(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker says he is laser focused on continuing to rebuild Illinois during his second term. Fresh off an election night win, the Governor says voters chose a future of hope, opportunity and caring. He looks forward to getting back to work, including efforts to ensure Illinois protects women’s reproductive rights…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says he received a congratulatory call from President Biden who praised the state’s use of federal funding to get things done in Illinois.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin will not seek re-election to a leadership role. In a statement following Tuesday’s election, Durkin said it is time for the Republican Party to rebuild with new leaders who can bring independents back to the party that are needed to bring change to the state. Durkin was elected to be the minority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives in 2013.
(Undated-jm) – Illinois will get another dose of summer-like weather this week. Many areas saw close to record highs Wednesday and expect more of the same Thursday. Southern Illinois will again see temperatures in the 80s, while northern Illinois will experience comfortable temps in the low to mid 70s. Temperatures will fall during the day Friday as an extended period of cold air is expected for several days.
(Woodworth-jm) – The Ford Iroquois 4-H Foundation will hold their auction this Sunday. Spokesperson Nita Dubble talks about the event…
Ford Iroquois 4-H Foundation Spokesperson Nita Dubble.
(Champaign County-jm) – Moody's Investors Service has upgraded Champaign County’s issuer rating and rating on outstanding bonds to Aa1 from Aa2. Concurrently, Moody's assigns a Aa1 rating to Champaign County, IL's $16.7 million General Obligation Bonds , Series 2022A and $19.5 million General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022B. The issuer rating reflects the county's ability to repay debt and debt-like obligations without consideration of any pledge,
security or structural features. Following the sale, the county is expected to have about $51 million in total GOULT bonds outstanding.
(Springfield-jm) – Gas prices continue to rise. Prices had fallen but in recent weeks it has risen back up to over $4 a gallon. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about the rise in prices…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center in Urbana can once again house more inmates. It comes after staffing shortages caused them to send minors to other locations throughout the state for three months. Some were housed in Lake and Will counties in Northern Illinois, others in McLean county. The out-of-county boarding between July 11 and October 17 cost Champaign County about $137,000.
(Springfield-jm) – The latest Illinois crop production report shows corn and soybeans may be setting some records this year. The November forecast has the Illinois corn yield at 215 bushels per acre, up 13 from last year says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Corn production is estimated at 2 point 27 billion bushels. The Illinois soybean yield is forecast at 64 bushels per acre. That’s one bushel below last year’s record yield. Soybean production is expected to be at 685 million bushels which would also be a record high.
(Springfield-jm) – Concern remains about the lack of ICU pediatric beds available in Illinois. For most part, it’s not kids with COVID-19 filling up the beds, it’s young children with RSV, a respiratory illness. To make matters worse, flu cases are starting to rise. Illinois Department of Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Arti Barnes says they would like to see more kids get the flu vaccine…
State Department of Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Arti Barnes. Barnes says families should also consider the latest COVID booster for their children. There are about 289 intensive care hospital pediatric beds in Illinois statewide and 94 percent of them are full.
(Chicago-jm) – NASCAR has announced tickets for the first-ever Chicago street race will go on sale today. The two-day reserve tickets, which start at $465, provide access to the Xfinity race on Saturday, July 1, and the Cup series race on Sunday along with concerts being held in conjunction with the event. Two-day general admission passes will be sold at a later date and start at $269.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters to have their deer tested for chronic wasting disease, or CWD. CWD is a fatal disease of the central nervous system in deer and elk. Since 2002, when the first deer was diagnosed with CWD in Illinois, nearly 1,400 deer have been found to be infected. The disease is predominantly found in the northern third of the state. CWD is not known to transmit to humans, but caution is advised.
(Woodworth-jm) – The Ford Iroquois 4-H Foundation will hold their annual auction this Sunday in Woodworth. Spokesperson Nita Dubble talks about what all the group does…
Ford Iroquois 4-H Foundation Spokesperson Nita Dubble.
(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced road construction projects for the upcoming year. WPXN’s Jason Madden has a look at projects in the Ford and Iroquois County areas…
(Watseka-jm) – A police chase led to two men under arrest in Iroquois County. Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police reported a Watseka man and his Sheldon passenger were jailed in Watseka. According to police reports, deputies arrested Christian D.L. Jackson, 19, Watseka, and Todd M. Paine Jr., 19, of Sheldon were in jail. Police reported Jackson fled from a traffic stop. After the vehicle was stopped, police said an odor of alcohol was detected and after an investigation both men were placed into custody for illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor. In addition, Jackson was charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding a peace officer, operating a vehicle with no valid driver’s license, and speeding. Paine Jr., was additionally charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon after a loaded pistol was discovered in his possession.
(Springfield-jm) – The latest Illinois crop production report shows corn and soybeans may be setting some records this year. Let’s start with soybeans. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. The Illinois corn yield is forecast at a record 215 bushels per acre, up 13 bushels from last year. Total corn production is expected to be 2 point 27 billion bushels.
