(Milford-jm) -- Fire officials and the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a fire in Milford Thursday night. Firefighters were called to the fire around 6:15 pm. When they arrived they found flames coming from a second story window. When they went in they found a man with a gun. Authorities say the man threatened the firefighters. The man was taken to the hospital and then taken into custody. The state fire marshals office has been called in to investigate.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois’ highest court ruled Thursday that it is unconstitutional to ban convicted sex offenders from social media sites. Conrad Allen Morger was convicted of sexually abusing a minor and sentenced to four years of probation by a court in McLean County. That came with a binding condition he not use specific internet sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. During oral arguments, held in September in Godfrey, Morger’s representative said the ban is a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment fundamental right to freedom of speech.The Illinois Supreme Court agreed in a unanimous decision among the six participating justices.
(Springfield-jm) -- The unemployment rate was down in all of the state’s 14 metro areas last month. Significant improvements were seen comparing October of this year to October of 2018 says Illinois Department of Employment Security Spokesperson Rebecca Cisco…
Illinois Department of Employment Security Spokesperson Rebecca Cisco. Jobs were up over the year in 11 metro areas with Chicago and the suburbs, as well as Champaign-Urbana and the East Saint Louis areas seeing the most growth.
(Rantoul--jc) -- Notice to families that use the Youth Center in Rantoul. The facility will be closed starting today and remain closed through Thanksgiving week for building maintenance. The Rantoul Youth Center will reopen for normal hours on Monday December 2nd.
(Gifford-jm) -- The 37th annual Gifford State Bank Country Christmas Craft Show is this weekend at Gordyville. Spokesperson Stacey Huls talks about what you can expect to find at this years show…
Gifford State Bank Country Christmas Craft Show Spokesperson Stacey Huls. Showtimes are Saturday 8 to 5 and Sunday 9 to 3. Santa will be there from 9 to 3 Saturday and 10 to 2 on Sunday.
(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton community pool took another loss this past season, but its not all bad news. The Paxton Park District says the pool lost $16,700 during the 2019 season. That’s better than the $23,000 loss the district anticipated. Rates and schedules for the upcoming season will be discussed next month.
(Springfield-jm) -- A fifth person in Illinois has died from a vaping-related lung injury, the Illinois Department of Public Health reports. A total of 187 people in Illinois, ranging in age from 13 to 75, have experienced lung injuries after using e-cigarettes or vaping. Another 40 possible cases in Illinois are being investigated. Cases have been reported in 32 counties statewide. More than 80% of the cases in Illinois report recent use of THC-containing products, primarily obtaining them from informal sources.
(Undated-jm) -- Doctors are warning people to not kiss or get near babies if they are sick or feel sick during the flu and cold season peak. Babies are at a higher risk to get Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during the winter months. RSV is a common respiratory virus that may seem like an everyday cold. Many of the symptoms of RSV are similar to a cold. However, RSV causes a lot more inflammation and secretions in the airway. RSV can last between three and four weeks. Which is much longer than the cold. If your child gets tested positive for RSV and they are not getting better, take them back to the doctor to get reevaluated.
(Washington-jm) -- Will that Thanksgiving turkey cost us more than last year? Gary Crawford has the details…
The Buckley Lions Club will hold their turkey or ham Bingo tonight at the Buckley American Legion. Dinner will be from 5 to 6 pm with Bingo starting at 6:15 pm.
Paxton IGA and Missions R Us will host a ribeye steak sandwich cookout from 10 until 2 on Saturday at the Paxton IGA.
