(Undated-jm) – Two records for gasoline and diesel fuel prices were set just days apart in the last week. GasBuddy announced on Friday that diesel fuel had reached its highest price ever — $5.87 per gallon, surpassing the previous record set in 2022 by five cents. The price of diesel fuel is more than $2 higher than it was one year ago, and GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan said $6 fuel is a realistic possibility in the weeks ahead. As for gasoline, the national average price of gas on Labor Day was $4.09, surpassing GasBuddy’s prediction of $4.03. It’s a record price for the holiday by 26 cents ($3.83 in 2012) and 93 cents higher than Labor Day 2025. Illinois’ average price of gasoline rose by only two cents in the last week, reaching $4.25 per gallon.
(Paxton-jm) – A 37-year-old man from Will County was arrested over the weekend in a sting operation after he thought he was meeting a 15-year-old girl at a park in Paxton. At around 8:20 p.m. Saturday, Joseph M. Kummer of Custer Park was taken into custody at Pells Park on the charges of traveling to meet a minor, indecent solicitation of a child and solicitation to meet a child. This arrest came after an Internet Crimes Against Children investigation led to Kummer going to the park to meet with a 15-year-old girl he had been talking with online. The teen was actually an undercover Paxton Police Officer. After he was arrested and taken to the Ford County Jail, he allegedly threatened to harm a correctional officer and fought with staff as he was being escorted to his cell. He was then also charged with aggravated assault to a corrections officer and resisting a peace officer.
(Undated–jc) The fall harvest has not started yet in East Central Illinois, but will start sometime later this month. Local road safety is always a key as farmers bring the crops in to market and travel the roads with combines, tractors, wagons and more. National Education Center for Ag Safety’s Dan Neenen says motorists will be on the road with ag equipment at all times of the day…
National Education Center for Ag Safety’s Dan Neenen
(Chebanse-jm) – A Chebanse man was arrested by the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office and the US Marshal’s Great Lake Regional Fugitive Task Force on Tuesday for “sexual-related offenses.” In a post on social media, the sheriff’s office said 34-year-old Jacob D. Clark was taken into custody for the following: use of a child in a sexual performance, tampering with a witness, victim; no contact with witnesses/co-defendants, Transmission of material harmful to minors and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. The sheriff’s office said Clark also had multiple arrest warrants issued out of Florida, and an outstanding arrest warrant out of Will County.
(Champaign-jm) – Those traveling on I-57 near I-74 in Champaign, listen up. Starting today the Northbound I-57 to westbound I-74 and Southbound I-57 to eastbound I-74 ramps are closing for two weeks. IDOT says crews are completing the final bridge deck improvements.
(Roberts–jc) With the signatures gathered and positive public support from the town, Roberts leaders are taking the next step to hopefully procure grant dollars to help the town with several dilapidated lots and buildings. Roberts Mayor Matt Vaughn says they are trying to net a grant of around 120 thousand dollars to get the job done…
Roberts Mayor Matt Vaughn
(Bloomington–jc) –– Yesterday, Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker joined Illinois State University officials as they opened doors to the new home for their College of Engineering, Campus East. The 392,000 square foot, 28-acre facility provides the space and state-of-the-art equipment needed to support a growing academic program and prepare Illinois’ next generation of engineers, including up to 700 new students. ? ?
(Cissna Park–jc) The Cissna Park F F A Chapter is getting busy with the start of school and lots of activities planned for the fall. Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton says the local chapter has a planned canned food drive on September 16th…
Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton
(Springfield–jc) The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will accept sealed bids this fall for about 40 agricultural lease contracts for crop years 2027 through2031. The state utilizes agricultural leases as a tool to support wildlife populations and recreational opportunities at sites owned or managed by the agency. The department sites with leases open for bid will be publicly announced on BidBuy, the State of Illinois’ eProcurement system. They include The
Harry “Babe” Woodyard State Natural Area in Vermilion County, Iroquois County State Fish and Wildlife Area, the Clinton Lake State Recreation Area in DeWitt County and the Moraine View State Park in McLean County. Bids will be opened at various times in October. More information is found on line.
(Paxton–jc) All veterans are invited to the Paxton Buckley Loda Homecoming football game to “gather” around the flag in memory of 9-11 on Friday night. All veterans will receive a free gate admission. The event is scheduled for around 6-45 on Friday night. PBL takes on Prairie Central in the Homecoming football game at 7 at Jerry Zimmerman Field at I-57 stadium.
