(Springfield–jc)  –A winter storm has placed a little snow in Ford, Iroquois and Northern Champaign County, but snow totals are higher as you head to areas in Coles and Cumberland counties. Snow totals....Mattoon 7 inches, Springfield 8 inches, Arcola 7 inches and Paris 7 inches. The snow is expected to taper off by mid morning today 

(Chicago–jc)  – The number of opioid overdose deaths in Cook County dropped significantly in 2024. According to data released Thursday by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, 1,026 people died last year from opioid overdoses, a nearly 44% drop from 2023.The vast majority of overdose deaths, about 87%, involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is about 100 times more potent than morphine.   

(Will County–jc)  – Family, friends and fellow officers gathered Friday to lay Illinois State Trooper Clay Carns to rest.Carns, 35, was hit and killed by a driver on Interstate 55 in Will County last week while he was clearing debris from the road. The 69-year-old driver now faces charges under Scott's Law, also known as the Move Over law. Since 2019, three ISP troopers have lost their lives and more than 60 others were injured after drivers failed to move over or slow down while troopers were on the side of the highway. ISP reports three squad cars were struck in two days over the New Year's Eve holiday.

(Rantoul–jc)  Its cold and its January but the downtown streetscape project will continue for the village of Rantoul. Site work has been done and streetwork will start in early spring. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith talks about the idea of a downtown with a local pharmacy, boutiques to a sports store...

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

(Gifford–dm)- The 30th annual Midwest Ag Expo is scheduled for January 22nd and 23rd at Gordyville USA.  Farm show Manager Jami Applegate tells us about 30 years of the  Midwest Ag Expo...

Midwest Ag Expo Farm Show Manager Jami Applegate.  Gordyville is located just 5 miles east of Rantoul on route 136. WPXN will be broadcast live, at the show, on Wednesday January 22nd starting at 9am

(Paxton–dm)-Nationally, The True Value Company has  filed for bankruptcy.  Paxton  Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen talks about how this will affect his business...

Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen.  

(The Center Square) – Judge John Robert Blakey has reviewed jury instructions with federal prosecutors and defense attorneys at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain have pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme that federal prosecutors referred to as "Madigan Enterprise." The judge held a charge conference last week with the jury not present. Attorneys discussed terminology used in the indictment and how the judge would instruct jurors before deliberations. One of the topics of discussion was quid pro quo, or "this for that." Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield. 

(The Center Square) – A moving and storage company has released its annual migration trends data, which measures one-way customer moves through the U.S. in 2024, and once again Illinois is near the bottom.  U-Haul growth states are ranked by their net gain or loss of U-Haul customers over the past year. The report gauges how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents, with Illinois coming in 45th place. Illinois' place on the list grew three spots from No. 48 in the 2023 report.  Texas District Vice President Matt Merrill said he sees a steady flow of Illinoisans into the Lone State State, which ranked second in the nation in the report.

(Paxton–jc)  Meetings continue this month in the city of Paxton for a pledged housing development on the city's southwest side. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says economic development drives the future of the city...

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(The Center Square) – As the sale of weight loss drugs skyrocket around the country, Illinois' attorney general is saying buyer beware. Sales of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have soared, with over 1.6 million prescriptions issued in Illinois last year, nearly a 14% increase from the year before. 29 percent of the prescriptions went to adults ages 55 to 65  26 percent of the prescriptions were purchased by those 65.  Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning consumers about misleading advertising by medical spas, wellness centers, online retailers and social media sellers that state or imply they are offering name brand GLP-1 medications or generic versions of name brand medications, when in reality they are offering compounded drugs.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services  is currently accepting applications for their scholarship program. Through the program, a minimum of 53 academic scholarships will be awarded to current and former youth in care for the upcoming school year, with four awards reserved for the children of veterans and two awards presented to students pursuing degrees in social work Scholarship recipients receive up to five consecutive years of tuition and academic fee waivers if they attend an Illinois public university or community college including a monthly grant of $1,577 to offset other expenses. 

(Hoopeston-dm)-The Hoopeston FFA will hold their annual FFA Auction on Saturday January 25th.  FFA member Keenan Anderson tells us where the proceeds from the auction go.

Hoopeston FFA Member Keenan Anderson

WPXN News notes...

The City of Paxton will hold Christmas tree pickup starting today.