(Springfield-jm) – As summer continues, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is urging residents to adhere to proper safety practices when using grills. July is the peak month for grill fires, followed by June, May, and August, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The group reports that approximately 64% of U.S. households own at least one outdoor BBQ, grill, or smoker. Gas grills are involved in an average of 9,287 home fires annually, which includes 4,682 structure fires and 4,605 outdoor fires. Leaks or breaks are a significant issue with gas grills, causing 6% of gas grill structure fires and 13% of outside gas grill fires, based on 2019-2023 annual averages.

 

(Washington-jm) – Illinois will have a new Senator after Dick Durbin announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. U-S Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, is one of three candidates vying for the Democrat party nomination  He talks about why he decided to run…

 

 

Illinois U-S Senate Candidate Democrat  Raja Krishnamorthi.

 

(Undated-jm) – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have decreased by 4.8 cents per gallon over the past week, now averaging $3.35 per gallon, according to a survey conducted by GasBuddy of 4,378 stations across the state. The current prices are 12.8 cents per gallon lower than they were a month ago and are 68.2 cents per gallon less than the prices recorded a year ago.

 

(Melvin–jc)  The Village of Melvin will be looking for a new mayor. Current Mayor Austin Fancher resigned the position last night. The Ford County Chronicle reports that Fancher resigned due to frustrations with working with the village board. Fancher has been Melvin Mayor since elected in 20-23. 

 

(Springfield–jc)  Some Illinois Senate Republicans continue to oppose  Senate Bill 3-28 and hope Illinois Governor J B Pritzker does not sign it into law. The measure would allow out of state entities to bring civil lawsuits from outside the state, into the state. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, republican from Channahon, says the bill puts Illinois in a lawsuit “hell hole” …

   

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon.

 

(Buckley–jc)  July is almost over. That means the month of August and the start of School for area children. One choice for area high schoolers is Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley. The school isis dedicated to  teaching knowledge and skills for college and life and a Christian perspective. Christ Lutheran High School Junior Kaelynn Schwing talks about why her family chose Christ Lutheran…

   

Christ Lutheran High School Junior Kaelynn Schwing. Enrollment is open now for the upcoming school year at Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley.

 

(Gilman–jc)  State police continue to investigate  a two vehicle accident in Iroquois County that happened late Sunday night. In updating our story from Monday, one person has died and several were taken to area hospitals after the crash along U S Route 24 west of Gilman near La Hougue in the county. Police say the person who died was 28 year old Ryan Janis of matteson. 

 

(USDA–dm)-What producers paid for inputs and services in 2024 was slightly down year over year, per USDA’s annual Farm Production Expenditure Report.  Rod Bain has more.

 

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a new law empowering police to swiftly remove squatters from private property. A statehouse Republican says it reverses years of Democrat-backed policies that emboldened squatters. The shift comes after state Rep. Marcus Evans, Jr., D-Chicago, demanded action when squatters took over the home next door. Homeowners and Evans’ neighbors Linda Gomez and Rodrigo Leyva discovered that the locks on their listed-for-sale home had been changed and a family they didn’t recognize had moved in. State Sen. Chris Balkema, R-Channahon, acknowledged that COVID-era eviction moratoriums hindered the enforcement of evictions and may have emboldened squatters. Balkema also acknowledged around the same time, lawmakers passed House Bill 2877, known as the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act, which Pritzker signed into law on May 17, 2021, allocating over $1 billion in rental assistance, sealing eviction records filed between March 2020 and March 2022, and expanding foreclosure and mortgage forbearance protections. 

