(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul police are investigating a pair of shootings. The first one occurred Sunday evening around 11 pm. Police received several reports of shots fired in the area of St. Andrews Court. No injuries were reported and no signs of shots being fired were found. Then last night, a 17 year old was shot in the arm on Abrams Drive around 6 pm. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police are seeking information from the public. Anyone with information is asked to call Rantoul Police or Champaign County Crimestoppers.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The fall harvest is wrapping up as we hear in the last weekly crop report of the season. Temperatures and rainfall were below normal this past week, with four days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says farmers still have a little work to do in the fields... 

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 91 percent of winter wheat acres have emerged, with 45 percent in good to excellent condition. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated as three percent short, 83 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. 

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  - Do you know basketball and want to help coach some area youth? The Rantoul Park District is seeking coaches for all leagues in Youth Basketball. Those interested are asked to call the Rantoul Park District at 893-5700.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A long standing Paxton tradition will continue this weekend as the city will hold their annual Christmas parade on Saturday at 1:30 pm. PRIDE in Paxton Director Terri Hancock talks about the history of the parade…

 

 

PRIDE in Paxton Director Terri Hancock. The theme for this year’s parade is Chocolate, Gum Drops and Golden Tickets: Imagine the Possibilities. The annual tree lighting will take place at 7pm Friday at the tree at the intersection of State and Market.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton bank is collecting non-perishable food donations to help area families. The Frederick Community Bank is teaming up with the Paxton Area Ministerial Association and the Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District to help families during the holiday season. Items will be collected through December 13th.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Police is beefing up patrols for the Thanksgiving holiday. State Police have more troopers on the roads and will hold special details says Trooper Mindy Carroll…

 

 

Illinois State Trooper Mindy Carroll. Troopers are especially looking for those that pose the most risk on the roads including speeders, drunk or distracted drivers and those not wearing a seatbelt. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Personal income growth in Illinois is lagging behind the rest of the country. A new report released by Pew Charitable Trusts found that the state’s income growth was 49th in the nation over the past decade, at an annualized rate of 1.1 percent. Illinois remained in the bottom ten for the first half of 2019, with a growth rate of 2 percent. The report pointed to low commodity prices, adverse weather conditions, international trade disputes and decreased assistant payments in the second quarter of 2019 to farmers.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Consumer debt in the U.S. has grown by 25 percent in five years and doubled since the turn of the century, according to the latest Clever Real Estate report. Researchers identified three major reasons for skyrocketing debt: credit cards, financial literacy, and location, based on data analyzed by the Federal Reserve. The average American household held $533 in debt and earned $30,300 in 1950, not including mortgages. In 2018, households had $31,420 worth of debt relative to a median income of $78,646. In 2018, 7 in 10 borrowers who didn’t pay the full balance on their credit debt paid $113 billion in credit card interest and fees, up from $74.5 billion in 2013.

(Springfield-jm) -- Some election contests are taking shape for the March primary ballot for statehouse seats and seats in the U.S. Congress as politicians from across the state file nominating petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Monday marked the opening of the filing period for the March 17 primary. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Dec. 2 to file.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The fall harvest is wrapping up as we hear in the last weekly crop report of the season. 88 percent of corn and 95 percent of soybeans have now been harvested, a little behind the five year average says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture stands at three percent very short, 83 percent adequate and 14 percent surplus. 

 

 

(Gifford-jm) -- Gifford residents can now pay their water bills using their credit card. Before, residents could either pay by cash or check. Now residents can pay their bill either in person at the village hall or online. Those that choose to use their credit card will be charged a two point six five percent fee.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Area lawmakers continue to discuss the recent fall veto session. One of the issues brought before lawmakers dealt with recreational cannabis says 53rd district state senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington. Lawmakers will return to the capitol in January.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The Rantoul man accused of having sex with a 14 year old girl is facing more charges. Jorge Elvir-Reyes was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault. Now he is facing child pornography charges. The new charges come after police found child porn on his phone. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Transportation says its well prepared for winter and highway snow removal. The trucks are ready, and salt is being stored for a winter season that will likely see snow and ice says IDOT Spokesperson Guy Tridgell…

 

 

IDOT Spokesperson Guy Tridgell. I-DOT estimates they will have about 19 hundred temporary workers available to help drive snowplows this winter. Last year, IDOT used more than 600 thousand tons of salt to help keep Illinois roads clear.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Gov. J.B. Pritzker said that Illinois needs fair legislative maps, but he couldn’t say if he would help usher in a constitutional amendment question for voters to determine how to change Illinois’ political map-making process. Some Democrats and Republicans have said there needs to be a new process to draw legislative boundaries. Critics have said the existing process leads to parties in power drawing maps benefiting their party, not voters.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- A new survey of bankers suggests the economy continues growing in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states, but the ongoing trade disputes continue to hurt the outlook for more growth. The Rural Mainstreet survey's overall index improved to 54.2 in November from October's 51.4. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy. The confidence index for the region remained in negative territory at 44.4 in November even though it was higher than October's 36.5.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- A cranberry expert says there's a whole lot more we can do with cranberries this holiday season than just making sauce. Gary Crawford has the details…