(Champaign-jm) – 4 juveniles were arrested and 3 guns recovered following an incident near Barnes and Noble in Champaign Saturday afternoon. Champaign Police say they used Automated License Plate Reader technology to find a stolen vehicle. It was discovered near the intersection of Marketview Drive and Anthony Drive just before 4pm. The vehicle was involved in a crash and the occupants had ran away. 4 juveniles were arrested and 3 unlawfully possessed firearms were recovered. A 5th person escaped. Anyone with information is asked to call Champaign Police.
(Vermilion County–jm) – A Catlin woman was killed in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. Jane McFadden, Vermilion County Coroner, said 43-year-old Gennie Appelman died in a motorcycle accident around 1:40 p.m. Saturday. According to the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department, a group of motorcycles was traveling westbound on 2250 North Road, west of Route 49. The driver of one of the motorcycles got too close to the motorcycle in front of him and lost control. The driver was transported to the hospital and his female passenger died from her injuries. Two other motorcyclists crashed during the incident, but they refused medical treatment.
(Rantoul–jc) The Community Service Center of Rantoul Holiday Bureau is now gathering toys and games for kids for Christmas and also dollars for the food distribution for the holidays. Community Service Center of Rantoul Executive Director Cindy Crawford says the program event dates are set for early December…
Community Service Center of Rantoul Executive Director Cindy Crawford
(Urbana-jm) – The State of Illinois has approved an increase in capacity at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. In July, Carle proposed an increase of 16 inpatient beds and the addition of a 22-station observational unit totaling a cost of more than $34 million. The space for the beds should be added by December 2028.
(Paxton-jm) – Paxton first responders were called to a single vehicle accident on I-57 early Saturday morning. It happened in the northbound lanes of I-57 near mile marker 258 around 1:15 am. No injuries were reported.
(Paxton–jc) The holiday Christmas time shopping season is here and several communities having Christmas open houses and special sales. For the city of Paxton one event to put on your calendar is the downtown Paxton Holiday Shopping event that starts on December 4th. Paxton MainStreet Executive Director Donna Pepper says the shops will be ready for a city wide event and some of the shops will have pop-up shops inside, too…
Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper. That city wide event runs from December 4th throughDecember 7th in Paxton .
(The Center Square) – In response to a motion filed by the lawyers of state Representative Carol Ammons, Democrat from Urbana, calling for the dismissal of her charges related to an alleged kickback scheme siphoning taxpayer funds directed to nonprofits in her district employing her daughter, alongside improper use of campaign funds, government lawyers say the charges should stand.
In their 29-page response, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois argued lawyers misinterpreted her charges and made an argument that doesn't disprove portions of what they say was still illegal conduct.
(Springfield-jc) – Secretary of State’s Office to Bring DMV and Other Services Together to Honor and Support Central Illinois Veterans and Military Families It will take place today in Springfield from 10-2 at the Downtown YMCA.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor JB Pritzker appealed the Trump administration’s decision to deny Illinois’ request for federal disaster relief on Thursday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Illinois’ request last month without explanation for federal resources to respond to August storms. In an appeal submitted to the agency, the state provided updated damage numbers showing the storm cost eligible for public assistance is now $43 million — up from $27.6 million in the original request and well above FEMA’s $24.9 million standard. Pritzker submitted a request to FEMA last month seeking resources to help the eight counties recover from flooding, tornadoes and severe wind damage in mid-August. The governor’s request covered Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will counties. The state’s original request showed Illinois met FEMA’s criteria to qualify for relief, but some areas of the state did not meet FEMA’s threshold alone. In its appeal, the state said more information is now available that shows six of the eight impacted counties, including Cook, meet their thresholds for disaster relief. The state also said the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has been able to fully account for all costs from the storms, including debris removal, which was not yet complete in September. It also notes FEMA has validated costs by reviewing contracts and other payments.
(Washington–dm)-Working an extra job to help pay for the holidays? Perhaps an online job? Be careful, that it's not a way scammers can use to steal money or information from you. USDA’s Rod Bain has the story.
(Rantoul-jm) — Could a cannabis dispensary be coming to Rantoul? Voters overwhelmingly approved allowing cannabis dispensaries in the village last week. Despite that the board of trustees can vote to overturn the referendum but that doesn’t seem likely given the results. The board will now have to figure out rules and regulations for any cannabis business looking to come to the village.
(Undated–jm) – Drought conditions continue this week across Illinois. The latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows nearly 60-percent of the state is seeing drought conditions. Iroquois County was showing numbers exceeding 80 percent abnormally dry. Likewise in parts of Ford and Livingston counties. Kankakee and Will county were not so bad. The worst conditions continue to be central and southern portions of the state, where moderate and severe drought conditions are present.
(Paxton–jc) Mowing season is almost complete, and how about getting that mower tune up now rather than the spring. Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen talks about tuning in the fall…
Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen
(Gibson City–dm)-The Gibson City City Council will hold their regular monthly meeting on Monday November 9th. Items on the agenda include discussion of a Facade grant application for Al andGail Brownlee, Discussion on the Mayoral appointment of Keith Eyre to fill the vacancy in Ward 2. Also discussion on renewing medical insurance for city employees, rezoning property at 416 E 16th street, and consideration of the tax levy ordinance for the City for 2026-2027. The meeting will come to order at 7pm at the city Council Chambers.
SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, Democrat from Illinois and a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, Democrat from Illinois and several congressmen, today sent a letter to the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency, calling for a review of the Federal Crop Insurance Program to rebalance payments for farmers that are routinely overcharged for federal crop insurance premiums. While the Federal Crop Insurance Act requires crop insurance premiums to roughly equal the indemnity payouts over the long term, Illinois corn and soybean farmers have been systemically overcharged for crop insurance premiums as they rank among the lowest in the nation for crop insurance payouts.
WPXN News notes…
The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Coffee and Connections on Wednesday, November 11th from 8-9 am at the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce office.
A Veteran’s appreciation lunch honoring those who served will be held Wednesday November 11th from 11-1 at Railside Golf Club in Gibson City. It is free for Veterans. Additional guests can purchase lunch for $15. Lunch is provided by 217 Mortgage, Angela Roderick at Keller Williams and Drummer Creek catering.
The Circle of Friends Artisan Market will take place on Friday, November 13th from 3-7 pm and on Saturday, November 14th from 9-3 at the Rantoul Recreation Center.
The Original Woodworth Fish Fry will take place on Friday, November 13th at St. Paul’s Lutheran School Woodworth. Carryouts will be available starting at 4 with dine in starting at 5.
The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, November 13th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $10.
The Gifford Fire Department will hold their spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Saturday, November 14th from 4-7 pm at the German Fall Festival Building in Gifford.
