Champaign County Crimestoppers at 217-373-8477.

 

(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Bankers Association has announced that Thomas Chamberlain has been elected as the Chair of the IBA’s Board of Directors for 2023-2024. The election was held on June 23 during the organization’s Annual Conference. Chamberlain is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Iroquois Federal Savings and Loan Association.  He is responsible for managing the lending activities for the bank’s eight offices located in Danville, Champaign, Savoy, Hoopeston, Watseka, Clifton and Bourbonnais, Illinois, and Osage Beach, Missouri.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The State Farm Center announced that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie will be performing at the State Farm Center. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie will be performing on Tuesday, September 26 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, at 10 a.m.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Winter wheat harvesting is nearly complete as we hear in the weekly crop report. 95 percent of the winter wheat crop has now been harvested, which is about on par with the 5 year average says Statistician Mark Schleusener. As for other crops…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Soybeans improved to 40 percent in good to excellent condition, with 61 percent of acres blooming and 19 percent setting pods. Average statewide topsoil moisture declined a little to 19 percent very short, 28 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

 

(Crescent City–jc)  –  The 2023 Iroquois County Fair kicks off today with 4-H judging beginning at 9, food auction at 2, talent show at 5. The annual Queen and Little Miss Pageant also take place today. Joel Cluver has the details…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The FBI’s Springfield office has issued a warning to Illinois residents about a scam tactic involving fraudsters pretending to be the victim’s loved ones. The “grandparent scam” as officials call it has been reported on several occasions this summer and several people have fallen victim. It involves a bogus attorney asking for money to secure the release of a loved one from custody following a traffic accident. The FBI said there were over 400 victims over the age of 60 who lost a combined $3.8 million in grandparent scams last year.

 

(Undated-jm) – An ethics watchdog is calling for an investigation into the possible misuse of Illinois Congressman Sean Casten’s Twitter account. The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust filed a complaint requesting an investigation into whether Casten used official House video, photographs and press releases on his campaign Twitter account. The group alleges that it violates House rules. The foundation leveled similar accusations against Illinois Congressman Eric Sorensen.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs urges nonprofit groups to apply for 200 thousand in charitable trust grants. The money is for organizations that help people with housing, employment and job training and the maximum award amount is 20 thousand dollars, says Treasurer Frerichs…

 

 

State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. Grant applications will be accepted through September 30th. Interested groups can visit: il charitable trust dot com to get started.

 

(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City police have released their recent activity report. On July 7th, Erica Carden was arrested for retail theft. On July 15th, Minyale Taylor was arrested for home invasion, criminal trespass to property and assault.

 

(Danville-jm) – The Vermilion County Coroner has released the name of the man who was killed in a Danville hit-and-run crash on Sunday. Coroner Jane McFadden identified the man as Michael J. Woestman, 58 of Danville. She confirmed that he was hit by a vehicle and then succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday. The investigation into his death is ongoing, but Danville Police believe it was an intentional act committed by Woestman’s girlfriend Lou Ann St. Onge.

 

(Gilman–jc)  The crops are growing and that means rural intersections may have some issues for rural motorists. Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece says drive extra careful…

 

 

Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece

 

(Champaign–jc)  –   Illinois U.S. Senator Durbin  Monday announced $6.6 million in federal funding to help Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District  purchase ten, 40-foot diesel electric hybrid replacement buses. This funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration  Low-No Emission Bus Grants Program, which Durbin helped pass in Congress with the  Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Police Department has announced a new marketing campaign to recruit police officers. The department hopes to attract talented individuals committed to public service and making a positive impact in the community. Champaign Police also seek to create awareness of the multiple opportunities available within the department to recruit diverse candidates who reflect the community.

 

(Urbana-jm) – State Senator Paul Faraci and State Representative Carol Ammons announced a Mobile DMV event in Urbana that will give the community a one-stop shop to renew their license or license plate stickers.Faraci's office said the event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, August 4 at the Urbana City Building located at 400 S. Vine St.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Winter wheat harvesting is nearly complete as we hear in the weekly crop report. With five days suitable for fieldwork, 95 percent of the winter wheat crop has now been harvested. For corn, 70 percent of acres are silking and 7 percent is in the dough stage. The corn crop improved slightly to 41 percent in good to excellent condition. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 61 percent of soybeans are blooming…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture dipped a bit to 19 percent very short, 28 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.