(Springfield-jm) - The Illinois General Assembly has adjourned until the fall veto session. When it reconvenes, soil and water conservation advocates plan to renew their push for county office funding. The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts was confident going into the budget session the last week of May, but the group says not enough lawmakers recognize conservation issues as being a priority. They had two different initiatives: one to raise appropriations to $10 million for operations for soil and water conservation districts, and the other to create a sustainable revenue source to keep that going through a fee on ag land conversion. 

 

(Illinois–jc)  Power bills for homes, businesses and farmers have gone up significantly over the past decade. While neighboring Indiana has suspended the gas tax to help save  consumers and residents some dollars, Illinois has seen electric bills go up and no action on any short term gas tax suspension says 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet…

   

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet

 

(Urbana-jm) – A Ford County man from  Roberts was sentenced for threats. 41-year-old Paul Theesfield was sentenced to 21 months in prison for mailing a threatening communication. He is currently serving a 12 year sentence for attempted  kidnapping.  Federal prosecutors said Theesfield pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long to mailing a threatening communication to a victim in Gibson City. The long and graphic letter threatened to harm the victim’s husband and sexually assault the victim. Theesfield mailed the letter from a prison in North Carolina.. The victim of the threatening letter was the same woman Theesfield had attempted to kidnap in December  of 2020.

 

(Paxton–jc) The Paxton Park District Board is very busy helping with Spring and Summer activities, the pool and more. The board is short by a couple of numbers and they continue to look for a full time replacement for the Park District Director position. President Craig Kief says that process was completed last night with the firing of a new Paxton Park District Director

 They named Gillian Littleton as the recreation director during Tuesday’s meeting. The park board also appointed Carlos Colon and Dominic Brackenhoff to fill commissioner vacancies and elected Craig Kief as the board’s president and Mark Fredricksen as vice president after accepting the resignation of Matt Quinlan as commissioner.

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – It was nearly four years ago, August of 2022, that some vandalism at property just north of Danville near East Winter Street caused the escape of numerous emus, and provoked several weeks of sightings as they were gradually found. This time, due to the heavy rains and flooding of Saturday night to Sunday morning, over a half-dozen emus ended up getting away after flooding damaged a fence and barn area. Vermilion County Animal Control says that seven or eight are still reported to be roaming around the area, with one having been recaptured. Animal Control advises everyone to not approach or try to handle an emu if they are in your yard.  However, if you can contain them in your yard by closing all gates and entrances, please do so and report the emu immediately. You can report a located emu by going on Facebook, as the owners are following all Facebook postings; or calling Vermilion County Animal Control at 217-431-2660, extension 3.

 

(The Center Square) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says his office has been shorted about $10 million from its overall state budget appropriation in 2026.

Raoul said during a City Club of Chicago event Tuesday that funding remained flat in budget legislation for fiscal year 2027 early Monday June First.

Raoul said his office received a $5 million increase in general funds but an overall $10 million decrease in the new budget.

 

(Buckley–jc)  Buckley Fun Day is coming on Saturday June 20th in the southern Iroquois Town. The day starts with a St Johns Ladies Aid Bake sale at 9, along with a fishing derby, tractor show, food stand and Official Duck race. Buckley Fun Day Spokesperson Denise Forrster says it's a low cost way to spend a day with family and friends…

 

Buckley Fun Day Spokesperson Denise Forrster 

 

(The Center Square) – The sponsor of a new plan to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois says his proposal will prevent local taxing bodies from getting stadium development money off the backs of taxpayers. State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, is drafting a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes bill he hopes to file by the end of this week or early next week. Ugaste told The Center Square that the bill language will prevent a stadium development’s equalized assessed value from leading to higher property taxes for residents.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Over his 7 and a half years in office, Governor J-B Pritzker has largely gotten his way in the Democratic-supermajority Illinois General Assembly. As he campaigns for a third term and weighs a possible 2028 Democratic presidential bid, Pritzker emerged from the spring legislative session once again achieving many but not all the goals he laid out in his State of the State Address in February. The governor was unable to muscle through the most far reaching elements of his top legislative initiative: Building Up Illinois Developments, a comprehensive plan to spur homebuilding and drive down housing costs. And he didn’t land the plane on a long-sought megaprojects bill that would have enabled the Chicago Bears to negotiate and lock in lower property tax payments on a stadium in Arlington Heights. Lawmakers also failed to approve a pause Pritzker sought in the state’s data center tax credit, leading the governor to take executive action to freeze the program. Lawmakers also rejected Pritzker’s proposal to reduce the percentage of income taxes local governments receive from the Local Government Distributive Fund.  

