(Urbana–jc)  Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer is releasing the name of a Mattoon, Illinois woman who died as a result of injuries sustained when a motor vehicle struck the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home in Mattoon. 86 year old Carol A. Wilson, died at Carle Foundation Hospital on Saturday night. An investigation into the incident is ongoing and is being conducted by the Illinois State Police, Mattoon Police Department, and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois experienced a surge in visitors to its state parks and historic sites last year, reaching the highest numbers in nearly 15 years. According to state officials, 41 million people visited these locations in 2024.

 

(Paxton–jc) Another new business is set to open in the city of Paxton. Countryside Closeouts is in the building just north of the city library in downtown Paxton. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the new owners will have a wide variety of groceries and other services…

   

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A missing Rantoul man has been found safe. Rantoul Police asked the public's help in finding 60 year old Vey Vin. Vin was found safe a couple hours later.

 

(USDA–dm)-The White House Monday announced progress in trade talks between the U.S. and China including temporary significant reductions in tariffs by the two nations. Rod Baine has the story

   

(Hoopeston-jm) – Nine teenagers were caught having alcohol in Hoopeston over the weekend.  The Hoopeston Police Department said officers received a tip of a suspicious vehicle parked at a home near 8th Avenue and Main Street. When they responded, officers found all nine teens at that home. The teenagers range in age from 14 to 18, and most of them are from Hoopeston.

 

(Illinois–jc)  –Stellantis has scrapped its plans for an electrical vehicle battery plant and parts distribution center in Belvidere. A spokesman for the United Auto Workers told Automotive News that the battery plant and parts hub were no longer part of the company’s plan for the Belvidere Assembly Plant. In the fall of 2023, Stellantis announced that it would be investing nearly $5 billion into the facility. The project was backed by over $334 million in federal funding from the Biden administration.

 

(The Center Square) – A retired police chief says criminal activity has surged in suburban counties around Chicago. Federal prosecutors announced charges last week against three alleged gang members from Chicago in connection with criminal acts in the suburbs. In addition, new crimes were reported at more than a dozen businesses in west and southwest suburban Downers Grove, Oak Brook and Woodridge.  Retired Riverside, Illinois, Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said it’s a pattern of crime.Weitzel said Illinois law is part of the problem.

 

(Gilman–dm)-The weather has been nice, and the crops are getting planted.  Ford Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager Kacie Claire has an update

    

 

Ford Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager Kacie Claire.

(Illinois–jc)  – Head Start programs in Illinois and several other states are suing the Trump administration over plans to cut federal funding for early childhood education. Critics argue the program lacks academic impact and is plagued by misuse. Head Start is run by Start Early, which received about $70 million in taxpayer funds in fiscal year 2024, according to an audit.  Executive Director Sarah Rittling, who is also the president of its affiliate First Five Action, earned over $600,000 in combined salary, according to 2022 tax records. Former education policy advisor and expert Tony Kinnett said Head Start is basically “taxpayer-funded” daycare.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois House committee passed legislation that would change how police officers can search a car for cannabis. The bill would stop law enforcement from using the smell of raw or burnt cannabis as probable cause to search vehicles. This comes after two Illinois Supreme Court cases resulted in conflicting orders for law enforcement. One ruled that police cannot search a vehicle solely because of the smell of burnt cannabis, and the other ruled that officers could search a car based on the smell of raw cannabis. Under the bill, cannabis in a vehicle does not have to be in an odor-proof container anymore, but drivers are required to store cannabis in a secured, sealed or resealable child-resistant container. This applies only to a person who is legally allowed to have access to cannabis. Additionally, law enforcement cannot search, stop, or detain anyone 21 years old or older in their vehicles solely because of any cannabis odor.

 

(Coles County–jc)  The United States Geological Survey says a 3 point 3 magnitude 3.3 earthquake happened in Coles County on Monday It also occurred about 6 miles deep, additional analysis reveals. WCIA reports that no damage was reported in the earthquake south of Mattoon. Viewers told WCIA about the ground “shaking.”

 

(Iroquois County–jc)  Iroquois County authorities were called to a disturbance west of the town of Iroquois on Monday night. Police say a person was shot at the scene and the suspect fled the scene. The victim was taken to a Kankakee area hospital. The suspect was arrested, without incident, in Newton County Indiana. WPXN news will continue to provide information as it is released. 

 

(Ford County–dm)-May 11th-17th has been designated as National Women’s Health Week.  Ford County Public Health Director Glenn Miller tells us what you should focus  on this week.

 

Ford County Public Health Director Glenn Miller

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in finding a man who they said committed credit card fraud at three stores in Champaign and Savoy. Officials said that on February 26, a stolen credit card was used at Menards and Rural King in Champaign and at Walmart in Savoy. The suspect purchased numerous items that included riding lawn mowers, totaling over $11,000 in value.The suspect was recorded on surveillance footage as he made the purchases. Officials said he appeared to be a Black male who was wearing a dark blue zip-up hoodie, blue jeans, black sneakers, a tan winter hat and sunglasses. He left the stores in a white Dodge Ram van.

 

(Undated-jm) – More than 600 people will be laid off beginning in July, as Health Alliance and FirstCarolinaCare continue to wind down operations in Champaign. Staff will be reduced on a “rolling basis,” which will allow the health insurer to maintain “full support” of its services through the rest of the year.

 

(Paxton–dm)-The school year will soon be coming to an end, and that means 8th grade promotion and high school graduation.  Paxton Buckley Loda School Superintendent Travis Duly has dates and times for both.

 

 

Paxton Buckley Loda School Superintendent Travis Duly

 

(Taylorville–jc)  The Taylorville Police Department reports it has arrested a suspect described as a dangerous felon who poses an “extreme threat to any community.”

Department officials said on Facebook that Shady Abdallah, 38, of Decatur, has been arrested 27 times with convictions for drug-induced homicide, burglary, and other serious crimes and was under investigation for a recent high-speed chase in Lincoln. A police spokesman said it is beyond comprehension why this individual was not already in custody, given his extensive and violent criminal history.

 

(SPRINGFIELD–dm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the public to provide feedback on the state's transportation system and the agency’s overall performance by taking the annual Traveler Opinion Survey. Conducted through May 30, the survey is available online at idot.illinois.gov.  Done in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield, the survey is an opportunity for people who live in Illinois to provide feedback on a wide range of topics, giving IDOT valuable insight and information to continue being a national leader in transportation services

 

 

WPXN News notes…

 

Iroquois Memorial Hospital’s Know Your Numbers Fair will take place today through Saturday from 7-10 am each day. Cost is $65. No appointments are necessary.

 

The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Coffee and Connections on Wednesday, May 14th from 8-9 am.

 

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a foodmobile on Thursday, May 15th 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.