(Paxton-jm) – A blind attorney from Champaign has filed a petition in Ford County Circuit Court seeking to hold Circuit Clerk Kamalen Johnson Anderson in indirect civil contempt for allegedly violating state and federal anti-discrimination laws by refusing to allow the filing and exchange of documents via email in a since-settled civil case. According to our partners at The Ford County Chronicle, a petition for adjudication of indirect civil contempt was filed August 3, against Johnson Anderson, both individually and in her capacity as circuit clerk, by attorney Karla Westjohn. The petition, which alleges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act, Illinois Human Rights Act, Illinois Constitution and an Illinois Supreme Court rule, is set for a status hearing to be held remotely via Zoom at 11:30 a.m. August 28, before Livingston County Associate Circuit Judge Mary Koll, who was reassigned the case by 11th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Casey Costigan upon Ford County Circuit Judge Matt Fitton’s recusal. The petition also seeks the awarding of $2,500 each to both Westjohn and the client she was defending in the now-settled civil case and also urges the Illinois Supreme Court to “solve this problem permanently” by “insisting upon a fully accessible e-filing system, something which has been possible for more than 20 years.”

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Fair closes out this Sunday, and one area families don’t want to miss is Conservation World. Conservation World is 30 acres of rolling hills and free activities at the northwest corner of the fairgrounds, says Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Natalie Phelps Finnie…

 

 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. There’s also a lumberjack show and Chris Camp, the “Whip Guy.” Phelps Finnie says for the first time, there will be a food truck featuring “copi.” Copi is the state’s name for Asian carp and menu items include copi sliders, rangoon, empanadas and nuggets. Conservation World is open from 10 am to 7 pm each day.

 

(Champaign-jm) – People living near the Kraft factory in Champaign may have been breathing in a toxic chemical lately. The Urbana & Champaign Sanitary District, said Kraft had an issue with their pretreatment system on August 3, which caused an ammonia-based problem as water left the plant. The district has been working with Kraft to fix the issue, but it has not fully resolved yet. 

 

(Cissna Park–jc)  The 20-23 Old Settlers Celebration got underway last night in downtown Cissna Park. Schwer Amusements is on the midway and all around the park. Someone will also win a 20-24 Chevrolet Trax on Saturday night. Cissna Park American Legion Spokesperson Dick Swing has some information about events tonight…

 

 

Cissna Park American Legion Spokesperson Dick Swing. A 5-K run kicks off events on Saturday, The annual parade is at noon. Kids Waterball and Kids Tractor pull, Logan Kirby and more highlight the day on Saturday. 

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – Two veteran members of the Vermilion County Board are calling for some changes in the way the board operates. Board members Kevin Green and Nancy O’Kane are calling for the creation of a separate finance committee instead of the current finance and personnel committee.  Green noted there was a separate finance committee created in 1994, but in 2010 a combined personnel and finance committee was formed. Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy informed the board in a legal opinion that the two committees should not have been combined. Green and O’Kane also want to change the Board’s Rules of Order and are suggesting that no board member – except the County Board Chairman – should serve on more than three standing committees. A vote on the changes could come as early as next month’s county board meeting.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Drought conditions are easing in Illinois. Most of the state has seen an improvement over the past month, especially central and far southern Illinois says State Climatologist Trent Ford. A few areas are still too dry…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says thanks to recent rains, crop conditions have improved dramatically and soil moisture is increasing. But the forecast for the next week is calling for hotter and drier weather so drought conditions could worsen in some areas.

 

(Bloomington, Il)      The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from Governor Pritzker’s new Megasites Development Program funded through Rebuild Illinois Capital Funds. One of only nine grants awarded across the state, these funds will be combined with Airport Authority dollars to aid in the development of a new industrial, manufacturing and distribution site offering multimodal capabilities.