 

(Springfield–jc) It was in the early morning hours of June First when Illinois lawmakers passed the biggest budget in the history of Illinois, a budget of nearly 57 Billion dollars. That included over 800 million dollars more in new taxes to help balance the budget. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington says that democrats continue to raise taxes and fees and that is not in the best interest of Illinosians…

 

 

106th district State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington

Illinois Governor J B Pritzker is expected to sign the budget before the new fiscal year starts on July First.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – It was hot cars on a hot day as the 2026 Hot Rod Power Tour rolled into Rantoul. An estimated 7,000 people were expected to attend. Cars from all over the nation participated. Today, the Hot Rod Power Tour moves on to St. Louis. 

 

(Springfield–jc)  Five days after the state Senate released its calendar for fall veto session, the Illinois House has matched the schedule.

Both chambers are scheduled to meet in Springfield on Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Approaching the middle of June means plans are underway in various local communities to celebrate the 4th of July. This is the 250th year celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In Paxton, the local chamber and Paxton Mainstreet are planning this year’s “Old Fashioned 4th of July” celebration, says Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper…

 

Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

 

(Urbana–jc)--Two Champaign residents arrested for alleged involvement in a large fight this past Friday in Urbana appeared in court on Monday and Tuesday. . Police arrested 33-year-old Jessica Morris and 42-year-old Anthony Teat. Morris is due back in court today and Teat has a July 2 next appearance. 

 

(Washington–jc)  The Spring planting season is almost complete for this year. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey looks at the final spring corn planting report…

 

U S D A Meteorologist Brad rippey

 

(Springfield–jc) Illinois State Fair admission vouchers are now available for visitors to the Illinois State Museum’s new Route 66 exhibit in Springfield this summer. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Route 66, each exhibit visitor is eligible to receive a voucher for one adult weekday admission to the fair, which runs from Aug. 13 to 23. The promotion started on Monday and runs for 66 days.

 

(Springfield–jc) A new report says Illinois ranks 17th in home insurance rates nationwide, with premiums up 68% since 2020.

LendingTree's 2026 State of Home Insurance Report said Illinois homeowners pay $2,731 annually, 14% above the national average of $2,395.

The General Assembly recently passed House Bill 4273 to regulate property insurance.

 

 

WPXN News notes…

Rantoul will hold their summer nights concert series on Friday, June 12th with Candy Foster and Shades of Blue performing downtown from 6-9pm .

 

The 2026 Mahomet Soda Fest will take place on Saturday, June 13th from 10-6.

 

The 100th annual Ford County Fair will take place June 13th-20th at the fairgrounds in Melvin. On the 13th its Clay Walker with Walker Montgomery at 7:30pm. On the 14th its the Jackpot Breeding Gilt Show. On the 15th, its the Queen Pageant at 7. On the 16th its Family night, children's tractor pull and talent show at 7. On the 17th and 18th its the Illiana truck and tractor pulls at 6:30. On the 19th its Journey Tribute Band Resurrection at 7:30. On the 20th its the Demolition Derby at 6:30pm.

 

The 2026 Fisher Blues, Brews and BBQ festival will take place on Saturday, June 20th from 11am-10pm.

 

The 27th annual Rankin Lions Club Truck and Tractor Pull will take place on Friday, June 26th at 6pm at Centennial Park.

 

The Onarga American Legion will hold a fish fry on Friday, June 26th from 4:30-7pm at the Legion Building at Durham Park.

 

The Gathering in Gilman will hold their Junk in the Trunk outdoor flea market on Saturday, June 27th from 9-2.