(Springfield-jm) -- In hopes of catching up to high demand, Illinois State Police announced an extension to FOID Card owners whose card expired after the start of the pandemic. The update still requires residents to have a FOID Card to own a firearm or ammunition, but gives an extension to those whose FOID cards expired after March 9 under the State's Disaster Proclamation. The extension will continue for 18 months after the State's Disaster Proclamation ends, but owners must submit a renewal application.
(Springfield-jm) -- 30 Illinois counties are now at the warning level for COVID-19. The counties are located all over the state, with warning levels triggered by rising test positivity rates, ER visits, clusters of cases and other troubling trends. State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike says local officials are seeing people gathering in large groups, not social distancing and not wearing a mask…
State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike says some people refuse to participate in contact tracing and are not providing information about close contacts or answering the phone. Vermilion County is one of the counties now at warning level. Local health officials say they have seen an increase in the number of ER visits.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois now has more than 260,000 confirmed Coronavirus cases. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced there are 261,371 total cases and 8,309 total deaths. We will have the latest numbers tonight on our news at 4 and 5.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is launching a new website just for hunters. The new “Hunt Illinois” website is a great resource, says DNR Spokesperson Rachel Torbert…
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Spokesperson Rachel Torbert. The website is: hunt illinois dot org.
(Rantoul-jm) -- The minuteman missile on the west side of the former Chanute Air Force Base in the village of Rantoul will remain. Late Friday the village received word from Washington that demolition of the missile, which was scheduled to begin next week, will not happen.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Four Rantoul teens have been arrested for allegedly breaking into vehicles in the village. Police say they were called to the 1200 block of Sycamore Lane for a report of a burglary to a motor vehicle. The victim told police four juveniles attempted to get in their vehicle and believed they had gotten into the neighbor's vehicle. The four juveniles between the ages of 13 and 17 were found and arrested.
(Paxton-jm) -- Dozens of motorcycles roared through Paxton Sunday afternoon. It was part of the annual 9-11 Memorial Ride. The group stopped at the Paxton firehouse for lunch before heading south to Rantoul before going back to Tilton.
(Gilman-cf)-- We are just under a month away from harvest in the WPXN listening area. Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece gives an update on how fields are looking…
Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece
(Undated-jm) -- Two area school boards meet tonight. The Mahomet Seymour School Board will hold a budget hearing at 7 pm followed by their monthly study session at 8 where they will hear a COVID-19 update. Rantoul Township High School will also have a budget hearing tonight. That starts at 5:45 with their monthly meeting starting at 6. School board members will discuss the first reading of updated school policies and possibly approve the FY21 budget. The Rantoul Township High School school board meeting gets underway at 6 with the Mahomet Seymour School Board study session getting underway at 8.
(Washington-jm) -- The prospects of a second round of stimulus payments look bleak after a Republican led proposal failed in the U-S Senate this week. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois condemned the bill saying it didn’t help the people who need it most…
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Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois.
(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton restaurant will be moving to a bigger location later this month. Pueblo Lindo will move from their location in the Marshall Building in downtown Paxton to the same building as Elite Fitness. The new location will allow them to have space for up to 130 guests compared to 77 at their current location. They will also have a banquet room that can seat an additional 300. They also plan on adding a bar and gaming room at their new location.
(Gibson City-jm) -- A railroad crossing in Gibson City will be closed starting today. IDOT officials announced the Route 9/47 railroad crossing will be closed between 1st and 8th streets. The closure could last through the 25th. Detour signs will be put up.
(Washington-jm) -- USDA has lowered its production forecasts for several major crops. Gary Crawford has the details…
(Springfield-jm) -- Check the mail for the pros and cons of a proposed amendment to the Illinois constitution voters will be asked in the General Election. The blue, four-page pamphlet includes an explanation of the amendment to change Illinois’ flat income tax to one that increases tax rates on people who make more money, and an argument for and an argument against. The pamphleting budget was $2.5 million through the Secretary of State’s office.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Labor is urging construction managers to take part in this week’s national campaign to prevent falls. Falling from an elevation is the leading cause of death for construction workers, says Illinois OSHA Director Brandy Lozosky…
Illinois OHSA Director Brandy Lozosky. A training guide, lesson plans, videos and more is available online at: osha dot gov slash stop falls stand down. Topics covered include scaffolding and roofing safety.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois now has over 261,000 Coronavirus cases after the state reported 2,145 cases Friday, 2,121 cases Saturday and 1,462 cases on Sunday. The state also reported 68 additional deaths in that timespan. The seven day positivity rate is 3.7 percent.
(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 30 months probation for writing bad checks. Shannon Sabol pleaded guilty in Champaign County court to deceptive practices. Police say on two occasions Sabol wrote checks at a Rantoul business from a closed account. He was also ordered to pay back the amount he owed.
(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police in Ashkum have released results from two recent enforcement patrols. During Distracted Driving patrols, 14 citations were issued for being on a hand held device and 7 citations were issued for texting while driving. During Nighttime Enforcement Patrols, 2 citations were issued for occupant restraint offenses, 1 citation for a registration offense, 4 citations for drivers license offenses and 4 citations for insurance offenses.
(Rural Melvin-jm) -- Roberts and Melvin firefighters were called to a shed fire Saturday evening. Firefighters were called to the fire at 35625 East 400 North in Livingston County, just after 9 pm. No word on the cause of the fire.
(Washington-jm) -- Illinois’ GOP Congressional members have sent a letter to the state to show how federal Coronavirus relief money is being spent. An Inspector Generals report found less than 20 percent of the money given to the state has actually been distributed. 16th Congressional District Congressman Adam Kinzinger says he and other GOP members want to make sure rural and downstate areas are getting their fair share…
16th Congressional District Congressman Adam Kinzinger.
(Undated-jm) -- Several area communities and one county board meet tonight for their monthly meeting. Gibson City council members will consider a contract with Ridgeview Recycling, consider hiring special legal counsel for a cyber breach and consider approving a bid to rehab well #1.Gilman City Council members will consider a cable tv franchise agreement and consider approving an engineering proposal for an IDOT grant application for the North Central Streetscape project. Roberts village leaders are expected to approve mulch bids for the park, consider creating a CURES program and provide an update on the positions up for the 2021 election. The Ford County Board will meet where they are expected to approve an ordinance creating a countywide CURES program and possibly set the salary for the public defender position. The Gibson City, Gilman and Ford County Board meetings get underway at 7. The Roberts village board meeting gets underway at 7:30.
(Bloomington-jm) -- An area state lawmaker is criticizing the state’s handling of the massive unemployment crisis during the Coronavirus pandemic. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says the state has failed to help those unemployed…
53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington
(Kankakee-jm) -- The Kankakee County Public Health Department is announcing a batch of mosquitoes in the county have tested positive for west nile. The health department says the batch of mosquitoes were caught in Bourbonnais. They remind people to wear long sleeves when out during peak mosquito hours and wear insect repellent that contains DEET.
(Champaign-jm) -- Those wanting assistance in lowering their utility bills can do so later this month. 52nd District State Senator Scott Bennett of Champaign will be hosting a virtual clinic with the Citizens Utility Board on Wednesday, September 30th from 5:30-7:30 pm. More details are available by calling Senator Bennett’s office at 217-355-5252.
(Washington-jm) -- Despite an downward adjustment in corn and soybean production and yield estimates in September, USDA notes numbers that reflect potential records or near records for both crops this year. Rod Bain reports…
