(Springfield-jm) As temperatures warm up in Central Illinois, the amount of time people spend outside also rises. But, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is warning Illinoisans to leave young birds and other animals alone when they encounter them in the wild. Most of the time, human intervention does more harm than good and parents will usually stay away from nests and dens if humans are nearby.
(Paxton–jc) The Paxton Park District Board is now down by two members after their regular meeting last night. Matt Quinlan is resigning from the board. The local board continues to look at filling it’s director position. Spring and Summer activities have started for the park district in Paxton.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a plan Tuesday to help schools alert first responders to emergencies faster. This bill requires public and private schools to consider using a mobile panic alert system for emergency and crisis response. Sponsors said the Illinois State Police will work with the State Board of Education and Emergency Management Agency to develop rules for the panic alert system. House Bill 5107 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. It received unanimous support in the House last month.
(Springfield–jc) Tuesday the Illinois House adopted a resolution declaring June 2026 as Fallen First Responders Month in the State of Illinois in honor of all the firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The resolution was sponsored by 37th district State Representative Patrick Sheehan, Republican from Lockport…
37th district State Representative Patrick Sheehan, Republican from Lockport
(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign County man was sentenced to 48 months of probation, nearly six months after pleading guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child. Tyler Wilson-Hardy had been facing three separate counts of the Class 3 felony. But, Wilson-Hardy took a plea deal on November 24, 2025 that saw the other two counts he was facing dismissed.
(Chicago–jc)When the Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago next month, it will feature the Nancy Pelosi Garden Pavilion. The Obama Foundation announced the tribute to the former U.S. House Speaker on Tuesday, thanks to a donation by philanthropist and business leader Ron Conway. Former President Barack Obama said in a statement that he would always be grateful for Pelosi’s support of the Affordable Care Act.
(Rantoul–jc) If you see members of the Rantoul Paxton V F W post 67-50 on the street corner in Rantoul today, there is a very good reason. The local veterans post is fundraising for charities and a building project with the local V F W Post. Rantoul Paxton V F W Post 67-50 Spokesperson Joe Manka says the event stats at 7am …
Rantoul Paxton V F W Post Spokesperson Joe Manka
(The Center Square) – Illinois’ congressional district map is being challenged over what some argue are unconstitutional racial requirements for districts. A former Republican state representative sued Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the State Board of Elections late last week. Jeanne Ives, a former representative of the state’s 42nd district, brought the case backed by J. Christian Adams, president and general counsel of the Public Interest Legal Foundation. Filed in the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois, the official complaint claims congressional maps drawn after the 2020 U.S. Census are unconstitutional.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation is starting a hiring initiative that aims to fill a nationwide shortage of engineers in return for paying student loan debt. The Higher Education Student Loan Repayment Assistance for Engineers Pilot Program will provide student loan repayment assistance in the form of an annual bonus of $15,000 a year. To be eligible, the engineer must be hired by IDOT on or after July 1, 2024, and work for the department for four continuous years. Payments will be capped at a total of $60,000 and begin once the engineer has worked at IDOT for at least four years.
(Springfield-jm) – A plan moving in the Illinois Senate could help people receive reminder notifications before court hearings. The bill would require pretrial service agencies to send two reminder text messages to people on pretrial release before their required court dates. It also states that pretrial services agencies must keep a copy of the message and a delivery receipt within their records. The legislation also calls for circuit clerks and the Office of the Statewide Pretrial Services to study the feasibility of sending automatic text message reminders to all people charged with a criminal offense. The report would be due to state lawmakers by December 31.
(Rantoul–jc) The 20-25 to 20-26 school year is coming to a close this month. For students at St Malachy’s Catholic school in Rantoul its the final week with school and some activities says Director of Stewardship Venessa Martinez…
St Malachy Cathoic School Rantoul Director of Stewardship Venessa Martinez
(Vermilion County-jm) – Two special events are coming up at the War Museum in Danville. The first will be on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16th. Admission will be free, and guests can tour and visit with reenactors and living history presenters at this annual event. For the War Museum’s First Saturday event on June 6th, it will be another free admission day and an opportunity to see the actual Medal of Honor awarded to Danville’s General John Charles Black. The program will begin at 1:00 p.m. and a reception will follow the brief presentation.
(The Center Square) – The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that the state will pay $15,000 of eligible student loan debt annually for up to 50 new civil engineers who graduate from Illinois schools. I-DOT says payments will be capped at $60,000
The pilot program is the result of legislation proposed by State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, to address a downward trend in engineering graduates.
(Roberts–jc) The 20-26 summer event event schedule sees a big Saturday for the village of Roberts on June 6th. It is the annual Roberts Fun Day. The day begins with a breakfast at 8am and has vendors, bingo, bounce houses, a silent auction to a live band from 7pm to 10pm. Roberts Fun Day Spokesperson Jessa Loveall says its a time to celebrate the town and its citizens…
Roberts Fun day Spokesperson Jessa Loveall
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Fair is bringing a night of heartfelt lyrics and high-energy folk rock to the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage, as four-time GRAMMY Award nominees The Avett Brothers perform on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Their 2009 major-label debut I and Love and You launched them into mainstream success.
WPXN News notes…
The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Coffee and Connections on today from 8-9 am at the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce office.
The Champaign Park District will hold a touch a truck at Sholem Park on Wednesday, May 13th from 4-7 pm.
Rankin townwide garage sales will take place Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th.
The nonprofit group Jeremiah 33:6 will hold a free produce pantry and health fair on Friday, May 15th from 3-5 pm at the Roberts Gym in Roberts.
The Onarga American Legion will hold their fish fry on Friday, May 15th from 4:30-7 pm at the Legion Hall at Durham Park.
Gibson City’s Friday Night Under the Lights will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 15, featuring a car cruise, food vendors and live music downtown on Sangamon Avenue.
The Village of Rantoul will hold a clean up day on Saturday, May 16th from 8 to noon on Galaxy Drive.
Paxton Main Street, historical open houses, free to attend, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16th at the Ford County Historical Society’s Water Tower Museum, the old Ford County jail and sheriff’s residence, the Paxton Masonic Lodge No. 416, the old Paxton freight house, and the State Street Mall, where Royce Baier’s antique car collection can be viewed.
