(Undated-jm) – A man has been arrested after police said he made threats against Governor J-B Pritzker. According to Illinois State Police, 71 year old Timothy Shemitis of Frankfort was arrested after leaving voicemail threats to the governor’s office. He was charged with one count of threatening a public official and one count of harassment by telephone.

 

(Springfield–jc)  One area lawmaker says one reason taxes are so high in Illinois is the amount of taxing bodies and organizations in the state. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon says the number of taxing bodies is Not known…

   

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

 

(Paxton-jm) — A former teacher with the Paxton Buckley Loda School District is facing felony sexual assault charges. Physical Education and Driver’s Ed teacher Paul Meuser was put on administrative leave on March 8th pending an investigation into inappropriate communications with a minor. Meuser resigned on March 11th. On March 15th Meuser was arrested in Oklahoma on two counts of attempted criminal sexual assault, one count of grooming. 

 

(Rantoul–jc)  Rantoul leaders are moving ahead with a 150 thousand dollar small business loan to a current Rantoul business to operate an event center in town. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third talks about the venture with John and Janet Brotherton to operate the Timberline Grove, formerly known as the Linden…

   

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

 

(Champaign-jm) – A University of Illinois Police Department officer was arrested in Champaign following a reported domestic incident earlier this week. The Champaign Police Department responded to the 2800 block of Prairie Meadow Drive for a report of a domestic shortly after 1 p.m. on March 15. On-scene, 38-year-old Joseph Cassidy was arrested, a spokesperson for the Champaign Police Department said. Details about the domestic incident are unclear at this time. Champaign Police said the case has been referred to the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office, but when reached for comment, the office said Cassidy was not charged and was released from custody.

 

(Gibson City–jc)  Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services has just opened a brand new pharmacy in Gibson City. Gibson Area Hospital Spokesperson Bill Kirby says one of the next projects is an endoscopy center in the same area along route 9…

 

Gibson Area Hospital Spokesperson Bill Kirby

 

(The Center Square) – A state senator and former prosecutor says it is time to change Illinois law that allows people who record or transmit video of minors without authorization to avoid registering as sex offenders. State Sen. Darby Hills, R-Barrington Hills, said Senate Bill 2381 would require people to register as sex offenders if they exploit a minor through unauthorized recording.Hills said she prosecuted cases that involved child victims when she was an assistant state’s attorney in Cook County.Despite bipartisan support, SB 2381 did not pass the General Assembly last spring. The bill was reassigned to the Illinois Senate Criminal Law Committee last month.

 

(Gibson City–jc)  The Gibson City Restoration committee Queen of Hearts drawing jumped to 5 thousand 636 dollars. At last night's drawing, Ellen Hankes had the ticket and revealed the 7 of diamonds. The next drawing is next Wednesday

 

(Chicago–jc)  –Nominations for the 2026 Manufacturing Excellence Awards are open until April 9. The groups announced the categories of Economic Development Partner of the Year, Educator of the Year and more. Nominations are accepted online at I-M-A-Net-dot-org. Finalists will be recognized June 25 in Lombard.

 

(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Lottery announced that the winner of the $536 million Mega Millions® jackpot has officially come forward to claim their historic prize. The winner, who chose to stay anonymous under the nickname ‘Lucky Lady,’ purchased her ticket online through the Illinois Lottery’s iLottery platform. This is the first Mega Millions jackpot to be claimed in 2026 and the second-largest prize ever won by an online lottery player in the United States. The current record for the largest online lottery prize remains a $552 million Mega Millions jackpot won in June 2024 - also by an Illinois Lottery player.

 

(Washington–jc) – What are the trends in the U S D A March report on meat production. U S D A Ag Outlook Board Chairman Mark Jekanowski has the results…

 

U S D A  Ag Outlook Board Chairman Mark Jekanowski

 

(Champaign-jm) – Carle Health and Christie Clinic are partnering to create the Champaign Endoscopy Center to increase access to specialized healthcare in Champaign County. The new center is located at1702 South . Mattis in Champaign The facility has a full team of health professionals that will provide a wide variety of procedures..

 

(Buckley–jc)  Voters in Buckley took the first step in approving the money for a new state of the art sewer project for the village. Several area entities that surround the town have interest in working with Buckley officials to bring the sewer project to their locations and businesses. Buckley Mayor Scott Shockley talks about those possibilities and how that would bring more dollars into the village coffers…

 

Buckley Mayor Scott Shockley

 

(The Center Square) – A state House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee heard testimony on a pair of bills poised to fund the after-school programs of community schools across the state. Schools part of a federally funded program have had roughly $18.5 million in federal grant funding revoked over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion concerns. Two Illinois House bills would allocate $20 million from the Illinois General Revenue Fund to be provided as a grant to several programs. The first bill sets requirements for the disbursement of the funds to the 32 partner schools in the state.

 

(The Center Square) – With home prices across the state up by 49% since 2019, Illinois Policy Institute’s LyLena Estabine reasons it’s not hard to see why the state is losing much of its appeal as the number of available units also fall far short of ready-for-occupancy structures in other places. Data shows the average Illinois home price now stands at 277 thousand 500 dollars compared to 186 thousand 400 dollars, six years earlier.

 

(Kankakee–jc)  Clove Alliance is hosting its 6th annual art exhibition. WPXN”s Joel Cluver has the details…

 

WPXN News notes…

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, March 19th from 4:30-6:30 pm. Dinner includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, $6 for kids 6-13. Deliveries available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

 

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Iroquois West High School on Friday, March 20th from 9-3.

 

The Onarga American Legion will hold their fish fry on Friday, March 20th from 4:30-7 pm at the Legion Hall at Durham Park.

 

The Feudin Hillbillys will perform at The Cadillac in Paxton on Friday, March 20th at 8pm.

 

The Onarga American Legion will hold a breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, March 21st from 8-11 am at Durham Park. Following the breakfast will be an easter egg hunt at 11 am.

 

Birth to Five Illinois will hold a Community Conversation at the St. Joseph Township Swearingen Memorial Library in St. Joseph on Monday, March 23rd from 6-7:30pm.