(Rantoul-jm) – In updating our story, Rantoul fire officials believe Tuesday's fire was arson. It was the third time the home at 1601 Gleason Drive has caught fire. The cause of the first fire was undetermined and the second fire was considered suspicious. The state fire marshal's office is also investigating.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning the public about a Salmonella outbreak linked to Jif peanut butter. The CDC has confirmed 14 cases of Salmonella illness spanning 12 states says State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey…

 

 

State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey. Several varieties of Jif peanut butter products have been pulled. You can check the website: fda dot gov for a list of codes that fall under the recall and toss out any products that match.

 

(Crescent City-jm) – An old high school building will be torn down. Crescent-Iroquois High School closed down in 2009. Students now go to high schools in surrounding towns. The building used to have workers with the special education program within it. However, they were transferred to another building in Gilman around three years ago. The board of education approved demolishing the building. However, a date for when that work will begin has not yet been announced.

 

(Rantoul-tr) – The village of Rantoul is looking at a variety of ways to update their waste water system. An initial engineering study has been considered, with a $148,000 price tag. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the system needs to be reconstructed so that it's more sustainable for the community in the future…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith.

 

(Hoopeston-jm) – A Hoopeston couple have been arrested after they were accused of stealing from the place they worked. Rakesh Mishra and Amika Mishra were arrested by Hoopeston police following a several month investigation into thefts at Tedds Beverage.

 

(Washington-jm) – The outlook for the nation's broiler producers is what one analyst calls, "strong". Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state is joining the National ``Border to Border '' campaign to enforce seat belt laws through the Memorial Day holiday. The Illinois Department of Transportation, State Police and hundreds of local law enforcement agencies are teaming up this week to make sure everyone is buckled up, says IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel…

 

 

IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel. Last year there were 11 crashes over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in Illinois, leaving 14 people dead.

 

(Undated-jm) – A nursing care management company must now pay $3 million in overtime back wages. The United States Department of Labor found that Peterson Health Care Inc., which is based in Peoria, failed to pay nurses the correct amount of overtime. Because the employer wrongly assumed they weren't entitled to overtime pay. This decision will impact 3,024 caregivers at 84 residential nursing care facilities across the midwest, including some facilities here in central Illinois.

 

(Ford County-tr) – The Ford County Public Health Department is part of a program known as the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. The program  offers free mammograms, breast exams, pelvic exams and Pap tests to eligible women. Ford County Public Health Department Communicable Disease Nurse Kristen Buhs details the registration requirements…

 

 

Ford County Public Health Department Communicable Disease Nurse Kristen Buhs.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Those 5 and over can now schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 booster shot at Carle locations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now officially recommends that eligible individuals 5-11 should receive a booster dose at least 5 months after the completion of their primary series. Carle will have access to booster appointments available in Pediatric and Primary Care offices across the region. Anyone can schedule an appointment through their local COVID-19 hotline number, found on www.carle.org. 

 

(Washington-jm) –  Despite higher feed costs, the nation's pork producers are expected to expand output next year. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

The Boy Scout Astronomy merit badge workshop will be held tonight from 7-9:30 at Parkland College’s Staerkel Planetarium. Cost is $5.