 

(Undated-jm) – Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski hosted a roundtable discussion Monday to address challenges facing the U.S. Postal Service in Central and Southern Illinois. Earlier this year, Budzinski introduced the bipartisan Protect Postal Performance Act. The legislation aims to prevent the downsizing of USPS facilities, increase oversight of delivery schedule changes, and enhance public transparency on proposed modifications. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – As Governor J-B Pritzker prepares to campaign for another term as Governor, he’s doing so with a new running mate. Pritzker chose  Democrat Christian Mitchell as his running mate after current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton announced her bid for the soon-to-be open U-S Senate seat held by Dick Durbin. Durbin announced earlier this year he will not be seeking another term. Mitchell spoke with Capitol News Illinois. Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell helped with the “Blue Wave” of 2018. He talks about how his experience then can help now…

 

 

 Democrat, Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills aimed at improving gun safety in Illinois. The Safe Gun Storage Act, strengthens gun storage requirements to prevent minors, “at-risk” people, or someone prohibited from using firearms from accessing the weapons. According to Pritzker’s office, the law outlines improved safe storage requirements and adds civil penalties for improper storage. It also requires gun owners to report if a gun has been stolen or lost within 48 hours. Pritzker also signed House Bill 1373. It requires every law enforcement agency in Illinois to participate in the federal firearm tracing platform — known as eTrace. Pritzker’s office said this will ensure consistent reporting and cross-county firearm tracing during investigations.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The First Friday concert series continues in Paxton on Friday. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says there will be two bands playing on Friday August First at Veteran’s Square in downtown Paxton …

 

 

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

 

(Urbana-jm) – A U.S. House subcommittee held its first field hearing at the Chez Veterans Center on the University of Illinois’ campus. The House Subcommittee on Technology Modernization — whose ranking member is Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Illinois — is trying to make sure rural veterans get easy access to healthcare. The subcommittee said former service members in these areas experience barriers to treatment like long drives to Veterans Affairs clinics and lost medical records.

 

(Urbana–jc)  The 20-25 Champaign County Fair is now over for the year, but duties for the now reigning fair queen continue. Sophia Hartke says representing the county at community events to the state pageant in January are in her future…

 

 

20-25 Miss Champaign County Fair Queen Sophia Hartke of Sidney

 

(Paxton–jc)  The Ford County Farm Committee is set to meet on Wednesday in Paxton and look to finalize their recommendations on county farm acres. Leased acres on county farm three, cash rent on all three county farms, and lease languages on agreements are on the agenda. The Ford County Farm Committee meeting is set for 4pm on Wednesday at the courthouse in Paxton 

 

(Iroquois County–dm)-The Iroquois Economic Development Association is working on a strategic plan to help the towns in Iroquois County grow and develop new ideas for the future.  Iroquois Economic Development Association Executive Director Angel Crawford tells us about the Planning process.

 

 

Iroquois Economic Development Association Executive Director Angel Crawford.

 

(Normal–jc)  – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has appointed Kris Lutt to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University. This appointment fills a vacant seat following the resignation of Trustee Scott Jenkins last Friday.

Lutt currently serves as President of Sustainable Materials and Strategic Initiatives at Archer Daniels Midland. 

 

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police  continues to target vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violent crimes using grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. ? The State Police was awarded a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, and additional grants of 677 thousand dollars last year and 637 thousand dollars this year.

 

WPXN News notes…

 

The Iroquois County Historical Society will host their 6th annual pork chop sandwich fundraiser on Friday, August 1st from 4-6 pm on the east side of the old courthouse museum. Cost is a freewill donation.

 

The Elliott Amvets will hold their Family Dinner on Friday, August 1st from 5-7 pm. Cost is $15 and includes fish, chicken or shrimp plus 2 sides.

 

Paxton Main Street will hold their 1st Fridays Concert Series on Friday, August 1st at Veterans Square. Back in Time, a band performing your favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s will perform.

 

St Malachy Catholic School in Rantoul will host their annual golf outing on Saturday, August 2nd starting at 8:30 am at Brookhill Golf Course in Rantoul. Cost is $80 per person.

 

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree on Saturday, August 2nd from 10-2.

 

The Bement Country Opry will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday, August 2nd at 7pm. Dinner will be served starting at 5:30pm.