(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,961 new Coronavirus cases and 61 additional deaths Wednesday. Locally, Vermilion County reported 124 new cases and 3 additional deaths. Champaign County reported 97 additional cases. Ford and Iroquois Counties did not have a report Wednesday.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) --In updating our story from Wednesday,  One person was injured in a shooting in Rantoul Wednesday. The shooting occurred on Golf Course Road around 11 am. A woman showed up at the Carle Clinic in the village with a gunshot wound. She was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton Buckley Loda School District is looking good financially. That’s according to Superintendent Cliff McClure…

 

 

PBL Schools Superintendent Cliff McClure.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton man is facing residential burglary and attempted sexual assault charges. Preston Braaten, 22, is charged with residential burglary, attempted sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse. Ford County prosecutors say Braaten allegedly gained entry into the victims apartment back in August and sexually assaulted the female victim. He is due back in court September 28th.

 

 

(St. Joseph-jm) -- Former St. Joseph Mayor BJ Hackler has died. Hackler served as mayor for 36 years before retiring in 2017. He also cut hair for 60 years.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Ethics reform continues to be a hot topic in Springfield. Lawmakers passed some reforms in the spring however 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says more needs to be done…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul man has been charged with domestic battery and drug charges. Police were called to the 200 block of Letchworth Drive after a woman reported her boyfriend, Cory Worker, assaulted her. She also told police Worker had been bringing cannabis and cannabis related products from Oregon to Illinois to sell. If convicted on the most serious charge he faces anywhere from probation to 15 years in prison.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- With a freshman enrollment of 8,303, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has welcomed a record-breaking freshman class for the 2021-22 academic year. The new class brings total student enrollment to 56,299, the largest in university history. The totals include 5,835 new students from Illinois, the largest number of in-state students in the freshman class since 2018 and the second largest in 10 years. The total undergraduate enrollment of 34,559 is higher than the previous record of 33,850 in 2019.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- This Friday markets will have some new data on yields, production and possibly on acreage. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Economic development on Rantoul’s west side continues to boom. The former Knights Inn hotel was recently tore down and developers plan to build several buildings at that location. But Mayor Chuck Smith says there are plans for other areas on the west side as well…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton mother and daughter are behind bars after authorities say they allegedly brought meth to the Ford County Jail. Police say 21 year old Harlee Nelson was seen on surveillance camera throwing meth over the barbed wire fence at the jail to her mother 49 year old Angela Purtell on August 17th. Purtell allegedly took the drugs bag to her cell where she shared them with other inmates. Both are charged with introducing contraband into a penal institution. Additional charges are pending against Nelson.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Nearly 1,300 students asked the University of Illinois to excuse them from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. 942 students made the request for a medical exemption. 350 requests were made for a religious exemption. Faculty and staff have submitted 189 total requests. 61 for medical reasons and 128 due to religion.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The 9th annual Paxton Swine n Dine will take place on Saturday, September 18th. Country singer Michael Ray will headline the music act that evening. Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Alan Meyer talks about the bbq competition…

 

 

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Alan Meyer.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- GasBuddy reported that gas prices have fallen 9.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.14 per gallon. Prices around the WPXN listening area are in the $3.20-$3.30 range.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College’s CobraVenture program for aspiring student entrepreneurs is seeking students this fall for its third cohort. Applications for CobraVenture 2022 open today and stay open through Thursday, November 4. Information sessions about the program will be held Thursday, October 7, from noon to 1 p.m. in Room A175 and virtually on Zoom from 6 to 7 p.m. Applications can be found online at parkland.edu/cobraventure.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- A USDA report Friday will forecast demand for this season's crops. Gary Crawford reports…