(Springfield-jm) – A federal judge in Chicago this week denied a request to block enforcement of both state and local bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, saying it is unlikely that the law will be found unconstitutional. In a 31-page opinion, Judge Lindsay Jenkins in the Northern District of Illinois said the laws are intended to protect public safety by removing particularly dangerous weapons from circulation. She also said that the government’s interest in protecting public safety outweighs any harm the laws might have on a person’s right to keep and bear arms.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritkzer is signing a new law to protect the state’s healthcare workforce as the pandemic emergency officially ends next month. The bill was sponsored by Representative Bob Morgan of Deerfield, who wants to ensure temporary healthcare professions can stay on the job…

State Representative Bob Morgan of Deerfield. These workers will be able to obtain full licensure as well. Morgan says the law also allows for continued access to flu and COVID-19 testing and vaccination at local pharmacies. It takes effect immediately.

(Springfield-jm) – Despite Governor J.B. Pritzker's recent insistence that the state is not losing residents, the latest migration report from the Internal Revenue Service shows a continued exodus from Illinois. According to taxpayer migration data, Illinois lost a net 105,000 residents in 2020. Only New York and California lost more. The statistics are based on tax returns filed in 2020 and 2021, showing who moved from one state to another between 2019 and 2020.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois high school students are building up a lot of college credit. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington explains how they are doing that…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

(Springfield-jm) – State Representative  Mike Marron of Fithian wants to increase the number of qualified community college professors in the state of Illinois and maintain a strong community college system.   That’s why he has sponsored House Joint Resolution 7, which creates the College Insurance Program Task Force.   The task force will be charged with studying the College Insurance Program and present policy and legislative recommendations to the General Assembly to ensure the program remains a viable and healthy benefit.   The Task Force will determine any changes necessary to the current College Insurance Program to meet these goals…

State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian. Marron’s bi-partisan resolution now heads to the Senate for their consideration.  The measure was adopted in the House by a vote of 109-0.

(Champaign-jm) – A video that has surfaced on social media has parents concerned, while also raising questions about the status and future of Champaign Centennial High School Principal Scott Savage. The video, which was shared, appears to be showing Savage getting involved in a physical exchange with a female student. Champaign Police officials confirmed that officers responded to the school for a report of an altercation on April 18.

(Washington-jm) – Agriculture Secretary Vilsack says that judging from the responses at this week's meeting of G7 agricultural officials, the world is very interested in the U.S. approach to climate smart ag. Production. Gary Crawford reports…

(Washington-jm) – One question many small farmers have about the Census of Agriculture is why is the Census even bothering with my tiny operation? Gary Crawford reports…

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is the Farmers Merchants Bank of Illinois. The bank has served the area since 1914. Farmers Merchants Bank of Illinois Executive Vice President Nancy Hofer says the bank has a long history locally in Paxton and also in Melvin and Piper City…

Farmers Merchants Bank of Illinois Vice President Nancy Hofer. 

Farmers Merchants Bank of Illinois  Ag Loan Officer Hannah Hambleton says growing up on a farm near Potomac helped guide her path into banking……

Farmers Merchants Bank of Illinois Ag Loan Officer Hannah Hambleton.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced Thursday it received nearly 2,700 applications for the upcoming Social Equity Criteria Lottery. The lottery will distribute the next round of 55 conditional adult-use cannabis dispensary licenses across the 17 regions around the state. Following the lottery, each applicant selected will have 45 calendar days to prove certain social equity eligibility criteria to receive a conditional license.

(Springfield-jm) – State lawmakers are working on legislation to further address the teacher shortage in Illinois. The problem is serious, especially in hard to staff areas, says supporters. A bill from Senator Meg Loughran-Cappel of Shorewood extends the number of days that substitute teachers filling an emergency vacancy can work in the classroom. Another provides monetary incentives for teachers who mentor their newer colleagues…

State Senator Meg Loughran-Cappel of Shorewood. A third bill sets up four thousand dollar a year retention bonuses to be given for two consecutive years to teachers working in underserved schools.

(Springfield-jm) – Legislation that would tighten anti-bullying protocols in Illinois schools will head to the full state Senate after unanimously passing out of committee this week. House Bill 3425 particularly targets cyberbullying, requiring that schools “make diligent efforts” to notify the parents or guardians of students involved in a bullying incident within 24 hours of the administration being made aware of it. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, suicide is the third leading cause of death among Illinoisans between the ages of 10 and 19. Opponents raised concerns that a 24-hour notification policy creates an unnecessary burden for school administrators.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinoisans and members of the General Assembly continue to wait on the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision on the assault weapons ban. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says there has been some movement in a lower court's ruling…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Bloomington-jm) – Most of McLean County could see increased property taxes under a measure working its way through the Illinois legislature. The bill, Senate Bill 684, would require all property taxpayers to fund the Central Illinois Regional Airport. Currently only Bloomington-Normal taxpayers have covered the bill. Local lawmakers argue the decision should be up to McLean County voters and not the legislature.

(Springfield-jm) – State Representative Chris Miller of Oakland rose on the House floor to draw attention to conflicting policies currently being pushed in Springfield. According to Miller, on one hand is legislation dealing with soil health and soil conservation.   At the same time, other bills are being pushed to use some of the most fertile farmland in the world, located here in Illinois, to locate solar panels…

State Representative Chris Miller of Oakland.

(Washington-jm) – Here's why Census of Agriculture officials are urging producers to fill out and return their Census forms. Gary Crawford reports…

(Washington-jm) – USDA announced Thursday the start of the Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities project implementation phase, and a coinciding Partnerships Network. Rod Bain reports…

WPXN Weekend News Notes…

Buckley will hold townwide garage sales today and tomorrow starting at 8 am each day. Maps are available at the Buckley State Bank.

The Onarga Fire Department will hold their taco fundraiser on Saturday starting at 10 am until they run out. Cost is $3 per taco.

Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting Master Gardeners on Saturday from 10-2.

St. Malachy spring fundraiser will take place on Saturday. Tickets are $40 each or $75 per couple.

The Parkland College Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Concert Band will hold “A Spring Potpourri of Sound” concert on Sunday at 3 pm at the Harold and Jean Miner Theatre.

(Springfield-jm) – Business leaders from around Illinois met with lawmakers and policy experts Wednesday to brainstorm on how to spur economic growth. The Illinois Manufacturers Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association hosted Business Day in Springfield. Illinois Manufacturers Association President and CEO Mark Denzler said updating the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act is crucial for Illinois businesses. Illinois Retail Merchants Association board chair Art Potash said many of the bills coming out of the 103rd General Assembly are anti-business. A recent report by the American Legislative Exchange Council ranked Illinois 46th in the country for economic competitiveness and ranked the state a dismal 44th in the corporate income tax rate category.

(Springfield-jm) – Working parents would have more time to grieve the loss of a child under a bill pending in the Illinois House. The legislation extends bereavement leave for moms and dads whose child has died by suicide or homicide. It’s sponsored by Senator Karina Villa of West Chicago…

State Senator Karina Villa of West Chicago. Under the bill, parents working at a company with 250 or more employees would be allowed up to 12 weeks of bereavement leave. Those at smaller companies would get 6 weeks.

(Springfield-jm) – Services for rape, child abuse and domestic violence victims in Illinois will be cut back this summer because of a change in the federal government funding formula for the Crime Victims Fund. The national estimates are 1 in 5 women and 1 in 33 men will experience an attempted or completed sexual assault in their lifetimes. For children the numbers are more alarming. One in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will experience sexual assault. The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault is seeking $12 million in additional state funding for Illinois rape crisis centers to help avert severe cutbacks this summer.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is hi-liting some important fiscal milestones for the state this week. For starters, Comptroller Mendoza says her office has deposited another 350 million dollars into the state’s rainy-day fund, bringing the total emergency stash to a record high $1.58 billion…

State Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Additionally, the state’s accounts payable has hit a 12 year low of 478 million dollars, meaning vendors are being paid faster than they have in decades.

(Urbana-jm) – A Champaign man will spend the next 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty on Wednesday to murdering a 14-year-old boy in 2021. During a hearing that lasted just 15 minutes, Daryl Vandyke pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree murder. In doing so, he admitted to killing Steven Butler III on July 29, 2021, hitting him in the head with an axe or sharp-edged garden tool multiple times. Butler’s body was found the next morning by a pair of bicyclists in the area of Washington Street and High Cross Road. In exchange for the guilty plea, the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office dropped several other counts of first-degree murder and a count accusing Vandyke of sexually abusing Butler’s corpse. The guilty plea also allowed Vandyke to avoid a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

(Springfield-jm) – Lawmakers got their chance to ask question officials from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services during an appropriations committee hearing. The department has faced severe scrutiny over their handling of children in the state’s care with the head of the department facing contempt of court charges over a dozen times. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Association of Realtors reported the first uptick in six months in the county’s home sales, as inventory begins to grow. The association said comparable home sales increased slightly by .48% as sales rose to 210 units in March 2023 from 209 units in March 2022. Association officials said the monthly median home sale price in March totaled $174,950. It was 7.99% higher than the March 2022 price of $162,000. Area homes are staying on the market a bit longer for an average of 50 days, an increase from 44 days in March 2022. Association officials said inventory for homes for sale as of April 1 is a total of 635 properties, an increase from last month’s inventory of 561 properties.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is A House of Flowers downtown Rantoul. Marlana Smith and staff have great ideas for your prom needs. Smith says Mother’s Day is also coming and they have great gift ideas at  A House of Flowers in Rantoul..

She adds more ideas for Mother’s Day  from a fresh floral arrangement to locally made candles to something with a bear…..

A House of Flowers downtown Rantoul Owner Marlana Smith.

(Springfield-jm) – State Representative Dan Caulkins of Decatur will not seek to be re-elected in 2024. Caulkins says he has no other political aspirations, and will not be seeking office for any other position aside from remaining connected to the republican party. The reason for his retirement is when he first decided to run he set a three-term limit for himself and is choosing to stick to that.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois House Republicans are offering a package of public safety legislation. The bills create a new offense of domestic assault and prohibit someone arrested from using one of their three phone calls to intimidate their victim. Representative Dennis Tipsword, who is also a deputy chief in the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office, worked on the package…

State Representative Dennis Tipsword. Other bills aim to attract and retain more people to a career in law enforcement. That includes student loan repayment options and protecting officers from anonymous complaints.

