(Springfield-jm) – The State Treasurer’s Office made nearly $124.6 million in investment earnings from the state investment portfolio in March. Another $91 million in gross investment earnings was earned for cities, villages, school districts, counties and other units of government that take part in the highly rated Illinois Funds local government investment pool operated by the State Treasurer’s Office.

 

(Washington-jm) – An extended weekend of active weather brought the nation's first major tornadic outbreak of the year, with damages and fatalities reported in parts of the nation's mid-section. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Fairbury-jm) – Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 5 officials announce sentencing of 23-year-old Carter Meister of Forrest. On October 2, 2023, ISP was notified of an allegation of Criminal Sexual Assault against Meister, who at the time was a police officer with the Fairbury Police Department.  Meister was charged with four counts of Criminal Sexual Assault. On Friday, Meister was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by a term of mandatory supervised release.  The sentence is to be served at 85 percent and he will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

 

(Urbana-jm) – University of Illinois officials say they will not meet with representatives of the students demonstrating in support of Palestine until unauthorized tents are removed from the quad. Protesting students are on the south side of the main quad with tents and other structures.  The encampment is part of a nationwide trend of protests taking part on dozens of college campuses. Students at the U of I are calling for the university to divest from companies that support Israel or produce weapons used in the conflict in Gaza, acknowledge the loss of life in Palestine, and create a committee to address Arab and Muslim student affairs.

 

(Champaign–dm) May 1st is just around the corner and we are wondering how much planting has been completed.  Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Bailey Conrady has this update.

 

 

Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Bailey Conrady. She told us that several farmers have compared this year’s planting season to 2019 when it seemed to rain every 3-4 days. We also talked with Ford/Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager Kacie Claire to see how planting was going in her area.

 

 

Ford/Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager Kacie Claire

 

(Undated-jm) – While no cases have been reported in Illinois, federal agencies confirmed the detection of  bird flu in dairy herds in eight states across the U.S. The Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Department of Public Health are working closely to monitor the situation and are jointly coordinating prevention and response measures. This includes working with producer groups and partner organizations to promote education to veterinarians and cattle farmers on the clinical signs of H5N1 influenza so that potential infections can be quickly identified and contained.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is A Picket Fence Florist downtown Paxton. They are gearing up for area proms and Mother’s Day. A Picket Fence Florist Owner Dawn Glad says the staff is ready to make your prom and Mother’s Day, special…

She says they have flowers and floral arrangements and plants, but they also carry a wide variety of unique gift ideas…

A Picket Fence Florist Owner Dawn Glad.

The store is hosting a One Day Pop Up Shop on Saturday called “It’s A Spring Fling” on Saturday from 10am til 2-30pm

 

(Springfield-jm) – A new proposal to revamp the state’s funding of higher education aims to create a more equitable approach to the process, but it’s been met with some pushback. Senate Republicans believe a recently proposed funding model for higher education could do more harm than good for public universities in Illinois. The Commission on Equitable Public University Funding unveiled the proposal last month. The idea is similar to the evidence-based funding model already in place for Illinois’ K-12 public schools. As part of the plan, certain metrics would determine the amount of money universities would get. But it would also set up equity adjustments giving extra money for schools based on student’s income status and race. Republicans warn this would lead to constitutional issues, pointing to federal law and a recent Supreme Court ruling. They say if it were to pass, schools would lose federal grant funding.

 

(Washington-jm) – Corn and soybean growers are making major planting progress. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

Urbana-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office shared that authorities found a car traveling on Bloomington Road in Champaign that had fled from police in Kankakee County earlier on Monday. A Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull the vehicle over, but instead it sped away towards eastbound I-74. The suspect’s vehicle made it as far as Milepost 185 when it reportedly rammed the deputy’s squad car and hit a semi-truck. The driver was identified as 19-year-old Anthony Adams of Sun River Terrace. One passenger, a female juvenile, was also in the car. Both she and Adams were taken into custody. Authorities found two handguns, an extended magazine and a rifle upon searching the vehicle. One firearm had a defaced serial number and another was referred to as a ghost gun. The Sheriff’s deputy was treated for minor injuries in the incident. While the juvenile was later released to her parents, Adams remains in the Champaign County Jail on charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated fleeing and eluding.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Two men from Champaign have been identified as the people who were arrested on Friday during a pro-Palestine “encampment” on the University of Illinois campus. Julia Rietz, the Champaign County State’s Attorney, said the men are George Vassilatos, 25, and Christopher Zelle, 37. Both are charged with mob action, a Class 4 felony, and neither are students at the university.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The spring legislative session is entering its final month of activity. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City shares some bills that could help Illinois families…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Two local firefighters are being recognized for their success in rescuing an Illinois Marathon participant who went into cardiac arrest during a race Saturday morning. According to a release, around 9:30 a.m Calvin Kerns of the Urbana Fire Department and Sean Manuel of the Champaign Fire Department were dispatched to Meadowbrook Park to respond to a man that went into cardiac arrest while participating in the race. They found the man lying on the trail without a pulse. After CPR and life-saving measures were administered, the man became alert again, talking to first responders as they transported him to the hospital.

 

(Gibson City–dm)  Gibson City is planning their 1st. Annual Food Truck Festival scheduled for June 22 at the North City Park, located at 635 N. Lott Blvd. Organizer Kelsey Wingler has more information.

            

 

Kelsey Wingler.  If you would like information about becoming a vendor, you can contact Kelsey Wingler at klevents24@gmail.com

 

(Champaign County-jm) – Registration for Champaign County’s electronics collection event for the spring is now open. The county-wide collection will be on Saturday, May 18th at Parkland College from 8 a.m. until noon. Officials ask for residents to enter the college through the Duncan Road entrance. Champaign County residents can donate up to seven items, with up to four items being televisions. People living in Champaign County must register online in advance. From there you can reserve a 15-minute time slot. More details can be found on the registration website. Anyone needing assistance scheduling an appointment can call the City of Champaign at 1-217-403-4780 or City of Urbana at 1-217-384-2302.