s(Springfield–jc) One new law that went into effect on January First deals with the Mahomet Aquifer. 104th District State Representative Brandun Schweizer, Republican from Danville, a co-sponsor on the legislation, says Senate Bill 1723 bans carbon sequestration in any sequestration facility that overlies, underlies, or passes through a sole-source aquifer, like the Mahomet Aquifer…
104th District State Representative Brandun Schweizer, Republican from Danville
This new law provides vital protection against pollution from carbon capture and storage projects, building on earlier efforts to safeguard the aquifer.
(Urbana-jm) – Weather permitting, drivers can expect intermittent lane closures along Cunningham Avenue/US 45 between East University Avenue and North Kenyon Road starting this week. The work is expected to continue through May 2026. Champaign Signal & Lighting will be making street light improvements, including underground conduit installation and replacement of luminaires, light poles, and lighting controllers. Through traffic will be maintained at all times.
(Rantoul–jc) – Village of Rantoul leaders are set to meet on Thursday afternoon at the Second Story Social building at 105 North Garrard in town. The reason is planning for the year and into the next several years says Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the third…
Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third
(The Center Square) – The Trump administration froze certain federal funding to Colorado this week amid growing national concerns about fraud in government-funded programs.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made the announcement on Tuesday. The freeze targets billions in funding to five Democrat-led states: Colorado, California, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.
The federal government cited concerns about “widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs.”
(Rantoul–jc) Rantoul Recreation Department Spring 20-26 Youth Soccer registration is now open. Registration ends on March third. More information is found by calling the Rantoul Recreation Department at (217) 893-5700 or by going on-line. Cost is 50 dollars per player and age groups are determined by the age of the participant on January first of this year.
(Undated–jc) Several January weather fronts will be moving into the midwest now through the weekend. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey says the first one will see warmer temperatures and more rain in the midwest…
U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey
(Chicago-jm) – The Office of Inspector General for the Chicago Board of Education
says it has substantiated 26 cases of adult-on-student sexual misconduct at Chicago Public Schools in the agency’s report for Fiscal Year 2025. According to the report, six of the investigations resulted in criminal charges and four already resulted in convictions. The OIG said it found many instances of adult-on-student sexual misconduct across two unnamed high schools located on one campus.
(Springfield–jc) –A number of pieces of legislation approved in the Illinois General Assembly officially went into law on January 1st, including legislation sponsored by 88th District State Representative Regan Deering, Republican from Decatur. Deering’s legislation requires the Illinois State Board of Education to create a public form and place it on its website for educational opportunities…
88th District State Representative Regan Deering, Republican from Decatur.
The law requires the form to be created and posted by July 1st, 2026.
(Champaign County-jm) – Three Champaign County communities had house fires Wednesday. The Urbana Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1000 block of North Goodwin Avenue. The house was abandoned. The St. Joseph Stanton Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1300 block of County Road 2250 East in St. Joseph for the report of a fire. 6 additional fire departments responded to assist. A Third fire was reported in the village of Thomasboro on Wednesday. That fire started around 5 pm yesterday. Thomasboro, Rantoul and Gifford fire departments all responded to the blaze. A family of four is looking for a place to stay
(Paxton–jc) The next steps for a future new gas station in the city of Paxton is moving forward. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the group heading the new gas station project have been working with engineers and state officials to prepare the site for the new business…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Urbana–jc) –The Illinois Flash Index for December ended the year at 101-point-7, the same reading as November. For the year, the index was down from a 102-point-4 reading in December of 2024. This indicates a slowing but still expanding Illinois economy. Overall, 2025 was a year of steady economic growth for both the state and nation. Fears of a recession have subsided, and inflation has moderated. Illinois tax receipts for December showed growth for both the individual income and sales taxes compared to the same month last year after adjusting for inflation The Flash Index is the weighted average of Illinois growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending, and personal income as estimated from receipts for corporate income, individual income, and retail sales taxes.
(Undated-jm) – Have you purchased meat at the grocery store over the last 10 years? If so, you may be entitled to a cash payment as part of a multi-million dollar settlement with two giant meat companies as part of a lawsuit that alleges they overcharged customers. The class action lawsuit claims several beef processors, including J-B-S, Cargill, National Beef and Tyson Foods, "conspired to limit the supply of beef and increase prices in the market." The companies denied any wrongdoing, instead agreeing to settle for a total of $82.5 million, with $55 million from Tyson and $32.5 million from Cargill. The sweeping settlement applies to dozens of fresh and frozen beef products sold at grocery stores in 27 states, including Illinois. Claims can be submitted via mail or online. The deadline to submit a claim to receive a cash payment is June 30 of this year.
(Champaign–jc) Three Champaign County residents will be honored at a Martin Luther King Junior celebration. WPXN”s Joel Cluver has the story…
WPXN News notes…
The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a food distribution on Thursday, January 15th from 1:30-2:30 pm in the parking lot across from the Milford post office.
The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, January 15th from 4:30-6:30 pm. Dinner includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, $6 for kids 6-13. Deliveries available in town by calling 217-379-0349.
The Cadillac in Paxton will host Ridgeland on Friday, January 16th. The show begins at 8pm. They will also host the 1985-Totally 80’s Mixtape Live on Saturday, January 17th. Doors open at 7 with the show starting at 8.
The 2026 Midwest Ag Expo will take place Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at Gordyville USA. Over 175 vendors will be present. Free admission and free parking. Hours 8:30-4 on the 21st and 8:30-3 on the 22nd.
The Champaign County Forest Preserve will host Raptors Up Close at the Lake of the Woods Pavilion on Saturday, January 24th from 10-11:30 am.
