(Springfield-jm) – A new measure has been introduced to help alleviate some costs for new mothers in Illinois by requiring all health insurance plans to cover car seats and cribs. Currently, there are a few programs in Illinois that provide assistance for expecting mothers to get a car seat or crib, but every insurance company has a different policy. This measure would ensure every Illinois mom that has insurance, whether private, through the state or Medicaid, has access to a car seat and crib after birth. Insurance companies would need to reimburse new mothers for the purchase of an approved car seat or crib or provide a car seat and crib directly to them.

 

(Washington–jc)  –U.S. senators reintroduced a bipartisan bill that would allow nationwide sales of gasoline with a higher blend of ethanol year-round, a plan that has the support of a leading oil trade group.Year-round sales of E15 have been long sought by the biofuel industry and the Illinois Corn Growers Association. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said it would do away with patchwork regulations that would have the blend containing 15% ethanol, known as E15, only available in certain areas of the country.

 

(Springfield–jc)  Republican lawmakers were in Springfield Tuesday afternoon. The subject is the new budget. Illinois 41st District State Senator John Curran, Republican from Lemont, says democrats have increased spending by 32 percent under current Governor J B Pritzker…

41st District State Senator John Curran, Republican from Lemont

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul woman was sentenced to probation after she pleaded guilty to child endangerment resulting in death. WCIA 3 reports 54 year old Rachelle Brown was facing a count of that crime along with involuntary manslaughter in Champaign County. As part of a negotiated plea deal, the manslaughter charge was dropped and she pleaded guilty to child endangerment. She was sentenced to 30 months of probation. The charges stemmed from the death of Brown’s grandchild on June 28, 2023.

 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The 2025 Insect Fear Film Festival at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will feature “Tarantulas: Hairy, Scary Spiders” as its theme and a Hollywood bug wrangler who works with the 8-legged creatures as a special guest. The festival, which is hosted by the Entomology Graduate Student Association and is in its 42nd year, is Saturday, Feb. 22 at Foellinger Auditorium. It is free and open to the public.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  – officials with the village of Rantoul continue to work on several major projects in the village from a downtown streetscape program, upgrades within the Rantoul Electric Department and a sewer-wastewater upgrade. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says the actions taken now by the village will help the village continue to grow…

   

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

 

(Paxton–jc)  Three new board members have been appointed to the Paxton Buckley Loda Education Foundation. They are Kennedy Glazik, Kandace Hofer and Dylan Reetz. Kennedy and Kandace will serve 2-year terms, while Dylan will serve a 3-year term. 

 

(Fairbury–jc)  the Fairbury Fair Board has their musical act set for the fair in August. This year, The Oak Ridge Boys  will be the  headliners at the fair on  August 15.

 

(indianapolis–jc)  –A bill to redraw the Indiana-Illinois border received initial approval this week in an Indiana House committee. The measure, authored by Speaker Todd Huston, would establish an Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission to research the possibility of adjusting the boundaries between the two states. In November, seven Illinois counties voted to secede from the state. That is in addition to the several counties that voted to secede in prior elections.

 

 

(Chicago -The Illinois Department of Revenue Tuesday reminded senior citizens about the availability of the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program. The program, which works like a loan, allows qualified seniors to defer all or part of their property taxes and special assessment payments on their principal residences. The deadline to apply for the program this year is March First.

 

(Springfield–jc) One local lawmaker says the state budget is the number one topic at the state capitol. 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet, says there is a 3 point 2 Billion dollar shortfall and democrats spent 1 billion on illegal immigrants and also raised taxes last year…

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet. 

 

(Rantoul-jm) – The Half Century of Progress farm show has reached an agreement with the Rantoul National Aviation Center to host its next three events, scheduled for 2025, 2027, and 2029. The Half Century of Progress show, the premier vintage farm event in the U.S., takes place the weekend before the Decatur Farm Progress Show, and has been held at the Rantoul National Aviation Center since 2005.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The suspect in a fatal Urbana hit-and-run, 29-year-old Julio Cucul Bol, was set to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon, but an issue with an interpreter caused that arraignment to be moved. WCIA 3 reports a wrong interpreter was obtained for the arraignment. Arraignment was rescheduled to today. Bol is facing two counts of leaving the scene of a personal injury crash resulting in death, aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death and two counts of reckless homicide.

 

(Cissna Park–jc)  The Cissna Park business community continues to thrive as a small town in East Central Illinois. The community boasts a furniture store, appliance store, an expanding hardware store, and a place to buy outdoor furniture, fresh pork and a coffee too. Cissna Park Economic Development Spokesperson Rachael Bauer says providing the number of homes for the future remains the focus of  local leaders…

Cissna Park Economic Development Spokesperson Rachael Bauer

 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Three Illinois scientists are among 126 recipients of the 2025 Sloan Research Fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. According to the foundation, the awardees represent “the very best of early-career science, embodying the creativity, ambition, and rigor that drive discovery forward.”

This year’s Illinois recipients are chemistry professors Angad Mehta and Lisa Olshansky, and materials science and engineering professor Yingjie Zhang.

 

(Champaign–jc) -  Round Room Live and Moonbug Entertainment announces that their brand-new show, CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE, will start its North American tour this Spring, with a stop in Champaign on April 29.  The performance is set for the State Farm Center in Champaign. Ticket sales started yesterday.

 

Illinois State University will honor its founding on Thursday, February 20 th with  a bell ringing ceremony and faculty-staff awards ceremony. The Old Main Bell Ringing Ceremony is open to the public and will begin at 10 a.m. in the Prairie Room, Bone Student Center. A long-standing Illinois State tradition, 168 nominated representatives of the campus community will toll a replica of the Old Main Bell to signify the number of years since the University’s founding in  1857.

 

Over one million FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Macy Sinn from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

 

Corbin White from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

 

 

We were able to talk with Sarah Higgins from GCMS High School’s FFA Chapter. 

Angel from Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

 

WPXN would like to thank Murdock's in Loda, AHW John Deere in Melvin, Buckley St. Bank, and Wallace Land and Auction in Fisher for sponsoring National FFA Week

 

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Thursday, February 20th from 9-930 at Edge Insurance in Buckley, 10-10:30 at Durham Park in Onarga, 11-11:30 at the Crescent City community center, 12:30-1 at the Watseka Trinity Church and 1:30-2 at the Milford post office.

 

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, February 20th from 4:30-6:30. The meal includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, kids 6-13 is $6, kids under 5 are free. Delivery is available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

 

The Carter Education and Community Foundation will hold A Night of Jazz Mix and Mingling on Saturday, February 22nd at The Linden Banquet Center. Live music begins at 5:30pm. Cost is $40 per person. More information is available by calling 217-722-7173.

 

The PBL Athletic Boosters will host a Glow Bingo at the Pueblo Lindo on Saturday, February 22nd. Doors open at 5:30 with Bingo beginning at 7.