(Springfield-jm) – Today is primary election day in Illinois. Here’s what you need to know. The polls opened at 6 am and close tonight at 7 says State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich…

 

 

State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich. Not sure if you are registered to vote or which polling place you should go to? Dietrich says that information is available online at: elections dot il dot gov. Mail in ballots must be postmarked by election day or dropped off at a designated collection box. In Champaign County, County Clerk Aaron Ammons gave his outlook regarding both sides of the primary. Ammons says current Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is likely to get the nomination for his party… 

 

 

Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons. Voters in Ford, Iroquois, northern Champaign and northern Vermilion Counties will vote for the 2nd Congressional District in Congress. Currently that is held by Chicago Democrat Robin Kelly. Running on the Republican ticket for a chance to go against Kelly in November is Onarga Mayor and former state representative Shane Cultra, Thomas Lynch and Ashley Ramos. Vermilion County Republican voters will have to choose between Mary Miller and Rodney Davis. There are also contested races in county board districts 1, 2 and 4. Again the polls close tonight at 7. Stay with WPXN News we will have the latest on election results tomorrow morning.

 

(Springfield-jm) – There’s been a big jump in winter wheat harvesting. Farmers used the more than 6 days suitable for fieldwork to harvest winter wheat, going from 18 percent the previous week to 66 percent now. The average is 57 percent. Crop Statistician Steve Parn looks at soybeans…

 

 

Crop Statistician Steve Parn. The condition of the Illinois corn crop dropped slightly to 70 percent in good to excellent condition. The first cutting of alfalfa is nearly complete and average statewide topsoil moisture came in at 9 percent very short, 22 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

 

(Champaign-jm) –  A Savoy teenager was charged with three felonies on Monday following a hit-and-run incident on the University of Illinois campus. 19-year-old Brendan Trumann was charged on one count each of Aggravated Reckless Driving, DUI and Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident. Champaign Police say Trumann was kicked out of Joe’s Brewery just before closing time on Sunday morning for causing a disturbance. Trumann then got into his Dodge Challenger and started driving erratically in front of the bar. The victim of the eventual hit-and-run, a 20-year-old man from Gibson City, approached Trumann’s car. Then a fight broke out and another person hit the victim’s head from behind, knocking him to the ground, and that person began punching the victim’s face. Trumann sped away from the scene, running over the victim twice in the process. Trumann was later found walking in the parking lot of his apartment complex with visual signs of impairment. He admitted to driving the car. Trumann had no prior criminal record and faces a maximum of 22 years in prison if convicted. Bond was set at $600,000 and a preliminary court hearing was scheduled for July 20.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers needs help to find two thieves. A person from Champaign County had their credit card stolen, and police say two women have been using it to pay for thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise from various Menards stores across the area. In total, the two women have stolen about $10,000 in merchandise from at least three Menards locations in the region. Those stores are located in Normal and Danville, Illinois. They even traveled out of state to Terre Haute, Indiana to steal from that Menards location too. 

 

(Onarga-tr) – Onarga will be having festivities for the 4th of July this weekend with their Independence Day Celebration. Featuring a parade, local food, and a car show. Onarga Chamber President Randy Lizzo says they are still accepting parade entrants.. 

 

 

Lizzo also gave some instructions for those who enter the parade… 

 

 

Onarga Chamber President Randy Lizzo.

 

(Undated-jm) – The latest metro unemployment numbers are out. 11 of the state's 14 metro areas continued to see the unemployment rate fall in May. Locally, Champaign County saw their rate fall from 4.6 percent to 4.4 percent. Vermilion Counties remained the same at 6.1 percent. Ford and Iroquois Counties saw a rise in their unemployment rates. Ford Counties rose from 4.0 percent to 4.3 percent. Iroquois Counties rose from 4.0 percent to 4.5 percent.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff is asking for an additional $1.3 million to house 140 prisoners at other jails. It costs the county $60 per day per inmate. The county is moving inmates to other jails in order to close the downtown jail that is outdated until an expansion of the satellite jail can be completed. 126 inmates are currently in the Kankakee County jail but they have hit the maximum they can take so the county is looking to house the rest in Macon County.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Voter turnout may be hard to predict this year as voters head to the polls in Illinois today. Typically, turnout is around 27 percent for mid-term primary elections in Illinois, but there are several factors that may affect that this time around, says State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich. That includes the late date of the primary, which is typically held in March. …

 

 

State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich. For this primary, Dietrich says there are some hotly contested congressional races and both Democrats and Republicans running for Secretary of State now that Jesse White is retiring. Nearly 156 thousand mail-in ballots have been cast so far and more than 234 thousand people have taken advantage of early voting. Looking locally, Ford County Clerk Amy Frederick has who is on the ballot in Ford County…

 

 

Ford County Clerk Amy Frederick. Voters in Ford, Iroquois, northern Champaign and northern Vermilion Counties will vote for the 2nd Congressional District in Congress. Currently that is held by Chicago Democrat Robin Kelly. Running on the Republican ticket for a chance to go against Kelly in November is Onarga Mayor and former state representative Shane Cultra, Thomas Lynch and Ashley Ramos. In addition to the 2nd Congressional District race, voters in Iroquois County will have contested races on the Republican ticket for districts 1 and 2. Again the polls close tonight at 7. Stay with WPXN News we will have the latest on election results tomorrow morning.

 

(Springfield-jm) – There’s been a big jump in winter wheat harvesting. Producers got a lot done in the fields this past week says Crop Statistician Steve Parn…

 

 

Crop Statistician Steve Parn. 96 percent of soybeans have emerged and 2 percent are blooming. 66 percent of the soybean crop and 70 percent of corn is rated in good to excellent condition. Average statewide topsoil moisture now stands at 9 percent very short,  22 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

 

(Peoria-jm) –  A local harm reduction group has confirmed that a new antidote-resistant drug called “Benzo Dope” has been found in Central Illinois.

JOLT Harm Reduction Peoria detected this new drug while conducting mass spectrometer testing, the group announced on Facebook Monday morning. Benzo Dope is a blend of benzodiazepines and an opiate such as heroin or fentanyl.

 

(Springfield-jm) – High gas prices continue to be a major concern heading into the busy summer travel season. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City explains part of the issue is the high taxes on gas and diesel…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Retired financial executive Joseph D. Gutman has been appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Gutman has extensive experience both in finance and as a member of advisory and oversight boards, including an appointment by President Barack Obama to the Council of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Gutman will fill the seat being vacated by Ricardo Estrada and, pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate, serve a term that runs through 2025.

 

(Champaign-tr) –  Planting in Champaign County is done.  Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken shares some details on a program to bring better connectivity to rural Champaign county… 

 

 

Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken.

 

(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is announcing more than $500,000 in unsewered community grants. Ludlow is receiving $30,000 while Pesotum is receiving $25,000. The Ford County village of Piper City is receiving $30,000.