(Champaign–jc)  State police and Champaign County authorities responded to a suicide fatal accident along Interstate 74 on Monday. Police say  the accident happened on I-74 near the Prospect Avenue exit around 9 last night. Traffic in the area was diverted for several hours. No other information was released. WPXN news will update this story as more information becomes available. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – As the calls for raising the tipped minimum wage grow louder in Illinois, a new study reveals raising the tipped minimum wage has a significant negative impact on state tip percentages in full-service restaurants. A new proposal would give restaurants two years to have all tipped workers increased to Chicago’s minimum wage, which is $15.80 an hour, plus any tips they earn. Tipped workers currently make $9 an hour plus tips, but employers are required to make up the difference if the combined amount of hourly pay and tips does not equal the full minimum wage. The research shows that six out of seven states that have eliminated their tip credit are in the bottom half of all state tipping percentages.

 

 

(Washington-jm) – For the third time in less than a year, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin has tested positive for COVID-19. Durbin, who has been vaccinated and boosted, will miss votes ahead of Congress’ scheduled break for the month of August. The 78-year-old said he will quarantine at home while working remotely. Members of the House could vote by proxy during COVID but that practice ended this year. Senators never had that ability.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health is offering free HEPA air purifiers to licensed daycare centers across the state. More than 20 thousand air purifiers are available, to help clean the air and reduce spread of viruses, says Public Health’s Charles Williams…

 

 

Illinois Department of Public Health’s Charles Williams. The program is open to daycares outside of Chicago that are licensed by the state, and include a three year supply of filters. The window to apply is short, ending on July 31st.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup is releasing information regarding the death of a two-year-old child discovered unresponsive by his father on Saturday in Champaign. Jayce Griffin of Urbana was pronounced dead at 10:40AM in the Carle Foundation Hospital Emergency Department. Preliminary results from the autopsy conducted on Monday revealed no evidence of trauma nor foul play. At this time, the death of Jayce Griffin appears to be from natural causes pending additional testing and final autopsy results. This death is under investigation by the Champaign Police Department and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.

 

(Crescent City–jc)  The Iroquois County Fair is now complete for this year. The ribbons have been won, the rides on the midway, enjoyed. Iroquois County Fair Queen Kiernan Tammen of Danforth now looks ahead to other duties, as the county queen…

 

 

Iroquois County Fair Queen Kiernan Tammen of Danforth. WPXN will be broadcasting live at the Champaign County Fair today, over the noon hour as part of our Summer Fun Tour 20-23

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana home was burglarized earlier this month and Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in solving the case. Officials said that on July 3, police were informed of a residential burglary at a home near West Elm and South McCullough Streets. Someone had broken into the house and stole several items belonging to the people living there. A week later, officials said a man tried to pawn some of the stolen items, but the pawnshop declined to purchase the items because the suspect presented a fake ID card. The suspect was described as being Black with a medium build and long dreadlocks. He was wearing a black shirt with the Adidas wordmark printed on it in white.

(Springfield-jm) – The condition of Illinois corn and soybean crops improved slightly over the past week. 88 percent of corn acres are silking and 18 percent are in the dough stage. That’s ahead of last year’s pace. Statistician Mark Schleusener says 45 percent of the corn crop is rated in good to excellent condition. Here’s the scoop on soybeans…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 44 percent of the soybean crop is rated in good to excellent condition. The second cutting of alfalfa is 90 percent complete and the third cutting is 31 percent done. Average statewide topsoil moisture came in at 14 percent very short, 35 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has launched nearly $38 million in funding for the Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, or “CEJA Workforce Hubs.” The program establishes a network of 13 community-based hubs across the state offering training, job placement services, barrier reduction support and more. The hubs will provide training and certification to prepare people for entry-level clean energy jobs, including an introductory bridge training program.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker has expanded his original disaster proclamation to 13 additional counties based on the severe weather, tornadoes and derecho that affected communities across the state from June 29 through July 2. The disaster proclamation will now include Calhoun, Christian, Clark, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Logan, Macon, Monroe, Moultrie, Pike, Scott, and Vermilion counties. Beginning June 29, several rounds of severe storms passed through Illinois producing heavy rainfall, flash flooding, hail, tornadoes, and straight-line winds.

 

(Springfield-jm) – We will likely hear the term “heat index” quite a bit this week. A University of Illinois Extension Climate Change specialist explains what that really means. The heat index is a measure of the actual temperature, combined with the relative humidity to provide a “feels like” temp, says the Extension’s Duane Friend…

 

 

U of I Extension Climate Change Specialist Duane Friend. Friend says when the humidity is so high, not as much sweat is evaporating off our bodies to cool us off. That’s when heat related illness can occur.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A man is wanted in Champaign after Crime Stoppers officials said he failed to appear in court to face robbery and aggravated battery charges. Lorenzo Taylor is accused of shoplifting from a convenience store on May 4 and kicking an employee in the process. He was arrested later that month by the University of Illinois Police Department when officers on patrol recognized him from surveillance footage. Taylor was released on his own recognizance the day after his arrest. He was arraigned on May 24. Taylor never showed up to a pre-trial hearing scheduled for July 11 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Taylor is described as being six feet in height and weighing 162 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

 

(Gifford–jc) Most communities in East Central Illinois are proud of their fire departments, first responders and other emergency personnel that help in time of need. Whether it's an accident, fire, to a weather emergency, the volunteers who give their time are appreciated. Gifford Mayor Adam Pannbacker says his community wants to take some time to thank the volunteers…

 

 

Gifford Mayor Adam Pannbacker

 

(Champaign-jm) – Senator Paul Faraci and Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs teamed up to return $47,000 in cash from two forgotten PayPal accounts to a small business owner in Champaign. The two accounts were part of roughly 360,000 unclaimed PayPal accounts the Illinois Treasurer has received in recent years and is safeguarding for as long as it takes to find their rightful owners. Treasurer Frerichs safeguards billions in unclaimed property, including more than $51 million that remains to be claimed in Champaign County and over $20 million in Vermilion County.  Most of the unclaimed assets belong to individuals and originate from forgotten bank accounts, unclaimed life insurance benefits and other investments. However, Treasurer Frerichs currently safeguards more than 360,000 PayPal accounts as well, which often belong to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that relied on companies like PayPal for internet purchases and donations.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The condition of Illinois corn and soybean crops improved slightly over the past week. 44 percent of the soybean crop is rated in good to excellent condition with 77 percent of acres blooming and 38 percent setting pods. Statistician Mark Schleusener says 88 percent of corn acres are silking…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture declined a bit overall to 14 percent very short, 35 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Just 24 percent of pasture acres are rated in good to excellent condition.

 

Today at the Champaign County Fair it's senior citizens day with activities for seniors from 10-2 and the evening entertainment is harness racing at 6. On Wednesday it's livestock day with motorcycle races at 6. Thursday, it’s 4H day with monster trucks at 7. Friday night, its country music stars the Brothers Osborne with Matt Stell at 7:30. Saturday to wrap up the fair, its first responder day with the ITPA tractor pull at noon, touch a truck from 1-4 and the IPA tractor and semi pull at 6.