(Thomasboro-jm) -- The case of a woman found dead near Thomasboro over 20 years ago is getting new life. The remains of the woman was found May 1, 1995 after an ag worker found bones and clothing. Jane Doe’s information was added to national Missing Person’s Database in 2009. Since then detectives worked on getting new dental details, DNA samples and anthropology reports to help them solve the case. Officials said on Wednesday, they are hoping a new artist sketch of Jane Doe will bring new information to the case. They’ve also sent DNA to a lab for DNA analysis and used isotope technology to pinpoint a location where she may have lived. Based on the new findings Jane Doe, may have been between the ages of 16-18 to possibly 29 years old. Officials think she was between 5 feet 1 inches to 5 feet 9 inches.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Senate has passed a bill prohibiting vaping in public places. Senate Bill 1864 would add e-cigarettes to the Smoke Free Illinois Act. The law outlaws smoking tobacco inside public places. The bill now moves to the House.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois House is voting to let college student athletes sign endorsement deals. Bill sponsor, State Representative Chris Welch of Hillside says the N-C-Double A, schools, athletic directors and coaches make billions off of college sports…
State Representative Chris Welch of Hillside. The Senate will consider the measure next and Governor J-B Pritzker has said he will sign it into law. If that happens, it will take effect in 2023, just like a similar law enacted in California.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Parkland College Land Surveying students and faculty will be official surveyors at this weekend’s “World Championship Punkin Chunkin” event in Rantoul. Using high accuracy G-P-S equipment, Todd Horton, construction management program director and Kory Allred, Land Surveying faculty member, will lead a group of students to set team areas and measure pumpkin flight distances from more than 30 “machines” signed up to participate in this annual event on Saturday and Sunday. WPXN will be broadcasting live at the Punkin Chunkin Competition on Saturday from 11am to 1pm
(Urbana-jm) -- A Rantoul man who admitted to robbing another man outside a Rantoul motel last month has been sentenced to probation. Steven Houston pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery earlier this month in Champaign County court. Police say Houston admitted to taking the wallet of a man at the Knights Inn. He was sentenced to 30 months probation and 30 months community service.
(Fisher-jm) -- Changes to nuisance laws in the village of Fisher could come as early as November. Village Administrator Jeremy Reale has been researching ordinances in several nearby communities. A draft of the changes could come before the village board at their November meeting.
(Paxton--jc) The Chicago Carver football was scheduled to practice Wednesday afternoon for a potential first round 3A football game with the Panthers of Paxton Buckley Loda. PBL Athletic Director Brock Niebuhr says his office was notified about the process on Wednesday afternoon…
PBL Athletic Director Brock Neibuhr.
(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign County board continues to discuss consolidation of the county’s jails. The county’s facilities committee agrees keeping both jails operational is too expensive. However, those attending a recent committee meeting, are against a new combined jail saying the money would be better spent on ways to keep people out of jail. A new facility is estimated to cost between $42 and $52 million.
(Springfield-jm) -- An advocacy group is fighting for new policies for education in the state’s prisons. The Illinois Coalition for Higher Education in Prison is advocating for the creation of a transfer hold for people in college programs. They are also advocating for inmates to have book in their cells.
(Springfield--jc) Some area Republicans say the state of Illinois needs a true independent inspector general. Ray Watt has the story from Springfield…
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says he’s angry over recent corruption scandals in the Illinois legislature. A few state lawmakers and local officials have been under investigation and arrests have been made in some cases. Governor Pritzker strongly criticizes their abuse of power…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says he’s glad corrupt officials are being caught. A number of ethics reform proposals have emerged this week in light of the latest corruption investigations.
(Undated-jm) -- Those visiting Shawnee National Park in southern Illinois may soon have to pay. The park is considering charging $5 per vehicle per day and a $30 yearly pass. The money would go towards upkeep and maintenance at the park. Park officials say there is a need due to an increase in popularity of the park and a flat or slight decline in federal funding. The fees would have to be approved by the U-S Park Service.
(Bloomington-jm) -- The former director of the Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington won’t face jail time. Curtis Webb was found guilty of theft for using a taxpayer funded debit card for personal use. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $1,150 in restitution.
(Undated-jm) -- Inclement weather is affecting area trick or treat activities. Paxton’s Halloween parade has been cancelled for tonight. Trick or treating in Fisher, Gilman and Onarga have all been moved to Friday night.
(Ludlow-jm) -- The Ludlow school district will be getting rid of some of their technology products. The district is selling 60 Chromebook laptops because they are not able to be updated to be compatible with the state testing platform. The district will also be selling some smartboards.
(Fisher-jm) -- The Fisher Grade School will have a new principal next school year. The district voted to hire Jake Palmer to the position. He takes over for Jim Moxley, who is retiring after 21 years in the position. Palmer currently serves as junior high and high school dean of students and head football coach.
(Springfield-jm) -- Legislation ending the practice of suspending someone’s driver’s license because of overdue parking tickets is headed to the Governor’s desk. Representative Carol Ammons of Champaign says stripping someone of their license because they owe money doesn’t make sense. She says the state needs to support people finding gainful employment…
State Representative Carol Ammons of Champaign. If the Governor signs the “License to Work Act” into law, it will take effect July 1st.
(Springfield-jm) -- October is Infant Sleep Awareness Month and state officials hope to lower some shocking statistics. According to D-C-F-S and the State Department of Public Health, 143 infants under the age of one died in 2018 in Illinois, including 27 from central Illinois, from unsafe sleeping arrangements. Of those 114 were found in locations other than cribs, bassinets and pack and plays. 102 were found in positions other than their backs and 97 were co-sleeping with a parent or sibling. D-C-F-S, Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Human Services wants to teach families how babies should properly sleep saying babies should sleep alone on their back in a crib, bassinet or pack and play.
(Washington-jm) -- There may be ancient agricultural roots that have grown into some of our present day Halloween observances. Gary Crawford has the spooky details…