(Springfield-jm) – Industry advocates and unions supporting caregivers for individuals with developmental disabilities are calling on lawmakers to more than double a funding increase proposed by Governor JB Pritzker in February.  The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities is requesting a $4 hourly increase to the wage rate for direct service professionals in community-based settings that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct service professionals, or DSPs, are the individuals who provide daily personal care such as assisting individuals with eating, grooming and dressing. The requested increase is $2.50 beyond an increase proposed by Pritzker earlier this year.  Supporters say the increase is needed to fill staffing shortages and offer more competitive wages. The current $17 wage rate is just $4 more than the state’s $13 minimum wage, although some DSPs make more than that and some make less.

(Springfield-jm) – New legislation has been introduced to reinvigorate plans for a Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights. The bill creates a $3 per ticket tax to help pay off debt from the renovation of Soldier Field, and freezes property tax assessments for the site. Governor J-B Pritzker says he hasn’t reviewed this latest proposal but that his goal is to ensure the state remains on firm fiscal footing…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Bears have said they don’t want taxpayers to help fund the actual stadium but are looking for state help for the surrounding entertainment complex and infrastructure.

(Danville-jm) – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced his office obtained a life sentence in its prosecution of a Champaign man convicted of murdering two Danville men. Vermilion County Circuit Court Judge Derek Girton sentenced Nicholas Trimble, 42, of Champaign, to life in prison after he was previously found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Rafael Arevalo, 26, of Danville, and Omar Roman, 26, also of Danville.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois has been putting money into their rainy day fund. The fund was under $50,000 in 2018. Now the state has over a billion dollars in the fund. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington says it’s a good thing they have reserves up because revenue has fallen…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

(Roberts-jm) – Jeremiah 33:6 will be holding a free produce pantry in Ford County next month. The free produce pantry will be held Friday, May 19th from 3:30-5:30 pm at the Roberts Gym in Roberts.

Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley will hold their spring concert tonight with a dinner at 5pm and the concert beginning at 6 pm.

(Springfield-jm) – More Secretary of State facilities will switch to appointment only. It wouldn’t be for all services. People would need one to renew a license and an ID card, to get a REAL ID and for driving exams. People would still be able to walk in if they need to renew their license plate stickers or for any other vehicle-related transactions.

(Springfield-jm) – A new state program offers home improvement grants to low income households. More than 15 million dollars is available through the initiative says Illinois Housing Development Authority Spokesperson Andrew Field…

Illinois Housing Development Authority Spokesperson Andrew Field. The H-RAP Grants will be administered by 36 local government and non-profit organizations. Projects covered include making a home accessible and addressing safety concerns. More information is available online at: ihda dot org under “community.”

(Paxton–jc)  Working with Champaign County on promoting events, bringing shoppers into the city and economic growth are the keys to a partnership between the city of Paxton and Visit Champaign County. The Champaign based group already has agreements with similar cities like Tuscola and Monticello in marketing efforts for tourism. Paxton can also be found as a partner in the efforts says Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

More is found on line at visit-champaign-county-dot-com

(Rantoul-jm) – Students at Broadmeadow Elementary School got the chance to see the Raminator Monster Truck on Tuesday. The students also had the chance to climb inside the Raminator.

(Paxton–jc)  May is approaching and officials at the Paxton Park District are gearing up for park district baseball and softball in the city. Paxton Park District Director Cody Evans says the diamonds will be full of players when leagues start in mid-May…

Paxton Park District Director Cody Evans

(Undated-jm) – The Illinois State Board of Education is announcing the recipients of the School Meals Recipe Development Grant. 8 groups are receiving a combined $10,000 in grant funding. Locally,  the Iroquois-Kankakee Regional Office of Education is a recipient.

(Washington-jm) – Soybean producers are planting that crop at a faster than normal pace. Gary Crawford reports…

(Paxton–jc)  –  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is a one day shopping event set for May 13th in Paxton called, It’s A Spring Fling.  The place is inside Picket Fence Florist in downtown Paxton. Event spokesperson Leslie Ingold says multiple home based and internet businesses will be available for Mother’s Day and Graduation style shopping…

Event spokesperson Leslie Ingold sasys a pletera of home based businesses will be there from 10am until 2-30p on May 13th…

It’s A Spring Thing Shopping Event Spokesperson Leslie Ingold

The date to remember is Saturday May 13th at A Picket Fence Florist in downtown Paxton.  

(Charleston–jc)  Staff at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston have a new contract. Rank and file voted to approve the new deal on Tuesday. Staff will receive a 5 percent raise in the first year of the contract and a 4 percent raise in year two. 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois and other states have attached social equity goals to their marijuana legalization programs, but a new study says they are a failure. In 2019, Illinois lawmakers took great pride in their efforts to craft a legalization bill intended to achieve social equity goals. The Reason Foundation report notes that advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union hailed the social equity provisions in Illinois as a new model for the nation, but three-and-a-half years passed before the state issued a single license to a social equity applicant.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs is announcing another unclaimed property auction. The auction begins next week, running from May 1st through the 5th. Treasurer Frerichs says plenty of items will be up for bid…

State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. To register as a bidder and preview the auction  items, you can visit: i bid dot illinois dot gov. From there, select “storefronts” and then choose “Illinois Treasurer.” Frerichs says this will be the last auction until the event is held in person at the Illinois State Fair in August.

(Urbana-jm) – The City of Urbana is closing in on the hiring of a new police chief and city officials want the community to meet the finalist. The city will be hosting a town hall event on Thursday, May 4, featuring Larry Boone. Boone, the former Chief of Police in Norfolk, Virginia was announced as the sole finalist for the Urbana position earlier this month. The town hall event will be hosted at Vineyard Church, 1500 North Lincoln Avenue in Urbana, in two sessions: one from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and another from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Both sessions will be moderated and recorded.

(Rantoul–jc)  An annual clean up day is now set for the village of Rantoul. The Village along with the local chamber helps with the event set for June 12th says Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery…

Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery.

(Urbana-jm) – A criminal trend on the University of Illinois campus remains ongoing with four new instances being reported over the last few days, U of I Police reported. The trend involves people entering students’ apartments without permission, and almost every instance happens while the apartment doors are unlocked. Several instances have happened while the apartment occupants are home while others have resulted in stolen property.

(Washington-jm) – Corn planting nationally is running ahead of average. Gary Crawford reports…

The Ford-Iroquois Retired Teachers Association will have their first meeting of 2023 today at 11:30 am at the Cissna Park Family Restaurant.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health is adopting the CDC’s recent guidance on the COVID-19 booster shot. Federal officials are recommending a second dose of the COVID-19 bivalent booster, which protects against some of the latest strains of the virus. State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey explains who this applies to…

State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey. It’s also recommended that those 6 and older who are immunocompromised get an additional bivalent booster if it’s been at least two months since their initial dose.

(Washington-jm) – Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is calling for renewed efforts to keep mail carriers safe after a number of them were robbed on their routes, especially in the Chicago area. There has been a recent rise in armed robberies against letter carriers, with hundreds of incidents occurring around the county in the last couple of years. Durbin met with the National Association of Letter Carriers in February to explore ways to improve safety.  

(Springfield-jm) – State Senate Republicans are calling for passage of legislation to fight crime, empower victims and reduce Fentanyl deaths. Senate GOP lawmakers have several bills filed addressing crime from a variety of angles. They include enhanced charges for domestic battery of someone 60 or older and expanding the availability of Fentanyl test strips. Another, sponsored by Senator Sally Turner of Beason raises the penalties for selling drugs containing Fentanyl…

State Senator Sally Turner of Beason. Other bills make it a felony to threaten a daycare facility or worker and require coroners to list Fentanyl-related deaths as “Fentanyl poisoning” instead of “Fentanyl Overdose” since many people don’t know they are ingesting the dangerous additive.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois has been putting money in their rainy day fund. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington explains the fund…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

(Paxton-jm) – An open house for retiring Paxton Buckley Loda Superintendent Cliff McClure will be held this Friday. McClure will retire at the end of June after 27 years in the district, 20 of them as superintendent. 

(Rantoul–jc)  A Mother’s Day event is set for The Rantoul Sports Complex on Saturday May 13th from 11am until 2pm  The event will feature vendors for gifts, pastries,  and giveaways too, says Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery…

Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery. 

The event is sponsored by the Rantoul Family Sports Complex

Champaign. — Three scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – electrical and computer engineering professor emeritus Tamer Ba?ar, materials science and engineering professor David Cahill and physics professor Vidya Madhavan – have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. They are among nearly 270 inductees to the academy this year, one of the oldest honorary societies in the nation. Founded in 1780, the academy recognizes scientists, artists, scholars and leaders who have distinguished themselves in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

(Springfield-jm) – Corn and soybean planting remains ahead of schedule as we hear in the weekly crop report. Last week was cooler and drier than normal and there were about four days suitable for fieldwork, says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 7 percent of winter wheat has headed and 78 percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 26 percent surplus.

(Rantoul–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is St Malachy School in Rantoul. The Christian based school has students from pre-K through 8th grade and is funded by the Catholic Church, area churches and by donations. St Malachy Director of Stewardship Vanessa Martinez says the school continues to help educate students and also learn the Catholic faith…

St Malachy  Vanessa Martinez says the school is hosting it’s Spring Fundraiser on Saturday night at the school…

Director of Stewardship at St Malachy School in Rantoul Vanessa Martinez

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois is one of just 12 states that still has a state estate tax, and now there is legislation to eliminate that tax and keep Illinois competitive with the 38 other states in the nation. Senate Bill 140 amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act to eliminate the state tax for persons dying on or after the effective date of the new law or for transfers made on or after the effective date. State Sen. Jil Tracy, the sponsor of the bill, said Illinois’ unfriendly tax climate is the reason so many large companies are leaving the state.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is hi-liting some major accomplishments during his first 100 days in office. The goal is to make the office the most modern and transformative in the country, says Secretary Giannoulias. He notes that you may have noticed some changes…

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Other accomplishments so far include a new easy to search lobbyist database, stricter policies regarding state vehicle use and the ability to issue and accept electronic signatures. Giannoulias says this is just the beginning for improvements in his office.

