(Champaign-jm) – A report of shots fired on the University of Illinois campus brought a large police presence on Halloween night. It happened around 8:30 near First and Springfield. There was also a reported shooting near Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.
(The Center Square) – After Illinois changed student assessment performance levels last year, the state board of education says student proficiency increased in all three tested subjects. The 2026 Illinois Report Card released on Friday said math proficiency improved from 38.4% in 2025 to 39.2% this year. ELA proficiency increased from 52.4% to 55.4% and science proficiency rose from 44.6% to 48.7%. The state said chronic absenteeism fell from 25% in 2025 to 23.5% in 2026.
(Springfield-jm) – Get Covered Illinois will kick off the 2027 annual open enrollment period on November 1, helping Illinoisans compare plans, apply for financial help and enroll in coverage. The annual Get Covered Illinois open enrollment period ends on January 15, 2027. Illinoisans who enroll by December 15 will have coverage starting January 1, 2027. Those who enroll by January 15 will have coverage starting February 1, 2027.
(Springfield-jm) – Election Day is almost here. As voters go to the polls, they will see a race for Governor between incumbent J-B Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey. In a recent interview with Capitol News Illinois Governor Pritzker talked about the state's investment in education…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.
(St Anne) – Illinois State Police arrested a registered child sex offender at a church Halloween Trunk or Treat event in St. Anne on Wednesday. Mitchel R. DeYoung, 52, of St. Anne is charged with eight counts of failure to register as a child sex offender, one count of child sex offender in a school zone and one count of child sex offender participation in a holiday event.
(Foosland-jm) – A motorcyclist was killed in a head-on crash in Champaign County, according to Illinois State Police. The crash happened shortly before 6:30 p.m. Friday on IL-47 near County Road 3475 North. That’s near Foosland or about six miles south of Gibson City. ISP said a vehicle was traveling north on 47 when the driver attempted to pass. The vehicle hit a southbound motorcycle head-on. The name of the motorcyclist hasn’t been released.
(Chanpaign–dm)-Harvest is just about wrapped up for this season, and the farmers have put in some long days. Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Kirk Builta reminds us not to forget to take a break when needed.
Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Kirk Builta
(Springfield-jm) – Gov. JB Pritzker is throwing cold water on demands for lawmakers to pass a supplemental education budget during veto session. The Illinois Federation of Teachers said they are still committed to getting funding passed while lawmakers are in town. House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch promised the Chicago Teachers Union in July that he would lead efforts to provide more money to CPS schools during the veto session. However, Pritzker told reporters there have been no discussions about the funding to fill a $150 million hole in the CPS budget.The Illinois Federation of Teachers initially called on the state to use a $768 million settlement with Meta to fill school funding gaps last month. Yet, that idea was quickly rejected as Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the money will be used for youth mental health services.
(Undated–jc) For those in the process of changing or getting a new plan for Medicare before December 7th, getting phone calls, items in the mail? Abbe Insurance Agent Larry Abbe says to look at those options, like F and G…
Abbe Insurance Agent Larry Abbe
(The Center Square) - According to a new report, Illinois is one of five states with more than $30,000 in debt per capita. Mariana Trujillo, managing director of government finance at Reason Foundation, said state, county and local governments and school districts are accumulating a lot of unfunded obligations.Trujillo co-authored the State and Local Government Finance Report that found Illinois has by far the highest state and local pension debt in the United States. Trujillo said the debt is not evenly distributed, with Chicago residents facing almost $50,000 in per capita debt. A different Reason Foundation report released in August said Illinois’ debt ratio of 276% was the highest in the nation. Trujillo said government debt numbers improved because of a change in the way health care retirement benefits are valued. Illinois also ranks fourth in total debt with $404.1 billion.
(Springfield-jm) — Voters go to the polls on Tuesday and one of the contested races on the ballot is for Governor. Darren Bailey is running again on the Republican side, trying to defeat incumbent Governor J-B Pritzker who is going for his third term in office. Bailey sat down with Capitol News Illinois to talk about the election and share what he calls failed policies of the Pritzker Administration…
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Darren Bailey.
(Urbana–jc) Urbana police arrested a 14 year old student at Urbana High school for making threats on social media. A police presence at the school was increased today. The youth is being held at the Champaign Detention Center. The investigation into the situation continues and anyone with information is asked to call Urbana police or Champaign County Crimestoppers.
(Springfield-jm) – The U.S. Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office is demanding changes to Illinois’ student mental health screening plans, warning the state’s current guidance could violate federal parental rights and privacy laws. According to the Department of Education, in the 2027-28 school year, Illinois public school students as young as third graders will participate in mental health screenings — mandated by Illinois Public Act 104-0032 — that will ask them about their emotional well-being, depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal thoughts or similar concerns. The Illinois State Board of Education provides an option to opt out of these screenings, but does not require a parent to give consent for it. The Department of Education said that consent is required for evaluations under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment. ISBE’s guidance also makes adding evaluation results to a student’s official records optional. The Department of Education warned this could allow schools to withhold records from parents, which it said could violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office said it is demanding that ISBE revise its policies by Nov. 13 “to avoid the need for enforcement actions.”
(Paxton–jc) Holiday shopping time is here as we move into the month of November. PaxtonArea Chamber of Commerce President Dawn Stack says the momentum to the last two months of the year continues to be a positive for Paxton businesses…
Paxton area Chamber of Commerce President Dawn Stack
WPXN News notes...
The Rankin Lions Club will hold their Friday Supper on Friday, November 6th from 4:30-7:30 pm.
The Elliott Amvets will host their Family Night on Friday, November 6th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $15 and includes chicken, fish or shrimp and two sides.
The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their 2026 Community and Business Awards Banquet on Friday, November 6th at Timberline Grove in Rantoul. Doors open at 5 with dinner at 6.
The Little Achievers Academy will hold their annual Holiday Shopping Bazaar on Saturday, November 7th from 9-2 at the American Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gibson City.
The 16th annual Iroquois West Music Boosters Craft and Vendor Show will take place on Saturday, November 7th from 9-2 at the Iroquois West High School Gym.
