(Iroquois County-jm) – The National Weather Service has confirmed two tornadoes touched down Wednesday afternoon in Iroquois County. The weather service rated the tornado northeast of Paxton as an EF-1 while the tornado near Cissna Park was rated an EF-0. More details about the tornadoes are expected to be released later today.
(The Center Square) – Despite some pushback from county clerks in the state, some Illinois lawmakers want to control how some aspects of voting are done during elections. State Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, has introduced House Bill 1442 that would establish curbside voting during early voting and on election day. During a House Ethics and Election Committee hearing Wednesday, she said during the November election, some voting lines were too long for some people.
Illinois State Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine. Brian Pollock from the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders called the bill unnecessary because he said it is already available around the state and rarely requested.
Illinois Association of County Clerks spokesperson Brian Pollock
(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City police are investigating a teacher in the GCMS school district. The department says they received a complaint from multiple parents about allegations the teacher sent inappropriate messages to students. The district says they take the concerns seriously and are cooperating with law enforcement.
(Danforth-jm) – A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Iroquois County Circuit Court by the widow of a man who was killed when he was hit by a train in Danforth earlier this year. Aaron Pittman-Teague, was in an I-DOT snow plow when he was hit by a train at an unprotected crossing. The lawsuit named Canadian National, Illinois Central Railroad, the train conductor, and the train engineer as defendants. According to the complaint, the crossing has no electronic gates, lights, or adequate warning systems, despite four previous incidents at the same rail crossing.
(Rantoul–dm)-At the last Rantoul City Council Meeting the condition of some of the streets throughout the city was discussed. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith has more details.
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(The Center Square) – A decision by the Trump administration to review emissions standard goals set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is good news to trucking companies who called the mandates unachievable. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the environmental authority is reconsidering "notorious heavy-duty truck emissions standards, as well as the agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases altogether." The EPA said it will reconsider the proposed emissions standards again in 20-27
(Buckley–jc) Staff, students and volunteers from Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley have a busy month of fundraisers. They start on Saturday in Gilman at Hometown Family Foods for their cookout, says Christ Lutheran High School Executive Director Sandy Spitz…
Christ Lutheran High School Executive Director Sandy Spitz
(Paxton–jc) –Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative,based in Paxton, is pleased to announce the appointment of Bradley W. Smith as the cooperative’s next President and Chief Executive Officer, Smith assumes the position on Monday.
Smith brings a wealth of experience in the electric utility industry and E-I-E-C specifically. He is currently the Vice President of Operations and Engineering for the cooperative. After serving our country as a United States Marine, he began his EIEC career working for a subsidiary of the cooperative in 2002. He quickly transitioned to an apprentice lineman position and has risen through the ranks in the operations group since then, as a Journeyman Lineman, Line Foreman, and Operations and Safety Coordinator. He became the vice president of the department in 2017
(Onarga-jm) – A standoff occurred on the west side of Onarga Thursday. Multiple law enforcement agencies were in the 700 block of West Seminary. The standoff happened following a traffic stop nearby in which the offender fled to his residence and refused to come out. A male was arrested according to the sheriff’s office.
(The Center Square) – Union leaders support an Illinois Senate bill they say would protect workers’ rights and safety standards, but opponents say it could lead to unfair penalties for business owners. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, said the intent of Senate Bill 1976 is to ensure that Illinois workers have the same rights they had last year, but he added that the bill is not in its final form.
State Senator Robert Peters, D-Chicago. State Sen. Chris Balkema, R-Channahon, noted the opposition from business groups.
State Senator Chris Balkema, R-Channahon
(Danville-jm) – A 44-year-old Paxton man was arrested in Danville, after pointing a gun at a driver in another vehicle. According to Danville police, officers received a call stating a subject driving in a blue van pointed a gun at another driver in the area of East W. Newell Ave. Officers located the van parked at a business in the 2700 block of N. Vermilion Street shortly after. With the assistance of the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department, Danville PD located the driver of the van, Jesse A Hammel of Paxton, and placed him under arrest at the scene. Hammel was taken to the Vermilion County Public Safety Building, where he was charged with:
Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Stolen Firearm and a Ford County Arrest Warrant
(Danville-jm) – A rally to support Veterans and those who support and care for them at the Danville VA will take place Saturday. The rally will happen from 11 until noon. Organizers hope to show solidarity and support for the workers and the Veterans at the Danville VA.
(Paxton–dm)-The Paxton Police Dept. will soon have a new squad car patrolling the streets. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold has more information.
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Springfield–jc) The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced a funding opportunity that will provide grants to units of local government for the collection and disposal of household sharps from their residents.Sharps, including needles, syringes and lancets, collected from private citizens are a household waste. Applicants may be eligible for funding of up to $35,000 to cover expenses incurred in collecting, storing and disposing of used sharps.
(Paxton–jc) One local Paxton restaurant is helping the 5 families displaced by a townhome fire in the city on March 22nd. Just Hamburgers in Paxton will be donating 20 percent of all sales, all day on Saturday, says Just Hamburgers Restaurant Manager Jon Frictl…
Just Hamburgers Restaurant Manager Jon Frictl
Just Hamburgers Restaurant is located along route 45 in Paxton
(Paxton–jc) The Champaign Regional Planning Commission is the WPXN Business of the Day, today. The group provides a wide variety of services for those in several counties including Champaign, Ford and Vermilion counties. R-P-C Early Childhood Division Director Brandi Granse provides some insight of the regional planning commission…
She says they opened their new facilities in several areas over the past several weeks…
R-P-C Early Childhood Division Director Brandi Granse
They currently have several job openings to fill at locations in Paxton, Gilman, Watseka and Danville. The R-P-C is the WPXN Business of the Day, today
WPXN News notes…
The Loda American Legion will hold their fish and chicken fry on Friday, April4th from 4-7 pm. Dinner includes your choice of fish or chicken, baked beans, green beans, coleslaw for $10.
The 21st annual Festival of Quilts benefiting Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana will take place Friday, April 4th from 9-5 and Saturday, April 5th from 9-2.
The Upper Room Bible Church in Paxton will host Grammy nominated gospel group Honor and Glory tonight starting at 7pm. Cost is $15.
The Roberts Gym will hold an Easter event on Saturday, April 5th from 8-11 am. A breakfast will be served, an Easter egg hunt at 10 am and an appearance by the Easter bunny from 9:30-11 am.
The PBL FCCLA will hold a spring craft and vendor show on Saturday, April 5th from 9-2 at PBL High School.
