(Illinois–jc) –The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police say there will be zero tolerance for those driving impaired during the 4th of July weekend. Provisional I-DOT data indicates there were 17 fatal crashes resulting in 18 deaths during the 2025 Independence Day holiday, The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is funded with federal highway safety tax dollars administered by I-DOT and runs through the early morning hours of Monday.
(Undated-jm) – New statistics show that farm bankruptcies are on the rise for the third straight year in Illinois. Industry leaders say it's a concerning trend for one of the biggest economic drivers in the state. According to the USDA, family farm bankruptcies were up 55 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year. They project total farm debt will rise 5.2 percent to a record $624.7 billion in 2026.
(Springfield-jm) — Lanes are reopening where possible across Illinois for Independence Day holiday travel. IDOT says non-emergency closures will be suspended through 11:59 pm Sunday night. The following road closures and lane reductions will remain in place: Southbound I-57 over Louis Creek near Buckley and I-57 between mile marker 263 and 271, the eastbound I-74 to southbound I-57, the southbound I-57 to eastbound I-74 and westbound I-74 to southbound I-57 interchanges in Champaign and I-72 at I-57 in Champaign.
(Rantoul–jc) With the second half of 20-26 underway and the 4th of July celebrations underway, the economic development outlook for the village of Rantoul looks “bright.” With the expansion of Maverick Piping, a garbage facility location center, and a 30 Million dollar expansion at Combe Labs, the village continues to grow and add jobs for the village and area. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third looks at what is next for new businesses in Rantoul…
Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third
(Champaign-jm) – Two people were hurt following a crash on I-74 in Champaign Thursday afternoon. Illinois State Police responded to I–74 eastbound, west of Prospect Avenue just after 2:40 for a two vehicle crash. It’s unknown the extent of the injuries.
(Paxton-jm) – Backyard chickens are back on the City of Paxton agenda. The city’s License, Permit, Zoning and Insurance Committee will meet at 6:30 Tuesday in the city council chambers to discuss a proposed draft on an ordinance for backyard chickens.
CHAMPAIGN – Due to pavement buckling in the 2300 block of Curtis Road in Champaign, the westbound lanes of Curtis Road between Learning Lane and Wynstone Drive have been temporarily closed. Public Works crews are setting up traffic control devices to allow westbound traffic to safely use the shoulder. Pavement repairs are expected to begin Monday morning.
(Watseka–dm)-The First installment for Iroquois County property taxes is Friday July 10th. Iroquois County Treasurer Kurt Albers tells us how and where you can make your payment.
Iroquois County Treasurer Kurt Albers. The treasurer’s office is closed Friday July 3rd in observance of the 4th of July Holiday
(Undated-jm) – Local blood donation sites say they are looking for more donations. Donations tend to drop off around holidays like the 4th of July. According to ImpactLife, they typically need 35 hundred blood donations a week to cover their area.
(Mattoon–dm)-Authorities have identified a man’s remains that were found in Lake Mattoon last Sunday evening. Illinois State Police identified Dalewayne Turner, 38, of Plainfield, Illinois as the victim but said there is no threat to the public.
Authorities say two people have now been arrested in connection with the death
(Paxton–jc) – The annual Paxton Old Fashioned Fourth of July event is set for all day Saturday at Pells Park and Bixby Park in the city. One event to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is a live reading by a local businessman, councilman and historian. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says Paxton’s Dean Geiken will read the document at noon at Pells Park on Saturday…
Paxton MainStreet Executive Director Donna Pepper
(The Center Square) – According to preliminary quality controlled data from the National Weather Service, Illinois has had more than twice as many tornadoes as any other U.S. state in 2026. As of July 1, 178 tornadoes have been recorded in Illinois this year. Mississippi is second with 81, followed by Indiana with 76, Missouri with 72 and Iowa with 71.
(Undated–jc) The 4th of July brings community events, family get-togethers and grilling. WPXN News asked Ford County Republican Party Spokesperson Tom Bennett what’s on the grill…
Ford County Republican Party Spokesperson Tom Bennett
Paxton Masonic Lodge 416 Spokesperson Jim Shearl was asked the same question…
Paxton Masonic Lodge 416 Spokesperson Jim Shearl
(Springfield-jm) – A bill that provides protections for professional journalists on certain college campuses was signed into law last week. House Bill 4420 modifies the College Campus Press Act to include speech protections for public media. Supporters of the bill say many public media employees in Illinois broadcast from college campuses and are often considered school employees. The law will ensure partnerships with public institutions don’t limit journalists.