(Watseka--jc) -- Iroquois County authorities continue to investigate a stabbing in Watseka that happened just past 4pm on Thursday. Authorities say that one person is dead and a Kankakee man was arrested. According to Watseka Police reports, the incident occurred in the 100 block of East Oak. The individual was found with a stab wound to the neck. He was taken to Iroquois Memorial Hospital, where he died. Iroquois County police arrested 23 year old Andre Maiden of Kankakee. Maiden was charged with aggravated battery. WPXN News will continue to update this story as more official news becomes available
(Springfield-jm) -- Two ideological heavyweights sparred in Chicago not only about Illinois’ proposed progressive income tax change, but about whether high taxes cause people to leave. Truth in Accounting’s panel discussion at the Union League Club in Chicago featured Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. Martire was an architect and chief proponent of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed progressive tax amendment that will be on the November 2020 ballot. Should it pass, it would change Illinois’ Constitution to allow the state to tax income above certain thresholds at higher levels, something Martire said was necessary to make the state’s tax system more equitable. Radio host and former candidate for Illinois governor Dan Proft cut at Martire’s notion that increasing taxes would not exacerbate the state’s population declines. Martire, using California and Minnesota’s population gains as an example, said there’s no peer-reviewed evidence that ties high taxes to people leaving a state. Proft pointed to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute polling, which found that about half of those asked said they’d thought about leaving the state and the most common reason cited was high taxes.
(Springfield-jm) -- As firearm deer hunters head out into the field today, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has a few safety reminders. Hunters should wear blaze orange or blaze pink in the fields and double check what they’re shooting at before pulling the trigger says Illinois Department of Natural Resources Spokesperson Rachel Torbert. Additionally...
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Spokesperson Rachel Torbert. Tree stands are another big concern, so it’s advised hunters make sure the stand is secure and wear a fall-arrest safety harness.
Cox-Knapp Funeral home in Paxton will hold an open house on Sunday November 24th from 1-4 pm. The newly remodeled funeral home includes an updated and spacious funeral chapel and large family room and is also handicap accessible. Refreshments will be served and door prizes will also be given away. Cox-Knapp Funeral Home is located at 142 West Patton Street in Paxton. For more information, contact them through their website, coxknapp.com
(Monticello--jc) -- To those who know him, say this honor is “well deserved”. Monticello School leaders are naming a new gym and school center in honor of a member of its current teaching staff Arthur “Buzz: Sievers has been with the Monticello School district since 1966. Construction on the Arthur “Buzz” Sievers Center is expected to start next year.
(Paxton-jm) -- PRIDE in Paxton is gearing up for the Christmas holiday season with several activities for the whole family. One of the activities is the annual tree lighting says PRIDE in Paxton Director Teri Hancock…
PRIDE in Paxton Director Teri Hancock. Other activities include the parade at 1:30 pm Saturday, the Business Open House December 6th through the 9th and several opportunities for kids to meet Santa.
(Paxton-jm) -- A Veterans Assistance Commission could be coming to Ford County, however, it needs some help getting started. A Piper City man approached the county board earlier this year about the need. After doing some research county board members learned that local veterans groups must spearhead the effort before taxpayer money can be used. It’s estimated around 1,000 veterans live in Ford County.
(Undated-jm) -- A new study on state fiscal transparency concludes that 32 states earned distinction for providing the public “with candid and transparent information about their government’s fiscal health;” 46 states earned clean audit opinions in the most recent analysis. This year, Idaho scored the highest with 88 points and Connecticut the lowest with 50. The 10 states with the greatest level of transparency are Idaho, North Dakota, Nevada, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, Indiana, Maine, and South Carolina. The 10 least transparent states are Connecticut ranking last, followed by North Carolina, Vermont, Nebraska, New Mexico, Alaska, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, California and Michigan.
(Undated-jm) -- Disney said that its new streaming service is secure, denying there was a breach following a report that some users were shut out after hackers tried to break into their accounts. The news site ZDNet found stolen account usernames and passwords selling for $3 on underground hacking forums. Disney's streaming service, Disney+, costs $7 a month or $70 a year. According to a person familiar with the leak, "tens of thousands" of users were impacted.
(Washington-jm) -- Will your Thanksgiving meal cost more than last year? Or Less? Gary Crawford reports…
The 37th Annual Gifford State Bank Country Christmas Craft show will take place Saturday and Sunday at Gordyville USA. Hours are 8 to 5 Saturday and 9 to 3 on Sunday.
Gibson City will hold their annual lighted Christmas parade on Saturday, November 23rd at 6:30 pm. The theme for this year’s parade is silver bells.
