(Loda-jm) – Two people are dead following a crash in Loda early Sunday afternoon. The accident happened at Route 45 and Washington Streets just after 1 pm. Police say 35 year Amber Garrelts failed to slow when she struck a motorcycle driven by 65 year old Lester Naese of Chebanse. Garrelts, Lester and his passenger Greta Naese were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Greta and Amber succumbed to their injuries. The accident remains under investigation.
(Springfield-jm) – A plaintiff’s attorney suing Illinois over the state’s gun and magazine ban expects the case to go to trial on the merits in July. Illinois enacted a ban on more than 170 semi-automatic firearms, attachments and magazines over certain capacities in January 2023. Shortly after, lawsuits were filed alleging the ban violated the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment. Last week, litigants for the plaintiffs groups and the state met with Southern District of Illinois federal Judge Stephen McGlynn for a status and scheduling conference. Attorney Thomas Maag, who represents the Langley plaintiffs in the case, was there. Among the announced deadlines includes any expert reports. Those are due by May 10 with another status hearing for May 15.
(Springfield-jm) – A measure advancing at the Illinois Statehouse would make mobile home park owners jump through extra hoops if they want to sell their property. State Sen. Steve Stadelman, of Rockford, said his Senate Bill 2935 will help those living in mobile home parks that get sold. “It tries to end surprise sales that result in new owners coming in, raising rates and seniors on fixed income and low-income residents that are basically economically evicted,” Stadelman said.
Specifically, he said it creates a right of first refusal for residents or a homeowners association in the park. Republican state Sen. Jil Tracy said if passed into law, the measure would set a precedent against personal property rights.
(Springfield-jm) – An area lawmaker is sponsoring legislation to help address the teacher shortage in Illinois. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City is pushing legislation to help struggling districts address the teacher shortage…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Paxton-jm) – It’s official! Paxton has been named a Main Street community. The announcement came Friday. Paxton will join four other communities around the state to be accepted into the program. Congratulations to Paxton Main Street in gaining that honor from the state.
(Rantoul–jc) WIth the sunny skies and warmer Springtime weather, the amount of spectators at the Rantoul Sports Complex was huge this past weekend. Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Operations Ryan Ried says hundreds of teams and fans were at the complex, with more coming this week…
Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Operations Ryan Ried
Rantoul police are advising the motoring public to take extra time as they travel around the sports complex during the busy times at the sports complex
(Iroquois County-jm) – According to State Statute, all officials of local government are required to submit Statements of Economic Interests no later than May 1, 2024, said Iroquois County Clerk Breein B. Suver. Persons who have failed to file by this date are subject to a $15 late fee. In addition, persons who have failed to file by May 15th may be fined $100 a day from May 16th until the statement is filed, in addition to the $15 late filing fee. Failure to file the form by May 31st shall result in ineligibility, or forfeiture of office or position of employment. Approximately twelve hundred twenty five officials are required to file in Iroquois County. Two hundred twenty seven have not filed as of this date. Officials required to file include: Townships, Villages, Schools, Drainage Districts, Multi-Township Assessing Districts, Libraries, County Government, Park Districts & Cemeteries. Questions? Contact the County Clerk’s Office at 815-432-6960.
(Paxton–jc) The East Central Illinois Action Agency that serves Vermilion, Ford and Iroquois Counties held a free walk through Health Fair in Paxton Friday at Veterans Square. One booth was representatives from Veterans Treatment Court. V-T-C Coordinator Del Saam talks about how his group helps vets in trouble…
Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator Del Saam. The group helps vets in local counties. Those needing assistance may call 217-503-8525
(Paxton–jc) Since 1979, Central Illinois Disposal and Recycling of Paxton has served the Paxton area with garbage hauling and more. Now, Central Illinois Disposal and Recycling offers services to a 35 mile area around the city. They also have various sizes of rolloffs for construction and clean up projects. Owner Gene May says Central Illinois Disposal and Recycling offers a wide variety of rolloffs for those major projects to cleaning out the garage…
May says Central Illinois Disposal and Recycling says they provide a list of items they are allowed to haul…
Central Illinois Disposal and Recycling of Paxton Owner Gene May
You can contact them at 217-279-3309.
Central Illinois Disposal and Recycling of Paxton is the WPXN Business of the Day, today.
(Champaign–jc) – Two Champaign County residents were injured in a mobile home fire this morning in Champaign, Details are stretchy, but the fire happened in the New Century Estates Mobile Home Park on Windsor in Champaign. The fire happened around 2-30 this morning. The two people were sent to a local hospital with some burns.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Senate approved a plan to require insurance companies to cover preventative cancer screenings and genetic testing for people with a family history of cancer. Screenings for certain types of cancer are currently covered by insurance if patients meet the age requirement. However, Sen. Julie Morrison said her proposal would require coverage for prevention and susceptibility cancer screenings for every type of cancer for anyone with family members impacted by the disease. Senate Bill 2697 also requires insurance coverage for genetic testing for inherited gene mutations to help people with family history of cancer. Senate Bill 2697 now moves to the House for further consideration.
(Springfield-jm) – A proposal that passed out of the Illinois Senate could cap the monthly cost of inhalers for people with health insurance. Illinoisans struggling with asthma and other lung diseases could pay just $25 for one prescription inhaler per month. Senate Bill 3203 would also prohibit health insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage for prescription inhalers starting January 1, 2026. Sponsors said this could be a major change for many people paying between $180 to $300 per month for inhalers.
(Springfield-jm) – House Republicans are upset after the deadline to move bills out of committees passed and not many of the bills sponsored by Republicans are moving forward. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington says one of the proposals not moving forward has to do with ethics reform…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.
(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul home was damaged by fire over the weekend. Crews were called to the fire early Saturday evening to the home on Route 45 across from the Subway. Flames were seen coming from a corner of the house. Firefighters from Gifford and Thomasboro also assisted at the scene. No word on the cause of the fire.
(Rantoul–jc) – The Community Service Center of Rantoul’s Spring Fling Event is set for Tuesday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in the village. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford says the event will have great food, a silent auction and entertainment with Kayla Brown…
Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford. Tickets are available at the Community Service Center and also tickets for a meat raffle are available.
(Urbana-jm) – The family of a rideshare driver killed in Urbana two years ago has been awarded over $44 million in a lawsuit filed against the person accused of killing him and others. Marla Rice, the mother of Kristian Philpotts, filed the lawsuit one year ago against Lyft, Tyjohn Williams and Williams’ mother, alleging the three acted negligently and/or intentionally in the death of her son. On Friday, LegalRideshare LLC, the personal injury law firm representing the Rice-Philpotts family, announced that Champaign County Judge Benjamin Dyer had ruled in favor of the family.
(champaign–dm)-- Did you have a moment of weakness and look directly at the sun during Monday’s eclipse? Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare runs down the symptoms that should prompt a call to a doctor.
