(Washington-jm) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would prohibit electric-vehicle batteries from Gotion and several other foreign companies from being used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The House passed H.R. 8631, the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act. Gotion is slated to receive more than $8 billion in combined federal and state subsidies for its planned facility in Manteno. A Kankakee Circuit County judge is hearing a lawsuit aimed at stopping the Gotion plant in Manteno over alleged zoning law violations and chemical dangers. A ruling in the case is expected on September 30.

(Sheldon-jm) – The Newton, Indiana sheriff's deputy shot in Sheldon is not expected to survive. The sheriff's department posted on social media they were informed Corporal Brandon Schreiber will not survive the injuries he received on September 1st. He is an organ donor. 

(Illinois–dm)-The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be accepting sealed bids for lease contracts throughout the State of Illinois.  WPXN's Dan Mushrush has the story.

(Rural Paxton-jm) – Paxton first responders were called to a single vehicle accident Tuesday evening. It happened around 7:15 on Route 115 near 600 north. Two people were reported trapped. There's no word on if there were any injuries.

(Rantoul–jc) Tourism is key to the village of Rantoul and with the Rantoul Sports Complex bringing in more than 1 point 2 million people each year, the village also sees tourism with Hardy's Reindeer Ranch just west of Rantoul. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says Hardy's Reindeer Ranch brings thousands of visitors for the "reindeer" experience...

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith. The Corn maze is open, reindeer tours, hayrides and more hilite the days and nights at Hardy's Reindeer Ranch of Rantoul

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission's award-winning Early Childhood Education program is expanding to Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion Counties in Illinois. The RPC will add 300 infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and pregnant women to the RPC's enrollment through Head Start and Early Head Start. The RPC will also be adding 75 new staff members through the acquisition of the centers, with legal transfer of operations to the RPC taking place on November 1, 2024. The RPC currently provides Early Childhood Education services in Champaign County to 511 infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and pregnant women, while operating centers in West Champaign (103 S. Country Fair Drive), Champaign (2005 Round Barn Road), Urbana (1603 E. Mumford Drive), and Rantoul (104 Nightingale Court). The new centers being added to the program are located within Danville, Paxton, Gilman, and Watseka.

(Cissna Park–jc)  –  The September "Shop the Park in Cissna Park" event is set for this Saturday from 9am to 1pm. A wide variety of baked goods, arts and crafts, pop up boutiques, woodworking and more will fill the park for shoppers. Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton says his FFA group will be there with some delicious food...

Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton

(Champaign-jm) – An Urbana man faces at least 45 years in prison after he was convicted last week of murdering his neighbor. After a three-day bench trial, Judge Randy Rosenbaum found Matthew Denbo guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 shooting death of Joshua Berg. Both men were from Urbana, but the shooting happened in the area of Second and Green Streets in Champaign on July 15, 2022.

(Washington-jm) – Dry weather is speeding the development of many crops. Gary Crawford reports...

(Springfield-jm) – A study of the best states for retirement indicates there are many better places than Illinois. The personal finance website WalletHub looked at 46 key indicators of retirement-friendliness, from financial factors like tax rates and the cost of living to things like access to quality medical care.  Researcher Chip Lupo said Illinois ranked 41st overall, but last in the country for taxpayer ranking. The study ranked Illinois 47th in the country in the affordability category. The study found that 28% of non-retired adults haven't saved any money for retirement and Social Security benefits replace only about 37% of the average worker's earnings. Lupo said Illinois is not an ideal state if a senior citizen wants a part-time job.

(Springfield-jm) – Inflation is affecting more than just your pocket at the grocery store. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says a pair of new reports out shows the state is in the top 5 worst states in the country when it comes to car insurance and property taxes...

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Champaign-jm) – Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 5 arrested 28-year-old Dante J. Scott of Champaign on September 9 for multiple Child Pornography charges. ISP conducted a residential search warrant in Champaign with assistance from the Champaign Police Department and Champaign County Sheriff's Office in reference to multiple Cyber Tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child pornography.  Prior to the search warrant, Officers took Dante J. Scott into custody and transported him to the Champaign County Jail. On September 10, Scott was arraigned on eight Class X Child Pornography charges. His detention hearing is scheduled for September 12.

(Iroquois County-jm) – The Iroquois County American Rescue Plan Act committee announced that they are now accepting new or updated applications. WPXN's Joel Cluver has the details...

(Paxton–jc)  The City of Paxton has several new businesses in the downtown area. A sports memorabilia shop called Game Changer Sport Shop is located in the 200 North Market block in the city and a new boutique will open on September 28th. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says the Strebeck family are the owners of Game Changer Sport Shop and they are planning an event during Paxton Swine and Dine on September 21st...

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

(Rantoul-jm) – A Central Illinois principal took to social media on Monday to address the theft of a large pumpkin from the school's FFA vegetable plot. Todd Wilson, the principal of Rantoul Township High School, posted on his Facebook page that a 50-pound pumpkin was stolen from the plot. Along with the theft of the pumpkin, Wilson said the vines of the plot were trampled, which he sarcastically called "a nice touch," and "might make it easier for us to harvest the other pumpkins and gourds."

(Washington-jm) – Not only does acreage acceptance for USDA's Continuous Conservation Reserve Program conclude at the end of this Fiscal Year but, at the same time, at the end of the current Farm Bill. Rod Bain reports...