(Springfield-jm) – Illinois health officials appear optimistic that COVID-19 outbreaks this winter won’t be severe. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, more than 400 people in Illinois were admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 last week. During a meeting Thursday with health departments from around the state, Dr. Arti Barnes, chief medical officer with IDPH, said it appears hospital admissions in the state have peaked. Vaccine manufacturers are expected to release an updated COVID-19 vaccine sometime this month, which Barnes said will be referred to as an “annual COVID shot” in an effort to gain more acceptance.
(Loda-jm) – Work continues on the new Dollar General in Loda. Construction got underway last month building the new facility on the south side of town. The store is expected to be open by the end of the year.
(Paxton–jc) Work on the Free Wi-Fi in downtown Paxton continues this week. The Paxton Main Street Group secured a grant from T-Mobile to place free internet in the downtown area of the city. Paxton Main Street Group Executive Director Donna Pepper says bringing the internet to the downtown area is an economic boost…
Paxton Main Street Group Executive Director Donna Pepper
(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County Republican John Farney has been chosen to fill the vacancy in District 3. Farney replaces Stan Harper who retired. Farney will fill the remainder of Harper’s term which expires November 30, 2024. Farney is the former county treasurer and auditor.
(Gilman-jc) – In updating our story from this week, Gilman based Incobrasa Industries broke ground on an expanded manufacturing facility. Incobrasa Industries Quality Control Manager Carey Fogerty says the company started in 19-97…
Gilman based Incobrasa Industries Quality Control Manager Cary Fogerty. The expansion helps retain the 200 jobs at the plant and brings in an additional 40 jobs, says 53rd district State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Washington-jm) – Farmers and agricultural traders around the world have for a half century depended on a particular USDA report. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) – A new analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies shows a dramatic decline in the labor force participation of working-age Illinoisans over the past six decades. The analysis shows the labor force participation rate of working-age men without a bachelor's degree in Illinois fell from 89% in 1960 to 71% in 2023. The report notes that one of the arguments for allowing in so many immigrants is that the low unemployment rate means that no potential workers are available. But what gets ignored is the increase of working age people not in the labor force in Illinois. Working-age immigrants in Illinois have not experienced the same decline in labor force participation. At the same time that the labor force numbers were falling, the immigrant share of the overall labor force increased dramatically from 6% in 1970 to 18% by 2023. About 14,000 migrants have entered Illinois over the past year, most of which were bused up from Texas.
(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign-Urbana area is celebrating a milestone — new record-breaking travel and tourism numbers. The data was just released and shows a 28% increase in spending in Champaign County in 2022. Travel and tourism supported 4,900 jobs (a 14.8% increase) and brought in $17.3 million through visitor spending (a 21.4% increase).
(Paxton–jc) City of Paxton leaders are working with Western Illinois University officials on a “mapping” project to look at the future of the city. Paxton City Councilman Rob Pacey talks about the process of the meetings…
Paxton City Councilman Rob Pacey. The first meeting is set for early October. The public is invited to attend and to also bring ideas for the meeting.
(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District said they won’t agree to a payment proposal from Marketplace Mall to use their space. MTD said the mall discussed the idea of a maintenance fee for buses to pick up and drop off people in their area. A two-year, $1,500-a-month agreement was declined after a board of directors meeting last month.
(Washington-jm) – USDA is celebrating a special birthday for a special and long-running USDA report. Gary Crawford reports…
WPXN Weekend News Notes…
The Gibson City Harvest Fest will take place tonight and tomorrow
The Team Hope walk for Huntington’s Disease will be held on Saturday at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. Activities include a walk, fun zone for kids and silent auction.
Gilman’s Super Saturday is set for Saturday in downtown Gilman. Activities include a BBQ cookoff beginning at 7 am, biscuit and gravy breakfast by the Gilman American Legion from 7-10 am, opening ceremony at 9 am, 9-4 slow boys tractor show vendor and food booths and giant red wagon rides, car show 10-1, kids zone featuring inflatables, games, face painting and petting zoo from 10-4, antique tractor parade at 4 and a golf cart scavenger hunt from 4:30-5:30.
Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting First United Methodist Women on Saturday from 10-2.
The American Lutheran Church in Rantoul will hold their Rally Sunday on Sunday.
The 9/11 Memorial Ride will take place on Sunday. The group will leave Danville at 10 am and make their way up Route 1 to Hoopeston, then along Route 9 to Paxton where they will have lunch at the Paxton fire station before heading south on Route 45 to Ludlow and Rantoul before turning onto 136 and make their way back to Danville.
A 9/11 remembrance ceremony will be held on Sunday at 2pm under the grand ole flag in Paxton.
