(Rantoul–dm)-A semi fire (property damage only) along I-57 Northbound near Milepost 248.5 (south of Rantoul) caused the right lane to be blocked and also caused traffic slowdowns on Thursday afternoon. Vehicles were backed up for several hours.

(The Center Square) – As Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch return from a Japan trip working to attract new investment in Illinois, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson jetted off to London.Before taking the trip to Japan last week, Pritzker said his goal is to bring more businesses back to Illinois from all over the world. He said there hasn't been such an effort in around 40 years.Pritzker said his goal was to let investors around the world know about Illinois' workforce, education, infrastructure and reliable energy.

(Springfield–dm)- The Illinois State Police will be partnering with Faith Based organizations across the state this weekend during the National Faith and Blue weekend.  WPXN's Dan Mushrush has the story.

(Center Square)-Firefighters from Illinois are headed to Florida to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Sixty firefighters from Monroe and St. Clair counties, along with engines and gear, will be in the Tampa area for 15 days responding to local emergency calls. Three million people are without power after the storm came ashore Wednesday night. The Saybrook Fire Department has donated a fire truck they no longer need to the relief effots in North Carolina. Workers from Paxton based Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative have been in Georgia for over two weeks and a second crew is now in that area for the next several weeks.

(Springfield-jm) – New data out is raising concerns about the number of migrants getting arrested in the United States. Among those raising concerns are Illinois Senate Republicans including 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet...

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet.

(The Center Square) – Jury selection is proceeding in the bribery and racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain at the Dirksen U. S. Courthouse in Chicago. Prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned five jurors in the first two hours of Thursday's proceedings. Three jurors were seated on Wednesday. Judge John Robert Blakey said that the court's "aspiration" is for opening arguments to begin next Tuesday. Madigan is facing 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. The longtime Chicago Democrat served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021.

(Paxton–jc)  It's Flu Shot season and one local pharmacy is set to get you in and out with your flu shot. Hudson Drug and Hallmark of Paxton owner Andy Hudson says no appointments are needed for the shots, just stop by...

Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson

(Watseka–jc)  –The Iroquois County Public Health Department has changed their regularly scheduled Board of Health meeting. The Board of Health will now meet at 6 pm on November 6th. This meeting will be held in the county board room at the Iroquois County Administrative Center located at 1001 East Grant Street, in Watseka . An agenda will be posted on the Iroquois County website, iroquoiscountyil.gov, at least 48 hours in advance of each meeting.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  Today's WPXN Business of the Day is Hardy's Reindeer Ranch of Rantoul. Hardys Reindeer Ranch started in 1995 by Julie and Mark Hardy as they purchased several reindeer to help sell Christmas trees. The ranch has now evolved into a major attraction featuring a huge corn maze, to hayrides, paintball and delicious food. Hardy Reindeer Ranch owner Mark Hardy says the days starts early each morning with the reindeer, and the public arrives throughout the day...

Mark Hardy talks about taking care of the reindeer, daily.

Hardy's Reindeer Ranch Owner Mark Hardy. More about Hardy's Reindeer Ranch is found on-line

(Chicago-jm) – Senate Republicans in Illinois are calling for an audit of a state run child facility in northern Illinois. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says the facility has had several reports of abuse that need to be addressed...

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Paxton–jc)  A "fall" gathering is set for tomorrow in the city of Paxton. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says over 500 people attended last year and more are expected this year...

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

The day starts with a pancake breakfast at 8 on Saturday morning at Veterans Square. 

(Champaign–dm)- 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 4 p.m., starting on Monday, October 14, and ending on Friday, October 18, 2024, weather permitting. Access will be maintained to all local properties.

(Rantoul–jc) One local Christian school is set for its fall fundraiser on Sunday. St Malachy School in Rantoul will host their Fall Festival on Sunday from 11am to 3pm at the school. A turkey dinner, kids zone, auction, bake sale and vendors hilite the day at St Malachy School in Rantoul on Sunday

(The Center Square) — Three utilities are uniquely coming together for the first time to address energy challenges within the  Interconnection footprint in the midwest and some southern states. Dominion Energy Virginia, American Electric Power and FirstEnergy Corp. – three major, multi-state utility providers active in these states – are entering into an "innovative joint planning agreement to propose several new regional electric transmission projects," according to a Dominion press release. The arrangement is a "first-of-its-kind collaboration," according to Dominion spokesperson Aaron Ruby, prompted by the singular position in which PJM – and much of America, in fact – finds itself.  A May study by the Americans for a Clean Energy Grid found that the regional transmission organization has to engage in "proactive, scenario-based, long-term planning" if it will meet anticipated energy needs. The demand for energy is skyrocketing, and projected demand for the next decade will keep multiplying due to ubiquitous electrification and the proliferation of data centers facilitating the A-I boom

(Watseka–jc)  –The Iroquois County Public Health Department has changed their regularly scheduled Board of Health meeting. The Board of Health will now meet at 6 pm on November 6th. This meeting will be held in the county board room at the Iroquois County Administrative Center located at 1001 East Grant Street, in Watseka . An agenda will be posted on the Iroquois County website, iroquoiscountyil.gov, at least 48 hours in advance of each meeting.

(Central Illinois–jc)  –Over a century after it was last seen, an endangered species has been found alive in Central Illinois. The salamander mussel was last spotted 120 years ago, but on Oct. 2, two conservation biologists from the Illinois Natural History Survey found both the salamander mussel and its host, the mudpuppy, in the Sangamon River. The salamander mussel is less than two inches long and normally lives under rocks in rivers. 

WPXN News notes..

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Friday, October 11th from 9-10 am at the Fountain Valley Mobile Home basketball courts and from 10:30-11 at the Ludlow community center.

The Ford County Public Health Department will hold a flu clinic at the Elliott Amvets on Friday, October 11th from 1-3 pm.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, October 11th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $10 per plate.

The Onarga Lions Club will hold their pancake and sausage breakfast on Saturday, October 12th from 7-11 am at Nexus Family Healing in Onarga.

The 2024 Paxton Fall Gathering will take place on Saturday, October 12th from 9-4 in downtown Paxton. Activities include a pancake and sausage breakfast, vendor and artisan booths, pop up pumpkin patch, live music and more.

Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley will be cooking pork burgers at Hometown Family Foods in Gilman on Saturday from 9-1.

Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting LIA Auxiliary on Saturday, October 12th from 10-2.