(Rankin-jm) – It has been more than a year since a Vermilion County man from Rankin went missing. Champaign County authorities believe his remains were discovered in the county earlier this week. Now his former Rankin neighbor is under arrest for allegedly murdering him. 55-year-old Frank Lucas of Rankin disappeared on July 8th last year. He was reported missing several days later by family members. The search for him started in Rankin but then was expanded to more areas of Vermilion and Champaign Counties.. Yesterday, the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation found evidence that Lucas was likely murdered, and his former neighbor, identified as 56-year-old Johnny Gibson, was named a suspect in the case. Gibson now lives in Peoria. Some yet unidentified remains of a body were found on Monday in Champaign County. The Illinois State Police Crime Lab is attempting to identify the remains. Gibson is charged with three counts of murder, one count of dismembering a human body and one count of concealing a homicidal death. He was arrested at his home in Peoria and is currently at the Vermilion County Jail in Danville
(Springfield-jm) – Two former state lawmakers are making a push to change how the state draws political maps for state races. Bill Daley and Ray LaHood are pushing to put a constitutional amendment proposal on the ballot for voters to decide whether to create an independent commission to draw the maps instead of the majority party. The proposal would only affect statehouse races and not races at the federal level. A proposal somewhat similar to this one was thrown out by the state supreme court back in 2016. That proposal was crafted by Daley. He says if approved this time, it wouldn’t take effect until 2030…
Former U-S Commerce Secretary Bill Daley.
(Chicago-jm) — National Guard troops won't be deploying in the Chicago area anytime soon unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes because a judge on Wednesday extended her temporary restraining order indefinitely. U.S. District Judge April Perry on Wednesday blocked the deployment of Guard troops to the Chicago area until the case has been decided either in her court or the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes. Perry had already blocked the deployment for two weeks through a temporary restraining order. Attorneys representing the federal government said they would agree to extend the order but emphasized that they would continue pressing for an emergency order from the Supreme Court that would allow for the deployment. Lawyers representing Chicago and Illinois have asked the Supreme Court to continue to block the deployment, calling it a “dramatic step.”
(Springfield–jc) The second week of the fall Veto Session is scheduled to take place in Springfield next week and among the proposals drawing attention are measures advancing elements of a Democrat party tax-and-spend agenda.
This includes the controversial Transit Bill, to address a projected funding shortfall for systems like the CTA, Metra, and Pace, which could lead to drastic service cuts.
Reaction from Illinois House Minority Leader Norine Hammond, Republican from Macomb..
94th District State Representative and Illinois House Minority Leader Norine Hammond, Republican from Macomb. One estimate on the tax and spend proposal would be a One and one half Billion dollar bailout for Chicago
(Paxton-jm) – Paxton’s Market Street Grill permanently closed on Wednesday, about one week earlier than expected. Last week the restaurant announced that it had made the difficult decision to permanently close October 30th. A week after the closure announcement, however, Market Street Grill said they are now closed permanently. The restaurant cited “continual staff call-outs” as the reason for the earlier-than-expected closure.
(Rantoul–jc) The village of Rantoul has several job openings and local leaders are looking for applicants. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third talks about the process and openings…
Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third
(Urbana–jc) Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer is releasing the name of an individual who has died after a shooting incident in Bloomington on Tuesday night. 57 year old Van Wilson, of Bloomington, Illinois was pronounced dead at Carle Hospital Emergency Department in Urbana, An autopsy has been scheduled this week and the death is being investigated by the Champaign County Coroner’s Office and the Bloomington Police Department.
(Danville-jc) – On Saturday from 9am to noon, the Lowe’s in Danville will offer training to support the national “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” program to provide free beds for the needy. Lowe’s, organizers from Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and Danville’s Three Kings of Peace are inviting the community to participate in the free training and become a volunteer to build and distribute beds to Danville’s neediest residents.
