(The Center Square) – The average gas price in Illinois has risen 89 cents per gallon in the last month. According to AAA, the average Illinois price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $4.36 on Tuesday, up from $4.20 the previous Tuesday and $3.47 one month ago. The national average on Tuesday was $4.14.

 

(The Center Square) – The FBI Internet Crime Report for 2025 ranks Illinois fifth in the U.S. for cyber crime complaints and eighth in overall losses. The report says the state’s cyber crime losses totaled 535 million dollars in 2025. Carrie Crot is a supervisory special agent in the FBI’s Chicago office says Illinois’ ranking is due to population and the cybersecurity hygiene of business owners and other groups Illinois had 32,977 cyber crime complaints in 2025

 

(Springfield–jc)  109th district state representative Charlie Meier,  Republican from Okawville is leading several measures in Springfield to help the states most vulnerable, people with disabilities, who are under the care of the state of Illinois. 

Meier, at a news conference on Tuesday, continues to urge the majority Democrats to deal with the failures of the Department of Human Services..

 

109th District State Representative Charlie Meier, republican from Okawville

 

(Springfield-jm) — Illinois’ Attorney General is issuing a warning about scams posted on Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued an investor alert on Monday about various scams, including “pump and dump” scams, confidence scams and fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes.

 

(Springfield–jc) – Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, Republican from Savannah, is challenging the democrats in Springfield on the subject of property taxes. McCombie says that the democrats offered a tax relief program last year that amounted to a 43 million dollar property tax increase. The same increase in taxes is offered by Illinois Governor J B Pritzker in this year’s budget proposal…

   

89th District State Representative and Illinois House Minority LeaderTony McCombie, Republican from Savannah

 

(Kankakee-jm) – Kankakee Community College is one of 71 small community colleges across the nation with a gold ranking in the 2026 Guide to Military Friendly Schools, published in conjunction with “G.I. Jobs” magazine.  KCC has had 37 veterans enroll during the 2025-26 school year, according to the college’s Office of Financial Aid. There have been 49 military-connected students utilizing Veteran’s Administration Education benefits this school year.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  The Rantoul Sports Complex will be busy again this weekend with baseball, softball and soccer. Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Operations Brandun Denton says they have additional companies bringing in tournaments and games and the information is available on-line…

 

Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Operations Brandun Denton

 

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton Mainstreet Group has announced its concert series for the Spring and Summer. The first concert at Veterans Square in downtown Paxton is May First with the Philo Country Opry. On June 5th its “Back in Time” and on August 7th its Back Paiges and special guest–Paxton’s Resurrection Band. All concerts are free to attend

 

(Champaign–jc)  The Champaign Fire Department responded to a fire in a single-family home in the 1300 block of West Ridge Lane just before 11 Tuesday morning. A passerby of a fire alerted fire department officials. Once on the scene, fire crews reported smoke and fire coming from a solar panel on the roof.  Multiple hose lines were deployed, and the fire was contained to a solar panel on the exterior of the home.   The cause of this fire was determined to be accidental. No injuries were reported.

4pm

(Hoopeston–jc)  It’s time to get your ducks. The Hoopeston Public Library is hosting a rubber duck decorating contest for all ages. Stop by and get a duck, decorate your duck and bring it back between April 13th and 18th. Ducks will be on display during National Library Week April 20th through the 25th. Winners will be announced on April 27

 

(The Center Square) – Illinois may soon allow prediction markets to operate in the state, but lawmakers and the federal government are at odds with how they want it done. State legislators have introduced a bill proposing regulation and a tax on the services, hedging against any negative outcomes they think could stem from services operating in the state. Operators say it would be overly burdensome and effectively prohibit them from operating. Prediction markets allow users to effectively place bets on the outcomes of sports and real-world events by buying contracts

 

