(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Conservation Police is boosting enforcement efforts as boating season in Illinois gets underway. Police will be out on the water looking especially for drunk boat drivers. They will also perform safety checks says Spokesperson Rachel Torbert…
Illinois Department of Natural Resource Spokesperson Rachel Torbert. Torbert says boats also need to be equipped with a fire extinguisher, flares, working horn and navigation lights as well as an engine cut off switch as required by a new federal law.
(Rantoul-cf)-- The Rantoul Chamber of Commerce will be working with the Rantoul Downtown Businesses to host some events throughout the summer. Chamber Director Amanda Vickory has the details…
Rantoul Chamber of Commerce Director Amanda Vickory.
(Urbana-jm) -- Champaign County Executive Darlene Kloeppel has vetoed the county’s board vote on a new equity map. The map would have turned two of the county board’s eleven districts into “minority majority” districts. In an announcement of her decision, Kloeppel said she felt the county board did not take into account public input and they ignored the other three recommended maps. It could be brought up again in June.
(Rantoul-jm) -- A group of distinguished veterans were honored in a street-renaming ceremony Saturday afternoon in Rantoul. A portion of Century Boulevard will now be named Tuskegee Airmen Boulevard. The street name will start near the Business Center at the corner of Veterans Parkway and extends south to Chandler Road.
(Paxton--jc) -- The Paxton American Legion Post #150 will not be holding their traditional public Memorial Day parade this year. However, we will be having a ceremony and Honor Guard rifle salute on Monday, May 31st beginning at 11:00 am at the usual location by the veteran’s statue at Glen Cemetery. Legion members and volunteers are still planning on placing American Flags on the graves of all the heroes buried at Glen Cemetery in Paxton. Those interested are asked to meet at the gazebo in the cemetery at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Paxton American Legion Post will provide the flags and guidance on placing of the flags.
(St. Joseph-jm) -- Traffic on I-74 near St. Joseph had to be rerouted after a semi caught fire Sunday evening. The incident happened on I-74 eastbound around 7pm. No word on the cause of the fire or if there were any injuries.
(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City leaders are looking at ways to address rust issues at the city’s water plant. Mayor Dan Dickey talks about the issue…
Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey.
(Watseka-jm) -- The Iroquois County Public Health Department will hold a walk in Johnson and Johnson one dose COVID vaccine clinic on May 26th. The clinic will be held at Iroquois Memorial Hospital from 4 to 6pm.
(Springfield-jm) -- State ride inspectors are back at it again this summer. As things return to pre-pandemic status, inspectors with the Illinois Department of Labor are out making sure rides are safe at theme parks, fairs and festivals, says Director Michael Kleinik…
Illinois Department of Labor Director Michael Kleinik. Kleinik says the public needs to do its part as well, following posted height and weight guidelines as well as safety rules.
(Urbana-jm) -- Grant funding has been frozen in Champaign County because of an overdue audit. The 2019 audit has yet to be submitted to the state causing grants to be frozen. The county auditor hopes to have the audit completed by June 1st.
(Champaign-jm) -- One of the Champaign Police officers who was shot in the line of duty on Wednesday has been released from the hospital. Police were called to the Town Center Apartments for a domestic disturbance. Darion Lafayette opened fire on officers when they arrived. Officer Chris Oberheim was shot and killed. Officer Jeffrey Creel was shot three times and was released from the hospital Friday. Lafayette died in the shootout.
(Ford County-jm) -- May is Stroke Awareness Month and the Ford County Public Health Department is hosting a free educational session on strokes. Community Educator Megan Reutter talks about the event…
Ford County Public Health Department Community Educator Megan Reutter.
(Undated-jm) -- Last week, Governor J-B Pritzker announced a six year $20.7 billion dollar construction plan for the state. The plan runs 2022-2027. Now we look at projects planned for 2023 through 2027: I-57 bridge replacement south of Paxton, pavement rehab on I-57 from Ford/Iroquois County line to Buckley, new bridge deck at the Buckley I-57 overpass, new bridge on I-57 7.3 miles south of Onarga, I-57 pavement rehab from 2 miles south of Onarga to 2.4 miles north of Gilman, replace bridge at Onarga I-57 overpass, pavement reconstruction Route 45 from Route 24 to Route 54, ADA improvements Lott Boulevard to Route 47 in Gibson City, pavement rehab on IL-54 from Route 9/47 in Gibson City to the Champaign County line, I-57 Kirby avenue bridge replacement in Champaign, ADA improvements along U-S 136 from Rantoul to Gifford.
