(Springfield-jm) – An investigation by the Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General found improper hiring techniques at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The OEIG said the Bureau of Meat and Poultry inspection had a practice of allowing supervisors to observe committee-led interviews and to provide improper input. One interviewer received a reprimand and will no longer be involved in the hiring process.  

 

(Springfield-jm) – The emergency rule implementing the assault weapon registry is still in place, but a top committee of lawmakers wants Illinois State Police to answer all of your questions. The Illinois State Rifle Association hoped the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules would block the policy from staying in effect Tuesday. While the motion to object to the emergency rule failed on a party line vote, Democrats agreed that the Illinois State Police need to clarify what they are requiring of the public. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules approved a motion requiring State Police to hold three public hearings in order to answer questions from concerned gun owners.

 

(Paxton-jm) – The third mapping session for the city of Paxton took place last night. The mapping sessions are put on by Western Illinois University’s Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs. Program manager Gisela Hamm recaps last night's session…

 

 

Hamm talks about the goals the group worked on last night…

 

 

Mapping Program Manager Gisela Hamm. Next week’s session will focus on prioritizing each strategy, how important is each strategy to reach the goal and break it down into projects and form action teams. The session is Tuesday, October 24th from 5:30-8:30 pm in the PBL Junior High Commons Area. The public is invited to attend and share their input and vote.

 

(Urbana-jm) – A 25-year-old Urbana man is under arrest after University of Illinois Police said they found a gun and marijuana inside his car during a traffic stop on campus. A University Police officer initially stopped a car at Green and Wright Streets because it had a headlight out, but the officer could smell burnt marijuana as they approached the car. Officers discovered multiple bags of marijuana and a scale, along with a gun. Shandon Hillsman was arrested on charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, armed violence and delivery of marijuana.

 

(Paxton–jc)  –  The T-Mobile Free Wi-Fi project continues in downtown Paxton. Paxton Main Street Group Executive Director Donna Pepper says the project is another positive for the city and area…

 

 

Paxton Main Street Group Executive Director Donna Pepper. 

 

(Paxton–jc)  The Pride in Paxton Group continues to raise money for the downtown Speaker system for the city. Pride in Paxton President Dawn Glad says the second Queen of Hearts board will be unveiled tonight and tickets are now available at Hudson Drug and Hallmark. Everyone is invited to go to the Prairie City Wine room tonight for the drawings.  The weekly event starts at 5pm and the queen drawing is set for 7pm  Jackpot to a Queen winner starts at 5 thousand dollars.

 

(Washington-jm) – New numbers show U.S. soybean exports have dropped below levels of one year ago. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Kankakee–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Clove Alliance. Clove Alliance helps survivors of sexual violence.  They have offices in Kankakee, Watseka and Paxton and serve that three county area. Clove Alliance Executive Director Tracey Noe-Slach (No-ee Slaw) has the mission statement for the group…

 

 

She says a Crisis line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week……

 

 

Clove Alliance Executive Director Tracy Noe Slach. 

Again that  number is 815-932-3322.

Clove Alliance, Serving Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford Counties,  the WPXN Business of the Day, today. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois regulators are settling with ACI Payments for unauthorized withdrawals from Mr. Cooper customer accounts. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced the data misuse impacted more than 20,000 consumers in Illinois. The violations occurred when ACI erroneously used live customer data in a test, causing unexpected and sometimes multiple mortgage payments from customer accounts.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Police said all crime in the city, including burglaries and shootings has reduced by about 74% over the last 2 years. Some of the most notable drops are being seen in homicides with them falling from 17 in 2021 to 9 in 2022, and 5 so far in 2023.

 

(Paxton–jc) The Paxton Carnegie Library is hosting a “book sale” now through the end of the month. Paxton Carnegie Library Director Deb Mason says there is a wide variety. The local library is also hosting a “sock hop” on the 27th says Mason…

 

 

Paxton Carnegie Library Director Deb Mason.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man is charged with drug-induced homicide after police said he sold someone fentanyl, leading to that person's overdose death. Dewon D. King, 33, was arraigned Monday, the News Gazette reports. He was arrested Saturday on a warrant that had been issued Sept. 20. Police said King sold fentanyl to Daniel Fox, 53, of Morris in July near downtown Champaign. Fox's body was found in a parking lot in the 600 block of North Neil St. in the early morning hours of July 10. Champaign Police said King is shown on surveillance video selling fentanyl to Fox.

 

(Washington-jm) – Two nations with different corn production forecasts for October were main contributors to USDA’s look at global corn supply and demand estimates. Rod Bain reports…