(Springfield-jm) – More than 300,000 Illinois residents stand to be cleared of all outstanding medical debt through the creation of the Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program Fund ready to be sent to the governor. Sponsored by state Senator Mike Simmons, House Bill 5290 seeks to alleviate medical debt for families across the state residing in households with individuals falling below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level or saddled with medical debt equating to 5% or more of their household income. If approved by the governor, the five-year pilot program will work with a nonprofit to use $10 million to pay off up to $1 billion in medical debt.

(Undated–jc)  Summer starts on Thursday, but the heat is here today. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has some tips…

(Springfield-jm) – A state commission didn't vote Friday on a proposal to close two state prisons because it didn't have enough members at the meeting. A meeting location change isn’t a coincidence, according to one member of the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. The commission was supposed to vote Friday on its recommendation for the planned prison closures of Logan County Correctional and Stateville prison. Without a quorum, the panel couldn't take official action. Even if the Commission had taken a vote, some members were unclear on what exactly they were voting for because they said the department has a “concept” of closing two prisons rather than a plan. 

(Buckley-jm) – The 2024 Buckley Fun Day is in the books. The Buckley Fun Day is put on by a group called the Buckley Community Group. Spokesperson Sarah Dean talks about the group and the two big events in the village they plan every year…

Buckley Community Group Spokesperson Sarah Dean.

(Undated-jm) – The National Weather Service confirms three EF-1 tornadoes touched down during Thursday evenings storms. The weather service says one tornado was confirmed near the Lexington/Chenoa area while two tornadoes were reported between Anchor and Gibson City. The weather service also notes the storms that moved through produced winds up to 90 mph when they pushed through.

(Champaign County-jm) – A two-vehicle crash happened in Champaign County, State Police confirmed.The crash happened on Route 45 at Leverette Road, located between Rantoul and Urbana. Officials said the crash involved at least one car rolling over and added that people were hurt, but they provided no other details.

(Paxton–jc)  Plans continue for Paxton’s Old Fashioned 4th of July event set for Pells Park in the city. The Paxton Main Street Group and Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the event this year and Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper provides some information about some of the events planned for the 4th…

Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper.

(Vermilion County-jm) – Members of the Vermilion County Board now know how much it would cost to complete energy savings and other improvements at five county-owned buildings. The price is just over $7.9 million dollars. The county has $6.5 million dollars available, and the $7.9 million dollar cost does not include new windows for the Joseph G. Cannon Building where many county offices are located. 

(Springfield-jm) – In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court striking down a ban on bump stocks, Governor J.B. Pritzker says the ruling should have no impact on Illinois but other states will take action.  The Gun Violence Prevention PAC Illinois said the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the ban on dangerous bump stocks is a step in the wrong direction. The NRA applauded the move. Illinois already has a ban on bump stocks.

(Springfield-jm) – Planned Parenthood Illinois is giving another close look at the impacts of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in Illinois. They said the number of patients seeking care, especially out-of-state patients, is still skyrocketing. Planned Parenthood Illinois said they started seeing this surge in patients right after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Since then, Planned Parenthood Illinois has seen a 47% increase in overall abortion care patients traveling from 41 different states. Planned Parenthood Illinois said this makes up nearly 25% of their overall abortion patients. Before the Dobbs decision, it was 3% to 5%. In 2023, which was one year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood Illinois saw a 54% increase in patients. 25% of patients traveled from 34 different states to Illinois, compared to just 7% the year before.

(Undated-jm)- Several FFA Chapters were recognized at the state FFA Convention in Springfield.  WPXN’s Dan Mushrush has the story…

(Buckley-jm) – Beginning today I-57 at the Buckley interchange will be closed for two consecutive nights from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The closure is necessary for the demolition of the south half of the Iroquois County Highway 9 bridge. Traffic will be detoured off and onto I-57 using the exit and entrance ramps at CH 9. CH 9 will be open to one lane in each direction on the north half of the bridge and traffic at the intersections will be controlled by flaggers.

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign police are asking for information after shots were fired near Eureka and 5th Streets by Douglas park, just after 4:30 PM Saturday afternoon. They say nobody was hurt, and there has not been any reported property damage.

(Rantoul–jc)  We are halfway through the month of June and summer starts next week. Economic development continues to be a positive force in the village of Rantoul. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says a new Busey Bank, a new hotel, Culvers and more are making Rantoul their home..

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County government leaders are getting ready for a big change. After decades at the Brookens Administrative Center in Urbana, their offices are moving into a new home. The Brookens Administrative Center has been home to all things concerning Champaign County government since the late 90s. That’s when the county bought the old junior high building — but that’s set to change by early next year. They bought the building for $2 million. It’s currently undergoing $20 million-worth of renovations.