(Champaign-jm) – One of the two teenagers accused of shooting and killing another teen at Champaign’s Market Place Mall last month will be tried as an adult. The Champaign County State’s Attorney's office says a motion to move the teen’s case from juvenile court to adult court was granted. The suspect was identified as 15 year old Braylin Vellon. The state’s attorney's office says Vellon is accused of opening fire on 16 year old Jaylen Bailey outside Dick’s House of Sport on March 23rd following an altercation. He faces four counts of first degree murder. The other 15 year old arrested in the case could also see his case go to adult court.
(Springfield-jm) – Former Illinois governor Pat Quinn hopes to see lawmakers pass a property tax relief plan within the next two weeks. The Democrats want state leaders to allow voters to decide if Illinois should have a millionaire tax. Quinn argues that millionaires should pay a 3% surcharge on their income taxes to help lower property taxes for families and businesses. Recent data show that Illinois has over 77,000 millionaires, who make up 1.2% of the state's income taxpayers. Over 60% of Illinois voters supported the statewide advisory referendum in 2024
(Springfield–jc) – The state of Illinois charges one of the highest gas taxes in the nation. With the war against Iran, the price of gas continues to range from 3-95 to 4-35 in East Central Illinois. One Republican State Representative has put forth a measure to help alleviate part of the price of gas. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington says it will save the motoring public some dollars…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington
(Rantoul-jm) - Charges against a Rantoul man in connection to a 2024 shooting have been dismissed. 21 year old Mekhi Ross appeared in Champaign County court for a final pretrial hearing when charges of aggravated battery with a firearm were dismissed, Ross was accused of shooting a man following an argument on October 28, 2024.
(Urbana-jm) – Urbana police and the University of Illinois Police Department are partnering to better serve residents around the clock. The Urbana City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement and a $50,000 payment to allow UIPD to access the law enforcement agencies' data system overnight. Currently, UIPD officers cover calls to the Urbana Police Department from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m.
(Danville–jc) – The East Central Illinois Community Action Agency was established in 1965 to provide continued services to individuals and families in the Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion Counties. The vision is to move families to self-sufficiency .East Central Illinois Community Action Agency’s Tori Brigham provides some insight into the services offered…
East Central Illinois Community Action Agency’s Tori Brigham
(Springfield–jm) — With construction across the state in bloom this spring, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, Illinois Tollway, industry partners, labor, local agencies and frontline construction workers today teamed up for National Work Zone Awareness Week to remind the public that “Safe Actions Save Lives.” To call attention to the heightened risks of work zones, Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed April 20-24 as “Work Zone Safety Awareness Week” in Illinois. ?
(Kankakee–jc) April is Sexual Assault-Awareness Month. Clove Alliance is a non profit that helps sexual assault survivors and families. The goal is to end sexual violence. Clove Alliance Executive Director Tracy Noe Slah says information is available on their website…
Clove Alliance Executive Director Tracy Noe Slah. They serve Kankakee, Ford and Iroquois Counties. The 24 hour crisis hotline help line is 815-932-3322
Champaign–jc) Parkland College is set to celebrate the achievements of the Parkland College apprenticeship participants. The celebration is set for April 29th at the college. The companies that have students in their apprenticeship program include Birkey’s Farm Stores, Kraft, Caterpillar and Advanced Filtration Systems.
(Springfield-jm) — A plan heading to the Illinois Senate could help address high-risk speeders across the state. Advocates hope to create an intelligent speed assistance program within the Illinois Secretary of State's office as an alternative to license suspension for dangerous drivers. This comes as sponsors say 75% of people with suspended licenses continue to drive. The bill states drivers who commit two qualifying offenses within a year would be required to install the speed limiting device in their vehicle. The Secretary of State would notify drivers that their license will be suspended until they complete the program. Participants would also pay $30 per month into the Intelligent Speed Assistance Permit Fee Fund.
(Springfield-jm) - The Illinois House passed a plan to improve the indoor air quality for schools. This plan states school districts should ensure all active classrooms are equipped with air quality monitors. Advocates expect the state to spend roughly $10 million to buy monitors for classrooms statewide. House Bill 4739 would also require the Illinois State Board of Education to work with the Illinois Department of Public Health to create a document explaining the values of good indoor air quality for districts. Republicans are concerned about whether the monitors will be purchased with federal or state funds.
(Springfield–jc) Trying to get to a real balanced budget without another tax increase from the majority party in Springfield 89th District State Representative Tony McCombie says the democrat majority continue to raise fees and taxes, and have more proposals in Springfield this week…
89th District State Representative and House Minority LeaderTony McCombie
The Republican added that we have a long way to go in Illinois and it doesn't start with more tax revenue. .
