(The Center Square) - A new study says Illinois is the third best state in the country for hybrid workers. Wolfstone Digital analyzed the availability of jobs with hybrid options, internet speeds, cost of living, income tax rates and average commute times. Researchers said 5.75% of positions in Illinois offer hybrid options. They also cited the state income tax rate of 4.95% and a top ten rating for internet speed. New York finished first in the study, followed by Iowa. Wisconsin ranked last, due to a high cost of living index, slow internet speed and an income tax rate of 7.65%.

 

(Urbana–jc)  Roads along Interstate 74 near Urbana are back open again this morning after a vehicle crash on Sunday night. Police say the crash happened in a construction zone in the area near mile marker 200. No injuries were reported. 

 

(The Center Square) - The 2026 Illinois Grain Tour is set to kick off today and continue through Thursday. The tour includes stops at a family farm in Waverly, the Illinois Soybean Association and the Chicago Board of Trade. The grain tour is intended to develop relationships that will lead to an increase in export sales of Illinois agricultural products.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health has released its fall immunization guidance for flu, RSV and COVID-19 ahead of the 2026-27 respiratory virus season. IDPH recommends the flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. For RSV, the agency recommends vaccination for pregnant people between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy if they have not previously been vaccinated. RSV immunization is also recommended for infants younger than 8 months without maternal vaccine protection, children 8 months through 19 months at increased risk of severe illness, adults 50-74 at increased risk and adults 75 and older if they have not been previously vaccinated. IDPH recommends COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 6 months through 23 months, children ages 2–18 in certain risk groups, pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding women, those planning pregnancy and all adults 19 and older.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The Never Forget Group and Paxton Pride hosted a 9-11 remembrance event at the city’s community flag on Sunday. Those attending heard from 106th district State Representative Jason Bunting, Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold, Denny Kingren, Maisey Kingren and Judy Popel. The Paxton Buckley Loda Band and Members of the Chorus Department also provided music at the event. Event Spokesperson Kim Evans says the group expects the program to continue in the city next year and beyond…

 

Never Forget Group and Paxton Pride Spokesperson Kim Evans

 

(Rantoul-jm) – After two and a half years, the BEACON Home is complete in Rantoul. A group of University of Illinois students came together to build a solar powered, all electric, energy efficient home. The home will soon be donated to a local family through Habitat for Humanity.

 

(Cissna Park–jc)  – The Cissna Park F F A will be collecting food items for the Watseka and Cissna park Food Pantry on Wednesday. It is one of the chapter's annual activities to help in the community, says Cissna Park F F A Chapter Advisor Jeff Clifton…

 

Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton

 

(Illinois–jc) Public universities across Illinois are reporting differing 10-day enrollment numbers, with some schools announcing record-breaking data, as other schools have reported modest declines. Incoming freshman classes have also trended upward across multiple schools this year. Across 12 different public universities in Illinois, eight have released fall 2026 10-day enrollment census numbers, which are required to be reported to the Illinois Board of Higher Education each semester. Among the eight, five saw enrollment increase year-over-year, including two of the three within the University of Illinois System and both Southern Illinois University campuses.

 

(Savoy–jc)  Comfort Keepers of Central Illinois Savoy, a provider of in-home care services for seniors and other adults, will celebrate the opening of its new Savoy location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce. The ribbon cutting will take place this morning at 11in Savoy. Owned by Jayson Blunck, Comfort Keepers provides customized in-home care designed to help seniors and other adults maintain independence and quality of life in their own homes. Services include companion care, personal care, respite care, specialized care, Alzheimer's and dementia care, transportation and 24-hour care. The new Savoy location expands Comfort Keepers' presence in the area. The company also operates a main office in Forsyth.

 

(The Center Square) - Five religious healthcare associations and two new individual plaintiffs have joined a federal lawsuit challenging Illinois’ medical aid in dying law. A statement from Thomas More Society said the new organizational plaintiffs represent over 95% of Catholic health institutions in Illinois who object to the laws mandates on conscience grounds.

 

(The Center Square) – NASCAR will not return to the streets of downtown Chicago in 2027, a decision one Illinois fiscal policy advocate says could save taxpayers money as the city and state face ongoing budget pressures. The NASCAR Chicago Street Race debuted in 2023 and ran for three years through 2025. After taking a year off in 2026, NASCAR had hoped to bring the event back to Grant Park in 2027. But the organization announced in August there was not enough time to finalize plans with city and state officials. Instead they will go back to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. 

 

(Paxton-jm) – About 50 motorcyclists rode through Central Illinois honoring the lives lost on 9-11 Sunday. The group left Danville riding through Rossville, Hoopeston and Rankin before stopping for lunch in Paxton at the firehouse. After lunch they rode down to Ludlow, Rantoul and over to Gifford and Potomac on their way back to Danville. Around 150 people attended the event at the Paxton Community Flag near Paxton Buckley Loda High School. Paxton Fire Department Spokesperson Denny Kingren told the crowd to always, “remember”,,,

Paxton Fire Department Spokesperson Denny Kingren

The group plans to hold the remembrance event, again, next year

(Emmington–jc)  106th District State Representative Jason Bunting has been busy this summer meeting with groups through the local district. Representative Bunting says this is the way to get your concerns to the state capital…

 

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington

 

(Champaign–jc)  The Parkland College Foundation presented its inaugural Community Impact Award and Carl R. Meyer Philanthropic Leadership Award at the President’s Circle Recognition Breakfast  at at the Champaign Country Club.

The Rotary Club of Champaign received the Parkland College Foundation’s Community Impact Award, which recognizes an organization whose partnership has made a significant and Rotary Club of Champaign lasting contribution to Parkland College and the students it serves. Since 1986, the Rotary Club of Champaign has provided over $165,000 in scholarship support for Parkland students. 

 

(Washington–jc) The American Soybean Association welcomed actions  from the U.S. Department of Energy and Internal Revenue Service that provide greater clarity and usability for the 45-Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, an important tool for supporting domestic biofuel production and demand for U.S. soybeans.

Energy Department officials updated the 45-ZCF-GREET model to incorporate carbon intensity adjustments for certain regenerative agricultural practices, including practices used in soybean production. .

 

WPXN News notes…

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at Heritage FS in Gilman on Wednesday, September 16th from 9-2.

 

Impact Life will hold a blood drive at the American Lutheran Church in Rantoul on Wednesday, September 16th from 11:30-2:30 in the youth hall.

 

Jeremiah 33:6 will hold a free produce pantry and health fair on Wednesday, September 16th from 3-5 pm at the Roberts Gym.

 

Paxton’s annual Swine n Dine BBQ Competition and Festival will take place on Saturday, September 19th in downtown Paxton. The evening's entertainment includes live music with Gina Miles and Gabby Barrett.

 

The Champaign County Farm Bureau will host From Seed to Prairie: How tallgrass prairie plants got their start on Monday, September 21st at 7pm. The event is free but registration is required by going to go dot illinois dot edu slash ecimnprairie.

 

The Ford County Public Health Department will hold a walk in flu clinic on Wednesday, September 23rd from 8:30-11 am at the Kempton American Legion.