SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — It's "border to border" seat-belt enforcement for Illinois police agencies through Memorial Day.Officials from the Departments of Transportation and State Police joined more than 200 local law enforcement agencies in Monday's announcement. The "Border to Border" campaign will feature stepped-up enforcement of mandatory seat-belt use with increased patrols and enforcement zones through next week's holiday.
(Springfield-ba) The Illinois Department of Public Health is working to stop the spread of measles and get more children vaccinated. The number of measles cases continues to rise across the country…so acting Illinois Public Health Director Doctor Ngozi Ezike says the state is tackling the problem from several angles...
Illinois Public Health Director Doctor Ngozi Ezike
(Paxton--jc) Next year’s Paxton Buckley Loda F-F-A leadership team has been announced. They include President Autumn Bruens. Vice President-Austin Jones,
Secretary Jasmine Miles, Treasurer Landon Wilson and Reporter Lizzy Reutter. Others on the officer team area Sentinel Dalton Busboom Historian Christina White, and vice presidents Maci Kingren and Gracie Wagner.
(Roberts--jc) THe village of Roberts in Ford County has two events coming up this summer. Roberts Mayor Rick Flessner says one is a music celebration and the other is a clean up day…
Roberts Mayor Rick Flessner
(Springfield--jc) Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker ponied up $50,000 of his own money in the search for a new director for the Department of Children and Family Services.The Chicago Tribune reports Pritzker paid a Massachusetts company for the search before he took office
(Iroquois County--jc) Area police agencies reported a serious vehicle crash that happened around 7-30 last night. The accident occurred on the Kankakee-Iroquois County line along route 45-52. The intersection was blocked due to the accident. Other details are sketchy at this time.
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Bradley University in Peoria has announced President Gary Roberts will retire next year. Roberts will depart when his contract expires at the end of May 2020, capping a 4 1/2-year stint heading his alma mater. The brief tenure for Roberts was not unexpected. He was planning his retirement when he was recruited by Bradley University
(Springfield--jc) Things will probably start getting a little testy as lawmakers returned to Springfield for House session on Monday afternoon. There are only 11 scheduled days remaining before the May 31stdeadline, 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says the minority Republican party sees a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City
Fellow Republican Dan Brady of Bloomington agrees that a balanced budget can be achieved without new taxes…
105th District State Representative Dan Brady of Bloomington
(Springfield--jc) --Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a vacancy in the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Mark A. Drummond on August 5. Judge Drummond has been an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Eighth Circuit since 2004. Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment.
(Rantoul--jc) -- Rantoul police continue to seek information about multiple shots fired in the 13 hundred block of Harmon Drive on Sunday. Police believe shots were fired from a person getting out of a white colored vehicle. No additional information was provided. Police found 6 shell casings in the area. Anyone with information is asked to call Champaign County Crimestoppers or Rantoul Police. That number is 893-56-hundred.
(Springfield--ba)-Legislation headed to the governor’s desk aims to better protect animals in kennels. The bill requires kennels that aren’t staffed around the clock to be equipped with a fire alarm that automatically notifies first responders. Senator Don Dewitte of St. Charles says it was prompted by a tragic fire in west Chicago back in January.
Senator Don Dewitte
(Kankakee--jc) Kankakee Police are attempting to locate missing seven (7) year old juvenile Jahriese Jones. The young boy was last seen talking to his mother on May 11th. Police are canvassing the area in an attempt to locate Jahriese or his mother Portia Coble since being notified yesterday. Kankakee Police are seeking the public’s help in locating the 7 year old. If you have seen them or know their whereabouts please call police at 815-933-0417.
(Buckley--jc) The 67th annual Buckley and Buckley-Loda High School Alumni Banquet is set for Saturday June 8th at the 103 East Restaurant in the village. Social hour starts at 5 with dinner at 6. Cost is 25 dollars per person.
(Rantoul--jc) -- A continued look at some on-going and future economic development in the village of Rantoul. The A-Trel group, associated with the University of Illinois is on a portion of the village on the the former Chanute Air Force Base. If an agreement is reached, the group would be working with local, national and potential some international companies on road surface to autonomous vehicles says Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(Springfield--ba)-Illinois has some of the highest workers’ compensation in the nation, according to a study from the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute. WPXN’s Braedon Arnett has the story.
(Springfield--jc) Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker will decide if the state will get tougher on people who injure others while texting and driving. The fine for texting while driving in Illinois is currently 75 dollars. The Illinois Senate agreed with the Illinois House to raise that fine to 1 thousand dollars and loss of license. The measure is now in the hands of the governor.
(Springfield--jc) -- Farmers finally got a little time in the fields over the past 7 days. Around 2 and one half days were suitable for fieldwork, giving some producers a chance to start catching up says State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener
9 percent of soybeans have been planted and the first cutting of alfalfa hay is 5 percent complete.
The Paxton Swine and Dine Committee is pleased to announce Nashville recording artist, Jerrod Neimann as the 2019 Festival headliner. Johnny McGuire will be the opening act. The event takes place at 7pm September 21, Downtown Paxton. General Admission is free and pit passes are available at Paxton Chamber dot com.
