(Washington–jc) Yesterday was the first full day of autumn. It’s the time of year for colors to change in East Central Illinois. Autumn notes the change of tree leaves from green to a variety of yellows, reds, and oranges. Kansas State Extensions Cynthia Domenghini looks at the science of the colors of fall…
Kansas State Extension’s Cynthia Domenghini
(Illinois–jc) A Park Forest man has been sentenced to one year in prison for threatening violence against federal immigration authorities.
Government attorneys said Michael D. Stover, 34, admitted that his social media post on July 7, 2025 was made knowing that it would be viewed as a threat to injury. Stover allegedly made previous postings advocating violence against government officials.
(Springfield-jm) — Illinois’ eight state run visitor centers, located within rest areas at interstates around the state, will be closing at the end of the month. The closures were independent of financial pressures according to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Operating the centers cost the state approximately $1.6 million per year. The areas where the centers are located will continue operating and all other services will be uninterrupted. The 20 employees who staffed the centers were all employed through third parties, not directly by the state. They sites closing include Oakwood in Vermilion County along with Marshall along Interstate 70 and Monee on Interstate 57
(Springfield–jc) Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Tuesday signed an Executive Order establishing the Illinois Artificial Intelligence Cabinet, a group of individuals from across industries and fields that will assess the various risks posed by AI to the safety of Illinoisans. As AI continues to rapidly advance, the Illinois AI Cabinet will advise the state government on preparing for and responding to AI-related incidents, identifying safeguards for public assets and infrastructure, and evaluating additional steps Illinois can take to strengthen AI safety and accountability. The Governor will seek input from state agency leaders and announce members of the cabinet in the coming weeks.
(Washington–jc) How is the corn crop coming in? U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey discusses recent wet weather and how it has affected corn crop harvest, to date…
U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey
(St. Joseph-jm) — Two river gauges near St. Joseph are going to be ceasing operation at the end of the month. The U-S Geological Survey stream gages located on the Salt Fork and Spoon Rivers. The ceasing of operations is due to funding. The stream gauges collect data about water and nutrient levels, helping map floodplains and keeping neighbors informed with real time flood data.
(Paxton–jc) A solar farm project will proceed on property being annexed into the city of Paxton. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the city gave its ok, as the property will be part of the city and the project provides some financial support…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. WPXN news has a three day series on the Solar Project set for the city of Paxton.
(Rantoul–jc) The Rantoul Township High School Buildings and Grounds Committee will look at summer projects for 20-27 when they meet on Thursday morning at the high school. A maintenance shed project, replacing the fence at the football field-track field is also up for discussion. Future projects include the Girls Locker room and boys locker rooms and roof repair on the East Wing and West Wing at the high school. The meeting comes to order at 9 on Thursday morning in the superintendent’s office
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The narrative of the novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, in which the scientist Victor Frankenstein creates a monster and brings it to life, is a well-known cultural touchstone. But the details of the novel itself are not nearly as well-known. A new exhibit at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores Shelley’s life and career and provides context for her famous novel. It also celebrates the acquisition by the library a few years ago of a first edition of “Frankenstein.” The exhibit opens on Thursday at the U of I and runs through May next year.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Supreme Court is currently debating whether people on home confinement and electronic monitoring pretrial should receive credits towards their prison sentence. The case surrounds a man who was sentenced before changes were made to state statute through the Pretrial Fairness Act. The man was convicted of aggravated domestic battery. His attorneys argue he should have received nearly 630 days of credit against his prison sentence for time he spent on home confinement and electronic monitoring before his trial. The state argues offenders can only receive pre-sentence credit when a supervising authority establishes terms and conditions of home detention and that a trial judge does not qualify for that role.
(Washington–jc) Harvest is here and with this week's weather the soybean crop is dropping leaves and more. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey says the soybean crop is ahead of schedule…
U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey
(Springfield-jm) – A new report shows that despite progress, Illinois is falling short of its lofty goals to reduce carbon emissions. The goal is net zero by 2050, but the state is only predicted to reduce emissions by 53 percent from the 2005 baseline. Experts say to make that goal, the state would need to accelerate the pace of emissions reductions. Among the suggestions is to transition every commercial vehicle to electric or reworking industrial standards to reduce emissions from producing common construction materials like cement. It could come at a financial and political cost. Another suggestion that could happen this fall, would require high powered projects like data centers to pay for their own energy and the infrastructure needed to supply it.
(Springfield–jc) As we officially move into the fall season, and with the fall harvest underway, one area State Representative says it's time again, to remind everyone about the importance of safety on the farm. This is Farm Safety Week in Illinois says 106th district State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington.
(Cissna Park–jc) It’s Pumpkins in the Park in Cissna Park coming in early October. The Cissna Park F F A hosts the community event, which takes place on Saturday October 3rd this year. Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton talks about pumpkins, food and more…
Cissna Park F F A Advisor Jeff Clifton
(Cullom–jc) – Tri Point School leaders will look to approve a contract for a steam boiler replacement project when they meet in special session this afternoon. The meeting is in Kempton and action on the agenda is to accept a bid from Xcell Mechanical for the steam boiler replacement project, set for the Kempton East Elementary Building. The meeting comes to order at 4-30 this afternoon.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A chemistry professor will discuss spectroscopy at an upcoming Kaler Science Lecture at Parkland College’s William M. Staerkel Planetarium next month. The event is set for 7pm on Friday October 2nd . University of Illinois professor Christy Landes will present "A-I-Enabled Spectroscopic Imaging . There is a two dollar cost to attend for the public.
(Gilman–jc) Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Pizza Palace downtown Gilman. Pizza Palace is open Wednesdays through Sundays 4pm to 8pm, to 9pm on Friday and Saturdays. Pizza Palace Owner Eric Bull says they have all kinds of crust and one special crust on Sundays…
Bull says they have a specialty pizza of the week…
Pizza Palace of Gilman Owner Eric Bull
They deliver from Clifton to Paxton. For Carryouts call 815-265-4321.
They also have homemade ice cream and Gelatos.
Pizza Palace is the WPXN Business of the Day, today
WPXN News notes…
The Ford County Public Health Department will hold a walk-in flu clinic on today, from 8:30-11 am at the Kempton American Legion.
The Ford County Historical Society’s annual meeting will take place on today, at 6pm at the Arcade restaurant in Paxton.
Buckley will hold their townwide fall garage sales on Friday, September 25th and Saturday, September 26th.
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Friday, September 25th from 11-4 at the Rantoul City Schools Central Office.
The Ford County Public Health Department will hold a walk in flu clinic on Friday, September 25th from 12-4 pm at the health department office in Paxton.
