(Springfield-jm) – 100 school districts across the state will be receiving state grants to help address teacher shortages. The funding comes from the Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program administered by the Illinois State Board of Education to support efforts to recruit, prepare and retain educators. Locally, Cissna Park is receiving just over $58,000; Hoopeston Area $85,000; Watseka $98,000; PBL $58,000; Rantoul City Schools and Rantoul Township High School almost $62,000 each.

 

(Champaign-jm) – For those heading to Gies Memorial Stadium for Illinois’ season opener tonight, listen up. University of Illinois Police along with the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics is announcing a new traffic pattern for this season. They are implementing a lot specific traffic routing system for the season. The new routes are designed to ease traffic in the area as much as possible. More information about the traffic patterns are available at fighting illini dot com. 

 

(Ford County-jm) – Representatives from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency-Office of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration will be in Paxton today conducting damage surveys. The group will be visiting some of the hardest hit areas from the recent flooding. Members of the Paxton Emergency Response Services will be with the damage assessment teams. This is the next step in pursuing federal disaster assistance for those impacted by the floods in August.

 

(Iowa–jc)  The annual Farm Progress Show continues today in Iowa. U S D A Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins took time to unveil the Department's Data Modernization Plan...

 

U S D A Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins

 

(Gibson City-jm) – The Harvest Moon Drive in Theatre in Gibson City will host a celebration of life this weekend to honor their founder and longtime owner. On Saturday, the theatre is inviting the public to honor Mike Harroun, who passed away in July. Harroun reopened the drive-in theatre in 1989. The celebration of life will begin at 5pm. It’s open and free to anyone who wants to attend. If you want to stay for the movie afterwards, you do still need to pay admission at that point.

 

(The Center Square) – The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s National Financial Conditions Index was unchanged at -0.56 in the week ending August 28th, suggesting steady financial conditions.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  With the announcement that Price Cutter Foods will be closing it’s Rantoul location, Rantoul Village officials are looking for opportunities for food sources. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says village leaders had already been looking for new businesses for some properties and now that search will take a top priority, going forward…

 

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

 

(Springfield–jc)  The Illinois Flash Index posted a modest but unexpected gain in August 2026, rising to 101.5 from 101.2 in July. Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois Fred Giertz says the increase was driven by strong state tax revenue growth and a decline in Illinois’ unemployment rate,.The Index remains within the relatively narrow range it has occupied for more than a year, signaling continued but measured economic expansion. A key contributor to August’s increase was the strength of Illinois tax revenues. 

 

(Springfield–jc)  – The Illinois Department of Public Health  is responding to an outbreak of measles in Douglas County, involving at least four cases. An outbreak is defined as three or more cases that are connected by a common exposure source or epidemiological link. State Health Department officials are working with local health departments to identify residents who were exposed to patients during their infectious period and offer vaccination to those who are high-risk, as well as others in the community. 

 

(Washington-jm) – While negotiations over a new Farm Bill remain stalled in Washington, U–S Department of Agriculture officials say there is still momentum on Capitol Hill to get a comprehensive bill across the finish line. The uncertainty comes as farmers gather at the Farm Progress Show in Boone Iowa this week, where the outlook on the farm economy remains cautious but increasingly optimistic. The farm bill is intended to provide farmers with a long term federal safety net, but some significant changes to farm programs have already been made through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Those changes include increased payments through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. The payments are expected to begin going out at the start of the new fiscal year on October 1st. 

 

(Paxton–jc) For most going through High School, it's the memories from sports , F F A Trips, school musicals and band. Paxton Buckley Loda School Superintendent Eric Bohm says having those activities is key to an overall high school experience and the band members are some of the busiest students throughout the year…

 

 

Paxton Buckley Loda School Superintendent Eric Bohm

 

(Urbana-jm) —- The University of Illinois Police Department is investigating a pair of apartment burglaries that happened last week. The two reports came from the area of Springfield Avenue and Sixth Street. There were no signs of forced entry into either apartment and the door to one of the residences was confirmed to have been unlocked. In addition, entrances to the apartment building had been intentionally obstructed from closing and securing properly.

 

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump’s administration is touting a crackdown on fraudulent commercial driver's license schools and unsafe truck drivers, but a Rockford trucking executive says federal officials are addressing the symptoms of a much larger problem. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced Operation Highway Shield, a federal enforcement effort targeting unsafe commercial drivers, fraudulent credentials and other alleged violations in the trucking industry.

 

(Roberts–jc)  The required number of signatures from residents of Roberts was reached concerning application for a grant to help the town dispose of two run down properties. Roberts Mayor Matt Vaughn says the next step is applying for the grant…

 

 

Roberts Mayor Matt Vaughn

 

(The Center Square) – Illinois has earned its second credit rating upgrade in less than a week, as S&P Global Ratings raised the state’s general obligation bond rating on Tuesday to an A. Illinois still has the lowest credit rating of any U.S. state. Indiana, Iowa and Missouri have AAA ratings from S&P Global. Wisconsin has an AA+. Kentucky has an A+.

 

(Elliott–jc)  One Norwegian based local church is set to celebrate its 150th anniversary in early October. The Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in rural Elliott has their 150th celebration set for Friday October 2nd and Sunday October 4th. Friday will feature an opening celebration and reunion. On Sunday October 4th  a communion service, free lunch and several presentations.

 

WPXN News Notes…

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Paxton Church of Christ today from 12:30-5:30 pm.

 

The 78th Annual Central State’s Thresherman’s Reunion in Pontiac will take place today through Monday.

 

The 82nd Annual National Sweetcorn Festival will take place today through Monday at McFerren Park in Hoopeston.

The Rankin Lions Club will hold their Friday Supper on Friday, September 4th from 4:30-6:30.

 

The Elliott Amvets will host their Family Night on Friday, September 4th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $15 and includes chicken, fish or shrimp and two sides.

 

Middlefork Forest Preserve in Penfield will host their 3rd annual Cardboard Boat regatta on Saturday, September 5th registration and inspections begin at 2:30 pm with races beginning at 3:30 pm.

 

Dennis Stroughmatt and Band will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday, September 5th at 7pm. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Cost is $10 for adults, kids under 12 are free.