(Gibson City-jm) – RP Home and Harvest has been sold. Minnesota based Runnings agreed to buy all the RP Home and Harvest locations including the store in Gibson City. 

(Springfield-jm) – Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson spoke before a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly last week. Many Republican lawmakers, including 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City criticized the mayor-elect's remarks…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Watseka-jm) – Iroquois Memorial Hospital’s South Emergency Department/Prompt Care entrance on East Fairman Avenue is closed for construction. The construction work began today. Visitors should use the North main entrance of the hospital on South 5th Street. 

(Springfield-jm) – Corn and soybean planting remains ahead of schedule as we hear in the weekly crop report. 18 percent of corn and 15 percent of soybeans are now in the ground, surpassing last year’s progress and the 5 year average. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener looks at winter wheat in Illinois…

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture came in at 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 26 percent surplus. As of Sunday, soil temperatures ranged from the upper 30’s and low 40’s in northern Illinois to the upper 40’s and low 50’s in southern Illinois.

(Springfield-jm) – A bill banning indoor vaping continues to make progress in the Illinois General Assembly. The measure updates the Smoke Free Illinois Act to ban vapes and e-cigarettes in indoor public spaces like bars and restaurants. It's  strongly supported by the American Lung Association. The group’s Kristina Hamilton…

American Lung Association’s Kristina Hamilton. The bill has already passed the Senate and now awaits a vote in the House.

(Springfield-jm) – After dozens of states including Illinois voted to allow sports betting, it raises the question on the gambling industries' next step. Illinois has consistently been one of the top sports betting states in the country. This year, the state passed Pennsylvania for third place in lifetime sports betting handle with over $19 billion bet on sports. A measure has been introduced in Springfield that would legalize internet gaming. State Senator Cristina Castro filed Senate Bill 1656 which proposes the initial cost of an internet gaming license would be $250,000 with applications limited to Illinois casinos and racetracks. The bill remains in committee.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing 16 million dollars in funding for clean energy workforce programs. 10 million dollars is earmarked for the Climate Works Pre-Apprencticeship Program, which sets participants up for a career in the clean energy construction trades, says Jason Horwitz with the State Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity…

State Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities Jason Horwitz. The remaining six million will go towards the Barrier Reduction Program, which supports apprentices struggling to stay in the program because of things like lack of transportation and the cost of tools and books. Organizations interested in applying to offer this training can find more information online at: dceo dot illinois dot gov.

(Paxton-jm) – The first of four license plate readers are up in the City of Paxton. The first one was installed along Route 9 on the east side of town. The police department hopes to have them active by the middle of May.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation is working to address littering. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says everyone can do their part…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Vermilion County-jm) – Because of an Illinois State Board of Education error, more than 500 students in Vermilion County may lose their after school programs. But those in charge are asking lawmakers to step in before it’s too late.  Funding for Project Success programs at six of the 21 Vermilion County schools they serve will run out on August 31. Those schools are: Judith Giacoma Elementary, Pine Crest Elementary, Mary Miller Junior High School, Oakwood Grade School, Oakwood Junior High School and Oakwood High School.

(Washington-jm) – Production and price forecasts for dairy this month reflect mostly trends moving up, yet there are exceptions. Rod Bain reports…

(Urbana–jc It was Spring jam at the University of Illinois on Sunday. American-Jamaican Rapper Sean Kingston provided the music. Hundreds of students attended the event on the U of I Main Quad yesterday.

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Paxton Hardware and Rental. It’s Springtime and it’s time for grass seed, equipment rentals to garden needs. All can be found at Paxton Hardware and Rental says store owner Scott Allen…

With the Springtime weather starting to warm up, it’s time to look at your lawnmower, to lawn care, paint and more. Paxton Hardware and Rental Store Owner Scott Allen says they can help with fertilizer care for your lawn to help with your garden…

Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen

Paxton Hardware and Rental is open 7 days a week. Allen says talking to the experts at Paxton Hardware and Rental is a good way to have a healthy lawn and prosperous garden. 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Commerce Commission is hi-liting the importance of calling Julie before you dig. Julie is a free service, and calling 8-1-1 at least two days before you begin a yard or excavation project is required by law, says the I-C-C’s Matt Smith…

Illinois Commerce Commission’s Matt Smith. Once you call, Julie will notify the respective utilities which will come out and flag potentially affected lines. Smith says if you hit an underground power line you could be injured or cause a neighborhood outage. Governor J-B Pritzker has declared April Illinois Safe Digging Month.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee is evaluating a proposed measure giving $25 million in tax credits for research and development projects. House Bill 1578 would offer a credit on qualifying quantum information science expenditures related to research and development that takes place in Illinois. House Bill 1578 does three things, extends the Illinois research and development tax credit from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2037. It doubles from 6.5% to 13% the amount of the RND credit specifically for expenditures and investments made in quantum and information science. Lastly, modeled off of recent changes to the edge tax credit program, the bill makes the RND credit applicable against a startup company that is withholding taxes.

(Springfield-jm) – A University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator is offering some advice for selecting the best mulch for your garden. Mulch can help moderate soil temperatures, reduce weeds and looks nice overall. The Extension’s Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle (kim-er-lee) says there are four types: living, synthetic, organic and inorganic…

U of I Extension Horticulture Educator Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle. Stones are costlier up front but last longer and do not increase soil temps in the summer. Flowers-Kimmerle says synthetic mulch like landscape fabric is fine for the short term, but the best overall mulch choice for expense and effectiveness is wood chips.

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for hitting a woman with a car. Nathaniel Lemons received the sentence after pleading guilty to aggravated battery in connection to the January 7th incident in Champaign. In exchange for his guilty plea an additional charge of aggravated battery plus charges of aggravated domestic battery and criminal damage to property were dismissed.

(Springfield-jm) – 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington is offering a summer internship program. Representative Bunting shares what’s involved and how a student can apply…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Parkland College Horticulture staff and students is inviting the community to its annual plant sale in the greenhouse May 1-5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The greenhouse is located next to the Tony Noel Agricultural Technology Applications Center on the west side of the college campus.

(Washington-jm) – What is behind lower cattle and calves on feed in feedlots per USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report? Rod Bain reports…

(Springfield-jm) – Gasoline prices continue to escalate. AAA shows the average for gas has reached a six month high in Illinois, averaging over $4 a gallon, but much higher in the Chicago area. The national average for a gallon of gas is $3.68. Illinois’ neighboring states are much lower. Indiana is close to the national average, but gas is averaging $3.43 in Kentucky, and $3.38 in Missouri.

(Washington-jm) – Illinois Congresswoman Mary Miller was in the majority after the House voted Thursday to pass a bill that would ban transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports at federally funded schools and educational institutions. The final vote was 219-203 down party lines. The bill is not expected to be taken up by the Democratic-controlled Senate and the White House has already issued a veto threat.

(Springfield-jm) – House Republicans are sounding an alarm about the rising cost of the state’s health benefits for immigrant adults program. The program served undocumented immigrants in Illinois ages 42 and older. Enrollment has been higher than expected and will require substantial funding in the new budget year says Representative Norine Hammond of Macomb…

State Representative Norine Hammond of Macomb. The program is designed to serve immigrants who aren’t eligible for Medicaid because of their status and is funded entirely by the state. Some members of the Latino Legislative Caucus are reportedly hoping to expand coverage to include younger adults.

(Urbana-jm) – University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana Police say a university employee reported a comment on social media threatening to engage in violence at an upcoming event at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The comment was made anonymously. Police say investigators identified the person who made the threat.

(GIbson City–jc)  Ford County Public Health Department officials are hosting a Drug Take Back event today in Gibson City. Ford County Public Health Department Community Health Educator Kami Garrison says drug overdoses are too common…

. Ford County Public Health Department Community Health Educator Kami Garrison

(Champaign-jm) – Parkland College Career and Technical program is inviting high school students to explore technology driven careers this morning from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The workshops include lunch. High school students will experience hands-on learning for Land Surveying/Construction Management and Automotive Technology.

(Gibson City–jc)  –  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Ropps Flower Factory of Gibson City, Paxton and Mahomet. The family owned business started in the late 1950s and owner Roger Cramer says they have everything from flowers and plants to vegetables to trees and shrubs to mulch. Roger Cramer talks about the early history of Ropps…

Owner Roger Cramer says  all three locations are now open 7 days a week for the Spring. A wide variety of items from flowers to vegetables are ready at Ropp’s…

Ropps Flower Factory Owner Roger Cramer. Ropps Flower Factory in Gibson City, Paxton and Mahomet. The WPXN Business of the Day, today. 
 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced that the unemployment rate fell -0.1 percentage point to 4.4%, while nonfarm payrolls increased by nearly 8,000 in March. Based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and released by IDES, the state’s unemployment rate was +0.9 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate reported for March, which was 3.5%.

(Springfield-jm) – Hundreds of survivors of gun violence, domestic abuse, and sexual assault rallied at the Illinois Capitol Thursday afternoon to demand stronger public safety reforms. Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice want state lawmakers to pass a plan allowing people to take up to two weeks of unpaid leave if a loved one is killed by any type of violence. Survivors also want a bill passed to improve access to rehabilitation services for people in the justice system. The proposal could give program credits to incarcerated people participating in life skills courses, re-entry planning, or behavioral modification programs among others.

(Springfield-jm) – More Illinois students will have access to health services at school thanks to additional federal money coming to the state. The Illinois school-based health services program will be expanding to include all medicaid-enrolled children says Healthcare and Family Services Spokesperson Evan Fazio…

Illinois Healthcare and Family Services Spokesperson Evan Fazio. Previously, the care was only available to kids receiving medicaid who were learning under an individual education plan or IEP. Fazio says federal backing will also help ease financial strain on schools.

(Watseka-jm) –Two people were sent to the hospital following a house fire in Watseka, the resident and a Watseka police officer who saved the resident. Crews from Watseka and Crescent City were called to the fire on South 3rd Street. Police arrived first on scene and noted the resident was wheelchair bound and still inside. The resident was flown to a Chicago hospital for treatment, the officer was treated at Iroquois Memorial Hospital and released. The cause remains under investigation.

(Champaign-jm) – The State Farm Center announced that it will host The Price is Right Live™ on Wednesday, October 25 at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, April 28 at 10am.

