(Paxton-jm) – Paxton Buckley Loda High School principal Travis Duley has been named the newest superintendent for the district. Duley will transition into the role with the upcoming retirement of current superintendent Cliff McClure. Duley, who has been in the PBL School District for 20 years including 8 years as high school principal, will be Associate Superintendent for the 2022-2023 school year before taking over the top spot for the 2023-2024 school year.

 

(Springfield-jm) – More than 12 million dollars is being awarded to communities around the state to ensure students get to school safely. The Safe Routes to School Grants are funding 57 projects to improve sidewalks and bike paths and add ADA compliant ramps, says Illinois Department of Transportation Spokesperson Paul Wappel…

 

 

IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel. Rantoul will receive $250,000 for new sidewalks, crossings, signage and a multi-use path near Pleasant Acres Elementary School.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Housing Authority is working to make housing more affordable. They are asking the county for one million dollars to move more families into homes. They want to give landlords incentives to rent to families who use housing vouchers. 

 

(Normal-jm) – Illinois State University employees have ratified their union contract in voting that began early Tuesday and lasted into the night. More than 92% of employees voted to approve the agreement that was reached with university officials last week. The new contract terms include wage increases for the lowest-paid workers and a retroactive pay increase for every employee.

 

(Paxton-tr) – The PBL school district has a few major projects coming up this summer, more specifically, in the Junior High building. PBL Superintendent Cliff McClure says that after this project, the JR High will be fully air conditioned…

 

 

PBL Superintendent Cliff McClure.

 

(Rantoul-jm) –  A man who was arrested for attempted murder and other charges after officials said he fired shots at two Champaign County deputies has pleaded guilty to being an armed habitual offender. Around midnight December 3, two deputies were on routine patrol when they saw a vehicle going at a high rate of speed south on Route 45 at 2500N near Thomasboro. The deputies followed the vehicle, preparing to conduct a traffic stop when multiple shots were fired at their marked patrol vehicle from the suspect's vehicle.  The deputies chased the suspect as he traveled south on Rt. 45, west on Interstate 74, north on Prospect Ave. and west on Olympian Dr.  The suspect, Lawrence Paul Lewis, 27, of Champaign, lost control and crashed at the intersection of Olympian and Boardwalk in Champaign. Lewis was caught and arrested on preliminary charges of attempted murder, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer, and resisting/obstructing a peace officer. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The City of Champaign has a new police chief. The city announced Timothy Tyler has been selected for the position after former chief Anthony Cobb retired. Tyler comes to Champaign with 29 years of law enforcement experience. He officially starts as chief June 6th.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The City of Paxton Streetscape program continues in the downtown area. The streets will be grinded and raised, says Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. City leaders and local police officials continue to remind the motoring public to take extra precaution when traveling in the downtown area due to the construction project. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois added nearly 57 hundred teachers during the last school year, more than the past five years combined. The latest survey found that strides have been made in easing the teacher shortages in Illinois, says State Board of Education Director of Teaching and Learning Jennifer Kirmes…

 

 

State Board of Education’s Jennifer Kirmes. Kirmes says unfortunately, the remaining vacancies are in areas that need help the most such as in low income schools, special education and bilingual education.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Parkland College has a new police chief. The Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Troy Daniels to the position at last night's meeting. Daniels retired as deputy police chief for the city of Champaign in 2019.

 

(Buckley-jm) – A benefit for an area man will be held in Buckley coming up May 1st. Spokesperson Shawna Rose talks about the event…

 

          

  

Spokesperson Shawna Rose. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign City Council unanimously passed a measure that brokers a new agreement between the Champaign and University of Illinois Police Departments. The new agreement readjusts the departments’ jurisdictions in the Campustown area – bordered by Springfield Avenue on the north, Wright Street on the east, Windsor Avenue on the south and Neil Street on the west. UIPD officers would patrol that area more while CPD officers focus on areas of the city with a higher volume of calls. The City of Champaign would be paying the UIPD about $840,000 a year to make this happen. The university would cover about $320,000 to pay for equipment and other training. Seven officers would be added to the UIPD staff.

 

(Urbana-jm) – A Mahomet man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for molesting a preteen. Andrew Huddle received the sentence in Champaign County court after pleading guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than a 40 year sentence. Huddle was facing up to 60 years.

 

(Cissna Park–jc)  – A Southern Iroquois County man has thrown his hat into the ring for the Republican position for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District in Illinois. Thomas Lynch of Cissna Park has announced his candidacy and is running in the June primary. Lynch introduces himself and talks about why he is running…

 

 

2nd Congressional District Republican Candidate Thomas Lynch of Cissna Park.

The Illinois Primary is set for Tuesday June 28th with the general election on November 8th. 

 

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