(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Police is recognizing a program the agency strengthened last year, with officials arguing it saved lives. In a release, ISP highlighted the agency’s Office of Firearm Safety reviewing more than 10,000 Clear and Present Danger Reports. Law enforcement agencies, school administrators, and medical professionals can file a clear and present danger report to ISP to alert state police of people potentially threatening to hurt someone or themselves. ISP then reviews the report and can revoke a FOID card or application and confiscate any firearms. Between January and September 2023, ISP investigated 10,144 Clear and Present Danger Reports. From those, 4,212 resulted in revoking a card or an application. 4,912 individuals involved in a Clear and Present Danger investigation were found to not have a FOID card or a pending application.
(Washington-jm) – An "average" corn growing season is producing above average results. Gary Crawford reports…
(Urbana-jm) – Urbana Police are investigating an attempted burglary that happened last month. They are asking the public for help in solving the crime through Crime Stoppers. Officials said that just before midnight on October 25, officers were dispatched to Exotic’s Smoke at 1813 South Philo Road for a burglary alarm going off. When they arrived, officers found a broken window and a brick inside the shop. Reviewing surveillance footage, officers discovered that a man was outside the shop, looked around for a few moments and then threw the brick at the window, shattering the glass. The suspect was wearing black clothing that included a Nike hoodie, sweatpants and Croc-style sandals. He was also wearing a Halloween mask.
(Paxton–jc) The Businesses in the State Street Mall in Paxton are hosting an Open House on Saturday from 11am until 3pm. Ford County Veterans Assistance Center Director Rebecca Rutledge says the gift shop will be open and ready for the holidays…
Ford County Veterans Assistance Center Director Rebecca Rutledge
(Champaign-jm) – In an effort to make sure that no one living in a long-term care facility feels forgotten this holiday season, State Senator Paul Faraci is hosting a holiday card drive for seniors in Champaign County. Faraci is collecting store bought and handmade cards for Champaign County seniors this holiday season. People are encouraged to write kind notes and drop them off or mail them to his office, located at 45 E. University Ave., Suite 206, Champaign, Illinois 61820. The last day to drop off cards is December 15. The cards will then be delivered to local long-term care facilities.
(Cissna Park–jc) The Cissna Park United Methodist Church is hosting their 3rd annual…The Christmas Shop on Saturday. The event is free and the shopping is free too says Cissna Park United Methodist Church Pastor Ashley Clifton…
Cissna Park United Methodist Church Pastor Ashley Clifton. The event is set for the Barn at Double K Ranch, location is along route 49 across the road from the Cissna Park Coop-Kaufmann Elevator. The event is set for 9am until 4pm on Saturday.
(Paxton–jc) A new feature for the Holiday season on WPXN morning news is Fantastic Local Finds for Christmas.. A local author from Loda has written a book on her experiences as a nurse in NICU. Local author Valerie Wright says a book signing is set for Hudson Drug and Hallmark in Paxton on Friday and Saturday…
Local Author Valerie Wright of Loda
WPXN will feature gift shopping ideas and Fantastic Finds from the local area each weekday on morning news this holiday season
(Springfield-jm) – Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 53,348 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season between November 17-19. Comparatively, hunters took 52,354 deer during the first firearm weekend in 2022. Illinois’ seven-day firearm deer season will conclude this weekend.
(Undated-jm) – Two individuals have declared their candidacies for retiring GOP State Rep Mike Marron’s spot representing the 104th District in Springfield. Marron announced in July that he would be stepping down and not seeking another term. The two declared candidates are Retired U.S.M.C. Master Sergeant and current City of Danville Code Enforcement Inspector Brandun Schweizer, and State Rep Marron Legislative Assistant and Former Village of Potomac Trustee and State’s Attorney and County Board Offices employee Marguerite Bailey. The Republican Primary Election will be March 19th.
(Paxton–jc Students from Paxton Buckley Loda High School, Fisher High School and Gibson City Melvin Sibley High School have the opportunity to participate in the Prairieland CEO program. Its an initiative that teaches students about entrepreneur opportunities while interacting with area businesses. Prairieland CEO Co-Facilitator Mandy Taylor says students in the program meet daily…
Prairieland CEO Co-Facilitator Mandy Taylor. Students in the group are organizing a community event on Saturday in Paxton. The event is a 5-K Run at Pells Park in the city. So far over 75 people have signed up for the event. Those wanting to join in are asked to find more information on line and join in on Saturday. The event steps off at Pells Park at 9am
(Paxton–jc) During the 4 day Holiday Sale in Paxton this weekend, a pop-up vendor event is set for one downtown business on Saturday. It’s called the Miracle on Market Street. The 10am until 2-30 event takes place inside A Picket Fence Florist in downtown Paxton. Organizer Leslie Ingold says a plethora of vendors are coming…
A Miracle on Market Pop Up Vendor Event Spokesperson Leslie Ingold.
(Undated-jm) – The Kickapoo Rail Trail has received funding to complete construction. The Champaign County Forest Preserve District, Vermilion County Conservation District, and Urbana Park District were awarded $11.2 million in funding through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, a multi-billion-dollar funding package for infrastructure improvements across Illinois, to complete the remaining sections of the Kickapoo Rail Trail in Champaign and Vermilion Counties. The Kickapoo Rail Trail is a multi-use path that, once completed, will stretch 24.5 miles through several communities across county lines. 11.3 miles of the trail is complete as of 2023. There are several sections to be completed with the funds: Trail construction between St. Joseph and Ogden, Design and construction of a trailhead in Urbana, Design and construction of the trail from trailhead to the existing trail at E University Ave (US 150) and E Main St in Urbana and Design and construction between Ogden and Oakwood through Fithian and Muncie.
WPXN News Notes…
Hudson Drug and Hallmark in Paxton will hold a book signing with local author Valerie Wright on Friday, December 1st from 5-7 pm and Saturday, December 2nd from 9-11 am.
The 2023 Paxton Holiday Shopping Weekend in downtown Paxton will take place December 1st through the 4th. An evening shopping event will take place on Friday from 5-8 pm, a pancake and sausage breakfast at Veterans Square from 8-11 am Saturday, Prairieland CEO Jingle Bell 5k Run at 9 am Saturday and a Kids Matinee Christmas movie at 2 at Veterans Square Saturday. Sunday there will be horse and carriage rides downtown from 12-4. The bag sale will take place all weekend.