WPXN Weekend News Notes…

Ford County Public Health Department is Hosting a Prescription Medication Take Back Opportunity today from 12-3PM at the Moyer District Library in Gibson City.

The Onarga American Legion will hold their fish fry this evening from 4:30-7 at their Legion Hall at Durham Park.

Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting Gold Star Missions on Saturday from 10-2.

The Rantoul Public Library will host an open house to celebrate their 20th anniversary on Sunday from 2-4 pm.

(Springfield-jm) – A proposal in Springfield aims to make voting more accessible for those with visual disabilities. However, some claim the measure could bring unwanted problems to Illinois' election systems. If passed, Senate Bill 282 would help the visually impaired by allowing qualified voters to accept and cast their votes electronically. There is a federal law requiring audio and visual voting tools, such as touchscreen voting units that allow visually impaired voters to hear the balloting instructions and will enable them to make their choices and cast their ballot by use of a handheld controller unit and headphones. The measure has yet to advance, but could be part of a larger election reform package lawmakers may take up before they adjourn May 19.

(Springfield-jm) – Advocates rallied at the State Capitol in support of the Governor’s “Smart Start” early childhood initiative. Groups like “Raising Illinois'' descended on the statehouse to push for higher wages for child care providers and an expansion of early intervention services and home visiting programs. Governor J-B Pritzker spoke to the crowd…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. “Smart Start” is part of the Governor’s proposed budget. He and lawmakers are working to come up with a final spending plan.

(Springfield-jm) – Lawmakers from rural and urban Illinois separately discussed ways of evening out the power dynamic in the state Legislature. Illinois is the sixth largest state in the nation, with the third largest city in Chicago. Some Republicans at the statehouse have long criticized policies passed by the Democratic majority.  The Illinois House currently has a Democratic supermajority with 78 Democrats to 40 Republicans, and the Illinois Senate shows a similar divide with 40 Democrats to 19 Republicans.

(Springfield-jm) – Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson visited the state capitol Wednesday where he addressed both chambers of the General Assembly. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City shares his thoughts…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana nursing home and rehabilitation facility is shutting down as the owner loses millions of dollars running it. WCIA 3 reports Avi Rothner, owner of University Rehab, cited financial, census, regulatory and operational challenges as reasons for the decision. There are 80 patients in the 243-bed facility, and Rothner expects to have them moved out by mid-June.

(Paxton–jc)  National Drug Take Back Day is set for Saturday. In observance, the Ford County Public Health Department is hosting a drug gathering event on Friday in Gibson City. Ford County Public Health Department Community Health Educator Kami Garrison says its starts at noon on Friday at the Moyer District Library…

Ford County Public Health Department Community Health Educator Kami Garrison.

(Champaign-jm) – John Coleman will be the next vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Coleman is currently the dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The appointment takes effect July 19, and his title will be vice chancellor designate until board approval.

(Champaign-jm) – State Senator Paul Faraci advanced a measure aimed at creating the hunger-free campus grant program. The purpose of the House Bill 2528 is to address student hunger by providing funding for grants to higher education institutions that have one or more campuses designated as hunger-free campuses. The grants will be used to leverage sustainable solutions, raise awareness of existing services on campus and build strategic partnerships to address food insecurity among students. The legislation also allows each institution to establish a hunger task force to determine strategies for achieving a hunger-free campus in order to be eligible for the grant. Representative Carol Ammons sponsored this measure in the House.

(Washington-jm) – What are some of the areas agricultural ministers within the G7 group of nations will focus on during their upcoming meeting this week? Rod Bain reports…

(Gilman–jc)  – Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is The Gathering in Gilman. What started over 24 years ago as a group of 9 crafters doing craft events has developed into a destination business in the city of Gilman. Co-owner Kathy Perzee says it has been a wonderful journey for The Gathering in Gilman…

Co-owner Kathy Perzee says the variety of items in the business ranges from clothes, to inspirational signs, to jewelry to pulled pork specials in the cafe and fudge too. Perzee says they are always getting new items and vendors at The Gathering in Gilman……

The Gathering in Gilman Co Owner Kathy Perzee

The Gathering in Gilman, The WPXN Business of the Day, today.

(Springfield-jm) – Lawmakers from an Illinois House committee hosted mayors from all over the state to discuss a possible increase in the Local Government Distributive Fund. Local Government Distributive Fund is a state and local funding partnership instituted as part of the state income tax. According to the Illinois Municipal League, as of 2011, 10% of total income tax collections were dedicated to Local Government Distributive Fund for distribution to municipalities and counties. The percentage share of state income tax revenue to local governments was then reduced to 6%.

(Springfield-jm) – This is Alzheimer’s Action Week at the State Capitol, where advocates and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton are discussing the disease and needed resources. Illinois was the first state in the nation to require Alzheimer’s diagnosis training for healthcare workers. This was much needed says Lieutenant Governor Stratton, who cared for her mother with the disease…

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. The Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter is calling for state medicaid coverage of diagnosis and care planning services as well as funding for early detection outreach, especially in underserved and rural areas.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois is known for having the strictest biometric privacy laws in the country, but that may change.  The Illinois Supreme Court ruled against the burger chain White Castle in February and said each time a person’s biometric data is collected, it is a violation of the Biometric Information Privacy Act. The company was using finger scans for employee time clocks. White Castle is facing potential lawsuit damages of up to $17 billion as a result of the ruling. The high court suggested the Illinois General Assembly may want to take up the issue for possible changes. 

(Springfield-jm) – Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson addressed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly Wednesday. 51st District Chapin Rose of Mahomet shares his thoughts on the mayor-elects speech…

51st District Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet.

(Urbana-jm) – A Champaign man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after he admitted to stealing packages from Campustown apartment buildings. Armenious Griham pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary. The charges stemmed from two separate incidents earlier this year in which he entered a building and either stole or tried to steal packages addressed to building tenants.

(Paxton–jc)  Property taxes will be due soon and several programs are available to homeowners that area senior citizens. Ford County Supervisor of Assessments Pam Bruens says some property tax relief is available for Seniors 65 years of age and older…

Ford County Supervisor of Assessments Pam Bruens. Bruens says information is available in your office at the Courthouse in Paxton and also on-line. She also encourages those wanting to take advantage of these two programs, by June Second.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Parkland Motorsports will host cars and coffee at Parkland College Saturday, May 6. This free event will take place in the W2 parking lot on the west side of the college campus from 8 to 11 a.m.

(Urbana-jm) – A University of Illinois student is out of about $100 as a result of a new fraud ploy that police have not reported in the past. U of I Police said the student was in communication with someone posing as a leasing agent and facilitating an apartment showing. The supposed agent told the student that he needed to pay an application fee before the apartment could be shown, which the student paid. On the day of the showing, no one met the student at the apartment to be shown and he could not get a hold of the supposed agent. He eventually got a hold of the real leasing agent, who indicated that his accounts had been hacked.

(Washington-jm) – The first ever U.S. agricultural trade mission to the Netherlands is wrapping up. Gary Crawford reports…

WPXN News Notes…

The Danville Area Community College Business & Technology Division will host an Open House today from 2-5PM at the Technology Center building.

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their final all you can eat chicken and noodle supper of the season this evening from 5-7 pm at their station located at 134 W. State Street. Cost is $10 for adults, $6 for kids 6-13. Deliveries are available in town by calling 217-202-6441.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Gaming Board data shows casino revenue in the state is down by $200 million over the past decade. The dwindling casino numbers started to take form in 2012 as video gaming machines and sports betting facilities began to pop up in more spots across the state. Data shows that in 2022, video gaming terminals across the area nearly doubled in revenue from $395 million in 2019 to $762 million in 2022. Boasting of providing a more accessible and convenient experience than full-fledged casinos, the machines allow players to place bets on video poker and slot machines in local bars and restaurants. At the same time, the rise in popularity of sports betting has been so meteoric that it eclipsed casino revenue $142 million to $140 million in 2022. Overall, state gaming revenue was up to nearly $1.9 billion in fiscal year 2022, the highest ever and almost 39% higher than in 2021.

(Undated-jm) – State Senator Paul Faraci advanced legislation to expand university admissions opportunities to community college transfer students who meet certain academic requirements. House Bill 3760 would require Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University and Western Illinois University to create a four-year admissions program that admits community college transfer students each semester, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic school year.

(Springfield-jm) – This is Work Zone Awareness Week with an emphasis on everyone doing their part to keep people safe. Most work zone crashes occur because drivers aren’t focusing on the road says Illinois Department of Transportation Highway Maintainer Don Bradley. He should know, he’s been hit twice…

IDOT Highway Maintainer Don Bradley. Each year more than six thousand vehicle crashes occur in Illinois Work Zones. In 2022, 32 people died as a result including two workers.

(Urbana-jm) – Sexual extortion remains a problem on the University of Illinois campus as the University of Illinois Police reported another instance of this trend. Officials said that on Saturday, a student reported that he sent intimate photos of himself while conversing with someone unknown through a dating app. After the photos were sent, the other person demanded $1,000 or the photos would be sent to the student’s social media contacts. The student did not pay. This is the 10th instance of sexual extortion being reported to U of I Police since the start of the academic year.

(Hoopeston-jm) – An Indiana Roofing Company filed a complaint with Hoopeston Police Monday claiming the theft of several tools from a work site. Sentry Roofing said tools and equipment were stolen from a roof top of a building in the 200-block of E. Main Street in Hoopeston.  An investigation is underway.

(Washington-jm) – What are some of the factors behind USDA's latest forecast for pork production and price? Rod Bain reports…

(Rantoul–jc)  –  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Community Service Center of Rantoul. The local non-profit provides a wide variety of services from a food pantry to clothing assistance and prescription help. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford says one new service is for high school students at Rantoul Township High School, called the Eagles Nest…

She says their service areas are different depending on the program…

Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford

(Springfield-jm) – The debate of whether Illinois is growing or shrinking continues.  Last week at Harvard University, Governor J.B. Pritzker denied continued reports that Illinois’ population is shrinking,  pointing to a post enumeration survey that said the state was undercounted by nearly 2%. The Census has Illinois’ population at 12.6 million, down from 12.8 million 10 years earlier.  After the latest report on county population trends showed 92 of 102 Illinois counties lost population, U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, sent a letter to the U.S. Census late last month with “ongoing concerns surrounding the repeated undercounting” of Illinois’ population.

