Listeners Club

Forgot Password

Not a Member? Sign up here!

WPXN Blog

The State Department of Public Health is urging people to watch out for ticks

(Springfield-jm) – A new report from a patients rights group finds that most Illinois hospitals continue to hide actual prices from consumers 18 months after the Hospital Price Transparency Rule went into effect. Beginning in January 2021, every hospital operating in the U.S. was required to provide clear, accessible pricing information online about the items and services they provide.  PatientRightsAdvocate.org found that only 319 hospitals, or 16% nationwide, were complying with the law. A total of 101 hospitals did not post any standard charges online and were in total noncompliance. 26 Illinois hospitals are not complying while only a dozen are.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The State Department of Public Health is urging people to watch out for ticks after the Heartland Virus was reported in southern Illinois. An older person in Jackson County recently tested positive for the tick-borne Heartland Virus, only the third such case in Illinois since 2018. State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey says ticks can carry other diseases such as lyme and rocky mountain spotted fever as well, so it’s important to be careful…

 

 

State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey. Signs of infection may include fever, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches and diarrhea. Most people report feeling sick about two weeks after being bitten by a tick.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The man accused of threatening a state senator at gunpoint has changed his plea to guilty. Michael Hoyle of New Berlin was arrested in March 2021. Police say Hoyle pulled a gun on Senator Elgie Sims of Chicago while the two were driving on Lawrence Avenue in Springfield. Hoyle was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated assault, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to 9 months probation. The other charges were dismissed in the plea.

 

(Paxton-jm) – The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their golf outing coming up on Friday, September 30th at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. Chamber President Austin Curtis says there is still time to sign up…

 

 

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Austin Curtis.

 

(Urbana-jm) – It’s out with the old on the campus of the University of Illinois. The university’s parking Department is in the process of removing parking meters from the campus streets. The removal of the meters means that coins will no longer be needed nor allowed to pay for parking on campus. Payment will now be made through one of three apps – MobileMeter, ParkMobile and PayByPhone. People who don’t have a smartphone can still pay to park by calling 217-207-3033.

 

(Gibson City–jc)  –  Gibson City has seen a number of major challenges over the past year from a flood, straight line winds to a fire in the downtown area last month. The city is also coming off another successful Summer Bash which was sponsored by Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services. Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey says the local hospital continues to expand its operations  and that means more jobs in town…

 

 

Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey

 

(Springfield-jm) – Qualified mental health and substance abuse professionals can apply for student loan repayment assistance through a new state-funded program. 

According to a news release, the Community Based Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program is a joint effort from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the Illinois Department of Human Services mental health division. The program was originally signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2019, but was not funded at that time due to budget constraints. It is now funded with revenue from the state's cannabis program. The program has received up to $5 million in funding for the 2023 fiscal year.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Police is starting to roll out the new next generation 9-1-1 system. Basically, next generation brings 9-1-1 emergency systems into the 21st century, says State Police Director Brendan Kelly, moving on from a time when people called for help from their landline phones…

 

 

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly. Kelly says this should reduce response times and provide first responders with more information. Next Gen 9-1-1 is currently operating in Grundy, Kendall, Peoria, Clinton and Macon Counties.

 

(Watseka-jm) – An August 31 bench trial is set in Iroquois County Circuit Court for the founder of a Thawville-based nonprofit animal sanctuary who was charged with one count of aggravated animal cruelty, a Class 4 felony, after hundreds of animal carcasses were discovered in shallow graves at the sanctuary three years ago. Corinne DiLorenzo was indicted by a grand jury  in November 2019 alleging she intentionally caused the death of multiple companion animals including dogs, cats, pigs, rabbits, birds, goats, raccoons and turtles. DiLorenzo faces penalties ranging from probation to up to three years in prison if convicted.

 

(Ford County-jm) – 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City will be holding a town hall meeting coming up later this month. Representative Bennett says it’s a good time for the public to come hear what’s happening in Springfield and have their questions answered…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City. The townhall will take place at the Moyer District Library in Gibson City.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Fire Chief Gary Ludwig has been named Career Fire Chief of the Year from the International Fire Chief’s Association. Ludwig was among 24 people nominated for the award.

 

(Washington-jm) – Beef cattle numbers are in the process of shrinking. What about the numbers of cattle producers? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Paxton–jc)  The city of Paxton will close some streets, but those needing goods and services will be able to access downtown businesses during the annual Paxton Swine and Dine next month. Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce Spokesperson Alan Meyer talks about stage set up  and safety…

 

 

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce Spokesperson Alan Meyer

The 10th annual Paxton Swine and Dine is set for Saturday September 17 in downtown Paxton 

 

The 2022 Mahomet Music Fest will take place Friday, August 26th and Saturday, August 27th. Friday night its the Tons of Fun Band and Hairbangers Ball. Saturday its Rhett Walker, Onoleigh, Drew Green and then festival headliner Randy Houser.

 

The 1st annual David Williams Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament will take place on Friday, August 26th at Lake of the Woods Golf Course in Mahomet.

 

The Rantoul Public Library will  host an outdoor movie on Friday, August 26th at 8:15 pm showing Minions.

 

Paxton IGA will hold their cookout benefiting the Hands of Christ Food Pantry on Saturday, August 27th from 10-2.

 

Get our App

Facebook

On Air Now

Regular Programming
12:00am - 6:00am
Regular Programming

Listen on Alexa

Weather

Share This Website