(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Division of Banking and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a warning for a new scam that seeks to take advantage of student loan uncertainty. Scammers contact student loan borrowers and make false promises that they can guarantee lower monthly payments or loan forgiveness, often demanding upfront fees to do so and promising immediate results. Borrowers typically can request these services for free from the U.S. Department of Education or their student loan servicer. Scammers utilizing this scheme are known to have contacted targets by phone, text, email, and regular mail, and may falsely claim to have ties to government agencies including the Department of Education. While a few companies may offer legitimate student debt relief services, many make false promises to student loan borrowers and fail to deliver on the services they're paid for.
(Springfield-jm) – The state is looking for teacher nominees for a couple of awards. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about the awards...
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Washington-jm) – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, both of Illinois announced over $36 million in federal funding for the Illinois Department of Human Services to help support treatment and prevention services for substance and opioid use disorders and overdoses. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as a part of their State Opioid Response grants program.
(Washington-jm) – The Global Agricultural Productivity Initiative Thursday released its annual edition of its report, reflecting total factor production and world sustainability efforts over the period of a decade. Rod Bain reports...
(Rantoul-jm) – 33 acres of land on the former Chanute Air Force Base could be going up for auction in Rantoul, if voters approve a referendum on the ballot in November. The park district is looking to voters to decide the fate of land that once held the football fields of Camp Rantoul. The park district says the land gets little use and costs about $50,000 to maintain.
(Buckley–dm)-If you would like to donate clothing or non-perishable items for people affected by the hurricane in North Carolina, you can take your donations to Buckley. North Carolina Volunteer Spokesperson Ardell Goat Goetting has more information.
Volunteer Goat Goetting. Your Donations need to be in Buckley by 12 noon today. If you have any questions you can call Goat at 217-394-2242.
(Urbana-jm) – A new three-year contract has been set for UIUC Food Service and Building Service Workers. SEIU Local 73 confirmed the members of the union voted to approve the new three-year contract. Among the items in the contract are a $500 signing bonus and pay raises of $1.00 for the first year, $0.90 for the second and $0.85 for the third. Another provision included is some Food Service workers may not be laid off over the summer, with any worker not laid off guaranteed to be offered a 40-hour work week. The laid off workers will continue to be offered other work opportunities. The union went on strike for eight days with the University. The strike ended Monday.
(Rantoul–dm)--The Rantoul Fire Department will be celebrating their 125th anniversary on Saturday. Rantoul Fire Chief Chad Smith has more information.
Rantoul Fire Chief Chad Smith
(Paxton-jm) – The Paxton Park District and now officials with the Paxton Carnegie Library say they have been dealing with minor property damage and some theft.
Earlier this week park district officials posted their 'stay spooky' flag had been stolen along with a corner flag from the soccer field. Another new soccer corner flag was damaged. Paxton police are investigating.
(Cissna Park–jc) One local volunteer fire department is set to host their annual Chicken Fry on Sunday. The Cissna Park Fire Department has the chicken fry from 11am until 5pm at the fire house in the village. Dine in and carry outs are available. Along with the dinner, they are holding a fundraiser raffle for a Pedal Fire Truck, a 200 Gift certificate at DuChick Ranch and a quarter-beef from Hasselbring Farms. Tickets for those items are available from firemen and Cissna Park businesses.
(Gilman–jc) The Gathering in Gilman is the WPXN Business of the Day, today. Co owner Kathy Perzee says they are opening a new area in the store and fall items are going fast...
Kathy Perzee says to shop the store during the cool days of autumn and then come back for lunch or dessert...
The Gathering of Gilman's Kathy Perzee. They are also getting ready for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays at the Gathering in Gilman. Check out the fall fudge too. The Gathering in Gilman is the WPXN Business of the Day, today
(Springfield-jm) – At the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health are reminding Illinoisans that early detection is the most effective way to prevent the deadly disease which is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The Governor has issued a proclamation declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and October 18 as Mammography Day in Illinois.
(Springfield-jm) – State Senators are looking into concerns about the safety of staff and inmates in state prisons. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City is one of the concerned Senators...
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Chicago-jm) – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has defended himself for the past four years, saying that he was only doing his job and that part of that job was making job recommendations. Madigan, who held sway over the Illinois statehouse as leader of the Democratic Party and speaker of the House for decades, argued in motions that the judge should toss the racketeering and bribery charges against him because he was performing his job. Judge John Robert Blakey said that wasn't a reason to cut counts from the 23-count indictment days before Madigan's corruption trial gets underway. Co-defendant Michael McClain, a former state lawmaker, lobbyist and close associate of Madigan, also sought to have some charges dismissed ahead of trial.
(Washington-jm) – The first U.S. Drought Monitor for October indicates varying Impacts to crops and commodities within growing drought coverage areas. Rod Bain reports...
(Champaign County-jm) – The renovation of the Satellite Jail in Urbana is almost finished, after about two years of construction. The downtown jail was shut down in 2022, leaving the satellite space as the only one in the county.
(Paxton–dm)-There will be a fundraiser at tonight's football game for a Paxton Buckley Loda Junior high student going through some health concerns.
Jaxon Peacock recently had a double lung transplant. Paxton Buckley Loda Junior High Guidance Counselor Stacy Johnson has the details...
Paxton Buckley Loda Junior High Guidance Counselor Stacy Johnson. You can also make a donation at the school, or at the Frederick Bank in Paxton.
(Urbana-jm) – Concerned spouses and family members of METCAD Dispatchers addressed officials about their concerns with staffing during the agency's board meeting Thursday morning. Community members, feeling their requests have been overlooked, are taking a proactive stance. They are proposing solutions, including a complete overhaul of training programs, the implementation of a staffing contingency plan, and the creation of a long-term staff retention strategy. The agency has 17 full-time dispatchers on staff and another 10 in training.
(Buckley–dm)-The annual Buckley Lakeside Fall Festival is taking place on Saturday, October 19th/ Committee member Sarah Dean has more information.
Buckley Fall Fest Committee Member Sarah Dean
(Gibson City-jm) – New equipment, training and classes are now possible for Gibson Area Hospital thanks to $550,000 in grant funding. The Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs or SIREN Act is meant to help rural EMS and fire agencies provide timely care to their communities. Senator Dick Durbin introduced the bill back in 2018.
WPXN Weekend News Notes...
The Loda American Legion will hold their fish and chicken fry tonight from 4-7 pm.
The Elliott Amvets will hold their family night dinner tonight from 5-7 pm. Dinner includes your choice of chicken, fish or shrimp and your choice of 2 sides for $15.
The Vermilion County Health Department will hold an electronics recycling event on Saturday from 8:30-11 am at the north lot of Danville Area Community College.
Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting the Loda Methodist Women on Saturday from 10-2.
The 6th annual Wine and Chocolate Walk will take place on Saturday from 11-4:30 in Paxton.
Logan Kirby will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday at 7pm. Cost is $10 for those 13 and older. Food will be available starting at 5:30.
