(Springfield-jm) – New COVID-19 vaccines are now available and the Illinois Department of Public Health is recommending everyone six months and older get the shot. These latest vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer target the COVID strains that are currently circulating.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A total of 177 Illinois state employees have been determined to have obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans based on falsified information. That’s according to the Office of Executive Inspector General, which put the dollar amount of fraud found “so far” at $4.5 million. The report shows 132 employees in the Department of Human Services have been identified, the most of any state agency. The investigation was initiated in 2022 to examine whether employees with the state of Illinois abused the federal taxpayer-funded program.

 

(Springfield-jm) – This is National Senior Center Month and the State Department on Aging is urging older Illinoisans to explore their local facility. Your community senior center likely offers several activities including exercise classes, discussions, art classes, group trips and more. Department on Aging Director Paula Basta says participating at a local senior center can have many benefits…

 

 

Illinois Department on Aging Director Paula Basta. Basta says senior centers can also connect people with local resources and offer volunteer opportunities.

 

(Undated-jm) – Nineteen current and former United States Postal Service employees have been indicted by a federal grand jury. The individuals were charged with fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program administered through the Small Business Administration. Among those charged: 1 is from Savoy, 3 are from Champaign and 2 are from Urbana.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The new owner of the Paxton Airport has been making upgrades to the property since taking over in July. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold provides some information on the airport…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

 

(Iroquois County-jm) – The Iroquois County Board praised the efforts of Robert Yergler who recently retired as the County Chief Assessor.  Board Chairman John Shure presented Yergler with a plaque, pointing out his 17 + year career.  Yergler joined the county in May of 2006.  He was re-appointed for 4-year terms through his retirement August 1, 2023. Yergler's successor, Mia McCammon, recently passed her certification examination .

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA Corn Crop Forecast provides a little bit of a surprise. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

The annual PBL Homecoming parade steps off at 6pm tonight from Paxton Buckley Loda High School and moves to the downtown area of Paxton and then back to PBL High School. 

 

(Paxton-dg)-The Queen has been found. Richard Arnold of Paxton won just over $21,560. for picking the correct card in the Pride in Paxton Queen of Hearts Drawing. The local group has been raising money for an extensive sound system for downtown Paxton.

 

(Champaign–jc) State police and Champaign County police responded to an accident along Interstate 72 near the Country Fair Drive exit in Champaign early this morning. The roadway was closed for several hours and just re-opened around 6am. No word on injuries or property damage was provided. WPXN will update this story on later news casts

 

(Springfield-jm) – State Public Health officials are hoping to prevent a tri-demic this fall and winter. It’s respiratory virus season, when illnesses like COVID-19, RSV and the flu are more prevalent. You can protect yourself by starting with your annual flu shot, says State Chief Medical Officer Dr Arti Barnes…

 

 

State Chief Medical Officer Dr Arti Barnes. There is also now a vaccine for RSV that is recommended for seniors 60 and older. Barnes says a new preventative treatment for RSV is available to infants under 8 months. It’s not a vaccine but rather a monoclonal antibody shot.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker has announced $449 million in tobacco bonds have been retired. The bonds represent what remained of a $1.5 billion debt associated with the Great Recession, dating back to 2010. The state traded annual payments it was due from a multi-state legal settlement agreement with various cigarette manufacturers for upfront cash from revenue bonds. The borrowed cash was used to address unpaid bills in 2010.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Police is urging drivers and farmers to be careful during the fall harvest season. Farmers need to have the required reflectors and flashing lights and they should be free of any debris, says Trooper Josh Robinson. He also advises farmers to stay as far to the right of the road as possible…

 

 

Illinois State Trooper Josh Robinson. Driver’s need to do their part as well, says Robinson, by sharing the road and being patient. He says the majority of accidents occur when a driver tries to illegally pass large farm equipment.

 

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Farm Bureau is looking to bring faster internet to rural areas for years to come. They are planning to build broadband infrastructure. This will help communities that don’t have access to high-speed, reliable internet. The Farm Bureau got $11 million from the county board to help start the process.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Over the next six months, the Youth Center in Rantoul will be getting a $1.5 million renovation upgrade. The project is being financed by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The Youth Center will be closed to the public during the construction phase of the project. WPXN News will have more with village officials about the scope of the project and how long its expected to take.

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA has lowered its forecast for the U.S. soybean crop. Gary Crawford reports…