(Paxton-jm) – City, county and state police converged on the west side of Paxton Wednesday evening searching for a suspect who fled from police. It’s unknown why state police were trying to stop the suspect. Eastbound traffic into Paxton was shut down while police searched for the suspect who was located and taken into custody. State police and local authorities were involved in the search from just before 9pm until the suspect was captured around 10-15. WPXN news will update this story on later news casts
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker signed a bill into law Wednesday aiming to protect the medical records of people receiving abortion or gender affirming care in the state. Capitol News Illinois reports the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act separates information related to this care from digital medical records and blocks access from outside the state. The law will prevent electronic health networks from sharing the information across state lines unless they have a patient’s consent. State Senator Celina Villanueva says this is about protecting Illinois residents or anyone coming to the state seeking care…
12th District State Senator Celina Villanueva- Democrat from Chicago. The bill signing coincided with the fourth anniversary of the U-S Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
(Sprignfield–jc) –The Illinois Commerce Commission is offering Peoples Gas customers an opportunity to make public comments on the utility’s proposed $200 million rate increase. The forum is scheduled for July 15 from 7-9 p.m. at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
(Rantoul–jc) With the growth of the village of Rantoul, village leaders have moved the Rantoul Electric Department into its own category of government. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says they are looking to fill the position of Rantoul Electric Department Director…
Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third
(Paxton-jm) – The Ford County Public Building Commission has a new chairman. Del Bruns of Paxton was appointed to the position at their meeting last night.
(Melvin–jc) The Paxton Buckley Loda F F A group will be without popular teacher Mike White next year, due to his retirement at the end of this month. White also served as Illinois F F A Section 17 County Fair Manager. White says the time at P-B-L and the local county fair has been enjoyable for him and his students…
Paxton Buckley Loda F F A Advisor and Ford County Fair F F A Section 17 Manager Mike White
(Gibson City-jm) — The Gibson City sewer and water committee will meet this evening to discuss draining issues at 7th and Guthrie Streets. The meeting gets underway at 5pm.
(Rankin–jc) – The 20-26 Rankin Celebration starts on Friday evening with the annual Tractor pull at 6pm There is a full day of activities on Saturday for families, says Rankin Celebration Spokesperson Mark Eighner…
Rankin Celebration Spokesperson Mark Eighner. WPXN will be stopping by on Friday afternoon with Becky Puetz to help kick off the weekend as part of our Summer Fun Tour. It is stop number 4.
(The Center Square) – The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has announced $50.8 million in Restore, Reinvest and Renew grants. The latest round of funding includes about $35 million to organizations that support community reentry from the justice system, economic development and civil legal aid, and about $15 million to organizations dedicated to youth development and violence prevention. The R3 Program is funded by 25% of state tax revenues from adult-use cannabis sales.
(Washington-jm) — A federal judge Wednesday permanently blocked the Trump Administration's executive order requiring proof of citizenship, ruling in favor of 19 states, including Illinois, that filed the lawsuit. The District Court judge ruled that President Trump was overstepping his authority by attempting to overhaul states’ administration of federal elections.
(Washington–jc) What does the corn crop look like this week around the state and nation? U-S-D-A meteorologist Brad Rippey takes a look at the silking process…
U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says higher proposed Illinois Tollway rates are for many users that travel to and from other states. Illinois Tollway officials are proposing a toll increase of about 45 cents per toll for IPASS users and a 30% rate hike for commercial IPASS users. At a ribbon cutting for building solutions company Amrize in Chicago on Tuesday, a reporter from The Center Square asked the governor about the potential burden on companies that move materials in Illinois.
(Paxton–jc) The Paxton Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration will take place on Saturday July 4th at Pells Park in the city. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper talks about one of the events at “shady” Pells Park is an ever growing car show…
Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper
(Hoopeston-jm) – A Rossville man is facing multiple charges after an incident in Hoopeston. 60 year old Ronald Nunn was arrested after police responded to the 800 block of North 5th Street for a domestic disturbance. As they were conducting their investigation, Nunn fled the scene and officers followed in pursuit until he came to a stop in Rossville. He’s charged with violation of pretrial release, fleeing or attempting to flee, resisting and obstructing a police officer, disorderly conduct and disobeying a stop sign.
(Paxton–jc) One local Christian church is hosting a national music act on Saturday night. Paxton Church of Christ Pastor Kevin Heiser says Christian Davis will perform in Paxton…
Paxton Church of Christ Pastor Kevin Heiser
(Champaign-jm) — A new statewide economic impact study finds that a community college education provides a strong return on investment for not only students but for taxpayers and the state economy. The study found that Parkland College in Champaign added $250.4 million to the regional economy during the FY24 academic year, a value approximately equal to 1.5% of the region's total gross regional product. Parkland College’s programs and student success account for one out of every 49 jobs across the district, resulting in a total of 3,491 jobs annually.
(Melvin–jc) – The 2026 Ford County Fair is complete for this year. Newly crowned Miss Ford County Fair Queen Londyn Roderick of Gibson City will now represent the county at summer events. Roderick says some parades and other county fairs are in her future…
Miss Ford County Fair 20-26 Londyn Roderick of Gibson City
Roderick will be a senior at Gibson City Melvin Sibley High School in the fall
(The Center Square) – Most Illinois wheat escaped damage from severe storms across the state, but recent rainfall could affect crops not already harvested.
Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, wind, hail and flooding all impacted many parts of Illinois in recent weeks. Illinois Wheat Association President Tracy Heuerman said the wheat harvest is about done in the southern third of the state, but it is just getting started in Central and Northern Illinois. Heuerman says wind was not a huge factor outside of areas hit by tornadoes, but rain could delay the harvest in the WPXN listening area.
WPXN News notes…
The Paxton Fire Department will hold their cash bash fundraising event on Saturday, June 27th from 3-11 pm. Tickets are $100 each. Grand prize is a street legal Denajo Rover XL golf cart.
The Bayles Lake community welcomes Eric Gordon & Friends Saturday from 7-9 at Robinson Pavilion at Healy Park at Bayles Lake. A free will offering will be taken for the band.
Hoopeston will hold their Red, White and Boom on Friday, July 3rd with a color run at 8 am, car show at 10, chili cookoff at noon, touch a truck from 2-4, golf cart and pet parade at 4, red white and boom party featuring inflatables, cornhole tournament and watermelon eating from 4:30-7:30, 90 proof performing at 7:30 and fireworks at dusk at the soccer fields.
The Sangamon Valley Fire Protection District in Fisher will hold a 4th of July breakfast on Saturday, July 4th from 8-10 am. Cost is $8.
Paxton will hold their Old Fashioned 4th of July on Saturday, July 4th at Pells Park starting with the 5k at 8, community worship service at 9:45, car show 10-2, antique tractor show at 11, bounce houses from 11-2:30, old fashioned kids games at 11:30, bingo from 11:30-1:30, reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon, Penny Scavenger Hunt from 1-2. Then lighted golf cart parade at 8:30 from Pells Park to Bixby Park with fireworks at Bixby Park at dusk.
Sibley will hold their 4th of July celebration on Saturday, July 4th starting with a breakfast at 8 am, fishing derby at 9 am, vendor show at 10 am, parade at noon, barrel train rides at 1 pm, softball tournament and big kids games at 2pm, bingo and little kids games at 3, model airplane and boat show, inflatables, mini golf and golf hole in one at 4pm, music by The Fairchilds at 6:30 and fireworks over Sibley Lake at dusk.
