(Springfield-jm) – As the new school year is well underway, a parent’s rights advocacy group is urging Illinois families to know what their options are concerning sex education being taught in some schools. The vast majority of Illinois school districts are not opting into controversial sexual education curricula, according to Awake Illinois. But the districts with the largest student populations are. In 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker enacted a law aligning the state’s public schools with the National Sex Education Standards, saying the measure will modernize the subject with age-appropriate content for grades K-12. Among the standards for grades K-2 are defining gender expression, different kinds of families and types of sexual abuse. Grade 3-5 goes into anatomy, gender identity and sexual orientation. Grades 6-8 will learn about different types of sex, different types of sexual exploitation and trafficking. Grade 9-10 will learn about the history of “reproductive justice.” Grades 11-12 will learn about power and privilege within sexual relationships.

 

(Washington-jm) – Agriculture Secretary Vilsack says a government shutdown would affect millions of Americans. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Champaign-jm) – Authorities in Champaign are asking for the public’s help through Crime Stoppers in identifying a man accused of stealing from the city’s two Target stores. Officials said that on Sept. 12, the man walked into the Target on Prospect Avenue, grabbed numerous items and made no attempt to pay before leaving. He was reported to be a repeat offender at not just that store, but at the Target in Campustown as well. The total loss of merchandise for both locations is reported to be over $1,000. Images taken from security cameras show the man is White and between the ages of 35 and 44. He had long brown hair pulled into a ponytail and tattoos on his arms and legs. He was driving a blue sedan.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The city of Paxton continues to take a positive approach to improve the city, keep the current business community vibrant and have a strategy for the future. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says economic development is always on the minds of city leaders…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. The city has set up several “mapping” meetings to look at strategies for growth in the city. The first is set for Tuesday October 3rd from 5-30pm to 8-30pm in the Paxton Buckley Loda Junior High Commons area on the west side of Paxton.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The Illinois State Police are investigating after an inmate at the Champaign County Jail died over the weekend. Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman says correctional staff found the person unresponsive in their cell around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. Staff and emergency medical crews performed lifesaving measures but were unsuccessful in reviving the inmate. Right now, the investigation shows the inmate likely suffered a medical emergency. The inmate’s name is being withheld at this time, pending notification of their family. Heuerman did say they were booked into the jail on Saturday.

 

(Cissna Park–jc)  Pumpkins in the park is returning to Cissna Park on October 7th. The event is sponsored by the Cissna Park High School F F A Chapter and the Cissna Park Development Board. F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton says the pumpkins for the event come from Woodworth in Iroquois County…

 

 

Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton. The activities in the park, in Cissna Park will feature a Shop the park event, kids activities and more on October 7th. 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) – A probable cause search of a vehicle in Iroquois County led to the arrests of two people from Kankakee County.  Sheriff's Police stopped a vehicle driven by 43-year-old Jeremy Garrison of Bourbonnais.  43-year-old Angela Simpson of Manteno was a passenger.  Both were charged with possession of Meth and drug paraphernalia.  Garrison is also facing a charge of obstructing identification and driving while license suspended.  Police also reported Garrison was wanted on a warrant out of Kankakee County.

 

(Buckley–jc) Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Abbe Insurance-Edge Insurance of Buckley.  Larry Abbe says open enrollment time for Medicare is coming on October 15th…

 

 

Larry Abbe reminds those with the various plans, if they want to change, now is the time to contact him to get the best plan for their individual needs…

 

 

Abbe Insurance Agent Larry Abbe. Abbe Insurance is located on the south side of Buckley in the Big White Building. Abbe Insurance is the WPXN Business of the Day, today. We have a full interview with Larry Abbe that will air during  the noon news today. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Supreme Court is considering whether health care workers’ Biometric Information Privacy Act rights are violated by having to provide fingerprints to access patient medication from secure cabinets. The court’s previous interpretation of BIPA, the law that allows legal action against entities for not getting consent when capturing and storing personal data such as fingerprints or face scans, has the business community looking for changes. A previous ruling could lead to business-bankrupting settlements, groups fear. Last week, representing a hospital group being sued, attorney Bonnie Keane DelGobbo said the language of the Illinois law allows for biometrics to be used in patient care in conformity with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act carved out of BIPA. Attorney Jim Zouras, representing those suing Northwestern Memorial Healthcare, argued that if the healthcare industry is exempt as defendants' claim, a large segment of Illinois’ workforce in hospitals have no BIPA rights. Zouras said the HIPAA only applies to patient data, not health care employees.

 

(Washington-jm) – The U-S Government could shutdown as early as this coming weekend unless a deal is reached. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told a White House press briefing that a government shutdown would be incredibly disruptive to USDA and its millions of customers and stakeholders…

 

 

U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

 

(Danville-jm) – Danville Area Community College’s Radiologic Technology program just received great news from the national accrediting body, JRCERT. The program that prepares students for careers as X-ray technologists has received the highest honors allowed, an eight-year accreditation extension.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Paxton has a new event coming to the city in mid-October. It is the “Paxton Fall Gathering and Vendor Show.” Vendors, food, music and pumpkins are all part of the celebration. Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper says fall decor from straw bales to pumpkins will be available…

 

 

Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper. A pancake and sausage breakfast kicks off the day starting at 8 that morning.

 

(St. Joseph-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff’s Department is investigating what they call an “incident” in St. Joseph. Deputies said a 45-year-old man approached two young kids at Cedar Drive and East Warren Streets on Friday afternoon. The sheriff’s office says they are unsure if this was an incident where the actions of the individuals involved were misinterpreted or if there was some type of malicious behavior intended. The department said the man they’re looking for has dark hair, a beard and a heavy build. He was last seen wearing shorts and a gray button-up short-sleeved “work” shirt with a patch on its chest.

 

(Danville-jm) – The Vermilion County Board of Health appointed a new public health administrator, effective November 1,  Dr. Prince Danso Odei was previously an administrator/health officer and also a disease prevention and control manager with the Florida Department of Health. Jana Messmore, Director of Environmental Health, has served as interim public health administrator since last November.