(The Center Square) – Government attorneys say the corruption conviction Wednesday of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was historic. In Courtroom 1203 at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse Wednesday, a jury convicted Madigan on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and use of a facility to promote unlawful activity. Morris Pasqual, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said the longtime speaker breached and violated the public trust over and over again.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A fabric store in Champaign is closing. Jo-Ann Fabrics is closing 600 of their 800 stores including the one in Champaign. It’s unknown when the store will close.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  Some streets in Rantoul need repair, some properties in the process of upgrades and more. It is the investment that Rantoul leaders are making throughout the village, as Rantoul continues to grow and needs more electricity and upgrades to its infrastructure. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the investment is being made for the future of Rantoul…

   

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

 

(Undated-jm) – The Kankakee-Iroquois County Regional Office of Education will soon have a new Regional Superintendent.  Frank Petkunas has announced his pending retirement. His assistant-Superintendent Patricia High will assume the top position.  Petkunas has served the two-county area as Regional School Chief since 2022.  His retirement is effective February 28.

 

(Buckley–jc)  A silent auction is set for St John’s Lutheran School in Buckley on sunday. The annual event features a chicken dinner, dine in or carryout, a carnival  and a silent auction. St John’s P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher says there are a lot of silent auction items from school projects, gift cards and more…

   

St John's Lutheran School P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher. The event starts Sunday afternoon at the school at 3-30pm

 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty member from The Grainger College of Engineering has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Marcelo Garcia, a professor of civil and environmental engineering is a member of the prestigious engineering body. Professor Garcia  

Garcia is one of the world’s foremost experts in water resources engineering. His distinguished research on sediment transport and river and marine dynamics.

 

(Springfield–jc)  – The Illinois Department of Agriculture has issued a 30-day suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auction markets in response to the ongoing threat of avian flu. The move is intended to reduce and prevent the spread of the disease, which has been detected in commercial and backyard flocks in Illinois. Poultry flock owners and managers are being asked to report any unusual findings in domestic poultry, such as increase in mortality, decrease in water consumption, decrease in egg production, or respiratory signs. While avian flu has also been detected in dairy cattle, no cases have been confirmed in Illinois to date.

 

(Rantoul–jc) Icy roads caused several accidents on Wednesday afternoon. State police say Interstate 57 near Rantoul was slowed for several hours after a multi vehicle accident around 3pm Local law enforcement agencies reported numerous slid offs and accidents yesterday due to road conditions. Its a sunny forecast for today, with another round of winter weather coming into the area on Saturday.
 

(Momence-jm) – A chocolate factory in Kankakee County was gutted after a large fire broke out late Tuesday night. It happened at the Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation around 11 p.m., according to the Momence Police Department. The 40,000 square foot cocoa plant manufactures chocolate products like hot cocoa mixes, chocolate syrup and instant chocolate drink mixes. 70 people are out of work following the fire.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  –  It's Hula party time in Rantoul on Saturday. The Rantoul Exchange Club is sponsoring the fundraising event at the Linden Banquet Center. A tropical theme with Hula dancers, music, a delicious meal and more says Rantoul Exchange Club Spokesperson Janet Brotherton…

 

 

Rantoul Exchange Club Spokesperson Janet Brotherton. Tickets are available on the groups facebook page

 

(Urbana–jc)  – Officials with the Champaign County Jail updated the  way they document use of restraint chairs after an Illinois Answers Project investigation raised questions about the facility’s record-keeping practices and failure to report incidents to a state oversight unit. The development comes as part of an ongoing Illinois Answers probe that found Illinois jails strap people down to chairs on average more than a thousand times a year. The records showed jail staff generally complied with best practices for restraint as laid out in state and county guidelines, but they also revealed gaps in the way the jail documented, tracked and reported restraint chair incidents.

 

(Urbana–jc)  – Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer has released information on a man, found stabbed to death on Tuesday.70 year old Richard Meek,of Urbana,  was pronounced deceased at the scene. An autopsy was planned for today.  The death remains under investigation. 

 

SPRINGFIELD, IL. - Each year the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) awards a summer internship. Drew Mickey has been selected as the 2025 IL Pork Ambassador. Drew is from Taylorville, Illinois and grew up on a fifth-generation family farm raising corn and soybeans, as well as building a cattle and swine operation over the past ten years. Throughout high school he was active in organizations such as 4-H, FFA, Tommy TV, National Honor Society, and Christian County CEO. His involvement in the swine industry has allowed him the opportunity to be a part of the Team Purebred and National Junior Swine Associations which has allowed him to develop a strong passion for the pork industry. Drew attends Kansas State University

 

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Friday, February 14th from 9-10 at 185 W. Sangamon Avenue in Rantoul and 10:30-11 at the Ludlow Community Center.

 

The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, February 14th from 5-7 pm. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread and salad for $10.

 

The GCMS FFA Boosters will hold their Dueling Pianos cash bash on Saturday, February 15th from 7:30-10:30 pm at the Countryside Event Center in rural Gibson City. Tickets are $100 for 2 people. More information is available by contacting the GCMS FFA chapter.

 

The Ludlow Fire Department will hold their pancake and sausage breakfast on Sunday, February 16th from 8-noon.

 

A Galentine’s Brunch at Lakeview Country Club will take place on Sunday, February 16th at noon. Cost is $40. RSVP by calling Karleigh at 217-781-0456.

 

The Illinois Ag Summit will take place on Tuesday, February 18th from 3-8:30 pm at the I-Hotel in Champaign.