(Springfield-jm) — Illinois police officers are now required to have more training to respond to sexual abuse and sexual assault cases, thanks to a new law signed by the Governor. After a sexual assault, one problem survivors often said they face is law enforcement retraumatizing them with certain questions. With the new law, officers will be trained to be more empathetic when talking to survivors. The Illinois Law Enforcement Trainings and Standards Board said they’re already working to add the topic to training officers go through.
(Champaign–jc) Some Champaign County firefighters responded to a car on fire on Interstate 74 last night. St Joseph-Stanton crews were called to the interstate around 6-45pm. When the crews arrived, on scene, the occupants of the car were out of the vehicle. No one was hurt. No damage estimates were provided.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker announced in June he will be running for another term as Governor. This time however, he won’t have Juliana Stratton, the state’s current Lieutenant Governor, as his sidekick. Stratton announced she planned to run for the soon-to-be open U-S Senate seat held by retiring Senator Dick Durbin. Pritzker announced Christian Mitchell will be his running mate. Mitchell sat down with Capitol News Illinois where he was asked about ethics reform…
Illinois Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell.
(Urbana-jm) – The University Group — a leasing company at the University of Illinois — sent an email to future residents telling them their move-in dates at a new building will be moved back after the start of the school year, according to the C-U Tenant Union. The email said power issues are causing construction delays. The U-Group added students will not be able to move into their units until September. 23 at the latest. The C-U Tenant Union said the University Group is providing three choices as alternative accommodations for students in the meantime.
(Loda–dm)-The Loda Truck and Tractor is scheduled for this Saturday in Loda. Loda Truck and Tractor Pull Spokesperson Dalton Weber how the annual event started.
Loda Truck and Tractor Pull Spokesperson Dalton Weber. The gates open Saturday morning at 8am with registration from 8-1030 and pulling starts at 11:00.
IPA registration is from 12 noon till 430 and IPA pulling starts at 5pm
WPXN will be broadcasting live in the 10am hour on Saturday in Loda.
(Vermilion County-jm) – It could be a second generation of the Hartshorn family becoming the next Vermilion County Sheriff. Vermilion County’s longtime Sheriff Pat Hartshorn, is retiring after 36 years in the department’s top spot. His son, Mike, who has been in the number 2 spot as 10-year captain in the investigations division, is seeking to replace him. Mike Hartshorn, picked up a petition packet to run as a Republican sheriff candidate in the March 2026 primary election.
(Rantoul-bp) The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce is always looking for ways to bring more business into the village of Rantoul Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Susie Avalos says the construction in the downtown will help accomplish positives, once finished…
Executive Director Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Susie Avalos
(Springfield-jm) — Illinois House Republicans are renewing their calls for reform within the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services after another scathing audit of the agency. The latest two-year investigation found DCFS failed to comply with multiple state laws meant to keep children safe. The Auditor General's office found that DCFS did not comply with several sections of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act from July 2022 to June 2024. DCFS is required to report cases of death, serious injury, torture and other types of abuse to law enforcement within 24 hours. However, auditors found the agency failed to notify local police and state's attorney offices on time for 17 of 40 reports tested. Local enforcement personnel and state attorneys were notified four to 270 days late. Auditors wrote that DCFS took between three to 848 days to inform schools about investigations of abuse and neglect when state law requires notification within 10 days. DCFS also waited 107 to 114 days to report cases of infants exposed to controlled substances.
(Undated–jm) – Education research shows Illinois is needing thousands of teaching positions filled for next school year. Recent research found there’s almost four-thousand teaching vacancies — and 87-percent of school leaders they talked to say they’re experiencing a teacher shortage.
(Washington-jm) – Three Democratic candidates are vying to replace retiring U-S Senator Dick Durbin. One of those is Representative Robin Kelly, whose district extends from the southeast side of Chicago to all of Iroquois, most of Ford, the northern half of Vermilion and the northern third of Champaign Counties. Kelly served as the state party chair, beating out a candidate endorsed by Governor J-B Pritzker, then in the next election lost to a candidate endorsed by the Governor. In the primary for the soon-to-be open Senate seat, she is facing a candidate endorsed by the Governor. In an interview with Capitol News Illinois, Kelly was asked if she feels like she’s running against the Governor himself …
U-S Senate candidate and current U-S Representative Robin Kelly. Her opponents in the primary are current Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and U-S Representative Raja Krishnamorthi.
(Danville-jm) – Danville National Cemetery will host a wreath-laying ceremony. The ‘Spirit of ’45’ event honors World War II Veterans on the 80th anniversary of President Truman’s announcement of the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan marking the end of World War II. The ceremony will include remarks by Danville National Cemetery, a wreath dedication, a moment of silence, and military honors. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m., Thursday August 14 at Danville National Cemetery’s Committal Shelter located in the center of the cemetery.
(Gilman–dm)-The Gilman Old Boys and Girls Celebration Continues thru Sunday.
Old Boys and Girls Committee Chairperson Robert Sinn has the activities going on Saturday in Gilman.
Gilman old Boys and Girls Committee Chairperson Robert Sinn. Saturday’s activities will be capped off with a fireworks display at 9pm. WPXN will broadcast the parade. The Old Boys and Girls prince and princess were crowned yesterday. They are Easton Canada Son of Shawn and Katie Canada and Emory Pool daughter of Byran and Kelsey Pool.
(Springfield–dm)-The 2025 Illinois State Fair Butter Cow was unveiled on Thursday. WPXN’S Braydon Perzee has the story.
(Springfield–jc) After Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation to implement universal mental health screenings in public schools, the Illinois Family Institute is encouraging parents to opt out of programs and agendas which they said could be harmful to children. The group said Christian parents should be especially alert to the assessment of their children’s well-being through the lens of secular ideologies. The institute offers links to various opt-out forms on its website.
(Springfield–jc) –Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says she is ordering a third round of pension pre-payments. Mendoza said more than $1.3 billion in payments to the state’s five retirement systems will include $428 million in pre-payments, allowing the pension systems to keep more money in their portfolios and earn more in returns.
(Ottawa–jc) State Representative Amy Briel, Democrat from Ottawa, and Republican Liz Bishop are gearing up for a potential rematch in Illinois’ 76th House District. Briel defeated Bishop by 595 votes, or 1%, in the general election last November. Bishop will first face a primary rematch with Crystal Loughran.
WPXN Weekend News Notes…
The 2025 Gilman Old Boys and Girls Reunion continues through Sunday, August 10th. Today its games at Mann Park from 9-11 am, , Big Red Wagon rides 1-4, Bingo 3-5, live music by Natural High at 6, beard contest at 7:30. On Saturday, its the 5k at 730, craft show from 9-4, parade at 1, live music by the Back Paiges after the parade, cruise in from 5-8 in downtown and fireworks at 9. On Sunday at 10:30 am its the community church service. WPXN will carry the parade Saturday as part of our Summer Fun Tour..
The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner this evening from 5-7 pm. Cost is $10 per plate and includes salad and garlic bread.
Downtown Gibson City will host its monthly Friday Night Car Cruise this evening, featuring classic cars cruising and parked along Sangamon Avenue, plus live music by Wowie Zowie from 6-9 p.m. and food vendors throughout the evening.
The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.
Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Loda Fireworks on Saturday from 10-2.
The 2025 Loda Truck and Tractor Pulls Association event will take place on Saturday with open and stock pulls beginning at 11 am and IPA pulls at 5pm. WPXN will be broadcasting at 10 am Saturday ahead of the pulls as part of our Summer Fun Tour.
