(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is urging eligible borrowers to fill out the newly released application for student debt relief. If you took out a federal loan or received a federal Pell grant and meet certain income guidelines, you will likely qualify for the one-time relief. But do you need to fill out the application? Spokesperson Lynne Baker…

 

 

Illinois Student Assistance Commission Spokesperson Lynne Baker. Baker says the application is simple and must be completed by the end of the year. Check it out online at: student aid dot gov.

 

(Springfield–jc)  –  Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that the state is awarding up to $3.7 million to 18 different organizations across Illinois to address systemic health disparities that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The federally funded program called ARISE  which stands for Activating Relationships In Illinois for Systemic Equity) is a joint initiative of the states Department of Public Health and The Center for Rural Health, Among the grant recipients include the Immigrant Cooperative program at the Champaign Urbana Public Health District, the East Central Rural Healthcare Consortium with the Ford County Public Health Department and the Iroquois County Public Health Department and the ARISE program in Kankakee County

 

(Undated-jm) – Illinois State Police investigated two separate Scott’s Law violations that occurred less than an hour apart Tuesday involving injury to a trooper and two deaths. The first violation involved a traffic crash near Effingham where a state trooper received minor injuries after being hit by a semi truck. The second violation involved two construction workers who were fatally injured while setting out construction barrels when they were struck by a car. There have been 20 Move Over Law violations involving state police squad cars this year.

 

(Springfield-jm) – National Mammography Day is this Friday and the Illinois Department of Public Health is stressing the importance of the potentially life saving screening. Too many women put off their annual mammogram during the pandemic, possibly risking their lives, says Dr. Lisa Mansinter (mah-sin-ter), Deputy Director of the Office of Women’s Health and Family Services…

 

 

State Public Health’s Dr. Lisa Mansinter. Public health officials are also concerned that minorities aren’t getting routine mammograms, noting black women are more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Officials in Rantoul are planning for a big weekend at the Family Sports Complex. The complex will be hosting three tournaments in baseball, softball and soccer this Saturday and Sunday, with hundreds of people expected to attend. That will mean heavy traffic in the area. To accommodate this traffic and large crowd, officials will close South Murray Road between Stone Bridge Drive and County Road 2900 to non-event traffic. Other traffic will be directed onto County Road 2900 and Stone Bridge for travel around the complex. As the area clears Saturday evening, the barricades closing Murray will be removed and Murray will reopen for general use overnight before closing again Sunday morning. The road will reopen again Sunday evening.

 

(Springfield-jm) – We are just a few weeks away from the November election, one that could have major implications. The November 8th election will feature races at the state level all the way down to municipality. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman says elections have consequences…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

(Paxton–jc)  –  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Compass Insurance and Compass Insurance agent Grant Kleinsteiber.  Compass Insurance is a full line insurance agency with local offices in Paxton Gibson City, Cissna Park to Leroy and Watseka,  locally.. Kleinsteiber is also from the local area…

 

 

Compass Agent Grant Kleinsteiber says there are many advantages as an independent agency.

 

 

Compass Insurance Agent Grant Kleinsteiber. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing up to three point seven million dollars in grants to help ease health disparities across the state. The money is going to 18 organizations in hopes of improving care for the underserved, such as minorities and rural residents. The program is called “Arise” , says State Public Health Director Dr Sameer Vohra…

 

 

State Public Health Director Dr Sameer Vohra. Groups say they will use the money for things like transportation to help area residents get to medical appointments, as well as substance abuse awareness and treatment programs. Among the groups receiving money include the Champaign Urbana Public Health District’s Immigrant Cooperative and the Ford and Iroquois County Public Health Department’s East Central Illinois Rural Healthcare Consortium.

 

(Bloomington-jm) – Since 2019, catalytic converter thefts are up more than 400% across the nation, according to a recent State Farm report. The insurance provider's data from the most recent 12-month period indicates that Illinois ranked third in the nation in catalytic converter theft. Through August of this year, the company said it has paid more than $70.6M to customers to help them recover from catalytic converter thefts.

 

(Springfield-jm) – State education officials are anticipating improvements in the latest school report cards. The report cards for each public school in Illinois come out next week, providing a snapshot of student performance data from 2021. State Schools Superintendent Carmen Ayala says it looks like good news…

 

 

State Schools Superintendent Carmen Ayala. Ayala credits federal COVID relief money which was used for things like tutoring, summer school and social and emotional programs to help kids get back on track.

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man is facing assault charges. The University of Illinois Police Department says they received a call about an assault in the 600 block of East Green Street. Police say Habib D. Graves, 60, threatened a teenager and two friends with a knife following a verbal argument. When Police arrived around 7 p.m. they confiscated a knife from Graves and also issued him a no-trespassing notice for all U of I property.

 

(Springfield-jm) – With harvest underway, safety on the road is key. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says safety is paramount…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

The 7th annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference will take place Thursday through in Pontiac.

 

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday from 5-7 pm at their building located at 134 W. State Street. Cost is $10 and includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink.

 

The Parkland College Theater will perform The Story Friday through Sunday.

 

Paxton IGA will hold their cookout benefiting the Prairie Champions 4-H Club on Saturday from 10-2.

 

Christ Lutheran High School will hold their drive thru pork chop dinner on Sunday from 10:30-12:30.