(Paxton-jm) – Paxton Buckley Loda High School will have a new principal next year. Clara Peterson Elementary School Assistant Principal Hannah McDermaid has been selected by the district to lead the high school following Travis Duley’s move to Superintendent following the retirement of long-time Superintendent Cliff McClure.
(Chicago-jm) – A new ruling is removing some legal pressure from the Department of Children and Family Services. The Cook County Circuit Court has ruled 12 times DCFS director Marc Smith should be held in contempt of court for failure to place kids stuck in residential treatment centers or specialized foster homes. But in a ruling released Wednesday, the First District Appellate Court reversed or vacated these orders in 10 of these cases, finding the court orders were “erroneous”. “The court could reasonably have been frustrated by the pace of Director Smith and DCFS in finding appropriate placements for the minors, the record belies the trial court’s written finding that Director Smith and DCFS “ignored” the court’s orders,” the ruling said. The ruling was still critical of the department and called their methods “seemingly inefficient and clearly ineffective.”
(Springfield-jm) – A new historical marker outside the Old State Capitol in Springfield commemorates two major announcements made by former President Barack Obama. Governor J-B Pritzker was on hand to dedicate the plaque, marking Obama’s announcement in February 2007 that he was running for President…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The plaque also remembers President Obama’s announcement in August of 2008 that Joe Biden would be his running mate.
(Springfield-jm) – The deadline to renew driver's licenses, ID cards, and permits is today, but it does not apply to commercial driver's licenses or CDL learner's permits. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White originally extended the renewal period due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but with the pandemic sticking around, he added several more extensions. During the pandemic, the Illinois Secretary of State's office expanded online renewals, and they're continuing to mail out letters with a PIN number attached so eligible drivers can renew their license from their phone or computer.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs’ office is holding an online auction of unclaimed property next week. The auction begins Monday, December 5th and runs through the 9th. It features more than 450 items that were left behind in old safe deposit boxes, says Treasurer Frerichs…
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. To preview the items, visit the website: ibid dot illinois dot gov and click on “storefronts” to find the treasurer’s auction.
(Undated-jm) – A brand of Children's clothing sets being sold online and in stores nationwide such as TJ Maxx, Amazon, Ross, Burlington, and elsewhere are being recalled because they contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. The recall involves Bentex children’s clothing sets in nine different Disney themed styles. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the items were recalled on November 23 and impacted about 87,000 units. The sets were sold from November 2021 through August 2022.
(Washington-jm) – Food price inflation pressures will likely continue in 2023. Gary Crawford reports…
(Paxton-jm) – Two people have been arrested following a drug raid in Paxton. Megan Hawk and Louis Berg were charged with a class x felony possession of meth, class 3 felony possession of meth and a misdemeanor charge of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia after police executed a search warrant at their home on North American Street. Officers found 522 grams of liquid meth and several items of drug paraphernalia
(Champaign–jc) Emergency officials were on the scene of a disabled vehicle along Interstate 57 at the I-74 exchange this morning. Police say a property damage accident happened around 5am and the vehicles blocked traffic in the area. The area has been cleared and traffic is back to normal. Police continue to remind the motoring public to take extra caution in construction zone area.
(Undated-jm) – Tuesday, the Illinois State Police issued citations in three separate traffic crashes involving move over law violations. Two of the three crashes involved IDOT vehicles. The first crash occurred on Interstate 70 eastbound near milepost 64, near Vandalia. The second crash occurred on Interstate 94 northbound near 142nd Street in Chicago. The third crash involved vehicles belonging to a private contractor performing roadway work on US 67 northbound at US 34 in Warren County. Injuries were reported in two of the three crashes. The at fault drivers in all three crashes were cited.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois House lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday cutting financial ties with Russia. The measure has been in the works for months, aimed at showing support for Ukraine as the war with Russia continues. It requires divestment of state funds from any Russian banks or companies, says Representative Lindsey LaPointe of Chicago…
State Representative Lindsey LaPointe of Chicago. The bill also requires colleges and universities to disclose any Russian -related donations or endowments and creates task forces to look into potential real estate laundering schemes and Russian interference in Illinois elections.
(Springfield-jm) – Changes to the SAFE-T Act’s no-cash bail provision set to take effect January 1 have been filed and Illinois state lawmakers are aiming to get it across the finish line today. The measure was passed in early January 2021 along with other provisions of the SAFE-T Act. While there have been several trailer bills since then, concerns have been raised about conflicting language leading to its implementation as well as what crimes are and are not eligible for pretrial release. Dozens of state’s attorneys and sheriffs across the state have sued to block the law’s implementation. That case is to be heard next week in Kankakee County.
(Springfield-jm) – The annual statewide art contest is asking children across Illinois to share their visions of “Home.” The contest is sponsored in part by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Executive Director Christina Shutt says kids in grades kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible and may submit a two-dimensional work of art depicting their own sense of home…
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Executive Director Christina Shutt. Winners and runners-up in each age group will have their work displayed at the library and museum. Entries are due by January 12th. More information is available online at: president lincoln dot illinois dot gov.
(Paxton-jm) – There’s a new sheriff in town. Today is the first official day for new Ford County Sheriff Chad Johnson. Johnson takes over following the retirement of Mark Doran. Johnson previously served as a captain in the Paxton Police Department.
(Washington-jm) – The USDA has just lowered its 2023 forecast for U.S. agricultural exports and raised the forecast for imports. Gary Crawford reports…
(Champaign-jm) – For the eleventh year in a row, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation has recognized the City of Champaign for its inclusive LGBTQ+ laws, policies, and services. Wednesday the Foundation released its 11th Annual Municipal Equality Index, which ranked Champaign, Chicago, and Rockford as the highest rated cities in Illinois. The City of Champaign’s MEI score of 100 reflects a six point increase since last year.
Santa will be making a couple of stops in Paxton Saturday…Santa will be at the Paxton Park District Civic Center for breakfast with Santa from 8-10…he will also be at the Paxton Emergency Response Service for Cookies with Santa from 1-2:30.
This weekend is also the business open house and bag sale in Paxton.
The Parkland College Theatre will perform A Christmas Story December 1st-4th and 9th-11th.
The Cissna Park FFA Scholarship Auction will take place on Friday, December 2nd.
The 2022 Light Up Rantoul Christmas parade will take place on Friday, December 2nd at 6 pm. WPXN”s Becky Puetz will be broadcasting live at the event tomorrow night at 6pm.
