(Champaign County-jm) -- A Ludlow man is dead after a shooting over the weekend near Gifford. Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup says 46 year old Robert Ogburn died of a gunshot wound to the head. Ogburn was found deceased in a vehicle along U-S 136 east of Gifford. A second occupant of the vehicle was taken to Carle Hospital.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Making a phone call in central Illinois will soon require entering the full 10-digit phone number, including the area code. Starting February 27th, the central Illinois region that encompasses the 217 area code also will include area code 447. New 447 area code numbers will be distributed starting March 27.

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,747 new Coronavirus cases Monday and 35 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1 million 148 thousand 088 and deaths to 19,668. Locally, McLean County reported 100 new cases bringing their total to 14,118. Champaign County reported 252 new cases bringing their total to 17,007. Ford County reported 8 new cases bringing their total to 1,485. Iroquois County reported 10 new cases bringing their total to 2,719. Livingston County reported 24 new cases bringing their total to 4,010.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton bakery has moved to a new location. Mareci’s Bakery is now at their new location in the former Country Thyme Tea Room on the city’s west side near Hardee’s. The location will continue to feature the many great items and will allow them to offer indoor dining in the future says owner Dawn Long…

 

 

Mareci’s Bakery Owner Dawn Long. Long says the business will be closed for a couple of days in order to get everything set up.

 

(Watseka-jm) -- Iroquois Federal Foundation is awarding a $10,000 grant to Kankakee Community College for their First Year Experience Class. The class offers learning strategies, study skills and financial awareness.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The consolidated election will take place April 6th but several area races are taking shape. WPXN’s Jason Madden takes a look at who is on the ballot…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Vermilion County Board and St. Joseph village board both meet tonight. The Vermilion County board will meet at 6 where they will discuss infrastructure financial assistance for the 8 mile drainage district. At 7 in St. Joseph, village leaders there will hear a presentation on park enhancements and consider allowing Ameren to construct, operate and maintain a utility system in the village. The Vermilion County Board meeting gets underway at 6 with the St. Joseph village board meeting getting underway at 7.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A last minute attempt during the lame duck session to decouple Illinois’ tax code from federal tax code failed. However some lawmakers like 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City believe there will be another attempt this spring session. Representative Bennett says it will raise taxes on already struggling businesses…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Soybean Board is looking for farmers interested in filling 1 of 4 director positions on the United Soybean Board. Those interested must complete an application and agreement to serve by March 1st. More details are available by calling Dustin Scott at 309-808-3603.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Should USDA be more flexible in its crop report release dates? There are differing opinions about that. Gary Crawford has the details…

 

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA is forecasting higher prices across all meat categories in 2021. Stephanie Ho has the details…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Republican Party has a new chairman. Top Republicans chose Don Tracy. The Springfield attorney is the former chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board and a businessman. The former chairman, Tim Schneider, announced in December that he was stepping down from the post.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,747 new Coronavirus cases Monday and 35 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1 million 148 thousand 088 and deaths to 19,668. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County reported 13,595 have recovered, 351 are in isolation and 20 are hospitalized. Champaign County reported 16,185 have recovered, 710 are in isolation and 24 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,631 have been released from isolation, 29 remain in isolation and 2 are hospitalized. Livingston County reported 3,853 have been removed from isolation and 85 cases are active.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Some lawmakers and victim advocacy groups are speaking out against the criminal justice reform bill. A group of GOP lawmakers and others in the criminal justice field held a virtual press conference late last week calling on the Governor to reject the bill. One of those participating in the press conference was Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy. She says victim’s rights groups that support the legislation obviously didn’t read the bill…

 

 

Lacy also argues victims of crime will be re-victimized over and over by the legislation…

 

 

Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Tri-Point 7th grader Rebecca Griner has won the Governor Thomas Ford Chapter of the National Society of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution annual American History essay contest. The theme was the Boston Massacre, as this year marks the 250th anniversary of the deadly event that historians say paved the way for the American Revolution. Griner is the daughter of Amanda and Thomas Griner of Cullom.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Paxton and Rantoul city councils meet tonight. At 6pm in the village of Rantoul, trustees will be asked to approve Mayor Chuck Smiths appointment of D. Jolene Gensler as Comptroller, approve the purchase of a 2021 Dodge Charger police vehicle and approve the sale of Hanger 2. In Paxton at 7, council members will be asked to approve the purchase of a new street sweeper, approve a new repeater for the city’s Emergency Response Service and approve issuing an 8th class C liquor license. The Rantoul village board meeting gets underway at 6 with the Paxton city council meeting getting underway at 7.

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The Village of Rantoul is hosting a recorded virtual forum with all of the candidates running for local office within the village. Those forums with the different offices will be posted on the villages YouTube page on their release date. Spokesperson Debbra Sweat has the detail on when the videos will be posted… 

 

 

Rantoul Virtual Forum Spokesperson Debbra Sweat. You can hear the forum tomorrow night here on WPXN.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A pair of Ford County committees will meet this week. The Public Building Committee will meet at 10 am this morning to open elevator bids while the zoning committee will meet at 4pm on Thursday to consider revisions to the wind farm ordinance and hear an update on the solar farm ordinance.

 

(Washington-jm) -- What's the latest forecast for food prices in 2021? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- The USDA has announced several actions designed to help distressed borrowers in some of USDA's loan programs. Gary Crawford reports…