(Champaign-jm) — The Champaign Police Department is asking the public for help after a 45-year-old man was found dead with a gunshot wound near railroad tracks Wednesday morning. Officers responded to the railroad tracks near Maple and Prairie Street around 6:12 a.m. Police officials said the victim had been dead for several hours and was beyond help when he was found. Laurie Brauer, coroner, identified the victim as Michael L. Huffman of Champaign. Brauer said he was pronounced dead at 7:02 a.m. Police added that no 911 calls related to gunfire were made overnight, so the timing of this incident is still being investigated.

 

(Paxton–jc) The Paxton Foundation “Crown on the town” project is now in place in downtown Paxton. Paxton Foundation spokesperson Royce Baier says the replica of the old water tower top is back in the city. Baier talks about the efforts of the local Paxton Foundation…

   

Paxton Foundation Spokesperson Royce Baier

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign County United States Postal Services worker accused of stealing more than $35,000 in money orders has pleaded guilty and was sentenced this week. According to court documents, from May 2023 to March 2024, Brandi Harmon “did knowingly embezzle, steal” blank money order forms. The indictment alleges that Harmon used her position as a postmaster at the Post Office on Neil Street in Champaign, to take 47 money order forms from multiple different facilities. In total, Harmon transferred about $36,788 to herself or others; she also did not pay the fee for each of the money orders, which racked up an additional $121.50 in losses. In total, Harmon was accused of stealing about $36,910. 

 

(Bloomington–jc) When the IHSA puts post season tournament teams in sub-sectionals, they are doing the pairings in a new way. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – A proposed Vermilion County solar project says they’re still moving forward despite the USDA’s recent shake-up on renewable energy. Earthrise Energy says they have plans to build a 1,400-acre solar farm between the villages of Catlin and Tilton. The USDA recently announced they will not be funding any more solar or wind farms on farmland, leading some to question whether this project will continue. The company says the project will be privately funded. They’re still listening to feedback from the community, and they say their next step is to apply for the necessary permits.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  –  It’s a night time golf fundraiser in the village of Rantoul coming in September. The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 7th annual “Glow in the Dark” golf scramble. Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Susie Avalos says sign up for 70 dollars per player and hole sponsorships are available…

 

Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Susie Avalos

 

(The Center Square) – A new law that could push school districts to study possible consolidation, aiming for efficiency and savings, but critics warn it could threaten local control. House Bill 2966 creates a state grant program, through the Illinois State Board of Education, for districts to study potential reorganization, but former Republican state Rep. Jim Nowlan doubts it will drive much change given communities’ strong ties to their schools. Nowlan noted that consolidation can make sense in some cases, like in La Salle County, where seven or more grade school districts feed into La Salle-Peru High School, but the issue is often highly emotional. HB 2966 passed unanimously out of the House and Senate.

 

(Undated-jm) – Triple A reports Illinois gas prices were up now averaging $3.53 a gallon.  The hike could climb even more before dropping some after Labor Day.  Prices at the pump have jumped as much as 35-cents a gallon in the last couple days.  GasBuddy analysts say the sudden jump is due to refinery issues in Whiting, Indiana.  Weather and flooding caused damage at the refinery plants last week.  No word on how long it may be for repairs to be completed.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker announced last month 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 how to make a meaningful difference in making things more affordable for Illinoisans…

 

 

Illinois Lieutenant Governor candidate Christian Mitchell.

 

(Iroquois County-jm) — The second installment of real estate taxes in Iroquois County comes due Monday, September 8.  County Treasurer Kurt Albers reminds taxpayers payments can be made at the Treasurer's Office at the Administrative Center in Watseka Monday thru Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.  Payments can also be made at any bank in the County.

 

(Pontiac–dm)- The 77th annual Central States Thresherman’s Reunion starts today in Pontiac. Central States Thresherman’s Reunion President Dave Herz tells us what’s going on today.

 

 

Central States Thresherman’s Reunion President Dave Herz.  The Reunion runs through Monday September 1st.

 

(Urbana-jm) — Michael Aiken, the 6th Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and one of the longest-serving Chancellors in the university’s history, has died at 93 years old. A sociologist and former provost of the University of Pennsylvania, Aiken served as Chancellor from 1993 to 2001, the third-longest tenure of any Chancellor since the position was created in the late 1960s. Among Aiken’s accomplishments as Chancellor include the opening of the Grainger Engineering Library and the development and opening of Research Park.

 

(Springfield–jc)  – Illinois’ democrat leaders this week were in Chicago talking about crime and safety. Governor J B Pritzker blasted the Trump presidency and says Chicago does not need federal support. Illinois House Minority Leader Toni McCombie says the safe-t-Act has caused issues leading to more crime in Chicago and the state…

 

 

89th District State Representative and Illinois House Minority Leader Toni McCombie.

 

(Watseka–dm)-The City of Watseka and the Iroquois County Board are hosting an electronic recycling event on Saturday, Sept. 6th from 9am till noon at the Riverside Parking lot located at 1490 E. Walnut St. Watseka.  For a list of acceptable items you can visit BLHcomputers.com.  This is open to all Iroquois County Residents.