(Rantoul-jm) — Officials in Rantoul are investigating after a threat, directed at RISE Academy, was made on social media on Monday. Rantoul City Schools Superintendent Scott Woods said the threat was posted on a local Facebook group Monday afternoon, and has since been removed. Law enforcement was notified immediately, and is now investigating. Woods says the individual who made the post does not appear to be associated with Rantoul City Schools, and there is no evidence of a credible threat toward RISE Academy or any RCS campus. Out of an abundance of caution there will be an additional police presence.

 

(Undated-jm) —- The national average price of gasoline has decreased by 1.4 cents per gallon over the past week, bringing it to $2.99 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. This marks a decline of 14.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and 6.6 cents per gallon lower than the same time last year. The data, compiled from over 11 million weekly price reports from more than 150,000 gas stations nationwide, also shows that Illinois drivers are paying $3.17 per gallon, a decrease of 4.8 cents from last week's $3.22 per gallon.

 

(Springfield–jc)  The Fall veto session is now complete for legislators in Springfield. Among the new measures was a bill that will raise energy costs, putting state dollars into supporting the Chicago transit system and an aid in dying bill. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon, says several of the new proposals were given to lawmakers, around an hour before they had to vote on the proposals…

   

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

 

(Piper City–jm) – Illinois State Police are releasing more information about a crash that happened near Piper City Friday evening. They say the crash happened at Routes 24 and 115 just after 6:30 pm. An suv was traveling westbound on Route 24 approaching the intersection when a semi pulled into the intersection to turn east. Two people in the suv were taken to the hospital.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The application was accepted for a one point 2 million dollar road reconstruction project for the city of Paxton. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold talks about the project that is a major upgrade to north Market Street in the city…

   

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. he city will be taking the next steps for the road project over the next few weeks and into 20-26. 

 

(Kankakee County-jm) – The Kankakee County Coroner’s Office has identified the four people who were killed in a two-vehicle crash last week near Reddick. The coroner’s office said Malik Parker and his daughter Malia Parker were in one vehicle, while 66-year-old Inayatulla Khan of Aurora and 51-year-old Rafiq Mohammad of Harvey were in the other vehicle. All four people were pronounced dead at the scene. 5-year-old Malia Parker was a Champaign elementary school student.

 

(Champaign–dm)-Although harvest is just about over, there is still a lot of farming going on.  Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Bailey Conrady has these safety reminders.

 

Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Bailey Conrady

 

(Chicago–jc)  Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s use of an expletive telling President Donald Trump and his supporters what they can do has drawn mixed reactions.

Pritzker drew applause from his audience when he made the comments during a speech to the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Republicans denounced Pritzker’s comments, which followed his description last week of federal law enforcement officers as “thugs” and Pritzker’s previous Nazi references when discussing the Trump administration.

 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois College of Applied Health Sciences  and Division of Intercollegiate Athletics are partnering for the centennial celebration of Huff Hall, one of the most historic buildings on the U of I campus, during the current academic year. Students, alumni, and community members are invited to a special Huff Hall program inside Huff Gym beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, which will include several speakers. The event is free and open to the public with doors open at 2 pm. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – State senators passed a bill last week to protect homeowners from excessive insurance rate increases and ensure transparency for homeowners, but the plan failed to gain enough support in the House before the veto session ended. Senator Michael Hastings has consistently said there needs to be fairness and accountability within the insurance industry. His legislation would require insurance companies to give homeowners at least 60 days notice before nonrenewal, changes in coverage, and premium increases over 10%. Insurers would also need to use credible Illinois specific data to set rates. Lawmakers could try to gain more support for the proposal when they return to Springfield in mid-January.

 

(Gilman–dm)-Veteran’s day is next week, and on Monday November 10th the Iroquois West Middle School will be hosting A Salute to our Veterans.  Iroquois West Middle School Principal Duane Ehmen (EE-MAN) has the details

 

 

Iroquois West Middle School Principal Duane Ehmen. Everyone is invited to attend, especially Veterans.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A suspect in a bike theft at the University of Illinois campus is believed to be the same person police say stole a campus restaurant’s tip jar earlier this year. Champaign County Crime Stoppers released its Crime of the Week on Monday. On June 29, police say a suspect stole a tip jar from a restaurant in the area of Sixth and Green Streets and on October 22, a suspect cut a lock off of a bike and rode away on it. The description of the suspect in the bike theft matched the description of the tip jar thief, officials said. In both cases, the suspect got away, but he was recorded on security cameras. He appears to be approximately 19 to 25 years old with shoulder-length dreadlocks. He was wearing a red, white and blue jacket, red pants and was carrying a red backpack.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  At a recent meeting of the Illinois Municipal League, Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third got to hear from a motivational speaker named Mike Singletary. Mayor Hall says Singletary talked about leading your community and more…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

 

(Springfield-jm) – Country music trailblazer Lainey Wilson is coming to the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage at the 2026 Illinois State Fair on Saturday, August 15th. Wilson has been awarded Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. 

 

(Illinois–jc)  For the second time in less than a week, a person from Illinois has been charged with making threats against President Donald Trump.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed Monday in a federal court, Trent Schneider, 57, of Winthrop Harbor posted on Instagram that he was going to get some guns and that Trump should be executed.  Schneider was ordered to remain detained in federal custody pending a hearing set for Thursday. Last week, Derek Lopez, 27, of El Paso,  was charged with making threats against the President.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Another act is coming to The Cadillac in downtown Paxton on Saturday. It’s EMO night with the All American Throwbacks on Saturday. Cadillac owner Alan Meyer says this band has played at the local event center several times and the crowds keep growing…

 

 

The Cadillac Owner Alan Meyer. Doors open at 6pm on Saturday and the music begins at 8pm

 

(Springfield–jc) Diocese of Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki is requesting prayers for Governor J.B. Pritzker to reject physician-assisted suicide legislation passed by the Illinois legislature last week. In a post on X, Paprocki said it is quite fitting that the "culture-of-death" forces in the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1950, early Friday morning Bishop Paprocki says  it was a day that, culturally, has become synonymous with glorifying death and evil.

 

CHAMPAIGN – In order to complete railway repairs, Canadian National will close Duncan Road at the railroad tracks between Springfield Avenue and Ridgewood Court in Champaign.  The closure will begin on this morning, and will re open on Wednesday. During the closure, through traffic will not be allowed in the area. Signage will indicate detour routes around the construction area.

 

WPXN News notes…

The Ford County Public Health Department will host a Medicare Open Enrollment on Tuesday, November 4th from 9-11 am at the Piper City Library and Wednesday, November 5th from 1-3 pm at the Moyer District Library in Gibson City.

 

The Little Achievers Academy Preschool at American Lutheran Church in Gibson City will host their annual holiday shopping bazaar on Saturday, November 8th from 9-2. 

 

Kirby Foods in Paxton will hold a cookout benefiting the PBL Band Parents Association on Saturday, November 8th from 10-2.

 

The Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school district’s annual Veterans Day assembly, which is open to the public, will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 11th, in the gymnasium of GCMS High School. Prior to the assembly, veterans are invited to a coffee and pastry breakfast that begins at 8:20 a.m. in the school’s commons.

 

Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School’s annual community Veterans Day observance will be at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, November 11th, in the school’s gymnasium. Featuring music by the school’s band, the observance is open to the public.

 

The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Coffee and Connections on Wednesday, November 12th from 8-9 am.

 

 

The Happily Everly After 5k fun run and walk to raise money for new swings at Durham Park in Onarga will take place on Saturday, November 8th at 10 am.