(Rantoul-jm) – A Champaign man was arrested on Wednesday after police said he displayed a gun while shoplifting from a grocery store in Rantoul. The incident, classified as an armed robbery, happened at Price Cutters on East Grove Avenue. Rantoul Police said in a news release that officers responded at 10:31 a.m. and were told a man had walked into the store and started taking items. When employees confronted the man, he showed them a gun and left. Officers later located Dametrius Kellup, age 25, hiding behind a nearby dumpster. Officials said that between the entrance of the store and the dumpster, they found several items that the robber had taken. Kellup was subsequently arrested and was booked into the Champaign County Jail on a preliminary charge of armed robbery.
(Paxton-jm) – After a man was recently arrested for child sex crimes in Paxton, the Police Department is reminding the public on how to protect children over the Internet. Following the arrest of Jeffrey Chadwicke, Paxton Police officials took to social media to address how to protect children from strangers. In a series of posts, officials addressed real dangers children face, and gave parents “practical, straightforward” ways on how to protect them. One post noted that strangers online are still strangers. Officials advised that parents teach their children to not accept friend requests from people they don’t know, not to engage in mystery “follow backs” and to decline invites of “Hey, let’s chat in this game.” In addition to their guidance on social media, police officials said officers will be visiting Paxton Buckley Loda schools to give in-person presentations on online safety. They previously gave these presentations last year.
(Paxton–jc) Pumpkins and mums are coming to Paxton on saturday. It’s Paxton’s Fall Gathering event at Veteran’s Square in downtown Paxton. . Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says the day starts with a pancake breakfast, then 17 vendors and artists and then pumpkins and mums…
Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper.
(Vermilion County-jm) – Officials in Vermilion County are actively being investigated by the Illinois State Police Special Investigations Unit for allegations of official misconduct and bribery. Jacqueline Lacy, Vermilion County State’s Attorney, said her office received information about the allegations on Tuesday. The allegations involved Vermilion Advantage, the Vermilion County Board and Vermilion County elected officials. As the investigation is ongoing, Lacy was unable to release the names of the specific Vermilion County officials the allegations are regarding.
(Bloomington–jc) Schools and its volleyball coaches will be seeding the IHSA Volleyball tournament a little differently this year. I-H-S-A Associate Executive Director Matt Troha says the seedings go deeper into the sub sectionals…
I H S A Associate Executive Director Matt Troha
(Chicago–jc) After Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Republican leaders in the state legislature failed to stand up for him when a social media influencer filmed outside his house and essentially blamed the governor for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s murder, Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie said she has consistently and publicly denounced violence. In a statement to The Center Square, McCombie said that in the video currently circulating, Pritzker admitted that he asked her to “post something,” which she had already done repeatedly.
Champaign, IL – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Justice Coalition will host a screening of the PBS documentary Discovered Truth: A Health Care Journey on Saturday, October 11, at the Independent Media Center in Urbana. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the film begins at 6:00 p.m. The documentary focuses on the history, challenges, and inequities around health insurance and healthcare access in the Black and African American community, particularly within the context of U.S. social change and policies such as the Affordable Care Act.
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will use a new automated notification system to relay chronic wasting disease test results to deer hunters starting with the current deer season. Hunters who harvest deer across the 25-county endemic area of northern and west-central Illinois are encouraged to have their deer tested by I-D-N-R biologists at mandatory or voluntary firearm deer check stations, at participating vendors, or by dropping deer heads at self-serve drop-off sites.
(Paxton–jc) Today's WPXN Businesses of the day are owned by the Meyer family in Paxton. They are Mom and Pop's Kettle Korn Stop and The Cadillac, both in downtown Paxton. Co Owner Alan Meyer talks about the history of Mom and Pops…
Alan Meyer talks about acts that have performed at the Cadillac…
Mom and Pops Kettle Korn Stop and The Cadillac Co Owner Alan Meyer.
The Cadillac has the band “Grundge-the sound of Seattle” performing live on Friday and “Big Love” -a Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band on Saturday.
