(Chicago-jm) -- Former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III of Illinois has died at his home on Chicago's North Side. He was 90. The Chicago Sun-Times reports his son, Adlai Stevenson IV, confirmed the Democrat's death and said his father had dementia. Stevenson ran for governor of Illinois twice, losing his 1982 run by just 5,074 votes to Republican Governor Jim Thompson.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A new state law aims to reduce pedestrian deaths in Illinois. The measure was sponsored by Senator Laura Murphy of Des Plaines and requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to look more closely at fatal accidents on state highways…

 

 

State Senator Laura Murphy of Des Plaines. I-DOT will then offer and implement recommendations, which could be as simple as adding a stop sign, says Murphy. The results of each study will be posted online.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Severe weather rolled through the WPXN listening area Tuesday evening. Severe thunderstorms brought strong winds and heavy rain. In Gibson City, several trees and tree limbs came down and strong winds ripped the roof off a baseball dugout. In Rantoul, strong winds knocked out power to most of the village and heavy rains caused street flooding. 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Knight for Christ auction hosted by Christ Lutheran HS at the Ford county Fair Grounds was a smashing success this year. Larry Abbe joins us to discuss some auction items featured this year…

 

 

After wrapping up another successful Knight for Christ Auction, Larry Abbe takes time to thank everyone involved…

 

 

Christ Lutheran High School Knight for Christ Spokesperson Larry Abbe.

 

 

(Thomasboro-jm) -- Officials with the Village of Thomasboro are looking for someone they said shut down the power to the lift station on Monday. Officials say a 4-door sedan pulled up to the lift station south of the Public Works building. A man then got out of the car and urinated by the power board. He exposed himself to passing cars and then shut off the power switch on the lift station.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Schools are adjusting to the latest guidance when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic. Paxton Buckley Loda Schools Superintendent Cliff McClure talks about their plans…

 

 

PBL Schools Superintendent Cliff McClure.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul man has been charged after he allegedly stole a car from a parking lot of a business in the village. George Whitlock was arrested for possessing a stolen vehicle. Whitlock allegedly stole a vehicle from the Walgreens in Rantoul back in April. He is due back in court later this month.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Crop conditions declined slightly over the past week. 22 percent of soybeans are turning color and 9 percent of acres are dropping leaves. The soybean crop went from 71 percent in good to excellent condition previously to 65 percent now. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 96 percent of corn is in the dough stage or beyond…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. The third cutting of alfalfa is 97 percent complete and average statewide topsoil moisture is rated at 8 percent very short, 17 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Two new state laws require health insurers to cover more cancer screenings. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 48 thousand people across the country will die of pancreatic cancer this year. Senator Adriane Johnson of Buffalo Grove sponsored one law that mandates coverage of medically necessary screenings for the disease…

 

 

State Senator Adriane Johnson of Buffalo Grove. Johnson also sponsored the second law, requiring coverage of colonoscopies when recommended by a doctor and at no cost to the patient. Both laws take effect in January.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Gibson City once again received the brunt of severe weather Tuesday. Strong storms damaged dozens of trees in the western Ford County community. The winds also took the metal roof off of a baseball dugout and damaged the porch of a house. Rantoul also received damage to trees and powerlines causing much of the community to lose power.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- State lawmakers are discussing the state’s budget situation. A government watchdog budget group found the state is spending a record amount of money and revenue is down. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says the budget was rushed through quickly and had some critical errors…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

 

(Kankakee-jm) -- A Christian school in Kankakee that declined to enforce a mask mandate has lost state recognition but will seek accreditation in other ways. Kankakee Trinity Academy is a pre-K-to-12 school in Kankakee. It won't be able to participate in events affiliated with the Illinois Elementary School Association or Illinois High School Association. 

 

 

(Ashkum-jm) -- Illinois State Police will be conducting distracted driving enforcement patrols tonight. WPXN’s Jason Madden reports…

 

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A University of Illinois student reported they were scammed out of several thousand dollars. The student told officers she got a text from someone she did not know. They told her they would “pay money in exchange for conversation.” After they talked back-and-forth, the suspect sent the student a $4,500 check. They told her to deposit the check and return some of the money to them. The student did so, only to find out the original check bounced.

 

 

(Loda-jm) -- The 3rd Annual Team Hope Walk for Huntington’s Disease will take place Saturday September 11th at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. Spokesperson Samantha Cox talks about the event…

 

 

Team Hope Walk for Huntington’s Disease Spokesperson Samantha Cox.  Contact Samantha Cox at 217-249-1421 for more information.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- The Gibson City Rotary chapter has received a donation towards flood relief. The Champaign West Rotary donated money to help the city recover from the August 12th flood.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Crop conditions declined slightly over the past week. It was slightly cooler and wetter this past week, with about five days suitable for fieldwork. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 22 percent of soybean acres are turning color…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 83 percent of corn acres are in the dent stage and 30 percent are mature. 67 percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition, down from 70 percent the previous week. Average statewide topsoil moisture is now rated 8 percent very short, 17 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus.