(Undated-jm) – With fall here in Central Illinois, Ameren Illinois customers are set to see a decline in their electric bill. According to the Illinois Commerce Commission, electric prices will drop a little over eight cents for those using less than 800 kilowatts, and 7.50 cents for those who use more. During the fall and winter, supply costs typically drop to a little under six cents for those who use less than 800 kilowatts and five cents for anything above. The change follows soaring energy prices in the summer. The company warned residents about the changing prices in the spring, with bills estimated to be between 20% to 22% higher for the average customer.

 

(Champaign-jm) — The Illinois African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission is set to hold a public hearing at the University of Illinois campus this Saturday. The event, part of the commission's statewide tour, aims to gather community input on reparatory actions for Black Americans in Illinois. Illinois is one of only three states with a reparations commission, alongside California and New York. The commission's goal is to compile a report detailing harms done to African Americans in the state and propose solutions, including policy changes and compensation. The hearing will take place at the Krannert Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 

(Illinois–jc)  As violence against ICE escalates, Illinois House Republicans talked to the media  to discuss their efforts to restore order, support law enforcement, and keep communities safe. 89th District State Representative and Republican from Savannah, Tony McCombie  pointed to the gaslighting and dangerous rhetoric of the governor and Chicago mayor…

   

89th District State Representative Tony McCombie, republican from Savannah

 

(Rantoul–jc)  A vehicle fire just south of Rantoul along Interstate 57 slowed traffic overnight. The incident happened just before midnight last night near mile marker 249. No word on injuries and no damage report was given. Southbound traffic was down to one lane for several hours.

 

(Bloomington-jm) – A Central Illinois man who worked to advocate for Illinois farmers died last week. Ryan Whitehouse was the Director of National Legislation for the Illinois Farm Bureau. He was involved in an accident in Michigan, leading to his death at 43-years-old. Whitehouse grew up in Arrowsmith, a small village in McLean County, before attending Illinois State University. He started working with the Illinois Farm Bureau in 2013.

 

(Kankakee-jm) — Kankakee Community College is celebrating an increase in student enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester for the third year in a row. The college reports a 7.2% increase in headcount and a 5.5% increase in credit hours this fall compared to Fall 2024.

 

(Cissna Park–jc)  The Cissna Park F F A is busy preparing the downtown area for its annual Pumpkins in the Park event, which takes place on Saturday. Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton says there will be lots of activities from pumpkin painting, a petting zoo, scarecrow decorating and lots of food…

   

Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton

 

(Bloomington–jc)  A coalition of state soybean associations, led by the Illinois Soybean Association  and the American Soybean Association, has submitted a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins urging the Administration to preserve the Agricultural Research Service  facility in Urbana., That facility is home to the National Soybean Germplasm Collection. Farmers insist this site is vital to U.S. crop resilience, yield gains, and global leadership in soybean genetics. The letter—backed by a majority of state soybean groups nationwide—expresses concern that proposed budget changes could transfer the germplasm collection, along with other key research, to alternative USDA locations. 

 

(Springfield–jc) –An investment guidance organization has found that Illinois is second only to New York in collecting taxes on sports betting.A study by The Motley Fool revealed that Illinois has taken in $958,470,529 since sports wagers were legalized in 2018. Overall, states have collected $9.3 billion in taxes on sports betting.

 

(Cissna Park–jc)  – Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Knapp and Steiner True Value Hardware downtown Cissna Park. Knapp and Steiner True Value Hardware Store Manager Michael McCray says October is a good time to put down some fall grass seed…

Michael McCray says October is a good time to  get ready for the cold weather with a look at windows and more……

Knapp and Steiner True Value Hardware Cissna Park Store Manager Michael McCray. 

Knapp and Steiner True Value Hardware downtown Cissna Park, the WPXN Business of the Day, today. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – A new report shows Illinois educational attainment continues to rise, and the state's schools weathered pandemic challenges better than other states. Although academic proficiency remains very low, equity gaps persist for students across the state. Nonprofit education policy group Advance Illinois announced Wednesday that Kindergarten readiness is improving, but gaps widened from 2018 to 2023 for English learners, by family income, and type of disability. Only a third of early childhood students show readiness in language and literacy, math and social-emotional skills. Illinois remains one of the country's leaders in academic growth between third and eighth grade, yet proficiency is stagnant for about a third of the student population. The percentage of students immediately enrolling in higher education fell during the pandemic and has not rebounded. Chronic absenteeism also remains high, as researchers found that student mental health and wellness are worsening. Advance Illinois reported 77% of Illinois youth have gone through an adverse childhood experience, and more K-12 students feel sad or hopeless.

