(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man has been federally indicted on two counts of allegedly making threatening interstate communications. The indictment alleges that on June 29th and 30th, 37 year old Kevin Baskis made interstate phone calls from Rantoul to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas threatening to injure U-S military personnel and their families. Baskis was arrested on July 1st and remains in the custody of U–S Marshals. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 5 years in prison for each charge and a maximum $250,000 fine.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  They say to “stay informed.” Village of Rantoul officials have the almost annual meeting with the U S Air Force over remediation of the land, now in the village, from the former Chanute Air Force Base. The Air Force continues to take samples of soil and water and look for any chemicals left behind by the air force. No forever chemicals have been found, but the testing continues, says Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third. The public meeting with Air Force Officials is set for tonight at 7 in the village board meeting room on Tanner Street. 

 

(Urbana-jm) – Urbana city leaders are inviting the public to an informational meeting later this month to address proposed improvements to Lincoln Avenue. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 21st at The Vineyard Church on North Lincoln Avenue from 4-6 pm. Representatives from the City of Urbana and the design company will be present to answer questions. The project would improve Lincoln Avenue between Wascher Drive and Killarney Street. Earlier this year the city did a study reducing the road down to one lane in each direction and adding bicycle lanes. It’s unknown if that will be the proposal that will be discussed at the session.

 

Cissna Park–jc) One area town is inviting the public to view its downtown and village with their second Shop the Park event on Saturday. Cissna Park continues to have a full downtown of businesses ranging from a family owned hardware store, convenient store to local banking, restaurants, appliance store to a coffee shop. Cissna Park Economic Development Board Spokesperson Rachael Bauer says one recent addition this Spring was a new photography shop and more is planned this summer…

   

Cissna Park Economic Development Board Spokesperson Rachael Bauer

 

(Springfield-jm) – A bill on Governor J-B Pritzker’s desk could expand access to suicide prevention services. Lawmakers say 988 information should be visible in county shelters, care homes, daycares, public libraries, hospitals, universities and nursing homes. The plan also requires the State Board of Education to make age appropriate suicide prevention curriculum availabe for school districts.

 

(Melvin–jc)  The Ford County Fair is complete for the year. The Fisher Fair is in the middle of its run with the Iroquois County Fair and Champaign County Fair ready to start later this month. 20-26 Miss Ford County Fair Queen Londyn Roderick of Gibson City says she will be attending other fairs and events and then start to prepare for the Miss Illinois State Fair pageant set for January in Springfield…

   

20-26 Miss Ford County Fair Queen Londyn Roderick of Gibson City

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker has signed a measure allowing residents of assisted living and shared housing establishments to exercise the right to use electronic monitoring, meant to enhance transparency and resident safety.  A similar law allowing cameras in residents’ rooms in nursing homes has existed in Illinois since 2016.  Under current state law, any nursing home resident is allowed to install an electronic monitoring device in their room at their own expense as long as the roommate consents to having the device in the room. Consent can be revoked at any time.

 

(Paxton-jm) – A plea deal has been negotiated in the case of a former PBL high school teacher. Multiple media outlets are reporting Ford County prosecutors and attorneys for Paul Meuser have agreed to recommend he be sentenced to probation for soliciting a teenager for sex. Meuser pleaded guilty in May to grooming and indecent solicitation of a child. In exchange two felony counts of attempted crimial sexual assault were dismissed. 

 

(Paxton–jc)  Among the buildings renovated in downtown Paxton is the Kief Realty Building. Paxton MainStreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says the office is ready to bring their customers to downtown Paxton as a central location…

 

 

Paxton MainStreet Executive Director Donna Pepper

 

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff's Office Tuesday released the results of its 4th of July Click It or Ticket traffic enforcement campaign. 7 tickets were issued for failure to wear a seat belt, 2 tickets were issued for speeding, 1 each for operating a vehicle with suspended registration and a Scott’s Law violation. 

 

(Fisher–jc)  –  The 85th annual Fisher Community Fair continues tonight with Swyear Amusements on the midway  Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter says Wednesday night is the rodeo and Thursday brings tractor pulls…

 

 

Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter

 

(Springfield-jm) — A plan on Governor J-B Pritzker’s desk could establish forever chemical sampling and reporting requirements for water control permits, sludges and biosolids. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says PFAS have become widespread in air, water, soil and consumer products. The bill would require the state to only issue permits to water treatment facilities if they periodically sample for forever chemicals.

 

(Washington–jc)  It’s silking time for crops around the area, state and nation. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey looks at the numbers across the midwest…

 

 

U S D A Meteorologist Brad rippey

 

CHAMPAIGN - Champaign Police were dispatched just before 10 Monday night to the 1500 block of West  Anthony Drive in Champaign, following reports of a traffic crash with injuries. On-scene, officers located a two-vehicle collision with multiple injured parties. Each vehicle had two occupants at the time of the crash. All parties involved were transported to an area hospital for immediate medical attention. While three were listed in stable condition, a 41-year-old man was believed to have been ejected from one vehicle and sustained potentially life-threatening injuries. He remains hospitalized in critical condition. . The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Champaign Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit. Anyone with information is asked to call Champaign Police at 217-351-4545. 

WPXN News notes…

 

The 85th annual Fisher Community Fair continues through Saturday. It's Kids Day today with games from 9am to 11am and an  armband special from 6-10 pm and the rodeo at 7,  Thursday sees a truck and tractor pull. On Friday it's the Arena Rock Show at 8 and a demo derby highlights the day on Saturday.

 

Congresswoman Robin Kelly and State Senator Paul Faraci will hold mobile office hours in Rantoul at the Rantoul Business Center this afternoon from 1-4pm.

 

St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Penfield will hold a pancake and sausage breakfast benefiting the crisis nursery and the St. Lawrence Maintenance Fund on Friday, July 10th and Saturday, July 11th from 6:30-10:30 am at the Parish Hall.

 

The 2026 Historic Farm Days in Penfield will take place Thursday, July 9th through Sunday, July 12th. This year’s featured tractor is Allis Chalmers. On Thursday the opening ceremony begins at 9 am, 10 am is the antique tractor auction and a tractor parade at 1pm. The show runs through Sunday

 

Gibson City will celebrate America’s 250th with a full day of activities on Saturday, July 11th starting with a farmers market at 10 am, car and truck show at 11 am, parade at 12:30, following the parade there will be inflatables and foam machine, face painting, games for all ages, bingo and live music with Dave and Lisa at 1pm, Kalynn Little at 3, the Back Paiges at 4 and Lexi Tieffel at 7:30 pm.

 

The Melvin Community Hall welcomes Erica Neal on Saturday, July 11th at 7pm. Doors open at 5:30pm.