(Paxton-jm) – Paxton fire officials are releasing more information on yesterday’s hazmat situation at the Paxton pool. They say maintenance crews were trying to clean out buckets that had been at the pool, which contained chlorine tablets and other chemicals. When crews dumped them into another bucket, the chemicals began to bubble. Fall Street in front of the pool was closed as was the pool itself.
(Paxton-jm) – A former Paxton Buckley Loda teacher was sentenced to probation Monday for crimes against children. Paul Meuser was in court for a sentencing hearing two months after entering a guilty plea. Meuser was sentenced to 30 months probation plus he will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
(Paxton–jc) Clove Alliance is a non for profit group that helps victims of sexual violence. The group serves Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford Counties. Clove Alliance has moved spots in the downtown area of Paxton says Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper…
Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper
(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Crimestoppers is looking for the public's help in solving a retail theft that happened in Champaign earlier this summer. The theft happened on June 12th at the Home Depot. They say the man picked out plumbing products and numerous carbon monoxide detectors totaling $4,500 then paid with counterfeit $100 bills. The man was described as a heavy set black man approximately 50 years old wearing a gray and yellow baseball cap, a gray Miller Pipeline work shirt and grey work pants.
(Undated-jm) — The Illinois House Special Investigative Committee appointed to look into alleged wrongdoings by Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, is set to convene for its first hearing on Thursday, Aug. 6. at the State Capitol. Asked if the representative would seek to use her right to representation and attendance at the committee’s coming hearings last week, Mutaquee Akbar, a lawyer representing Ammons, said the team wants the legislature to postpone the committee’s investigation during the federal case. Rules relating to the committee don’t specifically provide a way for Ammons to delay the investigation, though the bipartisan committee could choose to put off additional meetings on the grounds presented by Ammons’ lawyers.
(Gibson city–jc) The 20-26 Gibson Area Hospital Summer Bash is coming up soon. The event is set for downtown Gibson City and will feature Rick Springfield and Night-Ranger. Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee and Community Events Bill Kirby says they have added more sound to a larger area for this year’s shows…
Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee and Community Events Bill Kirby
(Champaign County-jm) – Add Champaign County to the list of counties reporting west nile virus. The Champaign Urbana Public Health District says two batches of mosquitoes in Champaign tested positive for the disease. Since July 1st, Ford and Vermilion Counties both reported their first cases. So far no human cases have been reported.
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(OSF–dm)-Jetting off to college brings excitement. But it also brings the obligation of taking care of your health without a parent’s watchful eye. Dorm buffets, sugary drinks and sleeping in all the time can lead to your clothes feeling tighter and your self-esteem feeling lower. OSF's Tim Ditman has ways to stay healthy.
Smartphone apps, health care providers and local social service groups can also help with a young person’s food choices. And the OSF website has healthy recipes.
(The Center Square) – While Illinois contemplates raising prices on tollways across the state, one state lawmaker wants increased transparency for drivers.
State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, announced he plans to introduce the “Truth in Toll Transparency Act,” which he said will give drivers on Illinois tollways a more advanced warning of the cost to enter a toll. He told The Center Square he wanted to bring the measure forward because drivers often aren’t made aware of the actual cost of a toll until it's too late to turn around.
(Washington–dm)-The bill to make daylight saving time permanent has passed the U.S. House of Representatives but has not yet become law. The bipartisan legislation, known as the Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139), passed the House with a 308-to-117 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces a murkier path and has yet to receive a scheduled vote. If it successfully clears the Senate, President Trump has indicated he will sign the legislation. At this time the bill is not scheduled for a vote in the senate.
(Washington-jm) – Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth says the death of a U.S. service member in northern Iraq on Saturday is a devastating reminder of the true cost of war. U.S. Central Command said one service member was killed and another wounded during detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. Duckworth’s comments came in a social media post on Monday.
(Springfield-jm) – U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has warned four states about noncitizens allegedly being on their voter rolls, but Illinois is not one of them. Mullins sent the letters to secretaries of state in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania, saying DHS identified over 250,000 potential non-citizens illegally registered to vote.
(USDA-dm)Home canning is making a return as a food preservation method, but there are things to consider when canning popular fruit and vegetables. USDA’s Rod Bain has the story.