 

(Springfield-jm) — The largest multi-year program to build and repair infrastructure in Illinois history was announced Wednesday. $50.6 billion over six years has been allocated for projects across the state. The program includes $400 million spread across all modes of transportation, ranging from street and transit upgrades to bike and pedestrian improvements. Local projects receiving funding include: $39 million for I-57 bridge deck overlays, bridge joint replacement/repairs, culvert repairs, bridge superstructure replacements and new bridge decks on various structures from 1.2 miles south of Sugar Creek to 1.3 miles north of Prairie Creek in Iroquois County. $15.2 million for I-57 bridge replacement at Kirby Avenue west of Champaign and $13.2 million for Prospect Avenue resurfacing 1.8 miles, intersection improvement and other improvements from Marketview Drive to Springfield Avenue in Champaign. 

 

(Washington–jc)  September is now complete. U S D A Chief Economist Seth Meyer goes over  September quarterly stock for corn and soybeans…

   

U S D A Chief Economist Seth Meyer

 

(Bloomington-jm) – Bloomington Police arrested a woman who is accused of voting twice in the November 2024 General Election. The suspect, 55-year-old Suniti Sud of Bloomington, faces three counts of voting more than once. She was released because the crime is a non-detainable offense, according to Illinois’ SAFE-T Act. Police began investigating the case in June after the Bloomington Election Commission reported a suspected instance of voter fraud. Records indicated that Sud had voted twice in the last general election—once by mail-in ballot in Wisconsin and once in person in Bloomington. Following that discovery, a McLean County jury indicted Sud near the end of September.

 

(Ogden-jm) – A farmer’s quick work in Ogden prevented a small combine fire from getting much bigger Wednesday afternoon. The Ogden Royal Fire Protection District, said firefighters responded to a soybean field near County Road 1375 N and County Road 2550 E in Ogden around 12:30 p.m. for a combine fire. The farmer had already put out most of the fire with a fire extinguisher, and farm hands had worked together to dig around the fire, preventing it from getting any bigger.  Homer and St. Joseph fire crews also responded to the scene. The firefighters were able to clear the scene around 1:30 p.m.

 

(Paxton–jc)  –  It’s expected to be nice weather on Saturday for the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Wine and Chocolate Walk. The event is sold out as 250 tickets for the event have been purchased. Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Dawn Stack says the day starts at 11 with the participants visiting 23 stores in Paxton and at the end of the day it is time for prizes…

   

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Dawn Stack

 

(Urbana–jc)  In updating our story from yesterday, Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer is releasing the name of an individual who has died as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash that occurred at Route 45 and 600N near Tolono last night.34 year old Steven L. Stumborg, of Tolono, was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy has been scheduled. This death remains under investigation by the Champaign County Coroner’s Office and the Illinois State Police.

 

(Naperville–jc)  – Delta Dental of Illinois is partnering with the Illinois High School Association  this school year to help  protect high school student-athletes by donating mouth guards to schools throughout the state. Mouth guards are vital in preventing injuries to the mouth, face, neck, and head during contact sports. Since 2022, Delta Dental of Illinois has donated more than 15,000 mouth guards to student-athletes across the state. Delta Dental of Illinois is the leading dental benefits carrier in Illinois.

WPXN News Notes…

The Ford County Public Health Department will hold a flu clinic today from 10-3 at the health department office in Paxton.

 

Thomasboro Fall Townwide Garage sales will take place Friday, October 3rd and Saturday, October 4th.

 

Hudson Drug and Hallmark will host a COVID booster, RSV, shingles, pneumonia and flu vaccine drive for seniors on Friday, October 3rd from 9-10:30 am at Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley.

 

The Rankin Lions Club will hold their First Friday Dinner on Friday, October 3rd from 4:30-7:30 pm.

 

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Paxton Naz Youth Group on Saturday, October 4th from 10-2.

 

A benefit ride for Glenn Judy, who recently passed away from pancreatic cancer, will be held on Saturday, October 4th at 11 am starting at Murdocks in Loda. Cost is $15 per person or $20 per couple.

 

The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce’s 7th annual wine and chocolate walk will take place on Saturday, October 4th from 11-4:30. 

 

The Elliott Amvets will hold their family dinner on Friday, October 3rd from 5-7 pm. Dinner includes chicken, fish or shrimp and 2 sides for $15.

 

The Cadillac in Paxton will welcome The Voice Season 9 Runner up, Emily Ann Roberts on Friday, October 3rd. Doors open at 6 with the show beginning at 7.

 

The PBL Booster Club, PBL Education Foundation and Paxton Main Street will host the Hometown Huddle All-PBL schools reunion on Friday, October 3rd from 9-11 pm at Market Street Grill in Paxton.

 

Cissna Park’s Pumpkins in the Park will take place on Saturday, October 4th.

 

Hudson Drug and Hallmark will host a COVID booster, RSV, shingles, pneumonia and flu vaccine drive for seniors on Saturday, October 4th from 9 to noon at the old Eastlawn school in Paxton.

 

The Philo Country Opry will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday, October 4th at 7pm. Food will be served starting at 5:30 pm.

 

The Cadillac in Paxton will host Ridgeland live on Saturday, October 4th. Doors open at 6 with the show beginning at 8.

 

The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine will hold their annual open house on Sunday, October 5th from 10-4 at the Vet Med Basic Sciences Building.