(Springfield-jm) – State education leaders are asking school administrations to plan ahead in case immigration officials show up at their buildings. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to allow U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and/or Customs and Border Protection to undergo actions like arrests in "sensitive areas" like schools, daycares, and churches. This reverses a policy from 2011. The Illinois State Board of Education published non-regulatory guidance Thursday with steps to help schools respond if federal immigration officials arrive on their property. Some recommendations include making clear administrative guidance and policies in the different levels of and delegating a point person like a legal counsel, superintendent or chief executive officer for ICE to contact and review records requests. Officials should also share and train all on-campus faculty and staff on the district policies, ISBE advised.

(U.S.--dm)-Almost half of all home heating fires  in the U.S. occur between December and February. WPXN's Dan Mushrush has more information.

(Urbana-jm) – The Mexican national arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash in Urbana on Sunday was falsely identified, as police revealed he was using a fake name. Amended charges and a new arrest warrant were filed in Champaign County on Thursday, after Urbana police learned that Juan JaHaziel Saenz-Suarez was an alias name used by the suspect. He has now been identified as Julio Cucul Bol, a 29-year-old citizen of Guatemala. Police said initially, he had possessed falsified Mexican paperwork. Investigators learned the identity of the suspect through Julio's admission. Cucul Bol is charged with 2 counts of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death and 2 counts of reckless homicide.

(Chicago–jc)  –Another Illinois official is calling for former House Speaker Mike Madigan Chief of Staff Tim Mapes' state pension be forfeited. Mapes was sentenced to prison after being convicted of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice in the criminal probe of his longtime boss. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said it was her personal opinion that anyone convicted of violating the public trust should be stripped of their taxpayer-funded pension. 

(Paxton–jc)  Paxton City leaders put together their meeting schedules for the year. Normally the council meets on the second Tuesday of the month in city hall. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says there is one change in November, due to Veteran's day...

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Gifford–jc)  The 20-25 Midwest Ag Expo is now complete for another year. The 30th annual event was hosted by Gordyville USA near Gifford. Midwest Ag Expo Event Manager Jami Applegate said large crowds and over 190 exhibitors made this show another success...

Midwest Ag Expo Event Manager Jami Applegate. Work on next year's show is underway.

CHICAGO — The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois voted Thursday to increase the base tuition rate for Illinois-resident undergraduates enrolling in fall 2025 by 2-point-2 percent at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois Chicago and Two percent the University of Illinois Springfield. The increases are below current rates of inflation but will help the universities meet rising costs driven by inflation. The modest increases follow tuition freezes in seven of the previous 10 years, part of the University of Illinois System's commitment to maintaining affordability and access.The new tuition rates will only impact new undergraduates enrolling in 2025-26. 

(Champaign-Urbana) –  the 9th annual  Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week starts today and runs through February First.  The event is sponsored by  Experience Champaign Urbana. There are over 60 restaurants participating in the event including...The Esquire Lounge and Industrial Donut in Champaign to Hop Scotch Bakery in Urbana. There are also restaurants around the twin cities in the restaurant week event. They include the Market Street Grill in Paxton, ET's Restaurant in Rantoul,  and la Hacienda Restaurant in Paxton. A full list is available on line. The public is invited to try new restaurants, and share their experience with a chance to win a 100 dollars gift card to their favorite restaurant.

(Springfield–jc)  Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue announced that disaster tax relief will be available for individuals and businesses in southern California affected by the wildfireAffected taxpayers now have until Oct. 15, 2025, to file various state individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Currently, individuals and households that reside or have a business in Los Angeles County qualify for tax relief.

(Springfield–jc)  –the Illinois Board of Higher Education approved a fiscal year 2026 recommended budget that increases taxpayer costs. The approved budget proposal recommends an overall 4 percent increase, which equates to just over $108 million, in higher education funding, excluding the State University Retirement System. The board is also recommending a  two percent increase in funding for community colleges, adult education and career and technical education.

(Springfield-jm) – Forever chemicals also known as PFAS, have been in household items for decades, but only recently have they been connected to serious illnesses such as cancer. They can enter the human body through skin, where they stay forever in the bloodstream, liver or kidneys. Hence the name forever chemicals. Illinois lawmakers have a new bill that would ban all use of forever chemicals in cookware, cosmetics such as makeup, dental floss, child products like pacifiers, underwear, menstrual products and food packaging.

(Gibson City–jc)  Gibson Area Hospital officials announced this week that the iconic rock group "Foreigner" will headline the Summer Bash concert in downtown Gibson City in August. Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee and Community Events Bill Kirby says the process to get this type of musical act starts with possibilities and more...

Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee and Community Events Bill Kirby

Tickets for the event go on sale today

(Washington-jm) – House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that Congresswoman Mary Miller will serve on the Committee on House Administration in the 119th Congress. Congresswoman Miller also serves on the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Education and Workforce, and has represented the 15th District of Illinois in the US House since January 2021.

(Rantoul—dm)-The Rantoul Theater Group is sponsoring their first annual Rantoul Film Festival.  Rantoul Theater Group Vice President S. Walker has more information.

Rantoul Theater Group Vice President S. Walker. Any type of film will be accepted including silent films, student films, full features, short films and documentaries.  

(Champaign–jc0  –Martinelli's Market presents the 16th annual Prom Benefit Hunger Relief for Eastern Illinois Foodbank, which will be held on Saturday, March 1 at the I Hotel & Conference Center from 7 – 11pm. This year's goal is to raise 375,000 meals for food-insecure individuals and families in the area. Community support for the Foodbank is more vital than ever, as local pantries are serving 90% more people today than in 2022. The Prom Benefit was founded in 2008 by local community member Lorianne Bauer as a fundraiser for Eastern Illinois Foodbank and is managed by the Foodbank and a committee of community members committed to alleviating local hunger. 

(Watseka–dm)-February is normally associated with your heart and Iroquois Memorial Hospital in Watseka is offering what is normally a $250 heart scan for just $49.  Iroquois Memorial Business and Industry Outreach Director Mary Kay Lavicka has more information.

Iroquois Memorial Business and Industry Outreach Director Mary Kay Lavicka.  You will need to call 815-432-7733 to make an appointment

WASHINGTON – Illinois U S Senator Dick Durbin  Thursday delivered a speech on the Senate floor highlighting his Drug-price Transparency for Consumers  Act.This is a  bill he is introducing with Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to empower patients and reduce Americans' colossal spending on medications. The Government Accountability Office  has found that prescription drugs advertised directly to consumers accounted for 58 percent of Medicare's spending on drugs between 2016 and 2018, while a 2023 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that two-thirds of advertised drugs offered "low therapeutic value." By requiring direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs to include a disclosure of the list price, patients can make informed choices when inundated with drug commercials and pharmaceutical companies.  

WPXN News notes...

The Elliott Amvets have Pork Chop Sandwiches tonight from 5pm to 7pm The Elliott Amvets will hold their Mountain Oyster lunch on Saturday from 12-2pm. .

The 2025 Hoopeston Area FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction will take place on Saturday, January 25th at the Hoopeston American Legion. Silent Auction 4-6pm, food served starting at 4:30pm. Live Auction at 6.

The St. Joseph Ogden FFA auction is set for Saturday, February 1st with the dinner and silent auction at 5 with the live auction beginning at 6pm.

CU at Home will host their One Winter Night on Friday, February 7th.