(Champaign County-jm) – A newly filed resolution for the Champaign County Board’s consideration would call for the immediate resignation of County Clerk Aaron Ammons. The resolution was filed by District 1 board member Jeff Wilson. He filed the resolution after Ammons was indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and witness tampering. His wife, State Representative Carol Ammons, is facing charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Both have pleaded not guilty.
(Undated–jm) — The Illinois Secretary of State is responding to allegations that his office issued a drivers license to an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who has pleaded guilty to a hit and run that killed two women in Urbana last year. Julio Cucul-Bol was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the January 2025 crash that killed Chloe Polzin and Katie Abraham. Congresswoman Mary Miller, Congressman Jim Jordan and former Illinois State Representative Jeanne Ives alleged on social media that Bol had gotten a license from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office. Giannoulias is disputing those claims saying they aren’t true and are only being used to exploit anger and divide the community.
(Rantoul–dm)-This Saturday July 25th there will be a special food distribution for residents of Champaign County. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford has the details.
Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford. You will need to bring an I.D. and a piece of mail with your name and address. This special food distribution is in addition to the regular distribution
(Undated-jm) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey says there will be more transparency surrounding the state’s budget process if he becomes Governor. One of the ways to do that would be to require non-governmental organizations should be subject to Freedom of Information Act requests if they receive public dollars. The Bailey campaign is also calling for an online database showing every non-governmental organization receiving state funds. The Pritzker Administration says there is already a wide variety of government accountability measures in Illinois. Independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett says Bailey is pushing an unserious solution to a real problem saying non governmental organizations are private entities and subjecting them to FOIA could open a massive can of worms.
(Undated-jm) — 104th District State Representative Brandun Schweizer has launched a new initiative “Brandun on the Job”. The initiative will take Representative Schweizer to workplaces throughout the 104th District, where he will spend time with employees, employers and public servants to better understand their work, the challenges they face and how state government can better support them. Those interested are encouraged to contact Representative Schweizer's office at 217-477-0104.
(Crescent City–jc) the 20-26 Iroquois County Fair is now complete for the year, but one person will lead the way for the next year, to represent Iroquois County as its reigning queen. The 20-26 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen is Kennedi Kanowski of Gilman. Kanowski says she was busy attending fair events, handing out ribbons and enjoying the crowds over the past week, but is ready to attend more events this summer and beyond…
20-26 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Kennedi Kanowski
(The Center Square) – Illinois state Sen. Chris Balkema said True Value’s decision to move its headquarters from Chicago to Fort Wayne, Indiana, is another example of businesses seeking relief from what he described as Illinois’ costly regulatory and tax environment. True Value, which had maintained a Chicago headquarters for 78 years, announced plans to relocate after being acquired by Indiana-based Do it Best Group. The companies said the move would bring their operations together under one headquarters location. Balkema, R-Channahon, said the relocation shows Illinois needs to rethink its approach to economic policy. Balkema also pointed to energy policy as a major concern for businesses, specifically citing the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which sets a goal for Illinois to transition to carbon-free electricity by 2045.
(Illinois–dm)-Illinois sits 34th in a ranking of the best U.S. states for technology workers. Revid AI compared all 50 states using five factors and found that Washington ranked first with a tech career index score of 85.9, far greater than second-place Virginia’s score of 65.3. The top Midwest states were Missouri at #13 and Iowa at #16.
WPXN News notes…
The 2026 Champaign County Fair will take place July 25-August 1st. On the 25th its Military Day with the demo derby at 5, on the 26th its Western Day with $30 armbands from noon to 5 and the draft horse show at 4, on the 27th its kids day with the fair queen pageant at 7, on the 28th its Senior Citizens Day with $30 armbands and harness racing at 5, on the 29th its Livestock Day with Monster trucks at 7, on the 30th its 4-H Day with the rodeo at 7, on the 31st its Motocross at 7 and on August 1st its First Responder Day with IPA tractor pulls at noon, $30 armbands from 12-5 and ITPA tractor and semi pulls at 6.
The Gathering in Gilman will hold their Junk in the Trunk outdoor flea market on Saturday, July 25th from 9-2.
The Illinois Soybean Association will hold their board public meeting on Wednesday, July 29th from 11-12 at the I-Hotel in Champaign.
A Golf Cart Fun Run Ride for a Cure Breakthrough T-1-D in Gibson City on Saturday, August 1st from 12-4. Cost is $30. RSVPs are required by calling or texting 217-781-4895.
The St. Joseph Community Festival will take place Thursday, August 6th through Saturday, August 8th.
