(Springfield-jm) – A bill headed to the governor’s desk could change how auto insurance rates are regulated. Capitol News Illinois reports it would require auto insurance companies to give customers at least 30 days notice if their premium will increase by more than 10 percent. It would also give the Department of Insurance authority to determine whether a rate is excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. 29th District State Representative Thaddeus Jones, Democrat from Calumet City,  says this about looking out for drivers across the state…

   

29th District State Representative Thaddeus Jones. Republicans argue this isn’t needed because the market is already working and it will cause rates to increase. Governor J–B Pritzker says he will sign the bill.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois has officially expanded its battery recycling program statewide under a new law. This law requires all household and medium-format batteries to be properly recycled and prohibits tossing batteries in the garbage, helping protect homes, communities and the environment from safety risks associated with improper disposal. This includes fires and chemical hazards.

 

(Champaign–jc)  A Tennessee man was due in court yesterday to face a reckless homicide charge in the death of a Vermilion  county man that happened in a construction zone along Interstate 74 in Champaign County early Wednesday morning. Former Tilton Police Chief Steve Cornett is being remembered after he was fatally struck by a vehicle on Wednesday morning while he was working as a construction contractor on the interstate. Cornett also served as a   firefighter and EMS provider. The Illinois Department of Transportation, state police and local authorities continue to  investigate the incident.  104th District State Representative Brandun Schweitzer, Republican from Danville says the House had a moment of silence on the floor yesterday…

   

104th district State Representative Brandun Schweitzer, Republican from Danville

 

(Gibson City-jm) — A McLean County man will now serve 3 years in prison for videotaping women and children in the bathroom of his former workplace last year at a Ford County business.  31-year-old Jared Clark of Colfax faced a dozen counts of unauthorized videotaping.  Clark entered a plea deal.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The city of Paxton Park District pool opened for the summer at noon yesterday afternoon. Park District Interim Board President Craig Kief says the pool will open at noon each day…

   

Paxton Park District Interim Board President Craig Kief

 

(Illinois–dm)-Ameren Illinois’ summer electric rate will take effect next month, raising rates for customers. Starting June 1, the rate will rise to 11 cents per kilowatt hour and remain in effect through September. The rate is lower than last summer, but is still up 29% from the current price of electricity. The Citizens Utility Board said the increase is deeply concerning, especially during the summer months. Ameren said the temporary increase will end in October. The supply price then will reset to a lower rate through May 31, 2027.

 

(Rantoul–jc) The village of Rantoul recognized International G-M-One disease over the Memorial Day holiday. The proclamation from Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the third, was part of the May village board meeting. Mayor Hall says the disease does not have a cure, and a family in the village is impacted by the disease…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

 

(Kankakee County-jm) - A man and woman in their 40s were arrested after a search warrant executed over the weekend discovered a dog-fighting ring as well as 18 dogs in Kankakee County. The Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office said 45-year-old Billy E. Walker and 43-year-old Yachia A. Austin were brought before a judge at the Kankakee County Courthouse in connection with this dog-fighting case. Walker is facing 22 felony counts, including 18 counts of dog fighting, two counts of animal torture and two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. He was released after a Kankakee County Judge denied the State’s petition to detain. Austin is facing two counts of aggravated fleeing/eluding and a charge of manufacturing/ delivery of 400-grams of fentanyl. She was detained on the State’s petition pending a trial and remains incarcerated at the Jerome Combs Detention Center.

 

(Springfield–jc) It’s crunch time to get a balanced budget completed on time in the state of Illinois. Legislative leaders have until Sunday night to pass a budget on-time. Reaction on the process from 104th district State Representative Brandum Schweitzer, republican from Danville…

104th District State Representative Brandun Schweitzer, Republican from Danville

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois House unanimously passed a bill to ban insurance companies from automatically coding a health service lower than what is actually provided to patients. The plan states all downcoding determinations must be made or reviewed by a real person and insurance companies would be required to notify doctors if a service is downcoded. The bill also bans insurers from downcoding in a discriminatory manner against doctors who routinely treat patients with complex health conditions. Insurance companies would also be required to provide health care professionals a clear process to dispute downcoded claims within 90 days.