(Washington-jm) – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin yesterday met with representatives from Champaign County First to discuss the region’s infrastructure priorities and recent federal funding that Durbin secured for the projects. This includes Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 earmarks for projects in the area: $3.78 million for the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District to increase its electric bus fleet as well as $1 million for mapping the underground geology of the Mahomet Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water for nearly one million people across 15 counties in Illinois. Durbin and Champaign County leaders also discussed federal funding opportunities, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, for several current projects in the region, including the Curtis Road Underpass Project in Savoy, the Florida Avenue Corridor Reconstruction Project, and supporting the Chicago-to-Carbondale railroad corridor.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Corrections is highlighting re-entry programs as part of April’s “Second Chance” Month. Correctional facilities across the state are hosting re-entry summits to help set incarcerated individuals on a path to success when they are released. The Agency’s Re-entry Coordinator Angie Mecagni (meh-cag-nee) says the summits work like a vendor fair…

Illinois Department of Corrections Re-entry Coordinator Angie Mecagni. The Department is also holding a vital document drive, to help inmates get a copy of their birth certificate or social security card or get a state ID.

(Urbana-jm) – A University of Illinois student is facing charges related to a physical altercation at a fraternity house earlier this month. Police officials said Ryan Robinson was identified as the aggressor in the altercation, which happened at Theta Xi during a party on April 8. Another U of I student was held down and battered, which police said constituted aggravated battery and mob action.

(Champaign-jm) – The City of Champaign announced that traffic will be detoured as a portion of Anthony Drive will be closed beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday, April 20. The closure, between Dobbins and Dale Drives, is so a wall foundation can be installed on the southern shoulder of Anthony Drive. Officials said eastbound and westbound traffic will be detoured in the area during the closure.

(Washington-jm) – The weather finally gives corn and soybean growers some leeway to get some planting done. Gary Crawford reports…

(Springfield-jm) – A new report on U.S. state’s economic outlook paints a bleak picture for Illinois. The American Legislative Exchange Council’s “Rich States, Poor States” report is a forecast based on a state’s current standing in 15 state policy variables. Each of these factors is influenced directly by state lawmakers through the legislative process. The authors contend that states that spend less and states that tax less experience higher growth rates than states that tax and spend more. Illinois ranked 46th in the country, down one spot from last year. Hurting Illinois’ ranking are several tax-related categories, including property tax burden, which the state placed 42nd. Illinois ranked 44th in corporate income tax rate; and 49th for debt service as a share of tax revenue. Illinois placed last in the category of state liability system survey, which includes treatment of tort litigation and judicial impartiality. The state also placed last for labor policy for not being a "right-to-work" state. Illinois placed 44th in the country with a ranking of 48th in the migration category.

(Springfield-jm) – Car thefts are on the rise in Illinois. The state ranks 6th in the country when it comes to the number of thefts according to a new report. This report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau says that in 2022, there were more than 38,000 car thefts in Illinois alone. In 2021, the report indicates there were over 28,000 total car thefts in Illinois. In 2022, that number jumped to over 38,000, marking a 35 percent increase from year to year.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker was in New York Monday hosting an investor meeting and touting improvements in the state’s finances. The meeting was held in anticipation of the state’s upcoming general obligation bond sale. The Governor spoke to the crowd about the numerous strides Illinois has made fiscally. That includes eight credit upgrades…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker also talked about shoring up the state’s rainy day fund from a low of 60 thousand dollars to nearly two billion now.

(Iroquois County-jm) – Iroquois County Sheriff's deputies report the arrest of a homeless man after police responded to a report of male subject unresponsive in a vehicle.  Deputies were called to 500 N and Route 45 where they found 23-year-old Trevor Harris.  An investigation revealed suspected meth, drug materials and a pistol with the serial numbers defaced.  Charges against Harris include Possession of a Defaced Firearm, Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, meth possession and Drug Paraphernalia.  Harris was also wanted on two outstanding warrants, from Kankakee and Williamson Counties.

(Urbana-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that work on two I-74 bridges between Cunningham Avenue and University Avenue will begin today. Officials said the first stage of construction includes improving the shoulders leading up to each bridge to support traffic. The work is expected to last three nights. IDOT said a concrete barrier will then be placed, which will reduce I-74 to one lane in each direction. All work is expected to be completed by the end of November.

(Paxton–jc)  Construction work on a former car parts business building continues. In a WPXN news update, three local businessmen are doing repairs at 108 West State Street in Paxton and the building will hold offices and provide a venue for concerts called “the Cadillac,” says one of the owners in Alan Meyer…

The Cadillac Co-Owner Alan Meyer

(Champaign-jm) – This week Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding a retail theft. Police say on January 16, at approximately 1:20 p.m., three subjects entered Meijer at 2401 North Prospect Avenue in Champaign. The offenders selected numerous items and concealed the merchandise in their jackets and backpacks. They exited the store without payment and left in a red/maroon 4-door sedan. The three suspects appeared to be black males 20-30 years old. The first male was wearing a black stocking cap, camouflage-type jacket, and jeans. The second suspect was wearing a ball cap, a black shiny puffer coat, and colorful sweatpants. The third male was wearing a tan hooded sweatshirt with a white strip across the chest and arms and distressed jeans.

(Vermilion County-jm) – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced the Attorney General’s office obtained guilty pleas in two unrelated child pornography cases in Vermilion County. Daton J. Books of Danville pleaded guilty to a Class X felony of dissemination of child pornography and was sentenced to nine years in prison with three years to life of mandatory supervised release to follow. Raoul’s office also prosecuted Mark Kerkering II of Henning pleaded guilty to a Class X felony of dissemination of child pornography. He was sentenced to eight years in prison with three years to life of mandatory supervised release to follow. 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois farmers have started planting corn and soybeans. It was a dry week and farmers had nearly six days suitable for fieldwork, says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Three percent of winter wheat has headed and the condition of the crop improved to 77 percent in good to excellent condition. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated at one percent very short, 11 percent short, 63 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus.

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s Business of the Day is the Pop Loft located across the Patton Street Bridge along Market Street in the downtown area of Paxton. It’s Flowers, arrangements, balloons and more at the Pop Loft. Owner Samantha “Sam” Magers talks about her unique location in Paxton…

The  Pop Loft. Owner Samantha “Sam” Magers says several local products are also found at the Pop Loft in Paxton…

They are open from 9am to 5pm Tuesdays through Fridays and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays. They have a 22 dollar assorted rose special today to celebrate their Business of the Day on WPXN. 

(Springfield-jm) – Federal regulators have proposed a rule that would permit year-round sales of E10 gasoline in Illinois and seven other Midwest states, opening the door for expanded use of E15. Last year, the governors of the eight states petitioned the federal government with a request to opt out of the regulatory waiver that allows for regular E10 gasoline to be sold during summer months. The governors tied their request to a provision under the Clean Air Act, giving the Environmental Protection Agency 90 days to formally respond and implement the change by July 2022, a deadline that was missed. Officials said removing the waiver would allow E15 and E10 to be made using the same gasoline blend stock, and would help expand the availability year round of E15 in multiple jurisdictions. 

Illinois corn farmers and the ethanol industry are also concerned the year delay will have an impact on market certainty and request action be taken to ensure E15 remains an option in this summer’s fuel market. 

(Springfield-jm) – As lawmakers convene this week in Springfield to finish the spring session, legislative priorities continue to differ on both sides of the aisle. They are expected to pass hundreds of bills and pass a new budget that begins July 1. Governor J.B. Pritzker said on Monday at an investors meeting in New York that the GOP has not supported the budget process. Republicans argued they voted against the Governor’s budgets because they raise taxes on businesses. In its latest ranking, CNBC placed Illinois as the 40th best business-friendly state in the country. In March, Pritzker said the state is taking in more revenue than expected. He wants to hear from Republicans on the budget and other issues, including possible tax cuts.

(Springfield-jm) – Republicans in the Illinois Senate are pushing for legislation to support businesses in Illinois. The GOP is calling for passage of a number of bills aimed at making the state more business friendly. That includes lowering the filing fee for Limited Liability Corporations by 50 percent and setting up a research and development tax credit, says Senator Don DeWitte of St. Charles…

State Senator Don DeWitte of St. Charles. Republican Senators also want to eliminate the state franchise tax and create tax credits for businesses of any size based on how long they have been in Illinois and the number of employees.

(Champaign-jm) – The William M. Staerkel Planetarium will increase ticket prices to its shows starting May 1. This price increase will offset costs for a new online ticketing system that will be introduced later this year. Beginning May 1, tickets for adults will be $8, and tickets for children under 12, seniors, and Parkland College students will be $7. Group rates for more than 20 people will be $4 per person. Tickets to light and laser shows will be $12 for all ages. James B. Kaler Science Lecture series tickets will remain at $2.

(Paxton–jc)  –  The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce continues to take the lead in helping established businesses in the city while working with city leaders to get more businesses in the downtown area to the Interstate 57 exchange and more. Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Austin Curtis talks about looking forward  to continue to help Paxton grow…

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Austin Curtis

(Westville-jm) – A Hoopeston man is under arrest following a shots-fired incident in Westville over the weekend. Westville Police say the incident happened late Friday night in the area of South and Scott Streets. Officers were dispatched there around 10:42 p.m. for a report of a disturbance with shots being fired; when they arrived, they spotted a 22-year-old man trying to leave in a car. The investigation revealed that at least two shots had been fired, but no one reported being hurt.

(Champaign-jm) – Promise Healthcare will celebrate the opening of its new location with a ribbon cutting ceremony performed by Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen on Monday, April 24 at 5:30 pm. The new clinic is located at 821 S Neil Street in Champaign.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois farmers have started planting corn and soybeans. With almost six days suitable for fieldwork, 10 percent of corn and 4 percent of soybeans have been planted. Crop Statistician Mark Schleuseenr says three percent of winter wheat is heading…

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture came in at one percent very short, 11 percent short, 63 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker says that he is still seeking to implement a graduated income tax on Illinoisans after a previous attempt was rejected by voters. Pritzker discussed a multitude of issues at a forum at Harvard University in Boston this week and took questions from students in attendance. Pritzker was asked about redistribution policies being implemented in Illinois and said he still believes in a tax proposal that failed in 2020. The 2020 proposal would have implemented a higher income tax rate on higher earners, allowing lawmakers to set the various rates. Voters soundly rejected that plan at the polls, however.