(Champaign-jm) – Two people were arrested on the University of Illinois campus after police responded to a dorm hall for reports of an armed person, prompting an Illini Alert. The U of I Police Department said in a news release that officers were dispatched to Bousfield Hall at 11:15 p.m. on Monday. Reports indicated that two people were knocking on doors and threatening residents. Officers established a perimeter around the building while Real-Time Information Center specialists reviewed security camera footage to locate the suspects. The suspects were quickly found, and detained. UIPD officials identified one suspect as 20-year-old Davante Trass of Urbana. He was booked into the Champaign County Jail on preliminary charges of making a terrorist threat and criminal trespass to state-supported land. The other suspect is a juvenile who was preliminarily charged with making a terrorist threat, criminal trespass to state-supported land and obstructing identification. The juvenile was later released to their guardian under local screening protocols and state law. Both suspects received letters that barred them from all University of Illinois property.
(Rantoul–jc) The new mural depicting the Tuskegee Airmen is now up in the village of Rantoul. Village leaders help dedicate the mural in August. The mural is located just south of Wabash Park. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says the first of planned murals honors those who started at Chanute Air Force Base in the village…
Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third. There are plans in the works to place additional murals in that area of Rantoul as funding is arranged
(Hoopeston-jm) – Hoopeston firefighters are investigating a house fire. It happened in the 300 block of East Thompson Avenue. Firefighters from Rossville were called to assist.
(Bloomington-jm) – Bloomington’s Central Illinois Regional Airport announced Tuesday that it was awarded just over $12 million in grant money from the FAA. The airport said the grant will help fund the second phase of the airport’s Runway Rehabilitation Project. That project will include reconstruction, pavement repair and intersection lights for the runway. This grant will cover 90% of the project’s total cost, while the state and airport will cover the remaining cost. Work is expected to begin in May.
(Buckley–jc) It’s fall mum time at one area Christian School on Thursday. The fall flowers will be sold as a fundraiser for the local school starting at 11 am on Thursday and the proceeds go to needs at the school, says St John’s P-T-L President Kelsey Vaughn…
St Johns Lutheran School P-T-L President Kelsey Vaughn.
(Paxton–jc) Ford County’s Public Building Commission will look at the elevator project at the Ford County Courthouse when they meet on Thursday afternoon. Bids on Cell doors at the jail and looking at flooding issues are also topics. The Ford County Building Commission meets at 3 on Thursday afternoon in Paxton
(Texas–jc) Democrat Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is scheduled to join Texas Democrats at a press conference in Dallas later today. In August 2025, Pritzker welcomed 40 Democratic state lawmakers to Illinois after they absconded in protest against a congressional redistricting bill put forth by Texas Republicans.
Pritzker is the honorary chair of a new political action committee to support Democratic Party candidates and organizations.
(Paxton–jc) The 20-26 Paxton Swine and Dine is set for Saturday September 19th in the city of Paxton. The day begins before 6am with the set up for the chicken and ribs contest. The annual event also is free to attend with various family activities throughout the day, says Paxton Swine and Dine Spokesperson Alan Meyer…
Paxton Swine and Dine Event Spokesperson Alan Meyer
(Springfield–jc) A majority of American voters agree that a student’s chosen major or field of study should be considered before approving federal student loans, according to a new poll. The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll found that 54 percent of respondents totally agree that a student’s chosen major or field of study should be among the factors, while 31 percent totally disagree. Student loan debt remains significant nationwide, with the federal student loan portfolio reaching approximately One point 8 Trillion dollars.
(The Center Square) – A new Amtrak maintenance facility to be constructed in Bridgeport and the proposal for a new White Sox stadium on the land of Amtrak’s current facility have drawn pushback from community members opposed to the change. Plans were unveiled by likely future Chicago White Sox owner Justin Ishbia for the construction of a roughly $900 million mixed-use development called “The Railyard” in the South Loop.
WPXN News notes…
The 2026 Team Hope Walk for Huntington's Disease will take place on Saturday, September 12th at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. Check in begins at 730 am with the walk beginning at 8.
The final Shop in the Park in downtown Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, September 12th from 9-1.
The Rantoul Public Library will host a Welcome to Rantoul event on Saturday, September 12th at 10 am. Activities include: food, live music and games.
Middlefork Forest Preserve will hold their Dark Skies Series: Cosmic Surfing and Guided Stargazing on Saturday, September 12th from 6-10pm.
The Rankin Community Connections will host their Music on Main on Saturday, September 12th at 6pm. Matt Wynn will be performing.
The Illinois and Indiana Firefighters Association will hold their 25th anniversary 9-11 Memorial Ride on Sunday, September 13th. The ride will depart from the Village Mall in Danville at 10 am with lunch at the Paxton Fire Department before ending the ride at The Stor Restaurant and Bar in Catlin.