(Springfield-jm) – A new law is keeping up with new technology. House Bill 3851 expands cyberbullying protections to include artificial intelligence and deepfake imagery. The law allows school districts to get involved in the cases.
(Ford County–jc) Several area communities in Ford County will be celebrating the nation’s birthday over the weekend. One area Republican party spokesperson says that is a good way to show support for the country and constitution. Ford County Republican Party Spokesperson Tom Bennett says that includes events in Sibley and Paxton…
Ford County Republican Party Spokesperson Tom Bennett
(Paxton-jm) – The man accused of fleeing from Illinois State Police leading to a massive manhunt last month is facing drug and other charges. 50 year old Rashawn Carter of Chicago is charged with possession and delivery charges of fentanyl, Other charges include aggravated battery to a police officer, and a revoked driver’s license. The investigation continues this morning Carter is due back in court later this month. .
(Melvin-jm) – A Melvin man will spend the next 18 years in prison after taking a plea for child porn charges. 47 year old Michael McPherson took a negotiated plea to child porn depiction and child porn reproduction involving a victim under the age of 13. He was sentenced 9 years for each charge in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Three other child porn charges were dismissed.
(USDA–dm)-Retired Smithsonian Institution curator Peter Liebhold explains some of the innovations in the early 20th century that propelled American agricultural productivity.
Retired Smithsonian Institution Curator Peter Liebhold
(Gibson City-jm) – The Gibson City Melvin Sibley music department has received a generous donation. The department received a $15,000 donation from the First Presbyterian Church, which recently announced they are closing. The music department will use the money to purchase a new concert piano for the high school.
(Paxton–dm)-Paxton Hardware and Rental is undergoing some major updates to their store. Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen gives us an update on the progress being made.
Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen. You can hear more from Scott Saturday mornings at 730 on Scott’s Tips for Success
(The Center Square) – An Illinois state lawmaker has been asked to resign by Democrat leadership after allegations of his sexual harassment have been investigated. Late Wednesday, a spokesperson for House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch released a statement that the investigation, conducted by the Legislative Inspector General, had concluded into Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield. The statement from Welch’s office also said that Benton was being asked to resign, or he’ll be removed.
(Chicago–dm)-ComEd asked its customers to reduce energy use on Wednesday due to what the utility called “an isolated incident” impacting parts of Chicago and the city’s western suburbs. ComEd did not report any outages but said in a social media post that the grid was “under critical strain.” The 2025 Resource Adequacy Study released last December by three state agencies said grid operators PJM and MISO are expected to face capacity shortfalls unless new capacity and resources are developed.
(Undated–jc) The 4th of July brings community events, family get-togethers and grilling. WPXN News asked Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper…”Whats on the grill?…
Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper
Ford County EMA Volunteer Kim McGuire of Paxton was asked the same question…
Ford County EMA Volunteer Kim McGuire
WPXN News notes…
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 Elliott Amvets will host their Family Night on Friday, July 3rd from 5-7 pm. Cost is $15 and includes chicken, fish or shrimp and two sides.
Rantoul will hold their 4th of July parade on Saturday, July 4th starting at 9:30 am.
The 85th annual Fisher Community Fair will take place Sunday, July 5th through Saturday, July 12th. On Sunday its the Fair Queen Pageant at 6, on Monday the parade at 7:30 on Tuesday its Multirotar racing at 8:30, on Wednesday its kids day with kids games during the day, armband special from 6-10 pm and the rodeo at 7, on Thursday its music bingo from 6-9 and ITPA truck and tractor pulls at 7, on Friday its the Fisher Amvets fish fry at 5, UTV and side by side racing at 6 and live music with The Arena Rock Show at 8, on Saturday its the 5k at 730 am, mutt show at 10 am, power wheels demo derby at 5pm and the demo derby at 6pm.
Congresswoman Robin Kelly and State Senator Paul Faraci will hold mobile office hours in Rantoul at the Rantoul Business Center on Wednesday, July 8th from 1-4pm.
