(East Dundee–jc)  –A man was seriously injured this week while installing electric vehicle charging stations at a northern Illinois auto dealership. The East Dundee Fire Protection District said the incident happened at a Chevrolet dealer in Elgin. Officials said the worker's right arm and hand were burned, but he was alert and talking when he was taken to a local hospital.

(Watseka–jc)  The Iroquois County State's Attorney Jim Devines office has ruled that law enforcement's use of force in  a shooting near Sheldon was justified. That shooting took the life of 37 year old Andrew Roselius. The incident happened on September First as police responded to a reported kidnapping in progress. Iroquois County State's Attorney Devine said his office will not take any more action in the case.

(Indianapolis–jc)  The Paxton Buckley Loda F F A Floriculture team is at the groups national convention in Indianapolis this week. The local group is competing in the national floriculture competition after winning the state competition. Paxton Buckley Loda F F A Floriculture team spokesperson Lane Robideau talks about the projects that got the team to the nationals

Paxton Buckley Loda F F A National Floriculture team spokesperson Lane Robideau. The team received a Gold rating and Madison Freed finished 9th as an individual.

(Chicago–jc)  –A federal grand jury has indicted a Chicago man on charges he assaulted and robbed two U.S. Postal Service carriers. Devan Flax, 21, is accused of robbing a postal carrier on Nov. 25 of last year and another on Nov. 28 in Forest Park. According to an indictment, Flax is also accused of robbing an employee of a Berwyn restaurant around the same time.

(Champaign–jc)  –Local IllinoisState Senator Paul Faraci oh Champaign  has introduced legislation to prohibit carbon capture and sequestration activities over, under or through the Mahomet Aquifer. The Mahomet Aquifer is a  vital sole-source aquifer supplying clean drinking water to over 500,000 residents across 14 counties in East Central Illinois. The Mahomet Aquifer is not only a source of drinking water, but it also supports agricultural and industrial industries in the region. While federal protections exist for groundwater, concerns remain about the long-term safety of underground storage near the aquifer. In the event of a leak, carbonic acid could react with other minerals in the rock formations, releasing new elements into the water. Recent assessments from the Illinois Geological Survey underscore the vulnerability of the aquifer, warning that these activities would need to be closely monitored to prevent environmental damage.

(Paxton–jc)  The City of Paxton will be holding a surplus property auction sometime later this fall. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says several properties will come into the city ownership and city leaders are having those properties assessed for potential sell...

City of Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Iroquois County–dm)-The Ford Iroquois County 4 H Foundation will be having their annual auction on Sunday November 17th. Ford Iroquois County 4 H Foundation spokesperson Nita Dubble has more information.

Ford Iroquois County 4H Foundation spokesperson Nita Dubble.  A few of the items that will be auctioned off are a Wrigley Field tour, an airplane ride and sports tickets.

(Champaign–jc)  -.Firefighters and staff from the Champaign Fire Department and Neighborhood Services Department along with the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance will be going door-to-door in a north Champaign neighborhood Friday, October 25, 2024, offering to check smoke alarms and installing free smoke alarms in homes that need them.

(Paxton–jc) Today's WPXN Businesses of the Day are Paxton Hardware and Rental and The Prairie CityWine Room. The pair of businesses are owned by the Allen Family In Paxton. Paxton Hardware & Rental Store Owner Scott Allen says they have fall leaf vacuums to rakes and more and now is the time to prepare for winter...

Scott Allen says a comedy show is set for tomorrow night at the Prairie City Wine room and some tickets are available......

Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen.  

Check out the Prairie City Wine Room for tickets for Saturday nights show

(Piatt County–jc)  A Standoff in Piatt County ended just before 8pm last night. Channel 3 is reporting that Piatt County Sheriff's police assisted the Champaign Police Department in executing a search warrant at a home in Mansfield. The person inside the home, barricaded himself in the home. Champaign police's SWAT and METRO Teams were able to bring the standoff to a peaceful solution. The person was taken into custody and transported to the Champaign County jail.

(The Center Square) – Wiretapped conversations have taken center stage at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain. Prosecutors played a series of recordings during testimony from FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald Thursday afternoon. McDonald said he had been working on the Madigan investigation since 2014. He also said that the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays for investigators.

McDonald testified that the FBI had a wiretap, or Title III, approved on McClain's cell phone for about nine months. McDonald estimated that the FBI had about 20,000 recordings from McClain's phone.

(Cook County–jc)  –A lawsuit has been filed in Cook County by a Colorado man who claims he was sickened after eating McDonald's food contaminated with E Coli in a multistate outbreak. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50 people across 10 states reported getting sick after eating at the fast food chain, with most of the cases in Colorado. Most of those sickened reported eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers. There were no reports of illnesses in Illinois.

(Illinois–dm)--Some argue that Illinois Electoral College votes should be divided.

WPXN's Dan Mushrush has the story.

(Champaign–dm)-Fall and winter mean picturesque, snowy scenery. But the season's weather can make working out more difficult. Normally dry sidewalks are replaced with ice. Or you may be snowed in entirely and unable to get to the gym. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has tips to exercise safely in cold weather.

 If you're snowed in and want to workout at home, use your surroundings. Use soup cans or water bottles as weights, or take some laps up and down the stairs. Just be mindful of trip hazards like a rug or wandering child.

(Rantoul–jc)  The village of Rantoul has a new dump truck. Village leaders gave their go-ahead to make the purchase of the  vehicle. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the price was steep, but the village will use the truck all year long and it will be part of village property for a long time...

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Springfield–jc)  –Enrollment at Illinois community colleges continues to climb for the third straight year according to the Fall 2024 Illinois Community College Opening Enrollment Report, released today by the Illinois Community College Board . The opening Fall 2024 enrollment report recorded an overall increase of Seven point 4 percent, the largest fall-to-fall enrollment growth in the last 15 years, outpacing last year's fall enrollment increase of Five point 7 percent.

WPXN News notes...

The Rantoul Family Sports Complex will host a Halloween Party on Monday, October 28th from 5:30-7 pm. Activities include free hot dogs and chips, treats, games and inflatables. Costumes are encouraged.

The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours will take place on Tuesday, October 29th from 5-7 pm at Shields Automart of Paxton.

Jeremiah 33:6 will hold a free produce pantry and health fair on Friday, November 1st from 3:30-5:30 at the Roberts Gym.