(Rantoul—jc) –On Tuesday, Rantoul Investigators arrested Mekhi J. Ross, a 20-year-old Rantoul resident for the offense of aggravated battery with a firearm. This arrest was the result of a previous incident involving a shooting with injuries that occurred on October 28th last year. On that date, Rantoul police were dispatched to the area of the 1100 block of Prairie View Drive for a RAVEN gunshot detection system activation. During the incident, a 50-year-old male had arrived at a local hospital and was being treated for what was considered to be a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Although an arrest has been made, Rantoul Police ask that anyone who has additional information to please contact police at (217) 333-8911. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217-373-8477.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill into law delaying the Illinois ban on swipe fees for another year. Banks are celebrating the move while small businesses are expressing concern for the future. Retailers only receive a portion of the money each time you swipe at a register as banks and credit unions take the vast majority of funds. There was a bipartisan effort to ban these fees last year, but banks claimed it could cause chaos without a compliance system. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association argues limiting swipe fees to goods and services could reduce the financial burden on consumers and retailers. Banks and retailers have spent most of the past year in a court battle over the interchange fee law.
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced Oak Ridge Campground at Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area will reopen to the public on June 20 following the completion of a significant $8.45 million infrastructure improvement project in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation. As part of the project, the aging structure known locally as "Thunder Bridge" was replaced with a modern three-span bridge to improve safety and access to the campground, along with road upgrades, new parking lots and park signage.
(Springfield–jc) – Reaction from one area lawmaker about Illinois Governor J B Pritzker's trip to testify to Congress last week. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon says the democrats were combative and just not cooperating, because of politics…
53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon
(Illinois–jc0 Illinois U.S. Representative . Nikki Budzinski says her name was included in notes obtained from the man suspected of killing a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband and injuring another lawmaker and his spouse. After police reported finding the names of dozens of elected officials from around the country in the man's car, Budzinski wrote in an X post Tuesday there is no place in this country for political violence.
(Paxton–jc) The 20-25 Miss Ford County Fair Queen pageant is set for Monday night at 7pm on the fairgrounds in Melvin. Ford County Fair Spokesperson Kirsten Wyatt talks about reigning Miss Ford County fair Queen Kate Wilson of Paxton…
Ford County Fair Spokesperson Kirsten Wyatt. WPXN will have a facebook live on Monday night following the pageant. On Tuesday morning, WPXN will have the new queen as a guest on the Becky Puetz morning show.
(Springfield–jc) –The structural integrity of a Baskin Robbins in Springfield is being evaluated after a vehicle crashed into the ice cream parlor, bringing down the roof.WCIA reports two people from the vehicle were transported from the scene with non-life threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.
(Washington–jc) The corn crop continues to emerge and grow. U S D A Meteorologist Brady Rippey has the latest corn numbers…
U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey
(Chicago-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker addressed questions regarding a $1.3 million settlement included in the state budget for a migrant center project that never came to fruition. The funds were allocated to GardaWorld, a company contracted by the state in 2023 to build several shelters in the Chicago area, including one in Brighton Park. Initially, Pritzker assured reporters that taxpayers would not bear the financial burden of the contract. However, he revealed that GardaWorld took the state to the Court of Claims. The original contract with GardaWorld was approximately $29 million.
(The Center Square) – A new deal between Meta and the Clinton nuclear plant is sparking debate over Illinois’ energy future. State Representative. Brad Halbrook, Republican from Shelbyville, confirmed that Meta has signed a deal to buy the clean energy credits, not the power, from the Clinton nuclear plant run by Constellation Energy, helping boost its economic, social and governance profile on paper.Halbrook said that Illinoisans aren't losing electricity in this deal, Meta is only buying credit for clean energy, not the power itself. When state subsidies for the Clinton plant expire in 2027, Meta will take over that cost, easing the burden on ratepayers.
(Bloomington–jc) A McLean County Non-Profit is getting a grant to build mini-homes. There are some concerns. WPXN”s Brayden Perzee has the story…
(Vermilion County-jm) – Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy, along with the State’s Attorneys of 34 other Illinois counties, has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals‘ Seventh Circuit, arguing Illinois‘ ban on so–called assault weapons is unconstitutional. In the amicus brief, also known as a friend–of–the–court brief, the State’s Attorneys argue that the ban enacted by the Illinois legislature is unconstitutional because it broadly bans entire categories of firearms that are widely owned by law–abiding Illinoisans, and the ban does not follow the historical tradition of firearm regulation in the United States. Besides Vermilion County, Iroquois and Livingston Counties are part of the 34 counties.
(Undated–jc) –How is the soybean crop looking around the state and nation.
U- S-D-A meteorologist Brad Rippey provides the latest on the soybean crop…
U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey
(Bloomington–jc) –The Illinois High School Association board plans to create an endowment to fund scholarships. The IHSA Foundation awards a total of 40 scholarships each year to ISHA All-State Academic Team members and students working as IHSA officials or studying to become educators. On Monday, the board voted in favor of allocating funds for the endowment.
(Springfield–jc) –The importance of becoming an organ donor is the subject of a public awareness campaign through the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. The “ripple effect” themed ads will be on broadcast TV, and digital and social media platforms across the state starting this week. The Secretary of State’s office didn’t immediately disclose the cost of the campaign. Illinois has around 6.5 million total current donor registrants.
WPXN News notes…
Jeremiah 33:6 will be holding a free produce pantry and health fair on Friday, June 27th from 3-5 pm at the Roberts Village Gym.
The 2025 Rankin Celebration will take place Friday, June 27th and Saturday, June 28th. On Friday night its the tractor pulls at 6pm. Saturday it kicks off at 8 am with the 5k run walk, church service at 10 am, vendors 11-8, kids games 12:30-1:30, car show 1-4, bags tournament at 1, cake walk 1:30, live music 2-8, kids waterball competition 2:30, petting zoo at 4 and fireworks at dusk.
The annual Sibley Burr Oaks Area Tractor Drive will be held Sunday, June 29, in memory of cancer survivors, loved ones and veterans, with proceeds donated to the American Cancer Society. Registration runs from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Down by the Lake Bar in Sibley. To pre-register or buy advance tickets, people can call Russ Tjarks at 217-249-2377.
Fisher will hold their 4th of July celebration on Thursday, July 3rd with food trucks from 5-8 pm, live music by Tony Lindsey and the Smoke Wagon from 6-8 and fireworks at dusk.
