(Springfield-jm) – This summer, Illinois is set to distribute $45 million in unclaimed funds to a record-breaking 600,000 residents through the state's Enhanced Money Match program, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced Wednesday. The initiative, part of the state's I-CASH unclaimed property program, aims to return money to individuals without requiring them to file a claim. The Enhanced Money Match program, founded in 2018, has returned more than $130 million to over 870,000 people. 

 

(The Center Square) – Political rhetoric around the one big beautiful bill President Donald Trump signed July 4 continues to ramp up in Illinois. Earlier this week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said provisions in the law will impact food assistance and health care for hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans. He even took aim at the federal school choice scholarships tax credit the bill enacts..Republican Congressman Ray LaHood of Peoria counters saying the Chicago Mayor is putting forth falsehoods. 1st Congressional District Republican Candidate for Congress, Christian Maxwell of Bellview says Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is “fear mongering”...

1st Congressional District Republican Candidate for Congress Christian Maxwell

 

(Urbana-jm) – A plaintiff’s motion has been passed by the Court in a settlement case against Carle Foundation Hospital, which in total is worth over $10 million. A former Carle employee, initially filed a complaint against the hospital on May 23, 2023, claiming they violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, Illinois Minimum Wage Law and Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. More specifically, the plaintiff, on behalf of herself and others in a similar situation, claimed that the hospital had unlawfully rounded the clock in and clock out times of hourly employees, among other things.

 

(Fisher–jc)  Last night at the Fisher Fair was the Drone games and Swyear Amusements on the midway. Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter looks at the activities for today and Friday…

Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man was sentenced for a crime he committed during a police chase in October that sent a Champaign elementary school into a soft lockdown. Anthony Wilkins was scheduled to go on trial this week for a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. He had originally been charged with being an armed habitual criminal, with prior convictions for aggravated battery and unlawful possession of a weapon, but the charge was later downgraded and he pleaded guilty to avoid a trial. Wilkins was sentenced to 11 years in prison, a length agreed to by both prosecution and defense.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Paxton resident and former Paxton Buckley Loda graduate Samantha Majors spoke to the Paxton Buckley Loda School Board last night during their regular meeting. The subject matter was the on going litigation concerning alleged student abuse in the district. In the statement, Majors called on the board to put into place procedures to protect the students in the district. The Ford County Chronicle reported that the board did go into executive session, but no decisions on employment were announced. 

 

(Paxton–jc) The months that begin with J are considered tough months for local retailers. One for the cold and two for summer events, vacations and the heat. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper provides an update on the summer business climate in Paxton…

Paxton MainStreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

 

(Bloomington–jc– Between 2022 and 2024, Rivian company in Bloomington  filed over 2,000 H-1B and 400 green card applications while receiving significant Illinois state incentives. A researcher says this raises concerns about replacing American workers and the use of taxpayer dollars.According to MyVisaJobs, a site where immigrants explore U.S. work visa opportunities, 89 Rivian positions are listed in Normal, many in common tech roles like software developers and product managers.

 

(Illinois–jc)  Three Illinois lakefronts made a list of most sought after properties across the country.  On the list of 186 lakefront real estate platform Calgary Homes compiled through a survey of 3,000 Americans and Canadians, Fox Lake landed at No. 85. Lake Springfield ranked No. 122. Lake Sara in Effingham ranked No. 156. The top lakefront in the country was Big Bear Lake in California.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois could soon collect and publicize data on contraband found in prisons thanks to a bipartisan bill that arrived on Governor JB Pritzker's desk. The legislation could require the Illinois Department of Corrections to document the contraband, where it was found, and any method of entrance to the facility. That includes employee and visitor entrances, vendor entrances, mail delivery, or attorney visits. If signed into law, the Illinois Department of Corrections would be required to start collecting this data on July 1, 2026 and publish the information on or before August 1 of each year.

 

(Barrington Hills–jc)  –52nd District State Representative Martin McLaughlin, Republican, from Barrington Hills continues to slam the latest round of tax increases that took effect on July First in illinois. Governor JB Pritzker signed off on Democrats’ Fiscal Year 2026 state budget in June, which includes the largest spending plan in Illinois history. Representative McLaughlin says the taxes on gas and diesel continue to increase and  are now 48 point 3 cents per gallon…

52nd District State Representative Martin McLaughlin, Republican from Barrington Hills

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – A new wind farm could be coming to northern Vermilion County. The Vermilion County board learned there is an application that has been submitted to the county for a wind farm between Rankin and Hoopeston. 

 

(Urbana–jc)  A Rantoul man was arraigned in Champaign County Court on Wednesday on a child pornography possession charge. Champaign CountySheriff Dustin Heuerman says officers arrested 40 year old  Cristobal Mendoza, on Monday. Mendoza pleaded not guilty to the charge yesterday in court. A pre trial conference was set for August 5th .

 

(Penfield–jc)  the 20-25 Historic Farm Days starts today at the I and I grounds in Penfield. Among the activities are field demonstrations, says I and I Club Spokesperson Russ Buhr…

I and I Club Spokesperson Russ Buhr. WPXN will be broadcasting live over the noon and 1pm hour today to kick off the event. It is Summer Fun Tour stop 10. 

 

(McLean County-jm) – The McLean County Health Department's Environmental Health Division has confirmed the first mosquito pool in the county to test positive for West Nile virus this year. The positive test was identified on July 7, 2025, in the 61705 zip code area. In 2024, Illinois recorded 69 confirmed human cases of WNV and 13 deaths, marking the highest number of fatalities since 2018, when 17 deaths were reported, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

 

(Undated–jc) With the Big Beautiful Bill signed into law some federal farm tax laws will help families, but an Illinois law does hurt some farm sales. WPXN’s Brayden Perzee has the story…

 

MORTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that as part of ongoing work on the westbound Interstate 74 ramps at Morton Avenue in Morton, the work zone will include the ramp from Morton Avenue to westbound I-74 continuing through early Friday morning. This stage involves patching on the ramp, and traffic from the ramp will be required to merge into westbound I-74 because the third lane at the bottom of the ramp will not be available to traffic. This part of the project could last until the end of the week. 

 

(Fisher–jc)  – The Fisher Community Fair continues today through Saturday night. The 20-25 Miss Fisher Fair Queen is  Natalie Moore. The new queen talks about growing up and now representing the community…

 

 

20-25 Miss Fisher Community Fair Queen Natalie Moore

Today at the Fisher Community Fair, it's Swyear Amusement on the midway  from 6-10 pm and the ITPA tractor pulls at 7. On Friday, it's $30 armbands from 6-10pm with country artist Jerrod Niemann performing at 7:30. Saturday has the annual 5k run and walk  at 7:30 am, mutt show at 9 am, amusement rides 1-10 pm and the Demo Derby at 6.

 

WPXN News notes…

The 2025 Historic Farm Days in Penfield will take place starting today through the 13th with the featured tractors of Oliver, Cockshutt and White. 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 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.

 

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.

 

Impact Life will hold a blood drive on Thursday, July 17th from 3-6 pm at the First Lutheran Church in Paxton. To sign up email Kevin Hanson at emtcoor at hotmail dot com.