(Springfield-jm) – According to Republicans, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's comments on winning in politics show his lack of willingness to work with the other side. Pritzker attended a forum at the University of Harvard Institute of Politics this week, and discussed the state of politics in Illinois and beyond. Pritzker was asked by an audience member what could be done to improve government in the United States.  Pritzker said. "In the end, how do we break through all of that? We need to win, we meaning Democrats have to win." Pritzker went on to say that there is no other way to fix government than by electing Democrats.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is continuing his push to ban assault weapons in the state, while the issue continues to be tied up in the courts. Multiple lawsuits on the legality of the ban, which would ban nearly 170 firearms in the state have made it to the Supreme Court where a decision could come as soon as next month. Governor Pritzker says the ban on assault weapons is only a part of the solution to reducing gun violence in the state…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign teen has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a Champaign murder last fall. 17 year old Thomas Woodson received the sentence in Champaign County court in connection to the shooting death of 18 year old Nizeri Carter on November 4th. A disturbance between Carter’s family and Woodson’s family occurred after the sentence was handed out with Carter’s family saying it was too light while Woodson’s family saying it was too harsh.

(Urbana-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of shots fired near Busey Woods in Urbana on Thursday afternoon. A witness reported seeing a subject exit a vehicle and fire rounds into a wooded area. Police located evidence that a gun was fired at the scene. There’s no word injuries or property damage.

(Washington-jm) – The USDA's latest look at world wheat supply and demand estimates indicates an increase in wheat imports by China. Rod Bain reports…

(Rantoul-jm) – A husband and wife from Rantoul are facing sexual assault charges that accuse them of having sex with a teenager they were fostering in their home. Tate and Jaelyn Survance, are charged with one count each of criminal sexual assault. At arraignment on Wednesday, bond was set at $100,000 each and they were ordered to be back in court next month. If convicted, they face anywhere from probation to a prison sentence of four to 15 years.

(Loda–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Federated Bank. Federated Bank started as the Onarga State Bank in January of 1918. Now as Federated Bank, they have locations in Loda Onarga Chebanse Bradley and Braidwood. Federated Bank’s Nick Reutter says even with area locations to visit, you have the opportunity for all services on-line with Federated Bank…

Nick Reutter says a big advantage for local banks is the ability to meet with customers face to face…

Federated Banks business liner is…We are big enough to serve you, yet small enough to know you

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois is one of six states to receive millions of dollars in settlement money from e-cigarette and vape manufacturer Juul. In a settlement, Juul will pay $462 million for their role in a youth vaping surge across the country. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, between 2016 and 2018, e-cigarette use among high school seniors around the state increased by 45%.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois school officials have made a budgetary request of more than a half billion dollars in additional funding than last year. The Illinois State Board of Education told a Senate Appropriations-Education Committee that schools are looking for $10.3 billion for fiscal year 2024 that begins July 1. That is an increase of $517 million from fiscal 2023. ISBE’s budget proposal includes a $75 million increase for early childhood programs. Board officials said the governor’s proposed budget would reduce funding for vocational transportation by $353 per student.

(Springfield-jm) – The state is announcing 22 and a half million dollars in grants to boost tourism in the state. Governor J-B Pritzker says the state has seen a jump in tourism since the pandemic…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. 

(Urbana-jm) – University police say a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student lost $2,500 after she received a call from someone posing as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement on April 6. The caller said the student was required to pay an "immigration bond." The student was directed through a series of steps, ending with the student disclosing her bank account information and purchasing $2,500 in gift cards to be transferred to the caller.

(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana Police Department is seeking help from the public to identify an individual who used a counterfeit bill to purchase items from a local store. Urbana Police ask that anyone who can identify the person or has additional information or video footage of the incident please contact police at 217- 384-2320. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217-373-8477; online at 373tips.com; or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.

(Washington-jm) – Another downward adjustment in Argentina's corn production forecast was made this month by USDA, as drought continues to affect that nation's crop. Rod Bain reports…

(Undated-jm) – Students from Champaign Centennial High School took first place in the high school division of the 2023 National Archery in the Schools Illinois State Tournament in Champaign. Champaign Centennial won the division title with a score of 3,400 during the two-day competition. Champaign Central High School finished second and East Dubuque High School finished third . In the middle school division, Champaign’s Edison Middle School claimed the title with a score of 3,332. Jefferson Middle School in Champaign finished second and East Dubuque students finished third. In the elementary school division, students from East Dubuque took first place with a score of 2,844. Next Generation School in Champaign finished second and Armstrong-Potomac finished third.

The Parkland College Theatre will perform Sweeney Todd today through Sunday.

Paxton IGA will be hosting a cookout Saturday from 10-2 benefiting the Gibson City Masonic Lodge.

The Thawville Community Sale takes place saturday starting at 10am

Paxton Buckley Booster Club has a Duck Drop fundraiser on Sunday at 3pm at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. Money from the event goes to PBL Sports programs.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker says the state is working to address the issues within the Department of Child and Family Services at an event at Harvard University in Boston this week. In January, a report released by the Illinois Inspector General showed that in 2022, nearly 50 more children died while in the custody of DCFS than in 2021. The report by an inspector general for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services shows 171 children died while in contact with the department last year alone. DCFS in Illinois receives $1.5 billion in taxpayer money annually.

(Undated-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is continuing his push for an assault weapons ban in Illinois. The Governor was asked about it recently…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.

(Urbana-jm) – A University of Illinois student is facing aggravated battery charges following an incident at Carle Hospital early Wednesday morning. U of I Police officials said Lisandra Galarza, struck a hospital employee in the head after she was taken there during a medical emergency. The employee nor anyone else was seriously hurt.

(Paxton–jc)  –  The Paxton Buckley Loda Booster Club is using a unique way to raise money for athletic programs in the PBL school district. Boosters are selling “ducks” to be dropped via a helicopter. PBL Booster Club Spokesperson Jena Schaumburg says coming up with the idea was a group effort…

Paxton Buckley Loda Booster Club Spokesperson Jena Schaumburg

The event is set for 3pm Sunday at Lakeview Country Club.  They were down to a few tickets remaining for the event. A total of 400 tickets are being sold. 

(Champaign-jm) – Many schools around Illinois were disrupted by threats Wednesday, including one in Champaign. Champaign Police say the department received a report of a shooting in progress at Central High School just before 9 a.m. Following protocol, officers immediately contacted school officials in the building and confirmed that no such event was happening. The incident in Champaign is just one of nearly two dozen false alarms and threats toward schools that were reported to police across the state on Wednesday.  Another threat was at a school in Bloomington. 

(Champaign-jm) – The Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon is coming up in Champaign-Urbana in just a few weeks. On Wednesday, race organizers announced that part of the race is coming back after a four year COVID hiatus, and they said the full 26.2 mile marathon will return to C-U in 2024.

(Washington-jm) – Soybean crops in Argentina and Brazil are major factors in USDA's April outlook of global bean production, as well as supply and demand estimates. Rod Bain reports…

(Gibson City-jm) – Help could soon be coming for schools dealing with a statewide teacher shortage, thanks to a pair of bills filed by State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City, that have passed the Illinois Senate. Senate Bill 1488 deals with the much-criticized edTPA evaluation for prospective teachers. Bennett’s legislation waives the edTPA requirement for two years and creates the Teacher Performance Assessment Task Force to develop a better evaluation system. Senate Bill 1468 would help retired teachers return to the classroom to cover temporary vacancies and to serve as substitutes. The legislation would allow retired teachers to work 120 days or 600 hours in each school year. Senate Bill 1470 allows districts to utilize remote learning days in place of emergency days, for a total of 5 days per year.

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man was sentenced to jail time for possessing a firearm as a felon. Prentiss Jackson was sentenced to six years in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Officers from the Urbana Police Department executed a traffic stop on Jackson’s car in June 2022 and eventually asked him to exit the vehicle after he handed an officer marijuana that had been inside it. After exiting the car, Jackson ran from the stop, producing a Ruger handgun during his flight. After he was apprehended, police found ecstasy and a large amount of cash on Jackson’s person.

(Thomasboro–jc)  – Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Hoveln Heating Cooling and Plumbing of Thomasboro. The three generation business was started in 1977. Hoveln Heating Cooling and Plumbing’s Brant Hoveln says they are indeed a “family” and local business…

Brant Hoveln talks about the partnership with the “Bryant” product line…

Hoveln Heating Cooling and Plumbing’s Brant Hoveln

(Charleston-jm) – Officials At Eastern Illinois University have issued their “last, best and final offer” to the union representing its teachers and staff to end a week-long strike while declining any further offers of bargaining. The offer comes after the school met with union members on Tuesday. In a news release, EIU officials said the two sides agreed on everything but economics. The school proposed an additional 3% pay increase over the next four years, but the union rejected the offer.

(Springfield-jm) – The state is pumping several million dollars to help increase tourism in Illinois. Governor J-B Pritzker says so far the program has been successful…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.

(Champaign-jm) – This week the Champaign City Council voted to extend its contract with a private security firm until January 2024. This renewal costs around $330,000. This comes after the city hired AGB Investigations in May of 2022 to help patrol the downtown area.

(Champaign County-jm) – A new digital platform will make it easy for potential residents to connect with Champaign County’s employers and community members. The Community Job Application was created by Champaign County Economic Development Corporation and Visit Champaign County. The platform will allow newcomers to streamline their job search and community exploration process with personalized assistance, job matching, and relocation information in three short steps. The team worked with RoleCall, a national talent attraction consulting agency, to build this program.

(Champaign-jm) – The Boneyard Arts Festival returns to C-U this weekend. The countywide festival takes place over a variety of venues, both traditional like galleries and museums and non-traditional like bars, libraries, florists, and retail stores and features the work of hundreds of local artists. Sculptors, weavers, painters, photographers, woodworkers, and other visual artists join musicians, dancers, poets and other performers to share creativity throughout Champaign County. Running tomorrow through Sunday, details can be found at BoneyardArtsFestival.org.