 

(Watseka-jm) – Multiple shooting victims were discovered in Watseka Thursday afternoon. According to the Watseka Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of W. North St. for a report of a shooting victim. Once on the scene, police discovered multiple shooting victims. Illinois State Police say one person was pronounced deceased. The shooter is in custody. WPXN News will continue to follow this story.

 

(Springfield-jm) – With kids heading back to the classroom, the Illinois State Police say it’s a good time to review school bus safety laws. The rules can be a little confusing since they depend on the number of lanes in the road. Trooper Josh Korando (co-rondo) explains…

 

 

Illinois State Police Trooper Josh Korando. Korando says when a school bus stops on a road with four or more lanes, and at least two lanes have traffic going the opposite way, only drivers going the same direction of the bus need to stop. Violators can face a 300 dollar fine and lose their license for three months.

 

(Urbana-jm) – After a five-year hiatus, a community-loved costume sale is back. The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, located on the University of Illinois campus, is gearing up for its first sale since the pandemic. Student-made hats, dresses and props will be up for the taking. This year the center has more than double the inventory to move out. The sale kicks off on August 26th. Early birds can buy a ticket to start shopping at 8 a.m. Everyone else can shop at 12 p.m.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Charges have been dropped in a 2020 Champaign murder. Christopher Kelly was shot and killed in Champaign August of 2020 in the Star Fox Liquor parking lot. Prosecutors say they can’t find the only witness.  

Trevoy Fonville and Johnnie Holbrook were originally charged. Holbrook remains in jail for separate felony charges.

 

(Paxton–jc)  School has started, but the PBL Youth Football and Cheerleading group continues to prepare for league games on Saturdays. PBL Youth Football and Cheerleading President Matt Quinlan says the kids work hard each week to get ready for competition…

 

 

PBL Youth Football and Cheerleading President Matt Quinlan. The PBL teams head to Iroquois West in Gilman on Saturday for week two. 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) – The first installment of real estate taxes in Iroquois County is due today. The second installment comes due September 18. Corrected tax bills were mailed last week for those affected by an extension error in four drainage districts.   The correction is due to an error made in the extension of taxes on four of the Drainage Districts in Iroquois County.  The drainage districts with extension errors include: Eastburn Drainage District #1-Belmont and Sheldon townships, Eastburn Drainage District #3-Sheldon township, Union Drainage District #2 Ashkum/Danforth Sub 2-Danforth township and Mud Creek Special Assessment-Artesia, Ash Grove, Fountain Creek, Onarga, and Pigeon Grove townships.

 

 

WPXN Weekend News Notes…

 

The 147th annual Fairbury Fair runs through Sunday. Tonight Country music group  Sawyer Brown will perform at 7:30, stock car racing on Saturday at 5:30, Sunday at 1pm its the demolition derby.

 

Cissna Park Old Settlers Reunion will take place through Saturday. Tonight its live music with A Natural High at 7:30 and The Allen Quartet at 8:30. Saturday, its 5k run/walk at 7:30, parade at noon, kiddie waterball at 2, kiddie tractor pull at 3, Logan Kirby at 8 and the drawing for the 2024 Chevy Trax or $20,000 cash at 11.

 

Gibson City will hold their Friday night cruise night tonight from 6-10 pm.

 

The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Glo Bingo will take place tonight. Doors open at 6:30 with Bingo beginning at 7. Cost is $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

 

Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting the Boy Scout Troop 32 on Saturday from 10-2.

 

Gibson Area Hospital’s Summer Bash will take place on Saturday in downtown Gibson City with Classic Rock group 38 Special performing.

 

The Buckley St. John’s Ladies Aid will have its Ice Cream Social on Sunday from 10:30-1pm at the St. John’s Grade School lunchroom. Hot Beef, ham, or cheese sandwiches will be available along with ice cream, pie and cake.

 

The Cornbelt Shrine Club will hold their kids day on Sunday from 12-3 at North Park in Gibson City. Activities include go-karts, jump house and more.