(Cissna Park-jm) – Champaign County Coroner, Duane Northrup is releasing the
name of a Cissna Park woman who has died from injuries sustained after being involved in a motor vehicle crash in Iroquois County Monday. Betty J. Reetz, 64, of Cissna Park, died at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana from multiple
traumatic injuries. Mrs. Reetz was reported to be the driver of a vehicle that was hit by another vehicle on Route 49 @ 300 N Road, Iroquois County. No autopsy will be performed however, an inquest may be held on a later date. This death is being investigated by the Champaign Coroner’s Office and the Illinois State Police.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence is reporting that 57 people died in 45 separate domestic violence incidents in Illinois during 2022. The data is part of the coalition's annual Domestic Violence Homicide Report. Of those 57 deaths, a third were 17 years-old or younger and the oldest victim was 79. Seven of the incidents also ended with the perpetrator committing suicide. According to the report, firearms were the most common causes of death in these incidents.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is telling President Joe Biden the numbers of migrants arriving to Chicago from the southern U.S. border are accelerating, and that the situation is overwhelming, untenable and uncoordinated. In a letter Pritzker sent the White House Monday, the governor said there needs to be more federal money to care for the migrants, among other suggestions. The state's taxpayers have spent more than $330 million on more than 15,000 non-citizens arriving in Chicago in the past 13 months.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois House Republicans, led by House Republican Leader Tony McCombie discussed problems brought forth last week by two Illinois Auditor General reports dealing with state agencies. Leader McCombie talks about the lack of work from Democratic leadership…
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie.
(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Police are still investigating a shooting that left three people hurt one week ago, and Crime Stoppers is looking for tips they can pass along. The shooting happened in downtown Champaign on September 24. Officers responded to the area of West Park Avenue and North Neil Street around 2:30 a.m. and found two people from Texas who had been shot. A third victim from Indiana arrived at an area hospital as officers were on the scene. All three victims are still recovering from their injuries.
(Paxton–jc) The first of several “Mapping” meetings is set for the city of Paxton tonight from 5-30pm to 8-30pm in the Paxton Buckley Loda Junior High Commons area. Paxton City Councilman Rob Pacey provides some insight into what “mapping”...is…
Paxton City Councilman Rob Pacey. The event is free to attend and the public is invited. WPXN News will be following the Mapping sessions.
(Undated-jm) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it is planning a nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System on Wednesday. The alert will be delivered to cell phones, wireless devices, radios, and televisions, at 1:20 p.m. our time. The message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
(Paxton–jc) The pumpkins will be arriving in Paxton for a fall festival event on October 14th, but plans for the annual Christmas parade in the city are also underway. PRIDE in Paxton Director Dawn Glad says this year’s theme is “Christmas Trees and Memories-honoring PRIDE in Paxton Founder Teri Hancock who passed away this summer. Glad says the parade is the Saturday after Thanksgiving…
PRIDE in Paxton Director Dawn Glad
(Washington-jm) – The corn crop is rapidly maturing and harvest is pretty much on schedule. Gary Crawford reports…
(Paxton–jc) Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is the Frederick Community Bank of Paxton and Cissna Park. The bank started out as the Clarence State Bank in 1908, eventually moved to Cissna Park in 1941 and then the First National Bank in Paxton in 1969. The two facilities merged in August of 2018. Frederick Community Bank Loan Officer Alden Harms talks about serving the ag community with a full line of loans and lines of credit…
Frederick Community Bank Loan Officer Alden Harms
Frederick Community Bank Loan Officer Nicole Weber says it’s nice to know your customers, and still take the extra steps to protect their identity and money…
Frederick Community Bank Loan Officer Nicole Weber
You can hear more about the Frederick Community Bank with an interview with Alden Harms and Nicole Weber during the noon news today.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is encouraging eligible families to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to support utility bill assistance for natural gas, propane and electricity. Applications opened this week for income-eligible households with seniors over the age of 60, Illinoisans with a documented long-term disability, and/or children under age 6. All families who meet the qualifications will receive support until funding is exhausted.
(Teutopolis-jm) – An Illinois lawmaker is calling for full accountability from the Illinois Department of Transportation following an ammonia leak that killed five people in Effingham County. A tanker truck ran off Route 40 Friday and leaked more than 4,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia. State Representative Adam Niemerg said IDOT diverted traffic from Interstate 70 several hours earlier but had not yet resumed normal traffic. He said he is frustrated by IDOT’s inability to take action to alleviate accidents due to construction on I-70 and is calling for a full investigation.
(Springfield-jm) – Experts say consumer interest and sales of electric vehicles in Illinois and across the country are not slowing down. Mark Richardson reports…
(Savoy-jm) – A man has been arrested and is facing charges after authorities said he confessed to robbing a Subway restaurant in Savoy last month. Devante Derrickson was identified as a suspect in the September 22 robbery using an automated license plate reader. The ALPR identified the vehicle used by the suspect, which led them to Derrickson. Court files indicate that a warrant for Derrickson’s arrest was issued on September 27, charging him with aggravated robbery. Members of a U.S. Marshals fugitive task force found Derrickson in Danville the following day and arrested him. Derrickson was booked into the Champaign County Jail on the robbery charge.
(Rantoul–jc) One area village is growing and more space for housing is needed. That is a good issue for the Village of Rantoul. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says village leaders continue to work with land owners near Rantoul to put in plots for new homes…
Village of Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(Urbana-jm) – The City of Urbana, in partnership with the City of Champaign, The Refugee Center, New American Welcome Center, and Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office, were awarded a $247,918 grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services to fund services to asylum seekers in Champaign County. The funds will help cover the costs of shelter, food, health and wellness, legal expenses, and wraparound services for asylum seekers from Central and South America and the Middle East who have settled in Champaign County since August 2022. The grant funds will provide services for an estimated 200 adults and 100 children during the grant period.
(Paxton–jc) Tickets for this Saturday's Wine and Chocolate Walk in Paxton remain available. This is the 5th annual event for the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce. 22 businesses have signed up to participate and 250 tickets are being sold. Around 60 remain. Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Dawn Stack says the walk is a way to promote the city and businesses while having a fun time in Paxton…
Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Dawn Stack. Tickets can be purchased at Hudson Drug and Hallmark, the chamber office or line .
(Washington-jm) – There's a little bit of a surprise in this week's USDA report on the condition of the soybean crop. Gary Crawford has the details…
