(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois Republican lawmaker has filed a bill to ban the use of renewable energy components made by foreign adversaries in any Illinois energy projects. Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin told WAND News her plan could protect the state's energy grid and national security. The Morris Republican said she is concerned about security risks tied to inverters, batteries, and other components of solar panels and wind turbines. A recent Reuters investigation found hidden communication devices in solar panel inverters and batteries manufactured in China. Although, Reuters has not named the company involved.

 

(Crescent City–jc)  –There is a new queen  for the 20-25 Iroquois CountyFair. Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant   Announcer Mary Quinn…

Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant Announcer Mary Quinn has the winner

Again,  Rae Stuckey of Donovan is the new Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen. Tinley Rust of Loda was named Little Miss Iroquois County.

The fair continues today. There is an I-P-A Tractor Pull at 6pm Swyear Amusements is on the midway and the WPXN Ice Cream Booth will be in operation  in the commercial building. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced that a record $303.8 million in unclaimed funds has been returned to nearly 312,000 residents, businesses, and organizations through the I-CASH program in Fiscal Year 2025. I-CASH is one of the longest-running consumer protection programs in Illinois. The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is responsible for safeguarding and returning unclaimed property. This includes items like forgotten safe deposit box contents, unpaid life insurance benefits, old bank accounts, and unused rebate cards. The Treasurer is required by law to return these unclaimed assets to their rightful owners or heirs, regardless of how long it takes. Recently, Treasurer Frerichs set a new record by returning $303.8 million in missing money, surpassing last year's total of $301 million.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois leaders are sharing concerns over SNAP benefit changes as part of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. During a press conference Friday, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton says the cuts will impact families across the state…

   

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton.

 

 

(Gifford–jc)  The village of Gifford is celebrating its sesquicentennial this weekend. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the details…

 

(Urbana-jm) – A total of $7 million is going from the state to four organizations that are developing and building tech incubators. One of those organizations, affiliated with the University of Illinois. $3 million is going to EnterpriseWorks 2.0 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Their project is a new construction building in Research Park for startup companies with an emphasis on laboratory and manufacturing commercial spaces for scaling companies.

 

(USDA)-What are some of the indicators that plants in your vegetable and fruit garden are experiencing stress from extreme heat? Rod Bain reports.

   

CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission is looking to the community for input after what they say has been the worst first six months of the year for traffic fatalities in over two decades. Thirteen people were killed in traffic crashes in Champaign County in the first six months of 2025, according to information the RPC gathered from area news reports — and two more crash-related deaths occurred just after the six-month mark. The RPC is asking that county residents, including University of Illinois students, complete a survey on perceived traveling safety in the area and what they believe might be contributing to unsafe conditions. Contributors on the survey include driver behavior, poor street lighting and lack of traffic enforcement, to name a few. Residents are also asked to add comments to an interactive map, identifying specific locations they perceive as unsafe or where they see frequent traffic code violations.

 

(Washington-jm) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed Representative Robin Kelly’s bipartisan Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act to help farmers incorporate technology into their operations. The legislation now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate. The Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act would require the Federal Communications Commission to review its current satellite rules to determine if rule changes can be made to promote precision agriculture.

 

(Crescent City–jc)  – There is a new Little Miss for the 20-25 Iroquois CountyFair. 

Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant Announcer Mary Quinn…

 

Iroquois County Fair Queen Pageant Announcer Mary Quinn has the winner

Again, Rae Stuckey of Donovan is the new Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen. Tinley Rust of Loda was named Little Miss Iroquois County.

The fair continues today. There is an I-P-A Tractor Pull at 6pm Swyear Amusements is on the midway and the WPXN Ice Cream Booth will be in operation  in the commercial building. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – A bill on Governor JB Pritzker's desk could help more veterans have affordable housing without going through government red tape. Senator Sally Turner refiled her plan this year to allow tiny homes to be exempt from the 2023 state law requiring all homes to be built with electric vehicle charging capacity. The proposal ensures that the EV charging provisions of the Electric Vehicle Charging Act do not apply to tiny homes designated for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, provided the homes are funded and built by qualified nonprofit organizations. Turner said this change could remove an unnecessary barrier and allow nonprofit organizations to focus on safe housing for veterans.

 

(Undated-jm) – Senior advocates are sounding the alarm about the effects of social isolation on older people in Illinois, saying loneliness is comparable to smoking and can increase the risk of early death by 50%. Judith Ruiz-Branch reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the freezing of $6.8 billion in education grants. In the lawsuit, Raoul and the coalition argue that the Trump administration’s actions violate federal funding statutes. Illinois is anticipated to receive an estimated $219 million in federal education funding that is now frozen, based on funding granted for the 2024-25 school year. Raoul said this would leave a large hole in the state’s education budget.

 

(Bloomington-jm) – A Bloomington woman was sentenced to 95 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following a 2024 investigation into child pornography and sexual assault. The investigation began in August 2024, when the Bloomington Police Department's Cyber Crimes Unit arrested Sarah Troutwine, also known as Sarah Howard, on 19 counts of various sexually related offenses. In May 2025, Troutwine pleaded guilty to two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and one count of child pornography production. Her sentence includes 40 years for each count of predatory criminal sexual assault, which must be served at 85%, and 15 years for child pornography production, which must be served at 50%. All sentences will be served consecutively, making her eligible for parole in the year 2100.

 

(USDA)-USDA researchers are using innovations such as artificial intelligence to locate microbes in irrigation surface water – contaminants that could cause a foodborne illness. Rod Bain reports.

 

 

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is touting Pure Lithium Corporation’s move from Boston to Chicago as a clean energy win, but some question whether taxpayers are getting a fair deal. Gov. Pritzker says he is excited to welcome the team at Pure Lithium to Illinois where they'll be an excellent addition to the business landscape and burgeoning clean energy ecosystem. After completing its research and development phase in Boston, Pure Lithium is relocating to Illinois to begin production, investing $46 million and creating 50 jobs in Chicago’s Fulton Market. The move is backed by $4.4 million in state Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois Act program tax incentives, according to Crain’s calculations.  Mark Glennon, founder of Wirepoints, explained that using taxpayer money to lure companies with promises of job creation often fails to deliver real economic value.

 

WPXN news notes…

The 2025 Iroquois County Fair continues today through Sunday. Today,  its fun carvings by Brad Larson from 10-8, armband night from 6-10 and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6. On the 17th its fun carvings by Brad Larson from 10-8, 2 for the price of 1 amusement rides and the demo derby at 7:30. On the 18th its the livestock sale at 1, 4-H style show at 4 and the T&A bucking bulls rodeo at 8. On the 19th its the tractor drive at 8 am, pedal tractor pull at 2 and country music artists Chris Cagle with Craig Campbell at 7pm. On the 20th, its the all faith church service at 9:30, tractor pulls and car show at noon and armband special from 1-5pm.

 

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.

The 2025 Champaign County Fair will take place July 18-26 at the fairgrounds in Urbana. On the 18th its the Pro Rodeo at 7. On the 19th its the demolition derby at 5. On the 20th its the draft horse pulls at noon and draft horse show at 4. On the 22nd its harness racing at 5. On the 23rd its the monster truck show at 7. On the 24th its motocross racing at 7. On the 25th its country music artist Travis Tritt at 7:30. On the 26th its the IPA tractor pulls at noon and the ITPA tractor pulls at 6pm.

 

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the LIA Bass Club on Saturday, July 19th from 10-2.