(Thawville-jc)  –  The 55th Thawville Community Sale is set for Saturday. Sale Spokesperson Robert Lange says the sale brings in over 1 thousand 500 buyers, visitors from the local area more than 7 surrounding states to Thawville, the third Saturday in April…

Thawville Community Sale Spokesperson Robert Lange

(Washington-jm) – There's a bit of good news for food shoppers in the latest Consumer Price Index report. Gary Crawford reports…

(Bloomington-jm) – The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors has approved two changes to the IHSA Officials licensing process. Both changes are geared toward trying to recruit more new officials and retain officials who are currently licensed. The first change lowers the price for officials when registering to officiate in more than one sport, while the other lowers the licensing fee for out-of-state officials.

(Springfield-jm) – While Illinois has recently experienced a prolonged stretch of good financial news, a new state fiscal forecast notes that if spending continues to grow at its recent pace it could lead to future budget deficits. It would mark the reversal of a recent trend during which the state logged considerable surpluses this fiscal year and the two years prior. In the highest-spending scenario outlined in the three-year forecast from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, the state could once again face a bill backlog as high as $18 billion. That estimate assumes spending growth at its five-year average of 7.1 percent. If the state keeps spending growth at 1.8 percent – the most austere scenario outlined by the commission – it could maintain an accounts payable balance of $1.4 billion, the same as it was at the end of Fiscal Year 2022.

(Charleston–jc)  The strike at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston continues today. The two sides met for multiple hours on Tuesday to try and hammer out a new deal. Although there was some movement on some issues, no agreement was reached. Students at E-I-U remain out of classes again today. 

(Champaign County–jc)  – A multiple vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate 57, south of Curtis road caused traffic delays for several hours on Tuesday, The accident occurred around 3pm. State police say traffic was re routed around the crash site. No word was given on any injuries in the mishap. 

(Springfield-jm) – Senate Republicans are offering several proposals to bring down the state’s high tax burden. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about some of the proposals…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Springfield-jm) – Some are worried California trucking regulations may be adopted in Illinois. In California, the California Air Resources Board has banned all trucks with engines older than model year 2010. Heavier trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 26,000 pounds must have a 2010 or newer engine. California requires trucks to buy SmartWay verified low rolling-resistance tires to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by achieving a fuel consumption savings of at least 3% from the tractor-trailer combination. Regulators in Springfield are considering the same standards and regulations in Illinois.

(Urbana-jm) – A University of Illinois student recently lost $1,000 in a technical support scam, U of I Police officials said. The student said she was unable to access a social media account and searched the Internet for a technical support phone number. When she called the number she found, the person who answered directed her to make online deposits to an unknown account that added up to $1,000. The call was disconnected when the payments were made.

SPRINGFIELD – Some Illinois lawmakers are calling for a review of one of the tests prospective teachers must pass in order to be licensed in Illinois. The test is known as the Teacher Performance Assessment, or “edTPA,” and it is intended to determine whether a prospective teacher has the knowledge and skills necessary to be effective in the classroom. It has been a requirement for teacher licensing in Illinois since 2015.State Sen. Tom Bennett, R-Gibson City, said he started hearing concerns about the test from people in his district, and he later learned that those concerns were shared by other lawmakers.

(Washington-jm) – The USDA made more cuts to its forecasts for Argentina's corn and soybean crops. Gary Crawford reports…

 (Paxton–jc)  –  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Simply Pat’s Hats, located in the State Street Mall in Paxton. It’s an exciting time at Simply Pat’s Hats, says owner Pat Milchuck, with the Kentucky Derby coming in early May…

The store is busy with the upcoming Kentucky Derby , but it’s the variety of Hats and more that make up Simply Pat’s Hats, says owner Pat Milchuck…

Simply Pat’s Hats, owner Pat Milchuck 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Senate Appropriations Committee questioned representatives from the Illinois Department of Employment Services over fraudulent benefits during the pandemic. According to a state audit from 2021, IDES lost nearly $2 billion in funds due to fraudulent claims. However, as of recently, IDES still is unsure of the entire scope of all the fraud. There are also questions about overpayments.  Reporting by CBS showed that Illinois gave away $26 million in regular unemployment benefits and another $27 million in enhanced COVID-19 unemployment benefits. Overpayment recoveries totaled approximately $20 million from January 2021 to April 2022, but there was $55 million waived.

(Springfield-jm) – A new report highlights which states are seeing the most car thefts. Illinois finished fifth on the list with a 35% increase from the previous year, marking the largest year over year increase of any state.  The report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau looks into the number of car thefts per registered car owner in each state. Analysis of NICB data by CarVertical, a car consumer website, shows Illinois had nine vehicle thefts per 1,000 registered vehicles, fifth highest rate in the country.

(Paxton–jc)  Paxton Buckley Loda School leaders are getting ready for graduation and will look at student fees for the next school year when they meet tonight in regular session. Action on Hall of fame inductees is also on the agenda. The PBL School board meets at 6 tonight at the high school. 

(Springfield-jm) – The spring legislative session is about half over. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington talks about how its going so far…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

(Rantoul-jm) – U of I students are starting to tackle climate change by designing and building a solar-powered, zero-energy house in Rantoul for donation as part of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. The U of I team broke ground on the 1,510 square foot home on December 21. The Illinois Solar Decathlon team plans to donate the house to a local family in need through their partnership with the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Officials said the team has already met the family and the house will officially be handed over to them after the competition. The team also plans to hold a public exhibition of the home on April 15 and 16 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the 1300 block of Rockland Dr. in Rantoul.

(Washington-jm) – Production totals from some of Argentina’s and Brazil’s crops were among the notable numbers in the Agriculture Department’s April World Ag Supply and Demand Estimate. Rod Bain reports…

(Gifford–jc)  Coaches versus Cancer held their annual fundraising event at Gordyville USA near Gifford last night with over 15 hundred in attendance. The event was anchored by University of Illinois Men’s Basketball Coach Brad Underwood. Through a silent and live auction, the group is expected to reach it’s goal of 325 thousand dollars for cancer research and awareness.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois state government is more reliant on tax dollars to generate state revenue than 47 other states. Pew Charitable Trusts broke down the revenue sources for each state for fiscal year 2021, including tax collections, federal funds, service charges and miscellaneous sources.  Illinois’ largest portion of state revenue sources comes from tax collections at 57%, the third highest percentage in the country and well above the national average of 46.9%. Illinois has the second highest property taxes in the country, and is in the top half of states for individual income tax and total sales and excise tax burden. The analysis found that federal funds were the largest revenue source in fewer states (15) than a year earlier (18), as state tax collections started to rebound after the pandemic-induced recession. In Illinois, federal funds amounted to just over 31% of the revenue.

(Springfield-jm) – The University of Illinois Flash Index, a snapshot of the Illinois economy, fell slightly in March. The index dropped from 103.4 in February to 103.1 in March. The three main components of the index include individual income, corporate and sales tax receipts and were all down in inflation-adjusted terms from March 2022. The author of the index said the wait for the anticipated recession later this year continues with experts placing the odds at about 50-50.

(Paxton–jc)  –  Paxton City leaders will look to approve motor fuel tax projects for fiscal year 20-24 when they meet tonight in regular session. Councilmen will also look at rezoning several properties in the city. They will also look at and potentially approve a drainage plan project. The Paxton City council meets at 7 tonight on the second floor of city hall.

(Urbana-jm) – Area lawmakers joined Governor J-B Pritzker and University of Illinois leaders during a stop at the Urbana-Champaign campus. The Governor was promoting record investments in higher education and map grant funding. Senator Paul Faraci of Champaign says this will provide more opportunities for students…

State Senator Paul Faraci of Champaign. State Representative Carol Ammons of Urbana…

State Representative Carol Ammons of Urbana.

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for help in locating a man wanted for armed violence and aggravated domestic battery. Court records show that Deonance Hill, 30 of Urbana, was charged with armed violence in October of 2021. He was released on bond, but never appeared in court the following December. A warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest. At the same time, another warrant was issued for his arrest related to a case of aggravated domestic battery. He has yet to make a court appearance related to this case. Hill is described as being Black, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

(Champaign-jm) – A former Champaign pastor has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for bankruptcy fraud and misapplying federal funds. Reverend Lekevie Johnson received the sentence after pleading guilty in December. Johnson admitted to using around $50,000 of student loan funds and Housing and Urban Development grants to fund a gambling habit. 

(Gibson City–jc)  If you see members of the Ford County E-M-A and those with the Red Cross in Gibson City today, there is a good reason. Members of the two organizations are installing free smoke alarms. Contact the Ford County Emergency Management for more information. 

(Rantoul–jc)  –Today's WPXN Business of the Day is Country Financial Agent Tanna Suits of Rantoul. With a farming background in Champaign County Suits also likes the insurance side on the farm…

Suits has a local office along Champaign Avenue in Rantoul. The office is one in the local area, but Suits has Country Financial clients in a large geographical area…

Country Financial Agent Tanna Suits of Rantoul

You can hear more from Tanna Suits with an interview on the Noon news

(Springfield-jm) – Home prices may be cooling off, but a study shows they increased much faster than inflation. According to Clever Real Estate, since the start of 2020 to mid-last year, median home sale prices rose 42%, while the price of overall goods rose just 14%. The escalation in prices has made home sales in Illinois come to halt, as sales were down statewide in February by 25% compared to the same time last year. If home prices grew only at the same rate as inflation since 1970, the median sale price in the U.S. would be just over $189,000 instead of $468,000.

(Springfield-jm) – Around a third of Illinois’ state’s attorneys want to see the Illinois Supreme Court strike down the state’s gun and magazine ban. The Macon County case from state Representative Dan Caulkins, challenges Illinois’ gun and magazine ban on the grounds it violates equal protections. The law doesn’t apply to police or others in the law enforcement and security industries. After the county judge issued a final judgment against the law deeming it unconstitutional, the state appealed directly to the Illinois Supreme Court. The state-level case to be heard mid-May is separate from the federal case in the Southern District of Illinois set to be heard in East St. Louis on Wednesday.

