(Springfield-jm) – Despite polling data showing voters increasingly concerned about President Joe Biden’s fitness in advanced age, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is standing by the incumbent. A recent CNN poll shows more than half of Democrats question Biden’s fitness. The 80-year-old is running for a second term. At an unrelated event, Governor J.B. Pritzker was asked about the poll and said Biden’s age brings experience, claiming Biden has done more in two and a half years than some Presidents have done in eight years. Recent data from The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll shows 44% of respondents have inflation as their top issue, the highest percentage of any listed. As to the candidates, matchups between Biden and former President Donald Trump and Biden and Florida Governor Ron Desantis are neck and neck, according to the same polling.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is reflecting on her recent trip to Japan to promote Illinois. Lieutenant Governor Stratton led a delegation to the Midwest-US-Japan Association Conference. She told company leaders she met with that there is no better time to do business in Illinois…

 

 

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. Stratton says Japanese companies seem to recognize that Illinois has a skilled workforce as well. There are already more than one thousand Japanese companies with a presence in Illinois.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer could avoid going to trial for misdemeanor domestic battery if he completes a special second chance program. Eisenhauer was arrested in June after police said that during an argument, he pushed his wife, pulled her hair and tried to prevent her from calling 9-1-1. He pleaded not guilty. Eisenhauer is now enrolled in a second chance program Champaign County offers. If he pays a fine, completes an online course and logs 15 hours of community service, the case against him will be dismissed.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of a woman who was killed in a hit-and-run pedestrian crash on Interstate 72. Coroner Duane Northrup said the woman was identified as Colleen Keigher of Champaign. Preliminary information indicates that Keigher was walking along Interstate 72 near Champaign when she was hit and killed by a car. Keigher attended Paxton Buckley Loda school. The car fled the scene. An autopsy is scheduled for later today. 

 

(Paxton–jc)  A new fall Vendor event is coming to the city of Paxton in October. It is the first annual Paxton Fall Gathering and Vendor Show on Saturday October 14th. Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper says the location is next to the post office in downtown Paxton…

 

 

Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Authorities in Urbana are investigating after they said two groups of people exchanged gunfire Thursday afternoon. Officials with the Urbana Police Department said the shots were fired just before 3 p.m. in the area of Eads Street and North Romine Street. There were no reported injuries or property damage. 

The preliminary investigation suggested that two groups, both on foot, were shooting at each other. During the shooting, one group fled west across Wright Street and onto Grove Street, near Booker T. Washington School. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Conditions are dry in some areas of Illinois and the state climatologist says that will have a different impact this fall than the drought did earlier this summer. Most of southern Illinois has received plenty of rain and is in pretty good shape, but the rest of the state is at or near drought levels. The worst spots are in western and northwestern Illinois. State Climatologist Trent Ford says one of the biggest concerns right now is low river levels…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says this could lead to water so low that barge traffic will be restricted. Another worry is an increased risk for fires as hot harvest machinery moves through dry crops.

 

(Washington-jm) – What are the price prospects for this upcoming soybean crop? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Paxton—jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is the PaxtonMasonic Lodge 416. The local group continues to help with area projects and are set for a grand prize giveaway for their 4th annual, “Get out of Dodge” fundraisers. Paxton Masonic Lodge Spokesperson Jim Shearl talks about the grand prize to be given away tomorrow afternoon at 2pm

 

 

He talks about the history of the service organization…

 

 

Paxton Masonic Lodge Spokesperson Jim Shearl

You can hear more about the local masons group over the noon hour today.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is stressing the importance of campus fire safety. September and October are the peak months for fires on and off college campuses. Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz says no matter where a student lives, they must have a working smoke detector and know how they would escape if a fire broke out. Another tip…

 

 

State Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz. The Center for Campus Fire Safety reports that between January 2000 and April 2022, 94 fatal fires occurred on college campuses, greek housing, or nearby off-campus housing, resulting in 134 deaths, seven people have died in Illinois campus fires since 2000.

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana couple lost everything in a house fire on Thursday. The fire happened at High Cross Road between Curtis and Windsor Roads. The two-story garage, with a home on top, was completely destroyed. Fire personnel from Philo, Savoy, Homer, St. Joseph, Tolono, Pesotum, Broadlands and Villa Grove also responded to the fire.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Urbana Police have arrested a new suspect in the investigation of a murder that happened in June. 51-year-old Eddie Williams was shot to death on June 30 of this year. The shooting happened around 3:45 p.m. that day in the area of Silver and Fletcher Streets; authorities found Williams dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the neck. During a court-authorized search, police discovered a handgun in the apartment of convicted felon Eric Nash. They arrested Nash for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, but officers could not confirm whether the gun was used in Williams’ murder. Upon further investigation, Urbana Police suspected Sidney A. Smith, 45 of Urbana, in reference to the homicide. On Wednesday, officers obtained an arrest warrant with a bond amount of $4 million. Detectives found him at the Champaign County Courthouse later that day, where he was attending court on an unrelated case. Smith was arrested by law enforcement on charges of murder and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

 

(Champaign–jc)  –  Helping children feel comfortable in their home will lead to healthier and more successful times during those formative years. But it’s easier said than done, especially for non-traditional families, like when grandparents raise kids. Luckily, there are resources and best practices. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has more.

 

 

(Champaign County-jm) – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District will be holding a safety event for Child Passenger Safety Week. Every year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration partners with local communities to hold Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs from September 17–23 this year. On Monday, September 25, CUPHD will have certified child passenger safety technicians available to help parents and caregivers with proper installation and utilization of car seats for children. The event will run from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. and the north side parking lot garage of 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign. No appointment is necessary.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Conditions are dry in some areas of Illinois and the state climatologist says that will have a different impact this fall than the drought did earlier this summer. One of the biggest concerns about the recent lack of rain is low stream levels, says State Climatologist Trent Ford. That could lead to navigation issues and restricting barge traffic…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. According to the latest U-S Drought Monitor, most of southern Illinois is ok but the rest of the state is either abnormally dry or in a moderate drought. The driest conditions are in western and northwestern Illinois.

 

(Washington-jm) – The Upcoming U.S. corn crop may face more than expected competition in the export market. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

WPXN News Notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank’s Foodmobile will be in Ford County today with stops in Piper City across from the community center at 9 am, Living Word Church in Roberts at 10 am, across from the Melvin convenient store at 11 am, the Gibson City city hall at noon, Elliott village hall at 1pm and Paxton Hardware and Rental at 2pm.

 

The Ford County Public Health Department will hold a flu clinic today from 9-11 am at the health department in Paxton.

 

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

 

Gibson City will hold their fall garage sales today and tomorrow.

 

Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting Loda American Legion Auxiliary on Saturday from 10-2.

 

The 2023 Paxton Swine n Dine BBQ Contest and Festival will take place on Saturday with the kids zone opening at noon, bags tournament at 1, BBQ awards announcement at 3, car show at 5 with live music beginning at 5:30