(Springfield--jc)  -- Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said Tuesday that his office does not share information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any other law enforcement agency on the issue of a person’s legal status in the United States. White made his comment in response to published stories saying that ICE and the Federal Bureau of Investigation use photos from Drivers License offices nationwide as a means to identify undocumented persons. Illinois was not mentioned as one of the participating states. 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The items will be up for auction on Saturday. The items in question are inside the Eastlawn School Building in Paxton. Officials from P-B-L set the date for auctioning off items for 9 a m Saturday. Local auctioneer Brad Strebeck will take the bids for everything from food equipment, theatre seats, old trophies, band equipment to antique doors. A complete list of items is found on line at  strebeck-auctions-dot-com.

 

(Springfield--ba) --  From increasing the state's gas tax and minimum wage to carving out tax credits for some businesses, associations representing different sectors of Illinois' economy have different takes on how new measures passed during the last legislative session will affect businesses. A report the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association released showed the impact in various counties in central Illinois. In Macon County, manufacturing makes up 40 percent of the county’s gross domestic product. In Champaign County, it is 6.8 percent of the county’s GDP. Sangamon County’s manufacturing sector makes up nearly 3 percent of the county GDP, while in McLean County about 2 percent of the county’s GDP comes from manufacturing.

 

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  Summer in Illinois is hot and humid. The Paxton Park District has set up some free swim times courtesy of local organizations and businesses. The first is Thursday from 1pm to 5pm with the thanks going to the First Lutheran Church of Paxton.This weekend on Saturday from 1pm to 4pm and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm its a free swim for the public courtesy of the Pueblo Lindo Restaurant.

 

 

(Fisher--jc)  -- The first day of the 20-19 Fisher Community Fair is complete. Day 4 on Friday is national concert day. Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter says bringing in  Mark Chesnutt, Drew Baldridge along with the Fuedin’ Hillbillies has seen excitement from the Fisher community and area…

 

 

Fisher Community Fair President Todd Cotter

 

 

(Springfield--ba)  -- The state board of education is reminding that free and reduced meals are available not just at school…but also at participating daycares and after school programs. The child and adult care food program is federally funded…reimbursing daycare centers and programs says Illinois State Board of Educations Spokesperson Tim Murphy...

 

 

 I-S-B-E Spokesperson Tim Murphy.

 

 

(Paxton--ba)  -- An update on the Clara Petersen School project is expected tonight in the monthly meeting of the Paxton-Buckley-Loda School board.  Summer is also renovation time at the high school in Paxton.

 

 

(Watseka--jc)  -- The Watseka Unit 9 School District has a new interim Superintendent. He is Gary Miller. The local school board made the interim pick on Tuesday afternoon as they continue to look for a permanent replacement for the districts superintendent position

 

(Champaign--jc)  -- One person was injured in a rollover accident Tuesday near the Interstate 57-to-Interstate 72 interchange. Police say 21 year old Daimika Curry lost control of his vehicle Tuesday afternoon around 1-30. He was taken to a local hospital. Curry was wearing a seat belt. He received citations for having no insurance and driving with a suspended license

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois State Museum Society is offering day trips for people to explore the state's history and culture this summer by coach bus. The first trip is scheduled for Aug. 10 and will feature a visit to the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery and a 90-minute walking tour of the Old Joliet Prison. The second trip is Sept. 14 and will focus on African American history.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — A transgender woman who had battled the Illinois Department of Corrections over alleged abuse while she was incarcerated has been released from prison. Deon "Strawberry" Hampton of Chicago was released Monday from Logan Correctional Center outside Lincoln. Prisoner Review Board spokesman Jason Sweat says the Corrections Department recommended restoration of good conduct credit to the 28-year-old Hampton and the board approved. He says that made Hampton eligible for release.

 

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — The mother of a Chinese scholar who was kidnapped and killed by a former University of Illinois doctoral student has told a jury about the loss she feels. Lifeng Ye's video testimony was played Tuesday for the jury that last month convicted Brendt Christensen in Yingying Zhang's 2017 death. The same jurors will decide if Christensen should be given the death penalty. Lifeng Ye spoke through tears of never seeing her daughter wear a wedding dress or have children of her own.

 

(Champaign--jc)  -- July is here and the temperatures are hot. Brian Kerschner is with the Illinois Water Survey in Champaign says July weather means hot and humid conditions…

 

 

Illinois Water Survey-Champaign Spokesperson Brian Kerschner

 

 

(Vermilion County--jc)  Could a marijuana dispensary be coming to East Central Illinois.  A public hearing on the issue has been set for next month. The date is Tuesday August 13th at 6-30 that evening. The hearing takes place at the Lion’s Club Building in Rankin. Recreational marijuana becomes legal on January First. 

 

(Fisher--jc)  -- It is day 2 at the Fisher Community Fair today. It is Childrens day. Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter says fishing for prizes to Plinko are games this morning…

 

 

Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter. 

 

(Kankakee--jc)  -- Interstate 57 continues to be closed overnights between mile marker 315 and 318 due to a bridge removal project. Both northbound  and southbound traffic, during the overnight hours, are being re-routed. The road closures are expected to continue through the end of this week. 

 

 

There are some similarities between corn and soybean crop development. USDA’s Stephanie Ho reports.

 

 

 

(Paxton--ba)  -- One local church is selling a breakfast to support an upcoming mission. A group from The American Lutheran Church in Rantoul  is selling breakfast burritos to support a trip to Tanzania. The suggested donation for a bag of 5 burritos is $10, More information about the fundraiser is found by contacting the church office.

 

 

 

(Mahomet--jc)  Traffic was backed up for several hours along Interstate 74 between Mahomet and Champaign on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say a rollover accident was the cause. Three people were taken to Champaign hospitals with injuries sustained in the crash. Traffic was slowed for several hours.

 

(Cissna Park--jc)  -- Wanted...your talent. A talent show is set for Thursday August 15th in Cissna Park at the annual Old Settlers Celebration. The show will be on the stage in the park, beginning at 7-30 pm.  More information is found by contacting Lynn Hasselbring at Lynn-Hasselbring-at-C-P-Schools-dot org.