(Springfield-jm) – The state of Illinois saw a $677 million improvement in tax revenues for the month of May, helping recoup portions of April's losses. The Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability monthly report shows the increase came from growth in personal income taxes and federal sources. April saw a $1.8 billion decline in revenues compared to the same month the prior year. With one month left of the fiscal year, COGFA reports revenues are up more than $480 million over last year. 

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Rantoul police are investigating after shots rang out during a vigil for the teen killed in Wednesday’s officer-involved shooting. Police say they were called to the 700 block of Embassy Row for a shooting where approximately 100 people had gathered for a vigil. Witnesses told police a subject armed with a rifle began firing shots potentially at the group and several people were injured. However, police could not locate any victims and none were reported at area hospitals.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup is identifying the name of the individual killed in Wednesday’s officer-involved shooting in Rantoul. Northrup identified the victim as 18 year old Jordan Richardson of Rantoul. According to Northrup, Richardson died of a gunshot wound to the chest. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.  Rantoul police are releasing the names of the officers involved in that shooting. The department says Sergeant Jerry King was the officer that fired his weapon. King is a 10 year veteran on the force.  Officer Casey Smith was present but did not fire her weapon.  Both are on administrative leave pending review by the State’s Attorney’s office and internal department review, which is standard department policy. The incident remains under investigation by the Champaign County Multi Jurisdictional Investigation Team. WPXN news will continue to update this story as it warrants.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is now accepting applications for early childhood education scholarships. The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity, or “E-CACE” scholarship aims to strengthen the workforce of teachers for the state’s youngest students. Previously, only college juniors could apply, but Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s Lynne Baker says the program has been significantly expanded…

 

 

Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s Lynne Baker. Baker says the scholarship can cover as much as the total cost of attendance at a participating college. Applications for the 2023-2024 school year are due by August 7th. More information is online at: isac dot org.

 

(Gibson City-jm) – A Gibson City woman faces burglary charges in McLean County. Denise Thornton, 55, is charged with one count of residential burglary and one count of theft, accused of entering a home in Colfax between November 18 and December 16, 2021 with the intent to commit theft and taking property valued between $500 and $10,000 that belonged to the homeowners. A grand jury returned a bill of indictment charging her in February 2022 and a warrant was issued. Thornton was taken into custody June 3 in Champaign County. She is due back in court June 23.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  –  The Rantoul Sports Complex continues to bring in thousands of sports players, families and fans to Rantoul’s west side. Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Sports Operations Ryan Reid says the complex has also had a good record  of creating jobs in Rantoul…

 

 

 Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Sports Operations Ryan Reid 

Sports at the complex today through Sunday is with Gameday USA-Batman Baseball with 9 and under to 15 and under 

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man has been sentenced to 2 years probation for solicitation of a 14 year old back in 2021. Alexander Pascual-Pedro received the sentence in Champaign County court after he met the teen at a location in Rantoul. In exchange for his guilty plea, a more serious charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse was dismissed. Also in exchange for his guilty plea, Pascual-Pedro will not have to register as a sex offender.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The rainbow colors of the L G B T Q community will be in the city of Paxton for its annual march.  The event is set for Sunday at 1pm. The parade will be organized at the Paxton firehouse and then proceed to the downtown area and eventually ending up at Pells Park along route 9 in the city around 2-30pm  Music and more is planned in Pells park.  Organizers are hoping to raise awareness of the L G B T Q community with Sunday’s event. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The State Department of Agriculture’s annual “Clean Sweep” program will be held in central and southwestern Illinois this year. The program gives people in certain counties the chance to get rid of unwanted agricultural pesticides. Once dropped off, the state assumes responsibility for proper disposal of the chemicals, says the Agency’s Brad Beaver…

 

 

Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Brad Beaver. Counties where clean sweep will be available include Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery and St Clair. You can learn more and find the registration form online at: agr dot illinois dot gov. Click on “plants” and then “pesticides.”

(Springfield-jm) – In the wake of Governor J.B. Pritzker signing the fiscal year 2024 budget, the Illinois State Board of Education is calling for applications for $75 million in new preschool funding. The Early Childhood Block grant is designed to increase access to preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. The $75 million in new funding is part of a broader $250 million commitment in early childhood education and services. The deadline to apply is June 14.

 

(Undated-jm) – The latest U-S Drought Monitor was released Thursday and it shows drought conditions worsening across the state. 97 percent of the state is now experiencing some form of drought conditions, up from 75 percent the previous week. All of Ford, Iroquois, Champaign and Vermilion Counties are in moderate drought. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is touting landmark legislation that aims to further protect women’s reproductive rights. The bill prohibits automatic license plate readers, a tool to help police catch carjackers and others that have committed a serious crime, to be used to track someone seeking abortion care says Secretary Giannoulias…

 

 

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. The license plate readers also couldn’t be used to keep tabs on a person due to their immigration status. Republicans voted against the measure citing concerns a minor girl from another state could be brought to Illinois by her abuser to undergo an abortion, and that license plate data couldn't be used to bring him to justice.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Five people have been arrested after police officials said the car they were driving in was stolen from an Urbana dealership Wednesday evening. Urbana Police said that the car was pulled over in Chenoa, in McLean County. There were five people inside, all of whom tried to flee, but they were caught and arrested on various charges. The theft happened at Crispin Auto, in Urbana, around 6 p.m. Officials said it started with a test drive involving an employee and two White women. When the three returned to the dealership, two Black men were recorded on surveillance footage running up to the car as the employee was getting out. One of them pointed a gun at the back of her head and then shoved her out of the way. One of the women also pepper-sprayed the employee before she got in the car with the other suspects and drove away.

 

(Roberts–jc)  A Free fishing tournament day is set for Roberts in Ford County. The event is set for 10 until 3pm at the Roberts Pond.  Organizer Mike Tongate says there will be prizes and invites both adults and kids…

 

 

Roberts Free Fishing Tournament Day Organizer Mike Tongate. The event day is Saturday June 17th

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 30 months probation for sexually abusing a developmentally delayed teenager in 2019. Demetrius Wade received the sentence in Champaign County court after pleading guilty to criminal sexual abuse.

 

(Paxton–jc)  It was around 1-30 yesterday afternoon when the State Police Torch run came through the WPXN listening area and traveled by the WPXN Studios in Paxton.  Officers from the Illinois State Police, Cook County Sheriff’s office and Ford County Sheriff's office were escorting several runners. The torch run is on its way to Bloomington for the 20-23 Special Olympics.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The State Department of Public Health is warning about a Salmonella outbreak in northeastern Illinois. 26 cases have been confirmed in Chicago as well as Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties from April 25th to May 18th, all linked to ground beef. Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey says there are still concerns about tainted beef so it’s important to keep raw meat away from other foods and to wash your hands and counters often…

 

 

State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey. Claffey says the source of the Salmonella outbreak has not been identified yet. The CDC is looking at a small number of similar cases in other states.

 

WPXN Weekend News Notes…

 

Rantoul will host their clean up day on Saturday from 8-12 on Galaxy Drive.

 

Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting the St. Mary’s CCW on Saturday from 10-2.