(Springfield-jm) – Gyms across the state offer lifetime membership plans, but Illinois lawmakers say some contracts have provisions in fine print that either decrease benefits or increase costs as time goes by. A bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk states that gyms can no longer advertise lifetime memberships, as members need to renew their contract annually. It also requires gyms to display contract changes clearly, rather than using fine print.
(Livingston County-jm) – A Sheldon man was arrested in Chatsworth after deputies seized over 1,200 doses of acid and nearly 4,000 grams of THC concentrate among other things following an ongoing investigation. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office says on July 2, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department Pro-Active unit and the Iroquois County Detective Section completed an ongoing narcotics investigation. David R. Fredericks of Sheldon was taken into custody in the 300 block of E Locust St. in Chatsworth. A search warrant was conducted on a residence in Chatsworth and Sheldon. 1,209 doses of LSD, 298g of Psilocybin Mushrooms, 3,866g of THC concentrate, 184g of Cannabis Flower, Multiple prescription pills and over $3,000 were seized. Fredericks was arrested on the following charges: Manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance x3 and possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance. Further charges pending investigation.
(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Clerk and Recorder’s Office will be temporarily closed, beginning today. The office will be moving from the Brookens Administrative Center to the Bennett Administrative Center. The move will take place from July 7 to July 18 with the office is expected to reopen on July 21. While the office is closed, community members will still be able to access some services online. This includes: making an appointment to pay Delinquent Property Taxes and Registering to Vote. The County Clerk and Recorder’s Office did note, however, that it may take longer than usual for the office to process the requests.
(Hoopeston-jm) – A Hoopeston home was damaged by fire over the holiday weekend. Firefighters were called to a house fire in the 500 block of North 7th Avenue. No injuries were reported.
(Paxton-jm) – Strong winds Sunday evening brought a tree down on power lines on Paxtons east side. It happened at Pells and Washington. Paxton Emergency Response Service had the road closed for a couple of hours while crews cleaned up the debris.
(Undated–jc) It’s hot its July and some areas need some rain. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey looks at the drought monitor on the 4th of July…
U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey
(Urbana–jc) –Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer has released the name of an individual who has died after a shooting incident in Champaign, early Friday morning. 32 year old Martez L. Jones Jr., of Urbana, was pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois, at 2:10 Friday morning. An autopsy has been scheduled. This death is being investigated by the Champaign Police Department and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
(Fisher–jc) the 2025 Fisher Community Fair started on Sunday. 3 pageants were held on Sunday. Selected as 2025 Miss Fisher Community Fair was Natalie Moore.. Miss Junior Fisher Community Fair is McKinlee Robison and Little Miss Fisher Community Fair is Victoria Perez.
(Springfield-jm) – A controversial bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk could allow medication abortion and contraceptives to be provided on public university and community college campuses. The plan would require campus healthcare professionals to discuss contraception and abortion options with students before sending prescriptions to campus pharmacies. It also states that these services could be provided through in-person appointments, telehealth, or other licensed providers. The legislation also calls on each college campus with student health services to publicize information online on how students can access medication abortion or contraception on campus. Students would be able to pay out-of-pocket or use their health insurance to receive reproductive healthcare. If signed into law, campus health centers would be required to provide reproductive healthcare services at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
(Champaign-jm) – A condemned multi-family apartment building caught fire over the weekend in Champaign. The Champaign Fire Department responded to Kenwood Road, near West White Street, around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. According to officials, the fire in the three-story apartment building was reported by someone passing by. When the fire crews arrived on scene, they found smoke and fire coming from the building. Fire officials said crews put the fire out quickly and no firefighters were injured. Now, fire investigators are working to figure out how the fire started.
(Savoy-jm) – One driver was arrested for a DUI on the Fourth of July following a crash involving multiple vehicles that hospitalized two people in Savoy. Friday night at approximately 9 p.m., the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a crash involving multiple vehicles at the intersection of E Curtis Road and Paddock Drive E. The situation was “initially convoluted” and was originally thought to be a hit and run. This accident involved “at least” two vehicles according to the Sheriff’s Office. The driver of one of the vehicles involved was arrested on DUI charges after being taken to the hospital with minor injuries and was released on tickets he was given. The driver of another vehicle involved was also hospitalized with minor injuries.
(Chatsworth-jm) — Multiple departments were called to a house fire in Chatsworth early Sunday afternoon. Piper City, Chatsworth and Forrest-Strawn-Wing firefighters were called to the fire in the 300 block of Cherry Street just after noon.
(Iroquois–jc) When you see teenager Aubrey Chandler of Onarga at area parades, events at the Iroquois County Fair this month, there is a good reason. Aubrey is the new Miss Ford-Iroquois County Pork Queen. Chandler will be taking up the challenge to promote pork and the pork industry from the local group.
(The Center Square) – Congress passed the “one big beautiful bill” and in it a provision that temporarily exempts certain tipped income from federal taxes, a major shift from long-standing tax policy treating tips as taxable income.
Alex Morishaner, an analyst with the Tax Foundation, said their estimate from last year found that excluding tips from the income tax but not the payroll tax would impact federal tax funds by $107 billion over 10 years, assuming no behavioral change in tipping.
WPXN News notes…
The 2025 Historic Farm Days in Penfield will take place July 10-13th with the featured tractors of Oliver, Cockshutt and White. On the 10th, opening ceremonies begin at 9 am, tractor parade at 1pm and antique tractor pulls at 6pm. On the 11th, its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm and ITPA tractor pulls at 5pm. On the 12th, its tractor games at 10 am, tractor parade at 1pm, kiddie tractor pull at 2:30pm and IPA tractor pulls at 5. On the 13th, its the tractor drive at 9 am, church service at 9:30 am and tractor parade at 1pm.
The Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County will host their annual charity golf outing on Friday, July 11th at Willow Pond Golf Course. Cost is $340 for a 4 person team.
The 2025 Kempton’s Day in the Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th with a tractor drive at 8 am, bounce house, lego show and vendor show at 10 am, kids water fight at noon, mechanical bull at 4pm, live music with Seasonal Disorder at 7 pm.
The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, July 12th from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.
Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Girl Scouts on Saturday, July 12th from 10-2.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in L’Erable will hold their annual parish homecoming on Sunday, July 13th. Mass will begin at 11 am with chicken and pork chop dinner from noon to 5, kiddie tractor pulls and games start at 1. Raffles, bingo, crafts and food round out the day's activities.