 

(CHicago–jc)The Illinois Supreme Court has announced a rule amendment allowing newly-admitted attorneys to earn Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by participating in a pro bono pilot program. The court said in a press release it hopes to address unmet legal needs and help foster a career-long commitment for new attorneys to pro bono service.Under the program, an attorney may earn one MCLE credit hour for every two hours of pro bono participation in Illinois Free Legal Answers.

(Springfield–dm)-Earlier this week, the Illinois House approved Senate Bill 3336 which would establish regulations on “micromobility” transportation such as e-bikes and e-scooters that include age requirements, speed limits and rules on where they can be operated. Most House Republicans opposed the measure following the attachment of an amendment to include driving under the influence penalties, but only if the bike operator was traveling faster than 28 mph.

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie more broadly opposed the bill.

 

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie

 

(Paxton-jm) – Paxton residents are being urged to watch their mail if they want to opt out of an electric aggregation program. Homefield Energy is the city’s alternative retail electric supplier. Those who don’t want to use Homefield Energy have until June 8th otherwise they will be automatically enrolled into the program for one year. The program kicks in starting in July locking in a fixed rate of 11.89 

cents per kilowatt hour.

 

(USDA–dm)-Months of consistent weather patterns over parts of the country have now flipped in the opposite way, which means what for ag in those areas? USDA’s Rod Bain has the story

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – A bill heading to Governor JB Pritzker's desk could help improve the state’s recent digital driver’s license law. The plan could align technology and requirements related to mobile IDs and ensure consistency as the digital drivers licenses are more widely used. The proposal also bans law enforcement from physically taking someone’s phone to verify their mobile ID.

(Paxton–jc)  City of Paxton officials are dealing with one distressed property along Pine Street in town. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says they are looking at options in dealing with that property…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

 

(Paxton-jm) - A mainstay at The Frederick Community Bank in Paxton retired yesterday. Linda Roy retired after 50 years at the bank. A reception was held at the bank to celebrate her incredible milestone.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton Mainstreet First Friday concert for June 5th is coming soon. The second in the series of first Friday of the month’s free concert will be June 5th at Veteran’s Square in Paxton featuring the band “Back in Time.” says Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper…

 

 

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper. The concession stand opens at 6pm and the concert starts at 7.

 

(Springfield–jc)  Illinois hunters harvested a preliminary record total of 20,821 wild turkeys during the 2026 spring turkey season, surpassing the previous record of just over 18 thousand birds harvested last year The top counties for turkey harvest this spring were Jefferson and Jo Daviess counties. Closer to home 43 turkeys were harvested in Champaign County, 27 in Ford County. 137 Turkeys were harvested in Vermilion County and 95 in Iroquois County. 

WPXN News notes…

Country Line Dancing with DJ Maggie B will take place on Friday, May 29th from 8-11 pm at The Cadillac in downtown Paxton.

 

The Gathering in Gilman will hold their Junk in the Trunk outdoor flea market on Saturday, May 30th from 9-2.

 

Paxton Townwide garage sales will take place Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th.

Paxton Main Street will hold their First Friday concert series on Friday, June 5th from 7-9 pm at Veterans Square in downtown Paxton. Back In Time will perform.

 

The 2026 Roberts Fun Day will take place on Saturday, June 6th. Activities include breakfast from 8-11, vendors from 8-3, bounce houses and silent auction 9-3, kids cart rides 11-1, bingo 11-2, food trucks 11-3, bags tournament at 4 and live music from 7-10.

 

Champaign Firefighters Local 1260 will hold a 5k on Sunday, June 7th from 8-10:30 at Carle at the Fields.

 

The 2026 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour will stop in Rantoul on Tuesday, June 9th at 11 am.

 

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Onarga American Legion on Tuesday, June 9th from 1-6 pm.