Mom and Pops Kettle Korn stop and the Cadillac are the WPXN Businesses of the day, today
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced a delay in the stocking of catchable trout for the fall season due to unusually warm weather. The warm temperatures have prevented lakes and ponds across the state from cooling sufficiently, with trout at risk of high mortality if stocked in waters warmer than 68 degrees. IDNR plans to stock early catch-and-release sites as soon as water temperatures drop, with an expected completion by October 31. Updates on stocking will be available on IDNR’s ifishillinois.org website and social media channels. While the official opening date for the fall trout season remains Saturday, October 18, anglers should be aware that trout will not be present at many sites on opening day.
(Charleston-jm) – Eastern Illinois University is offering certain staff members a unique deal as it faces budget concerns: eligible employees who accept a Voluntary Separation Incentive and leave their positions can receive a one-time payment, equal to 20 weeks of their salary. Signed separation agreements are due back to the University by October 21st.
(Champaign–jm) – Bob Evans has permanently closed its Champaign location.The restaurant confirmed the closure, stating it occurred Tuesday. No reason was given for the closure.
(Paxton–jc) – The Paxton Church of Christ has an October concert scheduled. Paxton church of Christ Pastor Kevin Heiser says the national group “Jay Stone Singers will be in Paxton on October 17th…
Paxton Church of Christ Pastor Kevin Heiser. A love offering will be collected at the event at the church
(Gilman–jc) Hometown Family Foods is changing hands in the community of Gilman. The Trumble family purchased the local grocery store from Cliff Schroeder in 2002. Dave, Janice and Dee Trumble would like to thank all their customers over the years. Most of the employees will be continuing with the store under the new owners.
(Urbana–jc) –. — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus Omar M. Yaghi, a professor of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, is one of three recipients of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Yaghi received a Ph.D. in chemistry from Illinois in 1990. Yaghi and his co-recipients, Susuma Kitagawa of Kyoto University and Richard Robson of the University of Melbourne, are credited with developing metal-organic frameworks that can be used to store toxic gases, catalyze chemical reactions, or to capture carbon dioxide or water from the atmosphere. Yaghi is one of 12 alumni and 14 faculty at the U. of I. to receive a Nobel Prize,
(Chicago–jc) – F-B-I Director Kash Patel says Chicago has 110,000 gang members. Patel made the claim on Fox News after visiting the city this week.
The director said that President Donald Trump sent the F-B-I into cities quietly to set the stage for the National Guard.
(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court appeared split during oral arguments on Wednesday about a challenge over mail-in ballot laws in Illinois.
The challenge centers around Representative Mike Bost, Republican from Southern Illinois., who sued the Illinois Board of Elections over a law allowing the state to count mail-in ballots marked on Election Day as much as 14 days after an election. Bost filed the lawsuit in 2022, arguing Congress sets the time for federal elections and the state's mail-in ballot counting procedures go against that policy.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she did not understand the harm caused to Bost by allowing mail-in ballots to be counted in the period after Election Day.
WPXN News notes…
The nonprofit group Jeremiah 33:6 will sponsor a free produce pantry and health fair for all residents, regardless of income, from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, October 10, at the Roberts Gym. The health fair is being conducted by the Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University. Blood pressure, vision, hearing and color blindness screenings will be offered, along with hemoglobin A1C testing and wellness education.
The Loda American Legion will hold their fish and chicken fry on Friday, October 10th from 4-6 pm.
Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the Paxton Lodge 416 on Saturday, October 11th from 10-2.
The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, October 10th from 5-7 pm. Dinner includes spaghetti, salad and garlic bread for $10 per plate.
The Cadillac in Paxton will host Grunge: The Sounds of Seattle on Friday, October 10th. and “Big Love” -a Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band on Saturday. Doors open at 6 with the show beginning at 8.
Paxton’s Fall Gathering sponsored by Paxton Main Street, is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 11, at Veterans Square in downtown Paxton. A pancake breakfast runs from 8 to 11 a.m., with the meal of pancakes, sausage and a drink costing $8 for people over age 10 and free for those age 10 and under. A vendor and artist show is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
