(Undated-jm) – Firefighters in two area communities battled house fires late Wednesday afternoon. Crews in Rantoul were called to a house fire on Englewood Drive. Thomasboro, Gifford, Ludlow and Paxton responded. Meanwhile a house in Roberts also went up in flames. Crews were called to the fire on Maple Street. Roberts-Melvin, Piper City, Buckley and Loda responded to that fire. 

(Iroquois County-jm) – The United Way's annual Community Impact grants process is open to Kankakee and Iroquois County non-profit organizations.  Emergency Food & Shelter Program grants to Iroquois County non-profits are also available.  United Way's Community Impact Grants process is open for 2025-2026 funding.  Letter of Intent applications are due by February 7. A new round of EFSP Grants for Iroquois County non-profits are available with nearly $12,000 available for distribution. The EFSP applications are due by February 14.  Applications can be downloaded at myunitedway.org/EFSP-Iroquois. Questions can go to United Way Executive Director Mariah Vail at info@myunitedway.org

(Paxton–jc)  –  A proposed sewer project on Paxton's Southeast side is set for area leaders to decide the next step. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says council members will look at projected costs and avenues to pay for the project in February...

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Urbana–jc)  – A Mexican National, who was living in Urbana, was arrested yesterday by  the United States Marshals Service for the fatal crash in Urbana that took the lives of two women. WCIA TV reported that , 27-year-old Juan Jahaziel Saenz-Suarez, was arrested in  Dallas, Texas. An arrest warrant was issued on Monday of this week. The fatal accident happened in Urbana last week.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -  The Illinois Soybean Association  says that Illinois farmers have set a new soybean production record.  According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service  of the United States Department of Agriculture, Illinois farmers produced 688 million bushels of soybeans in 2024, surpassing the state's previous record of 666.75 million bushels, set in 2018.  This achievement is driven by a combination of exceptional yields and record harvested acreage. The statewide average yield reached 64 bushels per acre, a slight increase from the 2023 average of 63 bushels per acre. Additionally, Illinois farmers harvested 10.75 million acres of soybeans in 2024, up from 10.3 million acres the year before.

(Chicago–jc0  U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey of the Northern District of Illinois is reviewing jury instructions ahead of closing arguments at the public corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in Chicago.The jury waited Wednesday morning while the judge and attorneys continued their review of instructions and prosecutors' plans for closing statements. Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct.

(Gifford–jc)  The 30th annual Midwest Ag Expo is now complete for day one of two at Gordyville USA. Its everything agriculture from major farm equipment to financial options, to seed companies and insurance. Premier Cooperative and United Prairie have a booth at this year's event to talk to area farmers and customers. Premier Cooperatives Garrett Bruns says the large crowd offers good conversations about farming 20-25...

Premier Cooperative's Garrett Bruns.

Midwest Ag Expo Show Manager Jami Applegate says 192 exhibitors are at this year's show...

Midwest Ag Expo Show Manager Jami Applegate. Day two of the show runs today from 8-30am to 3pm at Gordyville USA near Gifford

(Urbana–jc)  Pursuant to Article 19-A of the Illinois Election Code, any voter validly registered in Champaign County may vote at any early voting site during the early voting period. Any vote cast is final and may not be revoked, and the voter is not eligible to cast a vote on Election Day.  Grace Period Registration starts January 29, - meaning any voter, or any person eligible to be a voter, in Champaign County can go to an early voting site to update their registration or register and vote in the same trip.? Because this election is occurring in the City of Urbana, Early Voting Election Day, and Drop Box Locations are limited to being in the City of Urbana. 

(Champaign-jm) – Federal money is coming to Champaign County to help study law enforcement staffing needs. The Champaign City Council accepted a federal grant. The money will go to the Urbana Police Department, Champaign Police Department and the Champaign County Sheriff's Office. The grant would be used to study where the departments need more people.

(Ogden-jm) – A 17-year-old was hurt when his car crashed into an Ameren natural gas station in Ogden. The crash happened on U.S. Route 150 near County Road 2650 E. Officials said an SUV was driving east on Route 150 when it left the road to the right, rolled over, and hit Ameren's station. The driver was taken to an area hospital and is expected to be ok.

(Emmington–jc)  –  How to balance a state budget that projects to be in the "red" by 3 point 7 Billion dollars. 106th district State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington says the national dollars from the pandemic are gone and it is time to look at cuts, not new taxes...

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington

(Champaign–jc)  –The Champaign Fire Department will be hosting surface ice rescue technician training today and Friday  at Kaufman Lake, in Champaign.  Instructors from Muddy River Divers will teach firefighters from Champaign Fire, along with other area fire departments, techniques for ice rescue.  

Classroom training will begin at Champaign Fire Department Station 6 on Windsor Road, and transition to hands-on training at Kaufman Lake.  Day one of the training is Ice Rescue Technician followed by an Ice Rescue Train-the Trainer on day two. 

(Gifford–jc)  Today is day two of the Midwest Ag Expo at Gordyville USA near Gifford. One exhibitor is Illinois Grain Seed and Equipment of Cissna Park. IGSE's  Aaron Kaeb says they have a working model of an elevator at the show...

IGSE's Aaron Kaeb

Also at the show is Birkey's Farm Stores. Birkey's John Johnson says among the large display at the expo is a new combine for this fall...

Birkey Farm Store Spokesperson John Johnson.

The show runs today from 8-30am until 3pm at Gordyville USA near Gifford. The show is free to attend...free parking too. 

(Illinois–jc)  –All State Insurance has announced that it's raising home insurance rates by more than 14 percent this winter for customers who live in Illinois. The new insurance rates will take effect on February  24th, and will impact about a quarter million customers. The new price hike comes after the company implemented a 12% raise last year. The company said the increase is due to more instances of severe weather and higher repair costs.

(The Center Square) – It's now up to the Illinois Supreme Court to decide if a recently enacted state law limiting where people can file constitutional challenges against the state to Sangamon and Cook counties, not any of the other 100 counties.The case Piasa Armory vs. Kwame Raoul out of Madison County challenges the Illinois Firearm Industry Responsibility Act. But that's not what the Illinois Supreme Court heard about Wednesday. The lawsuit included a challenge to a recently enacted measure to limit where the lawsuit could be heard to Sangamon County. The circuit court granted plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment on the venue limiting law, concluding that the venue statute violates the due-process rights of those not residing in or injured in Sangamon and/or Cook Counties. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul appealed directly to the Illinois Supreme Court.