(Rantoul-jm) – The Champaign County Multi-Jurisdictional Investigate Team is investigating a fatal shooting involving a Rantoul police officer Wednesday. Around 12:30, officers located a vehicle in the 400 block of Campbell Avenue that had previously fled from officers in April. The officer and the driver of the vehicle were having a conversation, when the officer noticed a large amount of cannabis in the vehicle. The front seat passenger ran from the vehicle and a chase ensued. Officers observed a gun fall to the ground from the suspect. The suspect picked up the gun and continued to run in the area of Belle Avenue. The suspect fell again and turned toward an officer with the gun still in their hand. An officer shot the suspect with one round. The suspect was taken to the hospital where he later died. The identity of the officers involved have not yet been released. The driver of the vehicle, 20 year old Jheremia McKown of Champaign was arrested on multiple charges. Police say McKown struck an officer in the face. They found two additional loaded handguns inside the vehicle, a large amount of cannabis packaged for delivery and a large amount of currency. WPXN News will continue to follow this story.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritkzer is signing the new state budget into law.  The more than 50 billion dollar spending plan takes effect July 1st. It includes Governor Pritzker’s preschool and child care “Smart Start” initiative, as well as an increase in funding for college “map” grants…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The budget also has more money for education, homelessness and violence prevention programs and workforce development efforts. It funds the hiring of nearly 200 more workers at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as well as new disease monitoring technology.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz says she’s seeking another term. It would be Reitz’s 6th term.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Another new business is opening in downtown Paxton this morning at 11. Lucky’s Place will consist of sandwiches, cool beverages and gaming says owner Victor Torres…

 

 

Lucky’s Place downtown Paxton Owner Victor Torres. Torres is also planning a third business venue with a bakery shop, also in the downtown area. Torres and family are owners of La Hacienda Cantina also in the downtown area. 

 

(Ford County-jm) – Ford County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the "multiplier", is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. Assessments in Ford County are at 32.92 percent of market value, based on sales of properties in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

 

(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Department of Employment Security says April’s metro unemployment numbers were mixed across the state’s 14 metro areas with 6 areas seeing an increase, 5 a decrease and 3 unchanged. Champaign and Ford Counties remained the same at 3.6 percent and 3.7 percent respectively. Vermilion Counties rose from 4.9 percent to 5 percent. Iroquois Counties fell from 4.6 percent to 4.4 percent.

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man has been sentenced to 8 years in prison after he shot himself in the leg. DeAngelo Harris received the sentence after being found guilty of illegally having a gun.

 

(Washington-jm) – What is the importance for growers in submitting their annual crop acreage reports to their local Farm Service Agency office? Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Paxton-dg)-A Jeopardy watch party took place at Artesia Brewery for Paxton Buckley Loda Teacher Collette Lee. She was a contestant on the show that aired yesterday at 3:30. She correctly answered the Final Jeopardy question but came up short on advancing to the next round. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is signing the new state budget into law. The Governor says this is the fifth balanced budget in a row, increasing funding for education, health and safety programs and social services…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The budget also includes funding for a new state employee AFSCME contract, which is currently under negotiation and pay raises for legislators, constitutional officers and top state executives. The more than 50 billion dollar spending plan takes effect July 1st.

 

(Urbana-jm) –  The city of Urbana is looking to add new resources, and city leaders are asking for your help in deciding what the community needs the most. The survey is a part of "Imagine Urbana," which is a 20 year plan to fix up the city and improve the quality of life. Families can choose from several categories from an online survey they believe need the most attention, which includes affordable housing, transportation, and local economy. The survey runs through July 31st.

 

(Gibson City-jm) – The Illinois Conservation Foundation is looking for nominations for their outdoor Hall of Fame. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City explains…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is joining the hunt for a wanted Rantoul man and they’re asking the public for help in finding him. Officials said the wanted individual is 43-year-old Moises Concepcion-Roman. Champaign County Court records indicate that he was tried for possessing a stolen vehicle earlier this year and pleaded guilty to the charge against him. Concepcion-Roman was given credit for time already served in custody and was released, but with a stipulation to return to court for a follow-up hearing. He never appeared for that hearing, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Concepcion-Roman is described as being a Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. He is 5 feet 10 inches in height and weighs 150 pounds.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Experience your favorite superhero in a new way when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert plays at State Farm Center on Tuesday, October 10 at 7 p.m., presented by WCIA 3!  Tickets go on sale Friday.

 

(Champaign-jm) – There have been a rash of pepper spray attacks near the University of Illinois campus. The University of Illinois Police Department sent out a campus safety notice to alert the community of three attacks within a 5-day span. Police said the attacks happened randomly between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m. Until the suspects are caught, U of I police are advising people to travel in groups and be aware of their surroundings near Campustown.  

 

(Washington-jm) – Rising Brazilian corn production has analysts wondering about the long and short-term effect on U.S. and world corn markets. Gary Crawford reports…