(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Secretary of State is backing legislation that would require more transparency in the financial dealings of lobbyists. Alexi Giannoulias said the measures are needed in the wake of the recent sentencing of a former aide of House Speaker Michael Madigan, whose corruption trial is slated for later this year. The Secretary of State’s Office maintains lobbyist registrations and statements of economic interest filed by public officials.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf was in Springfield Tuesday, where he was expected to ask state lawmakers to fund a new ballpark. The team is considering building a new stadium in the South Loop. 

Sources confirm that Reinsdorf met with Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Reinsdorf is looking to get about $1 billion in taxpayer money from the state to build a new stadium.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is giving his State of the State and Budget Address today. Yesterday Senate Republicans gave their priorities they want to see in the next state budget. Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet…

 

 

State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet. Assistant Republican Leader State Senator Terri Bryant…

 

 

Assistant Republican Leader State Senator Terri Bryant. WPXN News will have the latest on the Governor’s address and local legislative reaction on our news tonight at 4 and 5 and again tomorrow morning.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County Coroner Stephen Thuney, is providing the following update regarding the death of Akul B. Dhawan. Around 11:00a.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2024, Arrow Ambulance, Urbana Fire Department, and the University of Illinois Police Department were dispatched to a location near the intersection of W. Nevada St. and S. Goodwin Ave. for a report of an unresponsive male on a porch. Akul B. Dhawan, 18-years-of-age, of Champaign was pronounced dead at the scene. There was no suspicion of foul play. An autopsy was performed on January 23, that confirmed the death of Mr. Dhawan was due to hypothermia. Acute alcohol intoxication and prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures, significantly contributed to his death. Thuney has ruled the death accidental.

 

(Paxton–jc)  WIth the Rantoul Sports complex starting its season soon, traffic to Rantoul and the surrounding area is key for some business economic success. Paxton is the Place to Be and Director of the Paxton Main Street program Donna Pepper says some studies show the traffic patterns, including the city of Paxton…

 

 

Paxton is the Place to Be and Paxton Main Street Director Donna Pepper

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Police were dispatched at 7:31 p.m. on February 19, 2024, to the 700 block of W. Vine Street for a report of a shooting with injuries. As officers arrived on-scene, they were notified of a victim who arrived at a local hospital by personal transport. Additional officers were dispatched to the hospital, where they learned that a 34-year-old Champaign man was being treated for multiple potentially life-threatening gunshot wounds. He remains hospitalized in stable condition. The initial investigation indicated that the man was seated in his vehicle in his driveway when an unknown subject approached the vehicle and opened fire. The subject then fled the area on foot. In addition to the man’s injuries, the vehicle was also struck by gunfire.

 

Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Julia Edleman from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

 

Cissna Park FFA Member Julia Edleman

 

Madison Freed from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

 

 

PBL FFA Member Madison Freed

 

Grace Morgan with the Fisher FFA talks about today’s activities.

 

 

Fisher FFA member Grace Morgan 

 

(Paxton–jc)  The Ford County Board is set to meet in special session this afternoon in Paxton. On the agenda is discussion and potential action on requesting Ford County State’s Attorney Andrew Killian to help with the I-C-C process concerning a C-Oh-2 project in Ford County. The Ford County board meeting comes to order at 4-30 this afternoon in the sheriff’s board room at the courthouse in Paxton. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Business Interruption Grant Program was to provide $585 million for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19, but an audit done by the Office of the Auditor General shows $11 million was paid to applicants who weren’t eligible under state law. During a Legislative Audit Commission hearing Tuesday at the state capitol in Springfield, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity was shown to have used their own eligibility category for the small business component of the program that was not specified in the law passed by the legislature.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is set to give his State of the State and Budget Address at noon today. Senate Republicans yesterday held a press conference to outline their budget priorities in the next fiscal year. Senate GOP Leader John Curran

 

 

Senate GOP Leader John Curran. Local state Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet…

 

 

Local state Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet. We will have the latest on the Governor’s address as well as local reaction tonight on our news at 4 and 5 and again on our news tomorrow morning.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department is investigating a report of a sexual assault that occurred at a fraternity house. According to police, it happened on February 17 at 1 a.m. The offender is not a person known to the victim, other than having met for the first time earlier the same night. The UIPD said an arrest has not been made.

 

(Buckley–jc)  The St John’s Lutheran School Carnival, Chicken Dinner and Silent auction was another huge success. The event supports Christian education at the Buckley based school. Event Spokesperson Kira Ebert says the P-T-L group is pledging half the money for school projects and the other half for new bleachers in the gym…

 

 

St John’s Carnival Chicken Dinner and Silent Auction Spokesperson Kira Ebert. The bleacher project has a price tag of around 63 thousand dollars.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Khalil Zaied, the Public Works Director for the City of Champaign, has announced his resignation from that position effective March 8, 2024. Zaied is moving out of state to attend to private, family matters. Zaied has served as the City’s Public Works Director since October 17, 2022.

 

With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. We were able to talk with Garrett Tammen from Iroquois West High School’s FFA Chapter. 

 

Iroquois West  FFA Member Jake Kocher

 

Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters.We were able to talk with Eva Haltswanger from Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter.

 

Rantoul FFA Member Eva Haltswanger