(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Supreme Court on March 14 will hear the appeal of a lower court's ruling that the state's no-cash bail law is unconstitutional. The law was put on hold by the state's high court just before it was to take effect statewide January 1. A Kankakee County judge found the law unconstitutional after dozens of state's attorneys sued to block the measure.
(Springfield-jm) – The USDA’s annual vegetable report is out and Illinois is still tops when it comes to pumpkin production. Nearly 18 thousand acres were planted with pumpkins last year in Illinois, the most of any state. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 97 percent of pumpkins grown were used for processing. For other crops, Illinois farmers planted 65 hundred acres of sweet corn in 2022…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Schleusener says Illinois farmers planted 11,200 acres of snap beans last year, down 22 percent from the previous year.
(Urbana-jm) – A University of Illinois student is out more than $213,000 after U of I Police said they were scammed over the phone in late 2022 and early 2023. Officials said that on December 14, the student received a call from someone claiming the student was wanted on a Chinese arrest warrant related to international money laundering. The student was instructed to pay an undisclosed amount to resolve the supposed issue. Even after the student paid, U of I Police said, they received several more calls with a demand for money, each with the claim the payment would resolve the matter. By the time of the final call on January 8, the student had lost a total of $213,563.
(Paxton-jm) – The 19-year-old Danville woman who was shot in the head on Saturday has been released from the hospital according to the Paxton Police Department. The Paxton Police Department responded to the area of 600 block N. American St. was assisted by Officers from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, Gibson City Police Department, and the Illinois State Police. During the investigation, a pistol was recovered at the scene.
(Rantoul–jc) – Work on a new business complex on Rantoul’s west side continues. The construction crew is working to meet a May deadline for completion. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says recent winds caused some delays …
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith.
(Champaign-jm) – As part of Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week, Parkland College invites local community partners, ag industry professionals, K-12 educators, and high-school-aged students to join us for the Parkland College AgTech Showcase, Thursday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Markel Brown received the sentence for illegally having a gun. In addition, Brown pleaded guilty to 2 other cases: possession of cocaine and failure to register as a sex offender. In exchange for his guilty pleas, aggravated fleeing and unlawful use of a weapon were dismissed.
(Springfield-jm) – This is Grain Bin Safety Week and the Illinois Department of Agriculture is issuing some reminders to farmers. According to researchers at Purdue University, there have been more than 900 cases of grain engulfment over the past 50 years, killing 62 percent of victims. That’s why its so important to be careful says the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Joe Small…
Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Joe Small. If you absolutely have to go inside the bin, Small recommends making sure everything is turned off and locked and that a harness is used. Ladders should be installed inside grain bins wherever possible for emergency exit.
(Springfield-jm) – A new bill in the capitol would legalize safe spaces to use drugs. The bill would allow the Department of Human Services to license what the bill calls “Overdose Prevention Sites.” People could go to these locations and use illegal drugs under direct supervision, with no fear of criminal prosecution. Opioid overdoses continue to be a leading cause of accidental deaths in the state for those between the ages of 18 and 49. In 2021, 3,013 people died from overdoses. The bill’s sponsor, Representative La Shawn Ford of Chicago, said supervised injection sites are a logical step to help curb those numbers.
(Springfield-jm) – Downstate Senate Republicans are calling for action on rising energy costs. Some families have seen their power bills double over the past year, leaving them with some tough choices. Senator Terry Bryant of Murphysboro says a relief package for Ameren customers that’s been passed but not funded would help. She says at least 200 million dollars is needed…
State Senator Terry Bryant of Murphysboro. Other solutions include cutting bureaucratic red tape so that new power plants can come online more quickly and adding more megawatts of clean, gas-generated power to the grid.
(Urbana-jm) – After weeks of surveys and discussions with members of the community, the City of Urbana has decided how to allocate almost $10 million in ARPA funding. The city council approved 25 organizations in the Urbana area to receive part of the funds.
(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man is facing 120 years in prison for sexually assaulting a child. Cristobal Cristobal-Mateo was found guilty of 2 counts of criminal sexual assault of a child under 13.
(Paxton–jc) A blood drive is set for Paxton at the First Lutheran Church of Paxton on Saturday from 10am until 2pm. The event is sponsored by Impact Life of Champaign. Local blood drive coordinator Kevin Hanson says donors will receive a free gift…
Local blood drive coordinator Kevin Hanson
(Urbana-jm) – OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana has a new person in charge. JT Barnhart takes over as President. Barnhart joins OSF after serving as President of a hospital system in Tennessee.
(Paxton–jc) The former NAPA building in Paxton and the Humble Hog buildings have been sold. City officials tell WPXN news that a group has bought the NAPA building in downtown Paxton for use as a conference and concert center. The Humble Hog building was also sold on Tuesday. Plans for the building have not been released.
(Champaign-jm) – In order to complete sidewalk construction at 66 Chester Street, Mayfield Construction will close one eastbound lane of University Avenue between Chestnut Street and First Street. The closure will begin on Wednesday, February 22, and the lane will reopen on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, weather permitting. Eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in the area.
Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Reagan King from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
Cissna Park FFA Member Reagan King
Kalynn Maynard from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
PBL FFA Member Kalynn Maynard
Katherine Short with the St. Joe Ogden FFA talks about today’s activities.
St. Joe Ogden FFA member Katherine Short
With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. We were able to talk with Garrett Tammen from Iroquois West High School’s FFA Chapter.
Iroquois West FFA Member Garrett Tammen
We were able to talk with Pascauline Pongo from Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter.
Rantoul FFA Member Pascauline Pongo
