CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health announced that it has posted the 2024 Fourth Quarter Report of Nursing Home Violations. A total of 305 violation reports were reported in the last three months of 20-24. Double A violations were found at Berkeley Nursing Center in Oak Park,Elevate Care Facility in Niles, Elevate Care in Waukegan, Goldwater Care in Gibson City and the Grove at the lake in Zion and the Morgan Park Health Care home in Chicago Any member of the public can file a complaint with state health department against a healthcare facility in Illinois that is licensed by the Department.
(Chicago–jc) –A Chicago man has pleaded guilty to charges of stealing more than $1.5 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by using over 1,200 cards. 44 year old David Quinones, pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge. He admitted that from 2018 to 2023, he gave cash and other items to SNAP recipients in exchange for access to their cards and ID numbers. Quinones then used the cards to purchase various goods at stores, resold most of the goods and kept the proceeds for himself.
(Buckley–jc) It’s still winter, but area farmers are planning for crop year 20-25. Edge Insurance of Buckley Owner Dylan Reetz says there are new programs with this years crop insurance…
Edge Insurance of Buckley Owner Dylan Reetz
(Champaign-jm) – One of three men charged in connection with the 2022 shooting of an elderly couple in Champaign has been found guilty of attempted murder. Shamario Brown was found guilty on two counts of attempted first degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. The charges stem from a shooting on Heritage Drive from September 2022. A 76-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman were shot as they were pulling into a driveway.
(urbana–jc)-- The April First election has several community and fire district questions for those in Champaign County. For the Ludlow Fire Protection District, voters are being asked to approve funds to operate the local district. If approved, property owners in Ludlow owning a 100 thousand dollar home would be taxed 104 dollars.
(USDA-dm)-Brooke Rollins becomes the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture after Thursday’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Rod Bain has the story
(The Center Square) – Illinois is one of several states emerging as a leader in generating tax revenue from sports betting. A study by Doc’s Sports Service examines the significant impact of sports betting on state finances. Illinois collects nearly a half billion dollars in sports betting tax revenue yearly, the fourth highest total of any state, but handicapper Raphael Esparza said other tax revenue is generated by sports gambling. New York collects the most taxes from sports wagering at more than $2 billion, followed by Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
(Rantoul–jc) – The Rantoul Exchange Club is sponsoring the fundraising event at the Linden Banquet Center on Saturday night. The event has a tropical theme with Hula dancers, music, a delicious meal and more Rantoul Exchange Club Spokesperson Janet Brotherton talks about the mission of the local service group…
Rantoul Exchange Club Spokesperson Janet Brotherton
Tickets for tomorrow night are available on the groups facebook page.
(Cissna Park–jc) The Cissna Park Development Board has its Dueling Pianos fundraiser set for Saturday night at the Cissna Park American Legion. Cissna Park Economic Development Board spokesperson Rachael Bauer says the funds from the event help sponsor the “shop the park” on Saturdays in the summer and other town events…
Cissna Park Economic Development Board Spokesperson Rachael Bauer. The village is getting a new business in a Dollar General store on the north side of the high school and the Jim McCray family purchased the Knapp and Steiner True Value Hardware store. Several new lines of merchandise are now available at the hardware store in downtown Cissna Park.
(Champaign County-jm) – In a decisive move to safeguard the region’s primary drinking water source, the Champaign County Board has unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on carbon sequestration activities near the Mahomet Aquifer. The decision comes after months of growing concern over the potential risks posed by carbon capture and storage projects to this vital water resource. The Mahomet Aquifer, which supplies fresh water to nearly one million people across 14 counties in Central Illinois, has been at the center of a heated debate surrounding proposed projects. These initiatives aim to inject and store carbon dioxide deep underground as a method to mitigate climate change. However, critics argue that the technology is unproven and could pose significant risks to groundwater safety.
(Rantoul–jc) The village of Rantoul has several major renovation projects started for calendar year 20-25. The downtown Streetscape program, a major sewer project to a wastewater project. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says one need going forward in the village is new housing…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(The Center Square) – Five state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission are suing John Deere alleging the company unfairly blocks farmers from using independent repair shops for their equipment, thus making those repairs more expensive and less efficient than they would be in an open market. Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona and Wisconsin filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Illinois. The John Deere equipment requires a software tool that only licensed repair shops have to diagnose electronic issues with the equipment.
(Buckley–jc) The annual St Johns School in Buckley have their chicken dinner, carnival and silent auction set for Sunday starting at 3-30pm The event is sponsored by the St John’s P-T-L. St John’s P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher talks about the needs for the school…
St Johns P-T-L President Tessa Pilcher
(Champaign–jc) The City of Champaign Plan Commission will meet on Wednesday, at 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers on Neil Street. Topics include a landmark designation for a property at 212 East University Avenue and a special permit use for a property at 919 West Hill.
WPXN Weekend News Notes…
The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile today 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 this evening from 5-7 pm. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread and salad for $10.
The Elliott Amvets will hold their pancake breakfast on Saturday from 7-10 am. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, hash browns and eggs for $8.
The Rantoul Exchange Club will hold their Tropical Evening fundraiser on Saturday from 6:30-10 at the Linden Banquet Center in Rantoul. Tickets are $35 each. More information is available by calling Janet Brotherton at 217-893-0703.
The GCMS FFA Boosters will hold their Dueling Pianos cash bash on Saturday 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 from 8-noon.
A Galentine’s Brunch at Lakeview Country Club will take place on Sunday at noon. Cost is $40. RSVP by calling Karleigh at 217-781-0456.
St. John’s PTL in Buckley will hold their annual chicken dinner, silent auction and carnival on Sunday from 3:30-7 at the school.
