(The Center Square) – A former employee of a state subcontractor has been indicted on charges that she fraudulently obtained more than $4.6 million in COVID-era unemployment insurance benefits for herself and hundreds of others. Federal prosecutors said Andrea Wellington, 35, of Chicago and codefendant Randall Easley, 38, accessed the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance system and fraudulently increased the wage histories of hundreds of PUA applicants, causing IDES to disburse more than $4.6 million in payments to which the recipients were not entitled. Wellington pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of wire fraud. Easley pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of wire fraud.
(The Center Square) - The lone debate between Democratic Party nominee Juliana Stratton and Republican nominee Don Tracy in the campaign for U.S. Senate in Illinois is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Central time tonight. The WTTW News event can be seen live via Blue Room Stream.
(St. Joseph-jm) – Two years after the death of Illinois State Trooper Corey S. Thompsen, a permanent addition to his hometown, was officially dedicated.
An overpass in St. Joseph was officially named the Trooper Corey S. Thompsen Memorial Overpass. It carries County Road 1900E over Interstate 74, and it’s a bridge Thompsen and his brother crossed on countless runs growing up.
(Paxton–jc) Two new signs for the new gas station and restaurant on Paxton’s west side were approved by city leaders. The 80 foot sign will be placed on the south side of Route 9 at Interstate 57. The smaller 25 foot sign will be placed on the property with the gas station and restaurant says Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Champaign–jc) – City of Champaign leaders will look to amend the budget when they meet tonight and also set an ordinance amending salaries for employees. Approving the final plat of the Y-M-C-A subdivision south of Windsor Road and a resolution to accept a proposal for some fire apparatus maintenance and repair work are also topics for tonight. The Champaign City Council meets at 6pm.
(Cullom–jc) Tri Point school leaders have set up a board of education meeting as a committee to hear a presentation from Bernardi Securities. The purpose is to hear about altering, reconstructing, and repairing district school buildings. The meeting is one of the first steps for the district to look into future renovations and more in the district buildings. The meeting comes to order at 7pm on the 29th in Kempton.
(Paxton–jc) – Accolade in Paxton is set to participate in Halloween Hours in the city of Paxton this year. It’s all about activities for the residents. Accolade Healthcare of Paxton Activities Director Samantha Johnson says her group offers a wide variety of things to do for residents…
Accolade Healthcare of Paxton Activities Director Samantha Johnson. Accolade held a halloween event last Friday for residents, staff and the public
The average regular unleaded gas price in Illinois is three cents lower than it was a week ago, but AAA says prices are not improving much because the cost of crude oil remains high. The Illinois average on Monday was $4.67 per gallon, or $1.56 higher than it was one year ago. The national average on Monday was $4.30.
(The Center Square) – A new study says Illinois is one of 33 states with weak or ineffective laws governing K-12 public school transfers. Reason Foundation’s Public Schools Without Boundaries report evaluated open enrollment laws based on seven criteria, including whether districts are required to allow transfers between schools and districts, transparency requirements and parents’ ability to appeal rejected applications. Illinois and 32 other states got Fs. Jude Schwalbach, assistant director of education reform at Reason Foundation, said Illinois law does not require school districts to admit transfer students even if they have extra space available.
(The Center Square) - The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced on Monday that digital asset kiosk operators have refunded more than $750,000 to Illinois consumers since the Digital Asset Kiosks Act took effect in August 2025. Senate Bill 2319 provides that kiosk operators provide full refunds to new customers who are victims of scams conducted through kiosks. Consumers who believe they may have been the victim of a scam involving a digital asset kiosk can request a refund by reporting fraud to the operator within 30 days of the transaction and providing a police report to the operator within 60 days of the transaction.
(Vermilion County-jm) – The Middlefork Vermilion River and the Vermilion River in Vermilion County are closed until further notice. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources closed the rivers from Potomac to the Illinois-Indiana border. The department says seepage from a nearby lake is causing the riverbank to be unstable and could potentially collapse.
(Champaign-jm) – This year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to optogenetics researchers. It is a new field of study, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of the few schools nationwide researching it. Optogenetics is a light switch for a cell. Kai Zhang, a professor in the U of I’s biochemistry department says you can turn on the cell, turn it on, or turn it off almost instantly. The tool’s precision makes a huge difference in real-life situations. For example, if the light is used to kill cancer cells in a breast cancer patient, there’s a smaller risk of damaging the lungs. Zhang has been involved in optogenetics research at the U of I since 2014. He said the school provides the right environment for this research. Fewer than 100 labs have this research capability.
(Washington–dm)-A USDA senior official says Conservation Reserve Program acreage sign-up should be a matter producers and landowners should look into going into next year. Rod Bain has the story.
(Urbana–jc) A ribbon cutting ceremony is set for an Urbana business on Tuesday. Hope Village will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow, marking an important milestone in Champaign-Urbana’s response to homelessness among medically fragile community members. An open house at the facility is set for Wednesday for the general public. Hope Village provides permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness and complex health challenges, offering a safe, permanent place to live .
(Hoopeston–jc) It's time to vote…vote for your favorite pumpkin at the Hoopeston Public Library. Voting is open to all. Hoopeston Library officials say to come to the lower level between now and 3pm on Saturday. That is when the polls close.
(Paxton–dm)-You might think your house is child proof, but is it really safe? Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen has some ideas for you to check in your bathroom.
Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen. You can hear more from Scott Saturday Mornings at 7am on Scott's tips for success
Applications are open through Dec. 1 for Illinois Farm Bureau 2026-27 rural development grants. The program offers $120,000 to help rural communities invest in economic development, infrastructure, emergency services and other initiatives.
(The Center Square) – Several Illinois congressional members are among elected officials and government offices that reported receiving suspicious packages or envelopes in recent days. U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly, Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky and Brad Schneider said their offices received suspicious mailings. Several U.S. senators and state government agencies, including the Wisconsin Elections Commission, made similar reports. Quigley said his district office in Chicago was evacuated as a precaution.
(Paxton–jc) Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Paxton Mainstreet. The local non-profit’s goals are to preserve and promote the city of Paxton. Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says the group started four years ago…
She says as a mainstreet group, they focus on 4 key points…
Paxton Mainstreet Executive Director Donna Pepper.
The group continues to focus on the future of local business while preserving the local charm of the city of Paxton. Paxton Mainstreet is the WPXN Business of the day, today.
WPXN News notes…
The Elliott Amvets will hold their pork chop sandwich supper on Friday, October 23rd from 5–7 pm. Cost is $8. They will also host their Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry on Saturday, October 24th from noon–2 pm. Cost is $15.
Onarga will hold a Sunday in the Park event on Sunday, October 25th from noon to 4pm. Activities include craft vendors, food, kids games and live entertainment.
American Lutheran Church in Rantoul will hold a trunk or treat on Sunday, October 25th from 3-5 pm.
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Monday, October 26th from 9-3 at the Iroquois West High School.
The Hoopeston Jaycees will host their downtown Spooktacular on Monday, October 26th from 5:30-7 pm.
The Rantoul Recreation Department will hold a Halloween Party on Monday, October 26th from 6-7:30 pm at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex. Activities include hot dogs, treats, games and inflatables.
The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office will be at the Moyer District Library in Gibson City on Tuesday, October 27th from 2-5 pm for their I-Cash unclaimed cash and property program.
