(Springfield-jm) – Using a grant from the Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois State Police have been targeting vehicle theft, carjacking and related violent crimes. The agency received a $10 million Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council grant. ISP reports from April through June, they have recovered over 200 stolen or hijacked vehicles and made 35 arrests.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois doesn’t just have a teacher shortage, House lawmakers are learning about the need for other school personnel as well. Based on testimony at a House committee hearing on the topic, schools are short social workers, psychologists, counselors and nurses. Many of the issues are the same among the professions. Tom Tebbe (teh-bee) with the Illinois Association of School Social Workers discussed some of the problems…
Illinois Association of School Social Workers’ Tom Tebbe (teh-bee). Solutions proposed include scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for those committing to work in rural and low-income areas, paid internships and recruiting high schoolers to pursue a career in one of the various fields.
(Springfield-jm) – The federal government and attorneys general from Illinois and 49 other states are joining forces to crack down on illegal telemarketing calls. “Operation Stop Scam Calls” is meant to focus on the telemarketers and the companies responsible for the billions of illegal robocalls that are generated each day. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said illegal robocalls are a big problem that require a big response.
(Springfield-jm) – A new sculpture at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield hi-lites the powerful words of the 16th President. The piece is called the “Beacon of Endurance” that stands nearly 25 feet tall outside the museum’s east wall. It’s an almost broken-looking obelisk with quotes from Lincoln on the bottom and words like dream, advancement and unity on the top. The upper portion will be illuminated at night, says Museum Director of Exhibitions Lance Tawzer…
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Exhibitions Director Lance Tawzer. A firm out of Chicago came up with the design. You can learn more about the library and museum at: president lincoln dot illinois dot gov.
(Champaign-jm) – An Urbana man will spend the next 80 years in prison after he was convicted of trying to kill a senior couple in Champaign last fall. Kenichi Townsend, 27, was found guilty on two counts of attempted murder in May. At sentencing a Champaign County judge imposed a 45-year sentence on him for shooting the wife, who was injured far worse than her husband was, and a 35-year sentence for shooting the husband. The sentences will be served consecutively, and Townsend will not be eligible for parole until 2091. He will be 95 years old at that point in time.
(Urbana-jm) – Trustees approved the closure of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. The final group of students graduated in 2022. Operations that had been based in Urbana-Champaign have now been integrated into other College of Medicine campuses in Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford. This came following the decision in 2015 to establish the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Carle Illinois College of Medicine in Urbana-Champaign is the world’s first engineering-based medical school.
(Crescent City–jc) – Its Rodeo Day at the Iroquois County Fair today. 20-23 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Kiernan Tammen of Danforth has been busy too. Tammen says her duties include meeting with competitors and those attending the daily events…
2023 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Kiernan Tammen of Danforth.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Supreme Court denied a bid to revisit a February ruling that Biometric Information Privacy Act claims accrue each time data is unlawfully collected. Critics said such an interpretation will lead to astronomical damage awards that could destroy businesses. The BIPA establishes penalties of up to $1,000 for each unintentional violation and up to $5,000 for “willful” violations.
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce was among several business groups that filed briefs urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its interpretation of when violations occur under the law.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is stressing the need for pool safety this summer. The number one rule is to always keep a watchful eye on children who are in or near a pool. That applies to hot tubs and those little kiddie pools as well. Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz offers more tips…
Illinois State Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz. If you’ve just put in a pool, Fultz says an “isolation fence” which is four sided and separates the pool from the yard and house is the best option. Statistics from the American Red Cross show that kind of setup reduces a child’s risk of drowning by 83 percent compared to a three sided fence.
(Chicago-jm) – The inaugural NASCAR Chicago street race helped hotels with occupancy rates, but it was no match for Taylor Swift. According to Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism arm, Chicago hotels averaged more than 36,000 room bookings per night from June 30 to July 2, an occupancy rate of 79%. Chicago hotels saw a record weekend in early June when the city hosted three sold out Taylor Swift shows at Soldier Field and the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting at McCormick Place, filling nearly 97% of rooms.
(Springfield-jm) – This is Lottery Week, and the theme for 2023 is “More than a Game.” Lotteries across the country are highlighting the financial benefits provided to their states and local communities. Approximately 25 percent of every dollar played with the Illinois Lottery goes to public education and other causes. Spokesperson Meghan Powers says there are plenty of ways to play…
Illinois Lottery Spokesperson Meghan Powers. There’s been a lot of Illinois Lottery excitement this year, with some big jackpots for games like Powerball, Mega Millions and Lotto.
(Paxton-jm) – Paxton first responders were called to a single vehicle rollover accident Thursday evening. The accident happened on 200 north near 1700 east around 5pm. No word on if there were any injuries.
(Champaign-jm) – With a history stretching back nearly eight decades, Indoor Climate Research and Training (ICRT) in Champaign has facilitated home performance improvements intended to lower energy costs and improve the healthiness of homes. Designed to provide job training and serve low-income households in Illinois by conducting energy and indoor air quality research, ICRT
officially joins the RPC in July as the agency’s newest division.
(Crescent City–jc) 20-23 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Kiernan Tammen of Danforth has some help in her duties this week at the Iroquois County Fair. She is the Little Miss Queen in Paisley Vance of Buckley. Paisley talked with Joel Cluver about her duties at the fair…
20-23 Little Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Paisley Vance of Buckley
Today at the Iroquois County Fair it's the T&A Bucking Bulls Rodeo at 8. Tomorrow, its Christian bands Cain and Katy Nichole at 7. Sunday, its kids games and car show at noon.
WPXN News notes
Gibson City will hold their Friday night cruise night tonight from 6-10 pm.
Rantoul will hold their Freedom Fridays tonight with New Souls performing in downtown Rantoul. Other activities include a bags tournament, free yard games, $5 laser tag and a foam party.
The Mid-Summer Night’s Dream Bash is tonight at North Park in Gibson City.
The 2023 Champaign County Fair runs today through the 29th at the fairgrounds in Urbana, Tonight, its dirt track racing at 6:30. Saturday, it’s military day and the demolition derby at 5. Sunday, it’s western day with the draft horse show at 4.
Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting the Hometown Heroes on Saturday from 10-2.