(Thomasboro–jc) – Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Hoveln Heating Cooling and Plumbing of Thomasboro. The business started in 1977 and now the third generation of the Hoveln family is involved in the business that serves a wide area in East Central Illinois. Hoveln Heating Cooling and Plumbing Service Manager Brant Hoveln provides a family history of the business…
Brant Hoveln says Geo-Thermal Tax Credits end on December 31st and those wanting to do a Geo Thermal project need to schedule their project…
Hoveln Heating Cooling and Plumbing Service Manager Brant Hoveln
For for heating, cooling and plumbing needs call Hovelns in Thomasboro at
217-643-2125
Hoveln Heating Cooling and Plumbing of Thomasboro is the WPXN Business of the Day, today
(Springfield–jm) – Illinois is considering eliminating certain factors that determine auto insurance rates, such as credit score, ZIP code, and age. The Secretary of State claims that removing these criteria would lower insurance rates and increase transparency in rate setting. The debate continues as Illinois weighs the potential impact on insurance costs.
(Springfield–jc) Illinois leaders in Springfield passed a 55 Billion dollar budget for the current fiscal year. That budget is the highest ever, and included between 1 and 2 Billion dollars in new taxes. Projection numbers have been lowered and that is a concern about how the state spends money, says 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon…
53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced the waterfowl season dates and zone lines for the 2026-2030 seasons. The former South-Central and South zones will merge into one South Zone, while other boundaries remain unchanged, as 90% of surveyed hunters agreed with their current zone placement. A significant change is the introduction of a split within the duck season, which was not possible under the previous four-zone structure. Hunters also expressed a preference for later season dates, leading to splits in all zones to accommodate this. The new structure will see duck season start dates similar to previous ones in the North and Central zones, with later end dates due to the split. The South Zone will adopt a start date akin to the former South-Central Zone, with the second segment ending in late January annually. These changes will take effect in the 2026 season, with maps and specific dates available online. Current season dates and zone lines for 2025-2026 are already set and accessible in IDNR's hunting and trapping digest or on the Hunt Illinois website.
(Paxton–jc) City of Paxton leaders gave their go-ahead to pump repairs at the Paxton city’s treatment plant on the west side of town. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says it is a preventative maintenance issue…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana man accused of shooting a person in the University of Illinois’ Campustown over the weekend has now been charged with attempted first-degree murder. This past Saturday, campus police were called to shots fired incident near the intersection of Green and Fifth Streets. One male was taken to a local hospital with suspected gunshot wounds On Monday police arrested 18-year-old Decoven Stephens of Urbana, Stephens had an arraignment hearing Wednesday morning, and was officially charged with the following: attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery and unlawful possession of a handgun. A pretrial hearing, is set for November 18th
(Rantoul–jc) A food distribution event is set for Saturday at the Community Service Center in Rantoul. The event is sponsored by St Pauls Church in Gifford. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford says it is a drive through event…
Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford. The event again is Saturday morning from 9 to 10-30 at the Community Service Center, Rantoul.
(Danville–jc) Filing for the Spring primary in Vermilion County starts at 8 Monday morning and concludes at 5pm Monday November 3rd. Vermilion County offices up for election include Board of Review, County Clerk, County Treasurer, Regional Office of Education, Sheriff, Supervisor of Assessments, County Board Members, and all Precinct Committeepersons.
(Champaign–jc) The city of Champaign is hosting a Street Outreach Introduction and Implementation event next week. The location is the Y on the Fly on west Springfield Avenue starting at 6-30pm on Wednesday the 29th. Champaign city council members will also be in attendance at the event.
WPXN News notes…
The Elliott Amvets will hold their pork chop sandwich dinner on Friday, October 24th from 5-7 pm. Dinner includes the sandwich and a side for $8.
The Cissna Park Library will hold a Halloween Fun Night on Friday, October 24th from 4:30-6 pm. Activities include games, prizes and more for kids pre-k through 4th grade.
The Cadillac in Paxton will host Howl 2 Go Dueling Pianos on Friday, October 24th at 7pm.
The Cissna Park American Legion Auxiliary’s Fall Bazaar will take place on Saturday, October 25th from 9-2.
Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting York Rite of Paxton on Saturday, October 25th from 10-2.
The Elliott Amvets will hold their Mountain Oyster lunch on Saturday, October 25th from 12-2. Lunch includes oysters, chicken liver and onions and gizzards for $15.
The Loda American Legion Auxiliary will hold a trunk or treat on Saturday, October 25th from 2-5 pm.
