(Illinois–jc) Straight-line winds and rains plummeted East Central Illinois last night. Power outage reports are scattered throughout the WPXN listening area. In Rantoul numerous streets had limbs and branches scattered on village roads. Several power outage reports were made in Rantoul. Also in Champaign County, power outages were reported near Leverett and in Champaign along Prospect Mattis and Kirby Avenues. More power outages were reported in the St Joe, Ogden and Fithian areas due to last night's storms. Iroquois County also reported storm damage from last night. The city of Watseka reports storm damage especially on the south side of the city. The Iroquois County courthouse is closed today. Power outages were also reported in rural Iroquois county this morning.
The city of Gilman also reported that an Amtrak train was stopped near the Iroquois county town due to debris on the railroad tracks
Please report any damage in your area to news-at-wpxnradio.com.
A tornado was reported in Hoopeston in Vermilion County. The storm moved through the south side of the city. Damage was reported at Hoopeston Area High School and the Nutrien Ag plant near Hoopeston
At the height of the storm, Ameren and E I E C officials reported thousands of customers without power. Efforts to restore power continue this morning.
A tornado was reported near Streator causing some major property damage. The National Weather Service is providing damage survey teams this morning to provide more official information on last night's storms.
WPXN News will continue to update this story as more official news becomes available.
(Mattoon–jc) Following an agreement that includes state tax incentives, Rural King has broken ground on a 75 million dollar store support center in Coles County. According to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Department of Transportation, is working with the city of Mattoon on grant funding for a road that would provide access to the new campus. Later this year, IDOT is expected to break ground on an $82 million reconstruction of the nearby Interstate 57 interchange with Illinois 16.
The Rural King project is expected to create 100 new full-time jobs and retain 719 existing jobs. The farm and home supply retailer was founded in Mattoon in 1960.
(northern Illinois–jc– Illinois American Water customers are invited to comment on the utility’s proposed rate increase at a public forum in Bolingbrook on July 14. Illinois American requested a $142.4 million rate hike from the Illinois Commerce Commission earlier this year and estimated the typical residential customer would pay an extra $14 per month. The forum is scheduled from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on July 14
(Rantoul–jc) Rantoul leaders took the next step this week to get the new Prospect Sub-Station Project underway on the west side of the village. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says they hired The L E Myers Company at an investment to the village of 4 million 851 thousand dollars…
Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third
(Paxton–jc) The city of Paxton continued its help to downtown businesses for redevelopment agreements. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says one is for a property of 202 north Market Street in downtown Paxton…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Undated–jc) Gas prices continued to drop this week, but they remain well above the 2025 numbers. Triple A’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded this morning was $4.45 in Illinois, down from nearly 5 dollars in May Triple A’s current national average is $4.13. Closer to home the average price of gas in Paxton is 4 dollars 85 cents per gallon. In Rantoul the average price is $ dollars 65 cents. Champaign Urbana’s average price for a gallon of gas is 4 dollars 20 cents. In Iroquois County several Caseys locations averages just over 4 dollars per gallon
(Melvin–jc) The 100th Ford County Fair starts this Saturday and runs through the following Saturday at the fairgrounds in Melvin. Ford County Fair Spokesperson Diane Perkins talks about the final days of the fair next thursday Friday and Saturday…
Ford County Fair Spokesperson Diane Perkins
(Illinois–jc) B-P officials say the Whiting, Indiana refinery and the United Steelworkers Local 7-1 bargaining committee remain far apart on proposals to reach a new labor agreement.The two sides held their 63rd formal bargaining session on Wednesday. City officials in Whiting, East Chicago, Hammond and Crown Point have called on BP to end the lockout that began in March. BP said on Wednesday that the refinery continues to operate safely, reliably and compliantly.
(USDA–dm)-The Agriculture Department's June winter wheat production forecast released Thursday shows another reduction in the size of this year's crop. Rod Bain has the story.
(Springfield-jc) According to a poll released by the Merchants Payment Coalition, 75% of likely voters say Congress should act to reduce electronic processing fees on credit and debit card transactions. The survey results come after the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act was blocked by a federal judge last week and swipe fee legislation in Colorado was vetoed.Payment processors, banking and credit union associations oppose the Illinois law, which would ban processing fees on the tax and tip portions of credit and debit card transactions.
(Rantoul–dm)-The Rantoul Historical Society and Museum Was founded in 1973 with the purpose of collecting and preserving information on the history of the Village of Rantoul. Rantoul Historical Society and Museum Spokesperson Jim Cheek has more information
Rantoul Historical Society and Museum Spokesperson Jim Cheek. The Museum is located at 1040 Pine Ave. in Rantoul.
CHAMPAIGN – On Monday in the city of Champaign, weather permitting, MicroSurfacing Contractors will begin sealing streets in the northern one-third of Champaign The residential streets will be closed for about four hours until cured. Heavily traveled streets with businesses will have one lane open at all times.
Residents will be notified by door flyers the day before closing, and they should park their cars outside the work area if needed. Do not park in the “No Parking” zones daily. The work throughout the city should take about two weeks to complete
(Cissna Park–dm)-The first Shop the Park in Cissna Park 2026 will be going on this Saturday from 9AM-1PM. Cissna Park Development Board Spokesperson Rachael Bauer tells us what to expect.
Cissna Park Development Board Spokesperson Rachael Bauer. There will also be live music, donuts and coffee from 830-1030, shaved ice and face painting.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has appointed Angela Manning-Hardimon as chief financial officer of the county’s finance bureau. Manning-Hardimon previously served as a CFO at Fermilab and at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
(Paxton–jc) The city of Paxton continued its help to downtown businesses for redevelopment agreements. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says one is for a property on Center Street in the city…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
WPXN News notes…
The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, June 12th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $10.
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.
