(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker gave his State of the State and Budget Address yesterday before the General Assembly. Governor Pritzker is focusing on preschool and early childhood education with additional funding for his Smart Start Program…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City shares his thoughts on the Governor’s speech…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City. House Republican Leader Tony McCombie also weighed in…
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie.
(Champaign-jm) – The man charged in the shooting of a Pour Brothers Taproom manager has pleaded not guilty. Fidele G. Tshimanga, 24, was arrested on February 8 following an afternoon shooting that occurred in the 100 block of N. Market Street near Pour Brothers Taproom. Brandon Hardway, was outside of the business when he was allegedly approached by Tshimanga who then produced a firearm and fired before fleeing. Hardway was taken to the hospital for a gunshot wound but he died nine days later from his injuries. Tshimanga appeared in court on Wednesday when he was arraigned on an upgraded charge of first degree murder. He pleaded not guilty. He will be back in court March 27 for a fitness status that his lawyer requested.
(Paxton–jc) The Paxton Main street group continues to look at ways to draw the motoring public, residents of towns and cities and counties to the city of Paxton. The downtown area of Paxton continues to grow and more businesses are coming to Paxton. Paxton Main Street Group Director Donna Pepper says more people with day trips to those coming for the Rantoul Sports complex are stopping in Paxton…
Paxton Main Street Group Director Donna Pepper.
(Farmer City-jm) – One person is dead following a two-vehicle crash near Farmer City Tuesday night. The crash happened at the intersection of Rosewood Road and Depot Road. Randall Rice, the DeWitt County Coroner, said a car was driving northbound on Rosewood and it drove through a stop sign. There was no stop sign on Depot and a car driving westbound collided with the northbound car’s passenger side. Both cars ended up in a nearby field. The driver of the northbound car was pronounced dead at the crash scene. Rice identified him as James Allen Kirkland IV of Victoria, Illinois. The driver of the westbound car was airlifted from the scene and was taken to a local hospital. Their condition is unknown at this time.
(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is requesting donations of women’s hygiene products to distribute to those in need. CUPHD officials said they have given out more than 13,000 individual period products since last March, and have kept their clients and 17 Champaign County organizations well-stocked over the course of two years. Now, they are in short supply.
With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Ally Wright from the PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
PBL FFA Member Ally Wright
We were also able to talk with Jake Kocher from Iroquois West’s FFA Chapter.
Iroquois West FFA Member Jake Kocher
Luke Petry from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
Cissna Park FFA Member Luke Petry
Getty Greer from the GCMS FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today
GCMS FFA Member Getty Greer
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker presented his State of the State and Budget Address Wednesday. The Governor is proposing major investments in education…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. 101st District State Representative Dan Caulkins of Decatur shares his thoughts on the Governor’s speech…
101st District State Representative Dan Caulkins of Decatur. State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet…
State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet.
(Normal-jm) – Rivian Motors, with a plant in Normal, has announced that it will lay off 10% of its salaried workforce and expects vehicle output to be flat this year.
A company official said challenging macroeconomic conditions, including higher interest rates, were behind the weaker manufacturing outlook. Electric vehicle makers have been dialing back their investment plans for EVs, citing deceleration in the growth of sales and waning consumer interest.
(Paxton–jc) A blood drive is set for the city of Paxton on Saturday. The drive starts at 10am on Saturday at the First Lutheran Church. Impact Life Bloodrive spokesperson Kevin Hanson says the blood given goes to local sources…
Impact Life Blood Drive Spokesperson Kevin Hanson
(Champaign-jm) – As part of Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week, Parkland College invites local community partners, ag industry professionals, high school educators, and high school-aged students to attend the Parkland College AgTech Showcase, Thursday, March 7, at the college's campus. Parkland's Agricultural Technologies Department has designed this event to reach 200+ high school-aged students with hands-on activities such as the RC Tractor Pull Contest and more, ag-tech lab tours, and interaction with Ag Tech faculty. Additionally, students will be able to engage with local agriculture-based employers to explore future career options with companies such as United Prairie, Farm Credit, CIT Trucking, Curtis Orchard, and others.
(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department and Champaign County Crime Stoppers are asking for help from the public in a criminal investigation they’ve been investigating for over a year. UIPD officials said the investigation stemmed from an incident that occurred on campus in the fall of 2022. Officials said the person was on campus the day of Oct. 1, 2022, and may have been visiting a fraternity for the weekend. Investigators determined that the person’s name may be Austin and he may have been a student at Indiana University. The person is described as being a white male in his 20s, approximately 5′ 10″ tall and 180 pounds in weight. He has brown hair, officials said, but on Oct. 1, 2022, it was dyed blonde.
With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Jacob Fox from the Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
Rantoul FFA Member Jacob Fox
Emily Lone from Fisher High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
Fisher FFA member Emily Lone
