CHICAGO (AP) — A judge says a Chicago computer-science specialist accused of running online propaganda campaigns for Islamic State poses a threat and must stay jailed pending trial. At a Wednesday hearing in Chicago, the federal judge cited photos found on Ashraf Al Safoo's phone when arrested earlier this month that allegedly show bomb-making components. The 34-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Iraq is charged with conspiracy to support terrorists. A conviction carries a maximum 20-year prison term.
(Springfield--ab) The latest Illinois school report card shows an increase in the number of students enrolling in college. The new report card includes several new metrics such as chronic truancy…and a new system for determining school success. State schools superintendent Tony Smith says some of the data is really encouraging.
State schools superintendent Tony Smith
Smith says the report card also shows a record number of students are taking and passing advanced placement tests…but that there are still teacher staffing problems at many schools. check out all the demographics, test scores and more for your local schools online at: illinois report card dot com.
(Springfield--ab) Voting by mail is proving to be a popular option this year in Illinois. Turnout for early voting has been strong so far…already surpassing totals for the 2016 presidential election. That’s unusual for the midterm elections says state board of elections spokesperson Matt Dietrich. He notes there has been an especially big push for mail in ballots.
state board of elections spokesperson Matt Dietrich
More than 400 thousand Illinoisans are expected to vote by mail in the november sixth election.
(Rantoul--jc) -- When voters go to the polls on Tuesday one local village will decide whether it will elect village board members at large or by divided districts. That is one question for voters in Rantoul. At issue is some believe dividing the village into districts makes the village more unified and others believe keeping an at-large way to elect officials remains the best way to elect local board members. The ballot question says...Shall the village be divided into six districts with one trustee elected from each district. The polls open on Tuesday at 6am.
MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Police say a man was killed outside a northwestern Illinois community's City Hall in a shooting that officers heard from inside their nearby station. Moline police Detective Michael Griffin says officers heard about eight gunshots about 10 a.m. Wednesday and found 22-year-old Moline man dead inside a van behind City Hall. Griffin says investigators don't believe the shooting had any involvement with city government. No arrests were immediately made.
(Woodworth--ab) The Ford Iroquois 4-H Foundation auction will take place on November 18th at the St. Paul Lutheran church. Dinner will be a free will donation at 1:30 with the auction beginning at 2. Nita Dubble of the Ford Iroquois 4H Foundation says some of the money will go toward college scholarships.
Ford-Iroquois 4-H Foundation Spokesperson Nita Dubble
(Gibson City--jc) -- Recycling passes are now available for the next year in one Ford County city. Those in Gibson City are reminded that passes run from today through Halloween of 20-19. The passes can be purchased when dropping off items or at the Moyer library. Gibson City leaders also add that leaf pick up begins today and runs through December First.
(Rantoul--jc) Rantoul Township High School madrigals are preparing for their annual dinner and show. The event is set for 6pm on Saturday December First in the high school cafetorium. This year’s show is called, “A Night of Merriment and Dreams.” Tickets for the show are available by calling the high school
(Undated--jc) -- Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s Bicentennial Minute…
(Rantoul--jc) -- November is here and let the Christmas Shopping begin, officially. One Chamber leader says its important to shop your local merchants, all year long and especially during the holidays. Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Belynda Allen says communities that prosper are communities that support their local businesses…
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Belynda Allen.
(Springfield--jc) -- The Illinois Department on Aging says help is available for Seniors trying to navigate the medicare open enrollment period. It’s a good idea to review your plan each year says the state’s Senior Health Insurance Program Director Sandy Leith…
SHIP Director Sandy Leith.
One place to start is on-line at Medicare-dot-gov
(Gibson City--jc) -- One candidate for Illinois Governor is making a stop in Ford County on Sunday. Governor Bruce Rauner and Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti are making a stop at the Country Kettle Restaurant in Gibson City during the noon hour. Rauner faces Democrat J B Pritzker in Tuesday mid-term election for Governor of Illinois.
(Woodworth--ab) The Ford Iroquois 4-H Foundation auction will take place on November 18th at the St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Woodworth. Dinner will be a free will donation at 1:30 with the auction beginning at 2. Nita Dubble of the Ford Iroquois 4H Foundation says there is plenty of decorative items up for bid.
Ford Iroquois 4-H Foundation spokesperson Nita Dubble
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Murder charges have been filed against a second central Illinois man in connection with the deaths of a Bradley University professor and her husband.A Peoria County judge Wednesday ordered 20-year-old Matthew Roberts of Princeville held in lieu of $3 million on two counts of first-degree murder.The bodies of Susan Brill de Ramirez and Antonio Ramirez Barron, both 63, were found Tuesday in the Spoon River near Annawan. Their son, Jose Ramirez, has also been charged in their deaths. The 21-year-old allegedly beat and stabbed them to death.
(Coles County--jc)A business owner who sued an Illinois county claiming officials singled him and other local business owners out for tax hikes plans to continue the legal fight despite another setback.A panel of federal appellate judges in Chicago denied Mattoon business owner Robb Perry and the owners of about 500 other commercial properties of the chance to go after Coles County officials for hiking property taxes up to 400 percent in a single year. This happened in 2015, the same year many other areas of the county saw decreases. Perry said he's disappointed in the loss, but maintained that the county broke the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
(Chicago--jc) --November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and there’s big money from a research fund pouring into Illinois to work toward a cure, and to help drive down the medical costs of diabetes.The American Diabetes Association says 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year, with a total of 30.3 million.The Illinois Department of Public Health says about 1.3 million Illinoisans, about 12.5 percent of the population, have diabetes. More than 340,000 people are unaware they have the disease.Diabetes remains the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and is responsible for $327 billion in 2017, including $237 billion for direct medical costs, according to the ADA. It also leads to $90 billion in reduced productivity nationwide
(Gibson City--jc) Those who took out a conceal-carry license five years ago, must now renew that license. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says now is the time to renew…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
The renewal process is much easier and shorter than the original process to receive a conceal-carry license.
(Paxton--jc) -- The Paxton Park District and WPXN would like to thank all those who participated in the annual Halloween parade in the downtown area of Paxton on Wednesday. Hundreds of area children dressed up for the event and also enjoyed some treats and information about safety from area police authorities. Some also received treats from downtown Paxton businesses.
