(Rantoul-jm) – Officers with the Rantoul Police Department responded to Lincoln’s Challenge Academy last month after reports that a student was being battered by a staff member. The incident happened on August 21. In a news release, the police department said a 16-year-old male cadet was interviewed about the battery allegation. During the interview, “minor injuries” were visible, police said. The 16-year-old was taken into protective custody by the Rantoul Police Department. The Rantoul Police Department identified 25-year-old Isaiah Wallace of Ludlow as the suspect in the battery. On August 25, police interviewed Wallace and he admitted his involvement in the battery, authorities said. Wallace was arrested for aggravated battery and brought to the Champaign County Correctional Center.
(Rantoul–jc) – New housing continues to be a “premium” in the village of Rantoul. Local leaders gave their approval for some incentives to have a local property owner convert a mobile home area along Scott Avenue into an 8 unit apartment complex. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third talks about the approval by the board…
Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third
(Urbana-jm) – A section of I-74 west near Urbana was closed after a multiple vehicle crash Wednesday. Illinois State Police responded around 4:42 p.m. to I-74 westbound at milepost 184.5, which is between University and Cunningham avenues in Urbana. Police said the lanes on the eastbound and westbound sides were closed and traffic was diverted.
(Paxton–jc) The Paxton Masonic Lodge has its 7th annual “Get out of Dodge” fundraiser going on in the city. The local fundraiser has a grand prize that will take two people to New York City for a Broadway show and more says Paxton Masonic Lodge 416 Spokesperson Jim Sherl…
Paxton Masonic Lodge 416 Spokesperson Jim Sherl. The grand prize was donated by the Grove family. There will also be more prizes given away with the drawings set for 2pm on Saturday September 20th in downtown Paxton .
(Champaign-jm) — The City of Champaign’s Equity and Engagement Department brought neighbors and community leaders together to face one of the city’s toughest challenges. So far this year, January through August, 18 people have been shot in Champaign. Seven of those shootings were deadly. Compare that to last year, when 31 people were hit by gunfire, and five lives were lost.
(Paxton–jc) Patriots Day or 9-11 Remembrance Day is today. Do you remember where you were that morning? Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says he remembers…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Urbana–jc0 The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a total enrollment of more than 60,000 students for the first time in school history with a freshman enrollment of 9,207 for the fall semester. Northern Illinois University reported over a 4 percent increase in enrollment for the fall, with a freshmen class that is 22 percent larger than last year. Illinois State University’s enrollment is up 2percent, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is up nearly 8 percent
(Springfield–jc) –Despite reports of food borne illness declining in Illinois over several years, a new analysis of C-D-C data by Trace One found the state still had the 3rd highest count in the country.Other takeaways from the analysis include nationwide, restaurants were the primary exposure setting and shellfish and poultry are often to blame.
(Danville–jc) Today is Patriots Day, or Remember 9-11 Day. 24 years ago, the United States was attacked in New York City, in Pennsylvania and the Pentagon. 104th District State Representative Brandun Schweizer, Republican from Danville, talks about September 11th 2001…
104th district State Representative Brandun Schweizer, republican from Danville
(Rantoul-jm) – The Rantoul Fire Department is investigating after a home caught fire Wednesday afternoon. It happened near the intersection of Eden Park Drive and N. Century Drive around 12:30 p.m. When crews arrived on the scene, they saw smoke coming from the back of the second floor of the home. Rantoul, Gifford and Thomasboro crews worked together to put out the fire. The residents of the home were displaced.
(The Center Square) – An Illinois congresswoman says that liberal state policies have turned the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program into a magnet for abuse and a drain on taxpayers. In an update from our story on Tuesday, 15th District Congresswoman Mary Miller, a Republican from Oakland says millions of dollars have been taken away from needy Illinois families, because of state policies in illinois…
15th District Illinois Congresswoman Mary Miller, Republican from Oakland.
(Champaign-jm) — The man accused of stabbing two Champaign firefighters and an EMT during a mental health call has been denied pretrial release. On Wednesday, Champaign County Associate Judge Brett Olmstead ordered Trevor Lewis to be detained pending trial. Lewis stands accused of attempted murder and aggravated battery. According to Champaign Police, on September 4 first responders were called to Neil Street and Buena Vista Drive because Lewis was experiencing a mental health crisis. Police said Champaign Fire and Arrow Ambulance came to transport him to the hospital, but a short time later, they called for help, saying they were being attacked and stabbed.
(Washington–jc) – Parts of Central and East Central Illinois are in dry and drought conditions.. Harvest is set to begin soon. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey ta;ls about how the dry autumn type weather affects the fall harvest…
U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey
(Paxton–jc) Patriots Day or 9-11 Remembrance Day is today. Do you remember where you were that morning? Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says he remembers…
Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third
(Champaign-jm) – A traveling Holocaust exhibit is coming to the Midwest next month. Marketplace Shopping Center in Champaign will welcome the Courage to Remember exhibit from October 20 to November 1. The exhibit will present information on the Holocaust in chronological order through first-person accounts, historical photos and maps. Courage to Remember will be in the center court of the mall. It is free and open to the public Monday-Friday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
(Paxton–jc) The Paxton Pride Group held its annual Never Forget, 9-11 Memorial Service this past Sunday at the Grand Old Flag area near Interstate 57. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emington was there and offered thoughts on Patriots Day…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting Republican from Emmington.
(Chicago–jc) – The U.S. Department of Justice will take part in oral arguments in the appeals court challenge of the state’s gun and magazine ban later this month.
The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals approved a motion for Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon to argue against the law, alongside other plaintiffs’ attorneys. A district judge found the law unconstitutional.
(Springfield–jc) –– Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Acting Director James Jennings Wednesday announced an 18 million dollar notice of Funding Opportunity to replace existing on-road diesel Class 4-8 medium- and heavy-duty local freight trucks and Class 8 port drayage trucks with all-electric Class 4-8 trucks Illinois E-P-A will also fund a portion of the necessary new Level 2 or direct current fast charging equipment if charging infrastructure is needed. Three areas will receive the funding. They include the Chicago area, counties near St Louis and several counties in the middle part of the state including Champaign and McLean Counties, locally.
WPXN News notes…
The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Business After Hours today from 5:30-7:30 pm at Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch.
The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, September 13th from 9-1. Activities include craft and vendors, live music and food.
The Grammy-nominated rock band Fuel is the headlining musical act for the annual Gibson City Harvest Fest on Saturday, September 13th in downtown Gibson City. Opening for Fuel is the Champaign-based party band X-Krush. General admission to the concert is free.
The annual Flessner Fall Fest is set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, September 13, at 118 Weldon St. in Roberts, featuring a pancake and sausage breakfast, kids inflatables, a corn pit, live music, food trucks, a silent auction, raffles and a 5K family run/walk starting at 9 a.m. To register for the 5K, people can visit runsignup.com/race/il/ roberts/nottodaydmd. The annual event is a fundraiser for Mason and Dawson Flessner, who are battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
