(Chicago–jc) – U.S. Border Patrol Commander Op At Large Gregory Bovino says Operation Midway Blitz has led to the arrest of an Iranian national who was convicted of aggravated kidnapping and criminal sexual abuse. Bovino wrote in an X post the unnamed individual is facing a new felony charge for re-entry of a removed alien.
(Undated-jm) – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have decreased by 8.2 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. Compared to a month ago, prices in Illinois are down by 5.4 cents per gallon and are 7.9 cents per gallon lower than the same time last year. In contrast, the national average price of diesel has seen a slight increase of 0.7 cents over the past week, currently standing at $3.66 per gallon.
(Illinois–jc)-- Starting next year, Illinois public libraries like those in Paxton Rantoul and Champaign to those around the state of Illinosmust stock opioid overdose antidotes WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…
(Momence-jm) — As part of National Cold Case Month, the Illinois State Police is renewing efforts to solve the 2007 double homicide of Pamela Branka and Paul Jones. On January 13, 2007, a 911 call was made from the Burger King attached to the Circle K gas station at 3 Gladiolus Street in Momence. A female was heard screaming but was unable to speak to the dispatcher. The Momence Police Department arrived approximately one minute later and discovered both Burger King employees, Pamela Branka and Paul Jones, deceased at the restaurant. Authorities urge anyone with information related to the investigation to visit the Illinois State Police Investigative Tips website or email tips to ISP.CRIMETIPS@illinois.gov.
(Danville-jm) – The Vermilion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a fatal crash that occurred at 8:24 a.m. on Monday at the intersection of Bowman Avenue and Poland Road. According to the initial investigation, a vehicle traveling northbound on Bowman Avenue collided with a vehicle traveling eastbound on Poland Road after the eastbound vehicle failed to yield and entered the intersection. The impact forced both vehicles into a ditch. The crash resulted in the deaths of the sole occupant of the eastbound vehicle and one of the two occupants in the northbound vehicle. The second occupant of the northbound vehicle was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
(Springfield–jc) The Illinois Department of Central Management Services is expanding its Intern to Hire Program partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation to include engineering roles.According to a CMS statement, the initiative provides a pathway for aspiring civil engineers to launch long-term public service careers in Illinois.
The program offers structured, paid internships leading to full-time state employment.
(Chicago–jc) –The Chicago Fed Survey of Economic Conditions Activity Index decreased to –14 in September from +1 in August, suggesting that economic growth was below trend. The survey includes parts of Illinois and four other Midwestern states. The September number still represents an improvement from -22 in July.
(Champaign–jc) – In order to facilitate deliveries at Gies Memorial Stadium, the University of Illinois will close one westbound lane of Kirby Avenue between First Street and Fourth Street. The closure will begin this morning, and will reopen on Saturday. During the closure, westbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in the area.
(Springfield–jc) The most recent data for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the agricultural sector is still the most dangerous in America.
Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture industry. For this reason, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week. Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie says she stands with the agriculture community…
Illinois House Minority Leader Toni McCombie
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists, government officials and participants from around the world gathered on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus for the grand opening of the National Science Foundation’s Illinois BioFoundry, or iBioFoundry, and the National Institute for Biofoundry Applications at the University of Illinois. The new facility is now open at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology on the U. of I. campus in Urbana.
(Springfield-jm) – Last week was rail safety week in Illinois. Aiesha Jackson with the Illinois Commerce Commission talks about the importance of the week…
Illinois Commerce Commission’s Aiesha Jackson.
(Paxton–jc) – Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Paxton Hardware and Rental. Today is the first full day of Autumn and now is the time for cool weather projects from painting to work projects around the home. Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen says
Warmer weather still remains as we start the autumn season, but now is the time to complete work on your yard with a grass seed program, gutter clean up projects.
Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen
You can hear more with Scott Allen over the noon news today and on later newscasts. Scott also does a 5 minute Scotts TIps for Success Program on Saturday mornings at
7-30 on WPXN. Paxton Hardware and Rental is the WPXN Business of the Day today.
(Granite City-jm) – The White House said Monday that it intervened under the terms of a three-month-old national security agreement with Japan-based Nippon Steel to block a decision to stop processing raw steel at U.S. Steel's Granite City Works plant in Illinois. In a statement, the White House said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick delivered the message that President Donald Trump would exercise his so-called “golden share” power that was a key element in the Trump administration's decision to allow Nippon Steel to buy out U.S. Steel. Earlier this month, Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel said it would stop processing steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in southern Illinois, just outside St. Louis, and “optimize” its operations by focusing on processing at its Mon Valley Works in Pennsylvania and Gary Works in Indiana. On Friday, U.S. Steel reversed course and said it would continue to supply raw steel slabs to Granite City “indefinitely” and that it had "found a solution to continue slab consumption at Granite City.”
(Danville-jm) – A 13-year-old girl was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after being stabbed during a fight on the 100 block of E. Davis Street in Danville late Sunday. Officers responded to the scene at 11:20 p.m. and discovered the injured juvenile, who was promptly transported to a local hospital for treatment. Following an investigation, police found three juveniles hiding in the basement of a nearby apartment building. A 12-year-old girl, a 14-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old girl were arrested and charged with several counts of aggravated battery and mob action. Authorities have not released further details about the incident, citing the involvement of minors.
(Rantoul-jm) – Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul closed in 1993. Thirty-two years later, the Air Force is trying to determine where so-called forever chemicals, PFAs, are located and how to handle them. Chanute was in firefighter training school, which used a firefighting foam known as AFFF, an effective foam used in battling aircraft fires. Those training with it, or using it in actual fires, did not realize that AFFF was toxic, possibly linked to cancer and other health issues. The Air Force has taken 496 groundwater samples from a shallow aquifer and 755 soil samples. A remedial investigation report is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2026. Actual clean-up of the contaminated locations will be sometime after that, once the appropriate steps needed are determined. The Air Force said PFAs have not impacted the Rantoul drinking water supply and have not been found in local wells. The problem with PFAs is that they tend to migrate and do not stay in one place.
What is the outlook this month regarding U.S. milk production? World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski goes over this month's milk production forecasts for both this year and next.
World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski
WPXN News notes…
Gifford Fall Townwide garage sales will take place Saturday, September 27th.
Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Loda Methodist Men on Saturday, September 27th from 10-2.
The Elliott Amvets will hold their Mountain Oyster lunch on Saturday, September 27th from noon to 2pm. Cost is $15 and includes oysters, chicken liver and onions and gizzards.
Rantoul/Paxton VFW will host the West End Boogie Project band playing your favorites from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s Saturday 27th from 6-9.
The Ladies Aid group of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buckley will have a bake/garage sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, September 26, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 27, at the Buckley American Legion post.
The Elliott Amvets will hold their pork chop sandwich dinner on Friday, September 26th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $8 and includes the sandwich and a side.
The Cadillac in Paxton will host Country Line Dancing with DJ Maggie B on Friday, September 26th from 8-11 pm.
