(Springfield-jm) — As summer begins, Illinois State Police is emphasizing the critical importance of motorcycle safety, following a week in which they responded to four motorcycle fatalities. Historically, summer months see the highest number of motorcycle crashes and fatalities, with a National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration assessment indicating that 47% of motorcycle fatalities from 2013 to 2022 occurred during this period. According to NHTSA, 59% of motorcycle fatalities involved impaired driving, while 40% of serious injuries were linked to speeding.  Illinois State Police are reminding motorcyclists to wear helmets and protective gear, such as eye protection, sturdy jackets, pants, boots, and gloves. Riders are also encouraged to make themselves visible by wearing high-visibility colors and retro-reflective materials, and to avoid riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Democrats in Illinois are criticizing proposed cuts to Medicaid. Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined other Illinois Democrats to call out Republicans over a proposal they say would hurt several demographics of people in the state…

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. Republicans argue the move cuts waste, fraud and abuse. 

 

(Springfield-bp) – The Illinois Department of Public Health has expanded its list of ZIP codes requiring lead exposure testing for children, adding 180 new areas across 47 counties.  WPXN”s Brayden Perzee has the details…

 

 

(The Center Square) – Legislation focused on access and affordability of college in Illinois is now law, something advocates say could keep younger people in the state. Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker signed a package of bills into law Monday in Chicago.  22nd District State Senator Christina Castro, Democrat from-Elgin, says college credits taken in high school benefits the students and state colleges…

22nd District State Senator Christina Castro, Democrat from Elgin

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul grocery store is closing later this summer but will reopen under a new name and business model. County Market will become a Price Cutter grocery store. County Market is selling off items at a discount until August 3rd. On August 4th, the store will close for six weeks for remodeling which will involve reducing the size of the store with the plan to reopen the week of September 14th.

 

 

(Washington–jc ) Farmers are planting more corn this year. But what about other crops. Rod Bain Reports…

   

(Crescent City–jc)  –  The Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant will be hosting the 5th annual Little Miss Pageant to be held at the Iroquois County Fair.  The pageant will be held in conjunction with the Miss Pageant on Tuesday, July 15th starting at 7:00 pm. There are 14 little girls from Iroquois County that will be vying for the title of Little Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen currently held by Riley Willms. Please join us at the Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant where a new Miss and Little Miss will be named. The 14 contestants are: Cecelia James Bakken, Liv Rutledge, Rhetly Vaughn, Tessa Schroeder, Tayelynn Wilson, Tinley Rust, Emery Pool , Emmalyn Langellier, Madison Schroeder, Ella Thomas, Blake Valandingham, Ava Corriveau, Ella Bruens, and Kambrie Medina.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and local law enforcement agencies are issuing a stern warning to drivers: operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or any impairing substance will not be tolerated during the July Fourth "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. Provisional data from IDOT reveals that during last year's Independence Day holiday, from 6 p.m. on July 3 to 11:59 p.m. on July 7, Illinois experienced 17 fatal crashes resulting in 21 fatalities. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J–B Pritzker signed a bill into law Tuesday, aimed at helping lower prescription drug costs and protecting small independent pharmacies. Pharmacy Benefit Managers act as middlemen between drug manufacturers, health insurers and pharmacies; the new law will put more regulations on PBMs. Capitol News Illinois reports the law will ban PBMs from spread pricing. This is when PBMs charge health insurers more for drugs than they pay pharmacies and keep the difference. 46th District  State Senator Dave Koehler (kay-ler) of Bloomington  says this law helps people and pharmacies…

46th District State Senator Dave Koehler Republican from Bloomington. The law also creates grants to help pharmacies in rural, low-income and medically underserved communities. PBMs will pay the state a $15 fee for every person enrolled on their plan to pay for the grants.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois landowners and farmers could soon have more flexibility to hunt deer on their property thanks to a bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk. Farmers across the state have told Democrats and Republicans that nuisance deer have caused expensive and costly damage to their crops and farmland. This plan would allow the state to issue antlerless-only deer removal permits based on the percentage of permits redeemed in the previous season. It could also expand youth hunting tags from one to two.

 

(Springfield–jc)  One local State Senator does not agree with the changes made by state leaders and signed by Governor J B Pritzker. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon says Prisoner Review Board members have longer appointments and that is too long…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

 

(Fisher-jm) – A Fisher man’s guilty plea to sexual abuse of a child was vacated by a judge who said the man had since expressed that he was not guilty. Andrew Caviness, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a family member who was 4 years old at the time in April. Champaign County Judge Matt Lee said he had concerns about Caviness’ responses to the sex-offender risk assessment he was required to complete after his plea. He also told the evaluator that he only took the plea deal because he thought the charges were going to be reduced to a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

 

(Iroquois County-jm) — The Vermilion County Health Department announced the opening of a new satellite Women, Infants, and Children clinic in Iroquois County.  The Vermilion County agency is partnering with the Iroquois County Public Health Department to enhance access to vital nutrition services for families. The new clinic will operate at the Iroquois County Health Department, at the Administrative Center in Watseka. Services will be available on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, from 9 am to 4 pm.  Appointments are encouraged to ensure timely service. WIC is a federally funded program that provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other health services for eligible pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children. To schedule an appointment or for more information, contact the Vermilion County Health Department at (217) 431-2662, option 1.

 

(Crescent City–jc)  6 are vying to become the 2025 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the details…

 

(Urbana–jc)  –The University of Illinois System’s Office of the Vice President of Economic Development and Innovation announced today the transfer of EnergySense Resilience Center to provide better alignment with the unit’s mission and goals. EnergySense was formerly known as Smart Energy Design Assistance Center and was housed in the department of landscape architecture within the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Fine and Applied Arts. The transfer is effective July 1.  The mission of EnergySense is to empower organizations with practical solutions for climate, energy and sustainability. This team works in partnership with state agencies, local governments, community colleges, and schools and businesses, and it has significant experience delivering community-focused social impact programs in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability, climate, outreach, education, and community and stakeholder engagement.

 

WPXN News notes…

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.

 

Rantoul will do their fireworks on Thursday, July 3rd at 9pm with their parade at 10 am on Friday, July 4th.

 

Paxton’s Old Fashioned 4th of July will take place on Friday, July 4th at Pells Park in Paxton. Activities include 5k at 8 am, community worship service at 9:45, car show 10-2, antique tractor show 11 am, bingo 11-1, kids games and zone 11:30–3, live music with Jake and Mikayla from 12-2, penny scavenger hunt 1-2.  Vendors open at Bixby Park from 6-9 pm, golf cart parade at 8:15 with fireworks at 9.

 

Sibley will host their 4th of July celebration on Friday, July 4th with a fishing derby at 9 am, petting zoo from 10-noon, parade at noon, climbing wall from 2-4, bingo from 3-5, kids games and inflatables from 4-7, live music at 6 and fireworks at dusk.

 

The Onarga Chamber of Commerce Independence Celebration will take place Friday, July 4th with food and live music starting at 5pm. Then Saturday, July 5th it kicks off with the parade at 11am, tractor pulls at noon, live music 12:30-6,  car show 1-3, inflatables 1-4, bingo 2-4, kiddie tractor pull at 3 and fireworks at dusk.