(Springfield-jm) – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birthday with two days of free admission. Guests will be able to get into the library for free on his actual birthday, February 12, and also on Saturday, February 7, for a day of stories, games and music for children. The library will also have its signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation on display.
(Springfield–jc) One local state representative seeks to bring a balanced budget and one with savings and no new taxes. That is something that has not been done in recent years. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington says Illinois has to change its outlook for all Illinoisans…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington.
(Urbana-jm) – The City of Urbana has announced funding applications for grants to various public or private not-for-profit agencies will soon open for the upcoming program year. The program year will run from July 1 to June 30, 2027. According to the City, this grant will help fund programs and services for low-income community members. Urbana said the grant opportunity will focus on the following areas: education, employment and job training, domestic violence services, healthcare, food security, family support and special needs, senior services, immigrant services, violence prevention, youth services and housing and homelessness prevention. Applications through Neighborly will open Tuesday, February 3rd online. The submission deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday, April 6.
(Watseka–jc) It’s the middle of winter, but area farmers are looking at their options for crop insurance. Farm Credit Illinois Crop Insurance Specialist Jason Rust says each year there are different options and challenges for farmers…
Farm Credit Illinois Crop Insurance Specialist Jason Rust
(Livingston County-jm) — A Georgia man is under investigation after sheriff's police in Livingston County seized over $22,000 from a vehicle during a traffic stop. The un-identified man was the only person in the vehicle. Police report the man was on federal probation with supervised release -- on a money laundering case. A Livingston County sheriff’s deputy seized the cash during a traffic stop in Pontiac near West Reynolds and North Deerfield roads and involved a rental vehicle. During the stop, a sheriff’s office canine conducted a free-air sniff and alerted to the vehicle, prompting a search, officials said. Deputies reported finding $22,151 inside a black backpack. Investigators said the currency is believed to be connected to illegal activity.
(Paxston–jc) It’s more musical acts to line dancing at The Cadillac in Paxton. The Cadillac owner Allen Meyer says February brings a wide variety of acts to the city of Paxton, including “smells like Nirvana” …
The Cadillac of Paxton Owner Allen Meyer. Other acts are line dancing on February 13th and Whiskey Friends on February 20th. The venue will also host a fundraiser with Living Word Church next month.
(The Center Square) – Illinois American Water has filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission to raise customer rates in January 2027. The company says the typical residential water customer would see an increase of about $14 per month, and the typical customer served by sanitary wastewater systems would see an increase of about 28dollars per month. The Citizens Utility Board promised to challenge the request.
(Paxton–jc) The public is invited to hear Ford County Sheriff Chad Johnson speak about law enforcement challenges and opportunities in today’s world at the next Republican Quarterly Breakfast. The event is set for Saturday, February 21 from 8:15 am – 9:30am at the Arcade Café in Paxton.
(Champaign-jc) The Southbound lanes of Interstate 57 were shut down over several hours overnight. The reason was a semi trailer caught fire. The incident happened just after 9pm near mile marker 234 near the I-72 exchange in Champaign County. The southbound lanes opened for normal traffic just after midnight this morning.
(The Center Square) – Democratic and Republican lawmakers clashed this week after a West Chicago teacher was placed on administrative leave over a social media post interpreted as supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Democrats called the message harmful, and Republicans warned against targeting federal law enforcement.The teacher’s name has not been disclosed.
State Senator . Karina Villa, Democrat fromWest Chicago, condemned the message as harmful to immigrant families and students. Republicans, however, pushed back forcefully. State Representative Adam Niemerg, republican from Dieterich, accused Democrats of fueling hostility toward federal law enforcement and politicizing a vague, two-word post.
(Washington–jc) What is the impact of the current winter weather that saw wind chills near 20 below along with ice and snow over a large portion of the country. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey has some answers…
U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey
(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign magnet school will receive a $20,000 grant to support a project centered around community connection. Stratton Academy of the Arts is receiving the grant from Healing Illinois. Healing Illinois is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, supporting projects that foster racial healing and community healing by honoring the histories, experiences, and voices of Illinois communities.
(Rantoul–jc) Class number 66 just started this month at the Lincoln’s Challenge program in Rantoul. Lincoln’s Challenge Public Relations Director Michael Camacho says its a 22 week program that helps youth find their potential…
Rantoul based Lincoln’s Challenge Program Public Relations Director Michael Camacho. Those completed the program will graduate in June and class number 67 will start in July in Rantoul
(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois’ Soybean Innovation Lab is still feeling the impacts of its USAID funding being cut in March last year. Workers said the lab went from having 30 workers to nine. They also said many of them worked without pay for months. The workers said the Gates Foundation is funding their research on preventing crop disease in Africa through 2027. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a candidate to replace retiring Senator Dick Durbin, talked to the remaining workers this week about the lab’s future. Krishnamoorthi said restoring USAID funding to programs is not in the next federal budget, which will be voted on Friday.
(Hoopeston–jc) – The Hoopeston Area High School F F A is hosting their annual scholarship auction on saturday in the city. Hoopeston Area High School F F A Member Ken Anderson says the event starts at 4pm Saturday afternoon at the Hoopeston American Legion…
Hoopeston Area High School F F A Spokesperson Ken Anderson
(Urbana–jc) A Champaign County man was injured Wednesday morning in a shooting that happened near Colorado Avenue in Urbana. In updating our story from Wednesday, the victim was shot in the neck and taken to a local hospital. Upon investigation Urbana police arrested 48 year old John Webb of Urbana. Champaign County crimestoppers is seeking information on this shooting. Those with information area asked to call 217-373-8477. The investigation continues
(Washington–jc) Saying Illinois' laws giving illegal immigrants discounted college tuition "flagrantly" violates federal law, the Justice Department has asked a southern Illinois federal judge to close the book on the state's bid to toss the White House's lawsuit seeking to end the state's practices. The filing came as the latest step in a court battle that began last year, as part of the legal campaign launched by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump to clamp down on programs and policies in states led by Democrats providing a host of benefits to illegal immigrants, despite federal laws ostensibly prohibiting them from doing so.
WPXN News notes…
CU at Home will hold their One Winter Night to raise awareness about homelessness on Friday, February 6th starting at 5:30pm.
The 13th annual Milford FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction will take place on Saturday, February 7th at Milford Town and Country Events. Doors open at 11 am, lunch is served at noon with the auction starting at 1pm.
The St. Joseph Ogden FFA annual auction will take place on Saturday, February 7th at the St. Joseph Ogden High School. Doors open at 4:30pm , dinner and silent auction begins at 5 with the live auction beginning at 6pm.
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Onarga American Legion on Wednesday, February 11th from 1-6 pm.
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Rantoul City Schools Central Office on Friday, February 13th from 11-4.
