(Springfield-jm) – Overstating its budget, failure to properly audit license requirements and other reporting issues are all listed in an Illinois Auditor General report of the Illinois State Board of Education. The recently released audit looks at ISBE over the last two years up to June 30, 2022, and in total, had 15 findings and three repeat findings that ISBE did not have proper controls in place to monitor the requirements regarding professional educator license renewal. According to the audit, ISBE also improperly included a $305 million future appropriation for the Education Assistance Fund as a liability in a different fund. As a result, the fund's liability and expenses were overstated by $305 million. According to the audit, ISBE should have performed random audits of licensees to verify their fulfillment of the professional development hours required to maintain their licenses. The audit states that ISBE has agreed with the Auditor General's findings and said that they are working on addressing these issues.
(Springfield-jm) – Drought conditions continue to spread across Illinois. The latest U-S Drought Monitor is out and State Climatologist Trent Ford says it’s not looking good…
State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says although the June outlook has called for average rainfall, that just hasn’t happened. He notes that July will be pivotal in seeing how bad drought conditions are going to get in Illinois.The last major statewide drought was in 2012. All of WPXN listening area is under moderate drought conditions, while some area communities are issuing burn bans.
(Melvin–jc) The 20-23 Ford County Fair starts on Sunday morning at the fairgrounds in Melvin. Ford County Fair President Steve Meenen says everyone is excited about this year’s run from the Queen pageant to the Roots and Boots concert next Friday night…
Ford County Fair President Steve Meenen
WPXN will be broadcast live all next week from the Fair including a facebook live at the 20-23 Ford County Fair Pageant on Monday night.
(Champaign-jm) – A second woman has pleaded guilty to her involvement in the purchase of a firearm that was used to kill Champaign Police Officer Christopher Oberheim in May 2021. Ashantae Corruthers of Indianapolis, could face up to 25 years in prison when she is sentenced in November. Corruthers admitted to conspiring with Regina Lewis, to purchase and transfer a gun to Darion M. Lafayette, who could not legally purchase a firearm due to his status as a convicted felon. Regina Lewis, of Normal, pleaded guilty in May and has been scheduled for sentencing on October 2, 2023. The gun that Corruthers purchased was later used by Lafayette to shoot and kill Champaign Police Officer Christopher Oberheim. Oberheim’s, partner Jeff Creel was injured in the shooting as well and shot Lafayette.
(Roberts-jm) – Roberts Fun Day is this Saturday with lots of activities including kids games and live music. Another activity that’s expected to bring a lot of people is the parade, says Spokesperson Cassie Ehman…
Roberts Fun Day Spokesperson Cassie Ehman.
The day starts with a breakfast at 8am.
(Ford County-jm) – Ford County property tax bills are delayed again. It’s the third time in four years bills have been delayed. Usually the bills are mailed in late May and due in early July. There’s no word on when they will be sent out.
(Rantoul-jm) – Sexual assault charges against a Rantoul man have been dismissed. Prosecutors dismissed predatory criminal sexual assault charges against Jorge Elvir-Reyes. They declined to say why they dismissed the charges. Elvir-Reyes has prior child pornography and sex abuse cases.
(Paxton–jc) Local television station Channel 3 will be live in Paxton later on today. Its the station’s “our town” series. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says its a great opportunity to showcase the improvements in the downtown area and more…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Champaign–jc) Yes, our crops need some good rain. The condition of crops in Champaign County continues to decline. Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Bailey Conrady says crop stress has started…
Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Bailey Conrady
(Springfield-jm) – The state-run All Kids Health Insurance program has been providing insurance to those over the eligible age of 18, which cost taxpayers nearly $1.2 million. An Auditor General report released this week shows issues with late filings, a misclassification of kids' immigration status and allowing over-age persons to participate. While the report notes beginning in March 2020, enrollees that were over the allowable age were allowed to maintain coverage because of COVID-19, auditors identified duplicate enrollees during fiscal year 2019 through fiscal 2022. The report identified 1,328 enrollees over the allowable age for enrollment in the All Kids program from July 2018 through March 2020. These enrollees received 11,011 services totaling $1,192,008 after the month of their 19th birthday. For perspective, the total cost for the program in fiscal 2022 was $153 million. The report found that enrollees were potentially misclassified as undocumented during fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2022 and identified a total of 5,513 undocumented enrollees that were misclassified.
(Springfield-jm) – Drought conditions continue to spread across Illinois. The June outlook called for average rainfall, but that hasn’t been the case. About 30 percent of the state, mostly central and northeastern Illinois, is in severe drought. The rest is considered either abnormally dry or in a moderate drought. The dry weather is taking its toll on crops, says State Climatologist Trent Ford…
State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says the big concern is if the dry weather continues into July and August, which could ruin crops and affect water sources in Illinois. He notes that these are the worst drought conditions statewide since 2012. Ford, Iroquois, Champaign and Vermilion Counties are in moderate drought conditions and some area communities are issuing burn bans.
(Urbana-jm) – Urbana Police are asking for the community’s help in identifying and locating a person who used two credit cards without permission from their owner. Police shared on social media that the person found a misplaced wallet and then made multiple purchases with the credit cards that were inside. The person was seen on security cameras wearing jeans, a gray sweatshirt and a white hat.
(Springfield-jm) – A program to help keep Illinois students going to college stay in the state is becoming permanent. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City explains…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(St. Joseph-jm) – A St. Joseph man will spend nearly two decades behind bars for sexually assaulting a child in 2021. Joshua Rodriguez was sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to 2 counts of criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. Rodriguez had been charged with 5 counts of criminal sexual assault of a child.
(Iroquois County-jm) – Iroquois County has issued a county wide burn ban until further notice due to dry weather. No burning of garbage or brush will be allowed for the foreseeable future. The city of Gilman has a town wide ban and Hoopeston in Vermilion County has also issued a similar ban
(Gilman–jc) With the recent drought conditions, area crops continue to deteriorate. Ford Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager David Treece says the season started off well, but then no-rain…
Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece
(Rantoul–jc) Well, who will get “braggin’ Rights?” The Rantoul based Carter Foundation and Community Foundation is hosting several events today through Sunday in the village. A 5-K is set for today. Other events to support the local foundation include, mini-golf, kickball and a youth baseball tournament.
WPXN Weekend News Notes…
The 2023 Roberts Fun day will be held on Saturday. Craft and vendors 8-4, inflatables 9-5, parade at 11, cake walk 12:30-1:30, touch a truck 12:30-3, bags tournament 4-7 and live music 7-10.
Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting the Loda Fireworks on Saturday from 10-2.
The 2023 Ford County Fair takes place June 25-July 1st in Melvin. On June 25th its the jackpot breeding gilt show. On the 26th its the queen pageant, on the 27th its the talent show. The 28th is family night with $10 armbands, on the 29th its the Illiana truck and tractor pull, on the 30th its Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Collin Raye performing, on the final night of the fair its the demolition derby.
