(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois reported fewer traffic fatalities in 2018, following a national trend. Numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show a 2.5 percent decline in 2018, with deaths in Illinois down more than 5 percent. The decrease follows a brief spike in 2015 and 2016, blamed on more drivers on the roads due to an improving economy. Pedestrian deaths remain a concern, as the number of fatalities increased by nearly 3 percent nationally and 12 percent in Illinois.Overall, more than 36,000 people died on the nation’s roads in 2018. Illinois reported 1,031 deaths on the roadways last year, the tenth-highest number in the country.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Producers made slight progress this past week as we hear in the weekly crop report. Only about two days were suitable for fieldwork, preventing farmers from making any big headway says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 77 percent of soybeans have been harvested and 83 percent of winter wheat has been planted. Average statewide topsoil moisture increased to one percent very short, five percent short, 65 percent adequate and 29 percent surplus. 

 

 

(Urbana-jm) — A Rantoul man was arrested in Urbana on weapon and drug charges. Police say an officer saw Kejuan Coleman leaving a vehicle over the weekend that was emitting a heavy odor of cannabis. When the officer tried to stop Coleman he took off on foot. Officers uncovered a large amount of cash on him, and a gun and cannabis in his vehicle. Coleman was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, delivery of up to 500 grams of cannabis and resisting police. Bond was set at $30,000.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Could the village of Rantoul ban cannabis establishments? That will be the discussion at tonight’s study session. In addition, village trustees will discuss the village’s tax levy and $225,000 in street maintenance in 2020. The Rantoul village board study session gets underway at 6 pm.

 

(Ludlow-jm) -- Prep work for a water main project in the village of Ludlow is halfway complete. Village leaders recently learned an electrical panel in the water plant will not work with the new system and will have to be moved to phase one of the project instead of phase two. Leaders hope to send the project out to bid in the spring.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Ameren Illinois customers could see some relief on their energy bills this winter. The company announced rates are expected to be five percent less than last year. That means a typical residential customer who uses 10,000 kilowatt hours per year will save around $22.

(Washington-jm) -- Secretary Perdue is touting U.S. relationships with Japan, which is one of this country's largest agricultural export markets. Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Law enforcement officers are urging caution when using public changing tables. Police say the tables are sometimes used by drug addicts looking to get their fix. 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Some districts spend far more per student at some schools and less at others, but parents can now find how just how big the difference is after per-pupil spending by school was added to the latest Illinois Report Card. In addition to the district-level data, the Illinois State Board of Education now includes how much is spent per student in each school using each school’s fiscal year 2018 financial reports. Information is available at illinoisreportcard.com.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Producers made slight progress this past week as we hear in the weekly crop report. 95 percent of corn is now mature, and 58 percent of the crop has been harvested. That’s up from 54 percent last week. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener looks at soybeans... 

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 60 percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated as one percent very short, five percent short, 65 percent adequate and 29 percent surplus. 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton is gearing up for their annual Christmas parade. This year’s theme is Chocolate, Gum Drops and Golden Tickets: Imagine the Possibilities. PRIDE in Paxton Director Teri Hancock says they are running a special golden ticket promotion…

 

 

PRIDE in Paxton Director Teri Hancock. The annual parade will take place Saturday, November 30th at 1:30 pm.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  The demolition process for the former EastLawn School have begun. Workers with Lee Excavating based in Thawville have started the process that will take several months to complete. The aging structure property  will be repurposed by the local school district. Those traveling in the area are asked for their patience as the project continues.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign County Farm Bureau is gearing up for their 12th annual Harvest Gala. This year’s event takes place on Friday, November 8th at the Pear Tree Estate. A silent auction gets underway at 5:30, with a dinner at 7 and live auction at 7:30. Cost is $75 a person. For more information or to register, call the Champaign County Farm Bureau at 217-352-5235.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Nestle is recalling some ready to bake refrigerated Toll House Cookie Dough. The company says certain batches contain food grade rubber pieces. Batch codes beginning with 9189 to 9295 are affected. They include Toll House Cookie Dough bars, tubs and tube shaped chubs.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- After three more troopers were struck by passing motorists in four days, the Illinois State Police is again reminding the public about the state’s “Move Over” law. The number of I-S-P squad cars hit by driver’s not moving over has now reached 26. The move over or “Scott’s Law” requires motorists to slow down and switch lanes if they see a vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road. Some aren’t getting the message says Trooper Mindy Carroll…

 

 

Illinois State Police Trooper Mindy Carroll. The Illinois State Police have lost four troopers so far this year. Two were killed as a result of Scott’s Law violations. 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Amid a backdrop of federal investigative activity and bipartisan calls for ethics reform, a state legislator introduced a bill that would increase the sentences of state lawmakers convicted of a crime related to their public duties. Barrington Hills Republican Rep. David McSweeney’s bill joins a handful of others that aim to institute a task force to study potential ethical safeguards, increase the fines associated with lying on government forms and bribery, and give the legislative investigator more autonomy in her inquiries. McSweeney’s bill would tack an extra “five years of imprisonment” to the sentence of a lawmaker convicted of a felony “relating to or arising out of or in connection” to his or her public duties, according to the legislation.