(Undated-jm) – Illinois is about to get a dose of winter in the coming days. A large arctic air mass will descend on the state today and will drop temperatures into the single digits for many areas next week. Most of Illinois is not expected to get above freezing in the next couple of weeks. An incoming storm system is expected to bring an opportunity for accumulating snow Sunday and Monday, with southern Illinois expected to receive the brunt of the storm.
(Virginia–dm)-Virginia tops the states in the nation for importing electricity while Illinois is a state that exports electricity. WPXN's Dan Mushrush has the story
(Kankakee-jm) – A person of interest is in custody after two people were killed and five others injured in a shooting at a New Year's Eve party in Kankakee. The Kankakee Police Department reports a person of interest with a criminal background is in custody and is being questioned. A 22-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were pronounced dead at the hospital following the shootings.
(Paxton–jc) Several distressed properties within the city limits of Paxton are now in the hands of the city and several more will be in the near future. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the focus of city leaders is to get the properties back on the tax rolls, by selling them to someone to build a new home or other private uses for the lots in question...
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Champaign-jc) With some frigid temperatures and snow potentially coming to east Central Illinois, some warming centers will be open to help keep residents warm. In Rantoul, the Forum Fitness Center will act as a help center from 6am until 9pm daily. In Champaign and Urbana, C-U at Home and Crisis Nursery will be warming centers.
(Hoopeston–dm)-The 2025 Hoopeston Area FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction is scheduled for January 25th. Hoopeston Area FFA member Keenan Anderson tells us more.
Hoopeston Area FFA member Keenan Anderson. Proceeds from the auction gp to scholarships and tp help fund trips tp conventions
(Illinois–jc) –Funeral services will be held Friday for a fallen Illinois State Trooper who was killed while on duty last week.Clay Carns, 35, was clearing debris from Interstate-55 near Channahon when he was struck by a pickup truck. Police said the driver of the vehicle is facing charges related to Scott's Law, which requires drivers to move over if an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road. Carns served 11 years with ISP and is survived by his wife and two children.
(Springfield-jc) – Illinois legislators return Saturday for the start of the final days of the 103rd General Assembly. WPXN's Joel Cluver has the story...
(Springfield–jc) –Workers in Illinois who provide personal care to family members are protected from employment discrimination based on family responsibilities as of the New Year. This means that Illinois employers cannot make recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, training, discharge, discipline or other decisions regarding the conditions of employment based on an employee or prospective employee's actual or perceived provision of personal care for a family member. Illinois is now one of fewer than 10 states to provide employment protections for family caregivers
(Washington-jm) – Producers faced tighter margins in 2024 due in part to lower farm incomes, but will some of the factors behind lower incomes carry over into 2025? Rod Bain reports...
(Rantoul–jc) The new year sees several new businesses and a manufacturing company building in the village of Rantoul. The Buzzard Pipe Organ manufacturing company is set to build and bring several dozen jobs to the village and the Autonomous Track and Research project also continues to grow in Rantoul. Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer says what used to be a "Vacant" portion of the village on the former base continues to be filled with a wide variety of businesses and groups...
Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer
(St Joseph–jc) The St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library will start its annual Winter Used Book Sale on Monday. The sale runs through Wednesday, January 29th. We are not charging specific prices; all items are for sale by donation. Pay what you want to pay! The sale runs during normal business hours at the library.
(Gordyville–dm)-This year's Midwest Ag Expo is scheduled for January 22nd and 23rd at Gordyville USA. Farm Show Manager Jami Applegate tells us what to expect at his year's show.
Midwest Ag Expo Farm Show Manager Jami Applegate.
WPXN News notes...
The City of Paxton will hold Christmas tree pickup starting Monday, January 6th.
With heavy snow in excess of three inches accumulation expected for Sunday into Monday, the Village of Rantoul is declaring a SNOW EMERGENCY beginning Sunday at 7am until further notice. This declaration requires vehicles to be moved from designated snow routes so plows can maneuver without their impedance.
