(Springfield-jm) – Illinoisans continue to flee the Land of Lincoln. The latest Census Bureau data shows Illinois’ population declined by nearly 33,000 residents from July 2022 through July 2023. It marks the 10th consecutive year of population decline for Illinois. In contrast, Texas added nearly a half million people during that time.
(Springfield-jm) – The minimum wage in Illinois is increasing on Jan. 1. Workers will see an increase of $1 per hour from $13 to $14. The minimum wage for tipped workers will rise to $8.40 per hour and youth workers under the age of 18 working fewer than 650 hours per calendar year will see their hourly wage increase to $12 per hour. This will be the sixth increase in the state’s minimum wage since 2019 culminating in a $15 per hour minimum wage in 2025.
(Springfield-jm) – Two Illinois communities were announced as recipients of a federal program to address unemployment among certain age ranges. The Biden administration announced 22 cities will share in $200 million in economic and workforce development projects that “connect workers to good jobs in geographically diverse and persistently distressed communities across the country.” Projects in Springfield and Decatur were among the winners.
(Washington-jm) – Active weather and the timing of it will play a role in travel conditions going into and out of the Christmas weekend holiday. Rod Bain reports…
(Farmer City-jm) – Farmer City Police are searching for a missing 16 year old. Police said Raheem Crowder was last seen in the area of Thomas and Green Streets. They’re asking the community for help. Crowder was last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt with a motorcycle and “California” printed on it.
(Rantoul—jc) – With the economic growth in the village of Rantoul, the tax rate for Rantoul taxpayers goes down. The addition of the Rantoul Sports complex, news businesses on the west side of the village and several new restaurants have helped in that growth. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says village leaders have worked to keep the rate low over the past 10 years, plus…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith.
(Undated-jm) – Residents in Buckley and Gilman no longer have to boil their water. E.R.H. Enterprises lifted the boil orders put in place earlier. Areas west of First Street in Buckley had been under a boil order since early last week. Gilman's boil order was for the 400 and 500 blocks of Maple and Hartwell Streets.
(Paxton–jc) WIth school out for the Christmas holidays, some Paxton Buckley Loda Students have an opportunity starting in January to learn business skills. The Prairieland C-E-O group works with high schoolers from Paxton Buckley Loda, Gibson City Melvin Sibley and Fisher. It’s a business related group that provides tools for entrepreneurship, businesses and marketing skills from area business leaders. Prairieland C-E-O Co Facilitator Mandy Taylor says they will be looking for students for next year’s classes in January at P-B-L High School..
Prairieland C-E-O Group Co Facilitator Mandy Taylor
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Parkland College will soon incorporate new technology that will streamline the student experience and automate processes and operations across the campus. At its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, the Parkland College Board of Trustees heard a report from Parkland Chief Information Officer Amin Kassem that provided technology and security updates on campus and outlined the new Information Technology strategic plan. One of the goals of the IT strategic plan is to modernize Parkland's educational and institutional infrastructure through a $3.9 million multiyear license and professional services from Ellucian Company of Virginia, Parkland's current enterprise resource planning software company.
(Paxton–jc)-- In our morning news Fantastic Local Finds for Christmas..Here is an idea… an author signed book from Boxcar Books and Vinyl in Hoopeston. Owner Emily Brown says they continue to have book signings and more
Boxcar Books and Vinyl Store Owner Emily Brown.
(Undated–jc) It’s still fall, this morning. The official start of winter is later today. Today is the shortest day of potential sunlight at just over 9 hours 14 minutes. The days of potential sunlight begin to increase starting Friday. Winter begins at 9-27 tonight.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Lottery says there are millions of dollars worth of unclaimed prizes in the state. As of this week, there were nine Illinois Lottery prizes in 2023 still unclaimed, totaling $4.3 million. Two of those tickets will expire in the first half of next year, including a Lucky Day Lotto ticket worth $450,000 that was purchased in Skokie last June. Winners have one year from the original draw date to claim their prize.
(Teutopolis-jm) – The last two victims from a deadly HAZMAT crash in Teutopolis in September have now been released from the hospital. The victims are recovering at home, the Effingham County Coroner reports. The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its preliminary report of the safety investigation of the deadly HAZMAT crash in Teutopolis, revealing that passing in a no-pass zone was the cause of the crash. Five people in the area of the crash died and 11 others sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe due to their exposure to anhydrous ammonia.
(Rantoul–jc) Another new business has a ribbon cutting today in the village of Rantoul. WIth Starbucks and Jersey Mikes opened in the West Side Plaza, a ribbon cutting for the new Little Caesars is today says Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(Chicago-jm) – Just days after the city of Chicago said it would impound buses that improperly dropped off migrants, a private plane carrying 120 migrants landed at O'Hare Airport on Tuesday night. WTTW reports the plane came from El Paso, Texas, and was chartered by the Texas Department of Emergency Management. A statement from Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office said since the mayor is failing to live up to his cities' "Welcoming City” ordinance by targeting migrant buses, Texas is expanding their operation to include flights to Chicago.
(Washington-jm) – Are there any signals pointing to an end to beef herd contraction? Gary Crawford reports…
(Urbana-jm) – A Pennsylvania man is under arrest in Urbana after police officials said he led officers on a chase after stealing packages from homes in the area. The chase happened Monday afternoon and it started when someone living near Autumn Ridge and South Myra Ridge Drives reported a package stolen. Urbana Police later identified the driver as Simeon Simmons from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Officials said Simmons faces several charges, including theft over $500, aggravated fleeing and eluding, DUI, driving while license revoked and resisting and obstructing a peace officer.
(Paxton–jc) Plans for state of the art playground equipment continues for Pells Park in Paxton. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says several new pieces for the playground will be handicapped accessible…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. The new Pells Park Equipment is set to be placed at Pells Park along Route 9 in Paxton in the Spring of 20-24.
(Champaign-jm) – A total of 160 residential home sales were reported in the Champaign County area in November, down 12% percent from 182 sales in November 2022, and the lowest sales reported in our area since 2011. A total of 2,397 homes were sold year-to-date, down 15.1 percent from 2,823 homes sold through November 2022, and the same decline year over year as one month ago. The Champaign County area median home sale price rose 6.36 percent to $204,750 in November from $192,500 reported in November 2022. In addition, the average home sale price continued to climb and for November 2023 it was $234,186, up 3.15 percent from $227,034 in November of 2022. Homes continue to sell quickly as the average home sold in 33 days in the Champaign market as compared to 35 days in November 2022.
(Ford County–jc) – The Ford County Fair Association will hold its annual meeting Saturday, January 6, 9:00 a.m. at the Wall Township Building, in rural Loda. The election of board members and officers will take place at this meeting. In addition, plans for the upcoming Ford County Fair, scheduled for June 23-29 will be discussed. The public is invited to attend.
WPXN News Notes…
The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper tonight from 5-7 pm. Cost is $11 for adults, kids 6-13 $6. Meal includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Deliveries are available in town by calling 217-202-6441.
