(Springfield-jm) – While Gov. J.B. Pritzker contends southern states are creating chaos by sending non-citizen migrants to Illinois, a Republican state senator says Pritzker is “gaslighting” taxpayers. Pritzker was asked about the ongoing migrant crisis. He said the problem is leaders in Texas sending migrants to the state unannounced. State Sen. Jason Plummer, responded, saying the state’s policies of not enforcing federal immigration law, offering taxpayer subsidized “Cadillac” health care and other services make Illinois the largest magnet for non-citizen migrants in the country. Plummer said some estimates are taxpayers are on the hook for upwards of $2 billion in costs for migrant services. He also raised concerns about the humanitarian impact from people being trafficked, raped and abused and the continued flood of fentanyl into the country.
(Washington-jm) – The Agriculture Secretary discussed steps in assuring food safety regarding milk considering recent cases of H5N1 virus in dairy cattle. Rod Bain reports…
(Urbana-jm) – Hundreds of University of Illinois students gathered in Champaign Wednesday to protest the school for what they described as complicity in the war in Gaza. The protest was organized by the student group ActNow4Palestine. Pro-Palestinian protests have happened at college campuses across the country this week, including at New York University and Columbia University.
(Springfield–jc) State Senators in Springfield are looking at Senate Bill 7-71 that some say is the government overreaching on private property rights. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says similar legislation was struck down at the federal level…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City. The measure passed out of committee this month and is now in the hands of the full Senate in this Spring session.
(Undated-jm) – State Senator Paul Faraci, along with community members, elected officials, and the family and friends of the late Senator Scott Bennett, will attend a memorial service to designate a section of I-74 as the "Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial Highway." Last spring, Faraci passed Senate Joint Resolution 32 designating I-74 from U.S. Route 45 in Champaign to the Indiana state line as the “Senator Scott M. Bennett Memorial Highway.”
(Rantoul–jc) A project to expand the gym lobby is underway at Rantoul Township High School. The addition and upgrade is on the north side of the school. Rantoul Township High School Superintendent Scott Amerio says the upgrades are expected to take just over a year to complete…
Rantoul Township High School Superintendent Scott Amerio
(Champaign County-jm) – For the first three months of the year, Champaign County area home sales are down 4.5 percent in comparison to the same period one year ago, according to the Champaign County Association of REALTORS® . For March, area home sales dropped 17.1 percent from March 2023. Prices climbed higher as the median home sale price was up 10% to $192,500, in comparison to March of 2023. In addition, the average home sale price for March 2024 rose 17% to $242,445 from one year when it was recorded at $207,042. Inventory for homes for sale dated April 21, 2024, stood at 635 properties, down from last month’s inventory of 649 properties. More significantly, inventory is down from 825, or 30%, from April 15, 2022.
(Gibson City–jc) Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Ropps Flower Factory. They have three locations…Gibson City, Paxton and Mahomet. Owner Roger Cramer says they have been busy getting ready for Spring…
Roger says it's time for your garden to be planted and we are waiting on Spring weather……
Ropps Flower Factory Owner Roger Cramer.
They have been a family owned business since 1950.
(Springfield-jm) – State representatives unanimously approved legislation to address sexual abuse by educators and authority figures in high schools. While there are strong protections in place for students 17 and younger, lawmakers want to ensure educators and staff are properly charged for sexual conduct with students between 18 and 23 years old. Teachers or authority figures who sexually abuse these students could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor for their first offense and a Class 4 felony for any repeat offenses. A person would commit this crime if the staff member is at least four years older than the student and commits an act of sexual conduct while holding a position of trust, authority or supervision in relation to educational or extracurricular activities.
(Washington-jm) – USDA Wednesday announced actions designed to protect our nation's livestock populations from potential H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza infection. Rod Bain reports…
(Gibson City-jm) – Officials in Gibson City are working to replace some non-working fire hydrants, and are warning residents that brown water could appear. City officials said on Facebook a resident brought the water discoloration to their attention as crews worked to change two broken fire hydrants on a dead-end street. Officials recommend letting the water run until it clears up, and thank residents for their patience while making repairs.
(Rantoul–jc) –Last weekend was very busy at the Rantoul Sports Complex on the villages west side near Interstate 57. This weekend, we can expect more large crowds for a Game Day U-S-A baseball sanctioned tournament from Friday through Sunday along with U-S Youth Soccer competitions. Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Operations Ryan Reid says its another big weekend for the village of Rantoul and the local facility…
Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Operations Ryan Reid. Local police are advising motorists to be extra careful while traveling around the village and sports complex with the number of expected participants and fans.
(Urbana-jm) – Urbana Police arrested a man accused of making a “terrorist threat” against Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee County. The man, identified as Boston Brooks, has already been released from detainment following court orders. The Bourbonnais Police Department posted about the incident on their social media page. They said they are working with other law enforcement agencies and the ONU Public Safety Department to keep the campus safe. They also added that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
(Paxton–jc) – Several city of Paxton departments will use a new inspection camera for work in the city. City leaders have made the investment into the camera to look for leaks and more says Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Champaign-jm) – The U.S. Postal Service announces it will be proceeding with changes to the Mattis Avenue Processing and Distribution Center. The changes
being made would include transferring mail processing outgoing operations to the South Suburban Processing and Distribution Center in Bedford Park and the Chicago South Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Forest Park. According to USPS, the Champaign facility will remain open and be modernized as a Local Processing Center. 21 positions will be eliminated, but USPS says no career layoffs will occur, as staff are offered jobs in other locations. In proceeding with these changes, the projected annual savings is between $2,700,000 to $3,500,000, with no proposed one-time costs.
WPXN News Notes…
The Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency will hold another Hazard Mitigation meeting tonight at 6:30 pm at the MABAS building in Crescent City located at 103 and a half Main Street.
The Cadillac in Paxton will host Here Comes the Mummies tonight. Doors open at 6 with the concert beginning at 7:30.