(Springfield–jc)  –State government officials say uninsured Illinoisans can still enroll in a health insurance plan through the annual tax filing process.According to Get Covered Illinois, residents who check the health insurance box on their Illinois 1040 tax form will receive a notice outlining their projected eligibility for health coverage, including qualification for premium tax credits or Medicaid.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois lawmakers have significantly rewritten a bill aimed at regulating how cities and counties handle unsheltered homelessness, replacing an earlier proposal that expanded the state’s Homeless Bill of Rights with a new, standalone law focused on local enforcement standards. House Bill 1429, which previously sought to bar fines and criminal penalties for people experiencing homelessness across a wide range of public spaces, has been rewritten through a new amendment filed in late March. The amendment renames the proposal the Local Regulation of Unsheltered Homelessness Act and narrows its scope to when and how local governments can intervene at encampments or public sites..

 

(Rantoul–jc)  –  Rantoul St Malachy’s spring fundraiser is set for Saturday afternoon and evening at the school in the village. Event and school volunteer and parent Karley Combest says the school offers more than education…

 

 

Rantoul St Malachy Volunteer and parent Karley Combest. Saturday's fundraiser begins at 5pm at the school with dinner at 6pm and a live and silent auction . 

 

(Undated–jm) – The United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties is extending an invite for community members to get involved  in clean-up operations by serving with one of 29 local service projects upcoming for Earth Day, April 22.  Volunteers of all ages are welcome, and can give back to their community by beautifying parks, cleaning up streets and helping nonprofits. This year, there are also opportunities to help restore community spaces that were damaged by the March 10 tornado. More than 180 volunteers joined in 2025 across 15 project sites. The number of project sites this year has almost doubled, with more than 200 volunteers needed to accomplish the full vision for the day. For a full list of projects and to sign up, visit myunitedway.org/dayofaction.  Anyone with questions can reach out to Mariah Vail, the United Way’s Executive Director, at mariah@myunitedway.org.

 

(Buckley–jc)  –Plans for the one day Buckley Fun Day are in the works. This year’s event will take place Saturday June 20th at Buckley Lake says Buckley Community Group Spokesperson Sarah Dean…

 

 

Buckley Community Group Spokesperson Sarah Dean

 

(Bloomington–jc)  The Illinois High School Association  announced a new partnership with Credit Union 1, naming the financial institution an official partner of the IHSA and its statewide championship events. Through the partnership, Credit Union 1 will support IHSA student-athletes and member schools while helping enhance the experience at IHSA State Final events. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to education, community involvement, and empowering the next generation of leaders both on and off the field.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The Ford County Sheriff’s Committee will look to take the next step in hiring a Deputy coordinator when they meet on Friday morning in Paxton. The committee will also hear from Ford County Sheriff Chad Johnson on the agreements concerning enforcement policies and training. The Ford County Sheriff’s committee meets at 9 on Friday morning in the sheriff’s boardroom at the courthouse in Paxton . 

 

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Niche Restaurant in downtown Paxton. The restaurant is open Mondays through Wednesdays 2pm to 9pm and Thursdays through Saturday 2pm to 10pm. Owner Angela Mockbee talks about the new hours…

Mockbee says they expanded the menu from Italian Beef and Hot Dogs…

Niche Restaurant of Paxton Owner Angela Mockbee. Check out the new menu items like their chicken sandwich and always favorite parfaits. 

Niche Restaurant downtown Paxton is the WPXN Business of the Day, today

 

WPXN News notes…

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Onarga American Legion on Wednesday, April 8th from 1-6 pm.

 

The Rankin Lions Club will hold their Friday Supper on Friday, April 10th from 4:30-7:30pm

 

The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, April 10th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $10.

 

The Paxton Buckley Loda High School Choir will put on their performance of Into the Woods on Friday, April 10th, Saturday, April 11th and Sunday, April 12th at 7pm each night.

St Peters Free Lutheran Church in Melvin is hosting a Biscuits and Gravy and Hasbrown breakfast Saturday April 11th from 8am until 11am. It is a fundraiser for the church

 

A Spring craft and vendor event will be held on Saturday, April 11th from 9-3 at the Kruse Center in Gibson City.