(Iroquois County-jm) – 2 people are dead following a 4 vehicle crash near Del Ray Monday. Illinois State Police say Paxton Police and Ford County Deputies were pursuing a car driven by 44 year old Krista Woltz-Hernandez of Buckley, southbound on Route 45, when she lost control of her vehicle, crossed the center line and struck a northbound vehicle driven by 65 year old Julie McGowan of Rantoul head-on. The impact sent Woltz-Hernandez vehicle into another northbound vehicle driven by an Onarga man. The impact of that collison, caused Woltz-Hernandez car to flip several times. A fourth vehicle ran over debris from the accident. Woltz-Hernandez and McGowan were pronounced dead at the scene. The Onarga man was taken to the hospital for his injuries. The occupants of the fourth vehicle were uninjured. Illinois State Police are still investigating the crash.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health says it’s not too late to get your COVID-19 booster and flu shot. There was an uptick in COVID cases after Thanksgiving and flu activity is high in Illinois. That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure you are vaccinated before you get together with friends and family, says State Public Health Infectious Disease Chief Heidi Clark…

 

 

State Public Health Infectious Disease Chief Heidi Clark. Ages 6 months and up are eligible to get the flu shot and COVID booster, and both can be given at the same time. Clark urges those that do get sick to stay home and wear a mask if they are around other people.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois’ unfunded pension liability grew by $9.8 billion, or 7.5 percent, in the fiscal year that ended June 30, due in large part to market losses in a volatile economy. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability reported that the total unfunded liability in the state’s five pension funds reached a total of $139.7 billion, leaving them with a funded ratio of just 44.1 percent. All told, the five pension funds had combined liabilities of $248.8 billion June 30 and total assets of $109.1 billion.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man is facing charges following a drug bust. Samuel I. Bellettiere, 24, was arrested at his home on Breen when the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant. The search turned up marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and pills, THC gummies and cartridges and packing materials for both marijuana and mushrooms. $5,500 in cash was also recovered.

 

(Danville-jm) – Wreaths Across America honors those buried in national cemeteries in all 50 states including the Danville National Cemetery. On Saturday 4,000 wreaths will be laid on graves with a special wreath honoring State Senator Scott Bennett. Bennett died last week from a brain tumor at the age of 45. Senator Bennett was a supporter of Wreaths Across America and provided assistance whenever the group contacted his office. The ceremony will begin at the Danville National Cemetery Saturday at 11am. Wreaths will be placed on graves as soon as the ceremony ends. In 2021, 2,000 wreaths were placed on graves. This year 4,000 will be available all through local donations.

 

(Ashkum-jm) – District 21 Illinois State Police will be conducting Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols ahead of the Christmas holiday. WPXN’s Jason Madden reports…

 

 

(Campustown-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in solving a theft and battery incident that happened in October. Crime Stoppers officials said that at 2:10 a.m. on October 30, a man was walking in the area of Green and Fourth Streets when someone came up from behind the victim and grabbed the food that was in his hand. The victim ran after the offender, who proceeded to attack the victim with three other people. Before fleeing west on Green Street, the offenders also took the victim’s phone.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The State Board of Education says high-impact tutoring is helping students get back on track after the pandemic. The intensive tutoring initiative is speeding up learning recovery in 72 Illinois school districts across Illinois says the Board’s Jennifer Kirmes. She says in this type of program, tutors and students meet several times a week, for at least 30 minutes at a time…

 

 

State Board of Education’s Jennifer Kirmes. Many districts are already using this program to help struggling students while others will be in the future.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The average gas price in Illinois has fallen 17.8 cents per gallon in the last week according to GasBuddy's survey of 4,378 stations in Illinois. Prices in Illinois are 73.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 1.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 14.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.21/gallon.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is urging the FCC to help cut down on those annoying automated text messages. The robo-texts are often scams, says Raoul, who has joined his counterparts across the country in asking the federal government to address the problem…

 

 

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The group also wants the wireless industry to develop call authentication technology for text messages so people know if they are real or not and law enforcement can investigate the source.

 

(Urbana-jm) – A non-profit in Champaign is one of many working on a unique solution to battle homelessness in Champaign County.  They hope to create “Hope Village,” a community of tiny houses for those experiencing homelessness.  Champaign County Healthcare Consumers, Carle Foundation Hospital and the University of Illinois are teaming up to propose the idea to Urbana City Council. They’re asking for $2 million from the city’s $10 million worth of ARPA money. If approved, they would aim to build 30 houses somewhere in Urbana for people who need a permanent place to live.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Fire Department responded to a fire at a multi-family apartment building Tuesday afternoon. Crews were called to the building in the 200 block of Kenwood Road. Someone passing by saw fire coming from the three-story building.  Firefighters reported smoke and fire coming from a third-floor apartment. They were able to contain the fire primarily to that apartment.  The cause of this fire has not been determined.

 

(Paxton-jm) – A blood drive will be held in Paxton on December 26th. Local coordinator Kevin Hanson talks about how the blood drive works…

 

 

Local blood drive coordinator Kevin Hanson.

 

(Champaign-jm) – More changes are coming to Marketplace Mall in Champaign. Dick Sporting Goods and Field and Stream will be closing in January. The closure is only temporary, to allow for the space to be remodeled before reopening as a new concept store for Dick’s Sporting Goods called House of Sport. Dick’s new concept store currently has three locations nationally, and all feature interactive sports activities within a sports store setting.