(Chicago-jc) – Teachers at schools across Illinois and the country took part in the national walk-in with COVID relief funding expiring Monday. Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates joined teachers outside of Mollison Elementary in Bronzeville to participate in a walk-in, demanding more funding for public education. The South Side school has the highest vacancy rate in the city. The district is facing a $500 million shortfall, with the fall veto session starting in November for state legislators.

(Springfield-jc) – The Illinois Department of Insurance announces that its Life Policy Locator helped return to consumers more than $8.5 million in lost or unclaimed life insurance policies and annuities this year.The agency encourages anyone who believes they are a beneficiary of a deceased relative's unclaimed policy to use the free locator tool on its website.

(Pesotum-jm) – After being closed almost 12 hours, I-57 near Pesotum is back open. The northbound lanes were closed after a semi carrying a bridge beam got stuck after colliding with a guardrail early yesterday morning. Around 6pm last night, state police said the road was reopened.

(Rantoul-jm) – Rural King may be expanding its footprint, but Central Illinois is losing one location in a planned merger. The company said it is embarking on a "significant growth phase" that will add five stores this year and another 10 in 2025. Rural King is also expanding to a 14th state. However, the company is making changes to three of the stores that are already open. Rural King representatives said the two stores in Champaign and Rantoul will be consolidating in the Champaign location. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, the company will be relocating one of its stores.

(Champaign-jm) – White Construction will close Anthony Drive between Dobbins Drive and Campbell Drive. Both eastbound and westbound Anthony Drive traffic will be detoured in the area.  The closure will occur between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., starting on Monday, October 7, and ending on Friday, October 11, 2024, weather permitting. Access will be maintained to all local properties. In order to complete pavement repairs, Stark Excavating will close one eastbound lane of Kirby Avenue between Waverly Drive and Mayfair Road.  The closure will begin on Thursday, October 3, and the lane will reopen by Friday, October 11, 2024. During the closure, eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane.

(Urbana-jm) – Carle Health will host Camp Healing Heart, a unique, day-long event to help children and teens experiencing the death of a loved one, on Saturday, Oct. 5. Camp Healing Heart began in 2005 by the Carle Health Hospice team, with the goal of supporting children and teens ages 5 through 17. Healing Heart is free to campers, thanks to generous support of Carle Health Center for Philanthropy, and is staffed by 100 volunteers from Carle Health and the community. The camp is designed to provide tools to children and teens to help them process grief while connecting with other kids who have gone through similar experiences.

(Paxton–jc)  Today's WPXN Business of the Day is Paxton IGA. Paxton IGA Customer Service Supervisor April Ransom talks about her job of service to customers at the local I G A Store...

Ransom says the service area provides stamps, bill pay options and lottery too. Ransom did have a big winner several years ago...

Paxton IGA Customer Service Supervisor April Ransom

The local store is open 24 hours daily. Paxton IGA is the WPXN Business of the Day, today. 

(Danville-jc)  Danville Schools are on E-Learning today after an apparent threat. School officials released the statement earlier this morning. Danville police were called in to investigate. WPXN news will update this story as it warrants. 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity released information about this year's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to support income eligible households with utility costs. LIHEAP began accepting applications yesterday, and will continue through August 15, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.The energy bill assistance program offered through Help Illinois Families will provide $226 million to eligible families to assist with natural gas, propane, electricity bills and furnace assistance.

(Springfield–jc) Some Illinois Lawmakers in Springfield are calling on the federal government concerning illegal migrants, crimes, and safety of Illinois citizens. 

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet provides some numbers...

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet

(Springfield-jc) – State aging officials are holding a series of roundtable discussions, which are open to service providers, older adults, family caregivers, and the public, to help shape the future of policymaking, service delivery, and investment priorities to meet the needs of a growing older adult population. Leaders from the state Department on Aging and regional Area Agencies on Aging will convene a dozen roundtable discussions statewide to inform the development of Illinois' 2026-2028 State Plan on Aging, a framework aimed at improving and promoting quality of life for older adults, their families, and caregivers. The first meeting will be held Wednesday in Dixon, with other roundtables scheduled for Chicago, Maywood and Aurora in the coming days. 

(Champaign-jm) – Halloween trick-or-treating hours in the City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and Champaign County will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

(Danville-jm) – Brandun Schweizer, candidate for State Representative in the 104th district, is proud to announce the endorsement of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police. The FOP is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers. The IL FOP is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing over 33,000 active duty and retired police officers – more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide.

(Urbana–jc)  –Illinois has the second highest gas taxes in the country, and now a central Illinois community will be adding to the total. The Urbana City Council has passed a fuel tax increase that will begin in January 2025. In the first year, residents will see an increase of 7.5 cents per gallon, and by the third year, the tax per gallon will increase to 12.5 cents. City officials said the increase will go toward road maintenance.