(Fisher-dg)- Fisher Grade School will have a new principal starting next school year. The Fisher school District hired Taylor Flynn to lead at the elementary school. She currently is the Assistant Principal at Paxton Buckley Loda Jr. High.
(Urbana-jm) – A teenager accused of shooting a 14-year-old in January is now being charged as an adult. On Tuesday, he appeared in court and pleaded not guilty. 17-year-old Brandon Huff is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm. The charges stem from a shooting that took place on January 29 in the 1100 block of Hill Street in Urbana. The victim and a 16-year-old male, both from Rantoul, were sitting inside a vehicle when two male suspects approached the vehicle and fired multiple shots into it. The 14-year-old was treated for his injuries, which were non-life-threatening. The 16-year-old wasn’t hurt. He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 20 for a pre-trial conference.
(Washington–jc) Its Spring planting season. With a look at the planted crops around the state and nation, a report with Rod Bain…
(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Board will vote Thursday on whether to approve a moratorium on large data center development for at least 90 days. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Shields-Carter Meeting Room of the Bennett Administrative Center in Downtown Urbana. The action comes as current ordinances covering data centers were designed for small centers. But in the past year, data centers have grown in size and scope. If passed, the Prairie Rivers Network said the moratorium will allow time for the board to research and adopt an ordinance regulating data center development within the county. Data centers can use a substantial amount of water for cooling. So a new set of ordinances will likely focus on water use. The main source of drinking water in Champaign County is the Mahomet Aquifer.
(Champaign–jc) The 20-26 Christie Clinic race weekend starts on Thursday and runs through Saturday in Champaign-Urbana. This year’s theme is “Leave your Legacy”. Christie Clinic Race Weekend Director Jan Seeley says the runners receive a “cool” medal…
Christie Clinic Race Weekend Director Jan Seeley. A Health Fair and Expo is the initial event Thursday and the annual Marathon steps off Saturday morning at 7-33.A full lineup of events is found on line
(Undated-jm) — State Representative Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville) is announcing two upcoming RX Drop Off Events he is hosting with local police departments on Friday, April 24th, Those include the Danville Police Department from 10 am to noon with drop off in the east lot of the Public Safety Building and the Rantoul Police Department from 1:30-3:30 in front of the police station.. Representative Schweizer, along with the Danville and Rantoul Police Departments will be collecting your unused, unwanted, and expired prescription drugs and safely disposing of them for FREE. The events are drive-up events, allowing constituents to remain in their cars. Please place medication in a sealed plastic bag. Brochures on state programs will also be available. Accepted medications include tablets, capsules, and other solid forms of prescription drugs, as well as patches and vaping devices and cartridges, provided the lithium batteries are removed. Restricted items include liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes, and needles.
(Springfield–jc) –The Illinois Department of Labor has entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with Allied Universal Security Services to resolve wage claims and prevent future violations of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. The agreement resolves those claims without litigation and establishes enforceable measures to ensure workers are paid properly going forward.
(Rantoul–jc) Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Furniture World in downtown Rantoul. The business has operated since 1959 in the downtown area of the village. The showroom is full of name brand furniture including a full line of recliners, sofas, sofa sleepers, rockers, to beds and bedroom groupings, kitchen dinettes, along with Bemco bedding. They are open daily 930am to 5pm. 10am to 5pm on Saturdays. Furniture World will also deliver your new items up to 50 miles from the Rantoul location.The slogan for the business has been…Name Brand Furniture, at everyday low prices, along with It’s worth the trip to Furniture World downtown Rantoul.
Furniture World in Rantoul, the WPXN Business of the Day, today.
WPXN News notes…
The Cadillac in Paxton will host Emo Night Live with the All American Throwbacks on Saturday, April 25th at 8pm.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Roberts will hold a free spaghetti supper on Sunday, April 26th from 4-6:30 pm at the Roberts Gym.
Gospel singer Kelley Dupius will perform at the Paxton Church of Christ on Sunday, April 26th at 7pm.
The Elliott Amvets will hold their porkchop sandwich supper on Friday, April 24th from 5–7 pm. Cost is $8. They will also host their Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry on Saturday, April 25th from noon–2 pm. Cost is $15.
The Gathering in Gilman will hold their Junk in the Trunk outdoor flea market on Saturday, April 25th from 9-2.
The Onarga Fire Department will hold their taco fundraiser on Saturday, April 25th from 10 until they are sold out at Durham Park. Cost is $3 per taco.