(Urbana–jc)  How Old is too old to drive? O-S-F Public Relations Specialist Tim Ditman has the story…

((Rantoul–jc)  Rantoul citizens have the opportunity to view the annual budget for the next fiscal year today at the village board office at 5-45 this afternoon. Rantoul Village board members also meet tonight at 6pm. Among agenda items include an addition to the Rantoul Fire Station project, a waste water study project and an agreement with the local police department. 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for help in solving a forgery and theft that happened earlier this year. Officials said that on January 26, two people entered Champaign’s Best Buy, located at 2117 North Prospect Avenue, and stole vacuum cleaners valued at $1,600. They added the suspects presented forged receipts that pretended they had bought the vacuum cleaners using the Best Buy app. The suspects left the store in a dark SUV, possibly a Ford Explorer. One appeared to be a white male with glasses and a brown/gray beard and mustache. He was wearing a baseball cap, a black hoodie, a green jacket and jeans. The other suspect appeared to be a White female wearing a Chicago Bears stocking cap, a light green hoodie, a tan jacket, red pants and black shoes.

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton Buckley Loda Booster Club has a fundraiser with “ducks” on Saturday. The group is hosting a Duck Drop on Saturday at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. The drop is set for 3pm. Ducks are available to purchase. The closest duck to the target will receive 500 dollars. There are lots of other cash prizes and prizes donated by area merchants.

(Decatur-jm) – The Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater in Decatur is announcing An Evening with The Beach Boys at the Devon on Thursday, August 17. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 14 at 10 a.m.

(Springfield-jm) – Starting today, gun owners in Illinois will be violating state law if they possess certain semi-automatic firearms and magazines in public places. Governor J.B. Pritzker says the ban on more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over 10 rounds for rifles and 15 rounds for handguns is to keep guns off the streets. Illinois State Police say on their frequently asked questions website about the law, Illinoisans can “legally possess the firearm on private property owned or immediately controlled by the person, on private property that is not open to the public with the express permission of the person who owns or immediately controls such property, while on premises of a licensed firearms dealer or gunsmith for lawful repair, at a licensed firing range or sport shooting competition venue, or while traveling to and from these locations.” Gun rights advocates say there’s too much gray area. Violation of the magazine ban is a petty offense with a $1,000 fine. Unlawful possession of a banned firearm carries up to a Class 3 felony.

(Springfield-jm) – The State Climatologist says weather buffs are needed to help measure precipitation in Illinois. The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network or “COCORAHS” (co-co-rahs) is always looking for volunteers to gather data from locations that aren’t monitored by the National Weather Service says…

State Climatologist Trent Ford says those interested will need a four inch manual rain gauge. You can sign up on the website: cocorahs dot org. That’s c-o-c-o-r-a-h-s dot gov.

(Undated-jm) – Average gas prices in Illinois have risen 15.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.83/g, according to GasBuddy. Prices in Illinois are 31.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 59.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois House took a few days off from taking up legislation. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington talks about what he did over the break…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

(Undated-jc) – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation Friday announced that $127.9 million has been awarded through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program to expand travel options and enhance quality of life in communities throughout the state. Locally, 2 million 955 thousand dollars goes to a road-bike share path in Savoy that starts on Curtis Road and goes south into the village. Urbana has two projects. 1 million 466 thousand dollars for a share path on Baker Lane and a 1 million dollar share bike-road lane project on Florida Avenue. The Village of Rantoul netted a 767 thousand dollar grant for a bike-road path along Veterans Parkway on the east side of the village. 

(Mahomet-jm) – The Mahomet Music Festival along with Fisher National Bank is proud to announce the Main Stage Lineup for the 2023 Mahomet Music Festival! The festival will take place on August 25th and 26th along Main St in Downtown Mahomet.  Friday night’s lineup includes festival favorites Hairbanger’s Ball along with Candy Foster & Shades of Blue, as well as Zakk Tompkins! Headlining the Saturday night show this year is country music artist Chris Janson. Janson will be joined by Shane Profitt and Onoleigh! The Christian headliner on Saturday will be Sanctus Real! Entry to the concerts is FREE, thanks to our great sponsors! 

(Washington-jm) – The current agricultural trade surplus we have with other nations may turn into a deficit later this year. Gary Crawford reports…

Today’s WPXN business of the day is Houston Plumbing Heating & Cooling. Springtime is a perfect time to get your air conditioner tuned up. Houston Plumbing Heating & Cooling General Manager Lisa Pearman, talks about why it's important.

Houston Plumbing Heating & Cooling General Manager Lisa Pearman

You can hear the full interview over the noon hour

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker continues to downplay and cast doubt on Illinois' population losses, despite U.S. Census data evidence to the contrary. The U.S. Census released updated county population numbers late last month. In Illinois, from July 2020 through July 2021, the state lost residents in 92 of its 102 counties. The Governor said The American Community Survey, said hundreds of thousands of people were leaving every year. Then the census count in 2020, and it turns out, no, we actually gained population. But Illinois lost a seat in the U.S. Congress during reapportionment because of significant population loss after that 2020 Census loss. The Illinois Policy Institute says that the numbers are the numbers, no matter which way Pritzker tries to spin them. Pritzker said one of the main reasons the state is seeing a population decrease is due to many students choosing to attend out of state colleges. The Illinois Policy Institute argues rather its the state’s high taxes and pension debt that’s affecting the state’s population.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker continues to tout his signing of the assault weapons ban in Illinois. Starting today, gun owners in Illinois will be violating state law if they possess certain semi-automatic firearms and magazines in public places. Governor Pritzker says there are some guns that don’t belong to the general public…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The issue is awaiting a judgment in the courts.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois General Assembly is on a short recess before they return later this month. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City shares what he’s been doing during the recess…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Watseka-jm) – Citizens of Iroquois County may have received a mailing solicitation from the Illinois Sheriff's Association.  That, Sheriff Clint Perzee says, is legitimate.  Perzee said the mailer seeks associate members at the county level to join the state organization in support of law enforcement.  Membership fees goes toward worthy causes like student scholarships and other issues fighting the SAFE-T Act and gun ban law.  The Iroquois County 'mailer' clearly identifies Sheriff Clint Perzee on the return-sender part of the envelope.  The Illinois Sheriff Association legitimately seeks membership-- by mail--with authentic identification.  The group never solicits by phone and any such calls should be ignored.

(Undated–jc)  27 Nursing homes were the latest to be fined by the Illinois Department of Public Health for a wide variety of violations.  Accolade in Paxton was fined 77 thousand 200 dollars. Champaign Urbana Rehab was fined 107 thousand 700 dollars. Gilman Healthcare and Farmer City Rehab were fined 2thousand 200 dollars each.  Urbana’s University Rehab was fined 2 5 thousand dollars and Watseka Rehab was fined 11 thousand dollars.

(Washington-jm) – U.S. exports of corn are down dramatically from this time a year ago. Gary Crawford reports…

(Springfield-jm) – While the no-cash bail provision of the SAFE-T Act remains on hold, Illinois’ court system can’t say how much extra it would cost taxpayers were it to be enacted. The Pretrial Fairness Act that ends cash bail statewide was supposed to be enacted on January 1, but a Kankakee County judge found the law unconstitutional. The Illinois Supreme Court suspended implementation pending appeal. The case was heard last month and justices are taking the issue under advisement. During a Thursday Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, State Senator Chapin Rose, asked Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts Director Marcia Meis how much it would cost taxpayers if implemented. She said looking at New Jersey is instructive. Rose further asked if the courts would have to come back to taxpayers for more money. Meis responded maybe.

(Urbana-jm) – Several area lawmakers were on hand as Governor J-B Pritzker visited the University of Illinois. The Governor was promoting his plans for record investments in higher education. State Senator Paul Faraci of Champaign…

State Senator Paul Faraci of Champaign. State Representative Carol Ammons of Urbana…

State Representative Carol Ammons of Urbana.

(Champaign-jm) – The man who shot himself in the Meijer parking lot has been identified by the Champaign County Coroner. Officials say Bennet H. Eiermann, 32, of Urbana was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. on Wednesday in the Carle Foundation Hospital Critical Care Unit. Eiermann died from a single, self-inflicted, gunshot wound to the head. An autopsy will be conducted on Saturday.

(Washington-jm) – We'll have to wait another month before we get USDA's first supply and demand forecasts for the new crop year. Gary Crawford reports…

(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana Police Department needs your help identifying a woman who stole a futon. The police department shared on social media that the woman stole a futon from a local retail store. They said she left the store in a gray or black Chrysler.

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Dogtown Heating Air and Plumbing of Paxton. Co Owner Jeremy Kopman says the name of the company comes from an area just outside of Paxton, but they serve a large area with heating air and plumbing…

He goes on to say that warm weather is coming and it’s time to check the air conditioning in your home…

Dogtown Heating Air and Plumbing Co Owner Jeremy Kopman.

You can hear more about Dogtown with an interview with Jeremy Kopman over the noon hour today. 

(Springfield-jm) – A 2022 property tax analysis for 87 million U.S. single family homes shows that nearly $340 billion in property taxes were levied on single-family homes in 2022, up 3.6 percent from 2021. The ATTOM report analyzed property tax data collected from county tax assessor offices nationwide at the state, metro and county levels, along with estimated market values of single-family homes calculated using an automated valuation model. States with the highest effective property tax rates in 2022 were New Jersey at 1.79 percent and Illinois at 1.78 percent.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Senate Republicans are working to provide relief for residents. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City explains…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Paxton-jm) – You should never only rely on outdoor storm sirens to warn you about incoming bad weather and the people of Paxton are understanding why. The siren on the southeast side of Paxton didn’t work during this month’s test. The city is working on getting it fixed and says a repair team will look at the siren today.

(Washington-jm) – Most of the new information in Tuesday's USDA Supply and Demand Estimates will come from the Southern Hemisphere. Gary Crawford reports…

(Urbana-jm) – The U of I and the U of I system announced that they have committed $50 million to support the National Center for Supercomputing services for campus researchers. Officials said NCSA will lead these efforts, building on decades of expertise in delivering advanced cyberinfrastructure to the nation’s research community. Over five years, a total of $30 million provided by the U of I and $20 million from the U of I System will support infrastructure for the Illinois Campus Cluster Program, an artificial intelligence computing system, other computing and data equipment, and user services and training, including staff, software licenses, and maintenance.

The Parkland College Theatre will perform Sweeney Todd April 6th-8th, 14th-16th and 21st-23rd.

An Easter egg hunt will take place at Piper City Rehab today at 2 pm.

An Easter egg hunt will take place on Saturday at 9:30 am at Accolade Senior Living on Fulton in Paxton.

The village of Buckley will hold an Easter egg hunt at Buckley Lake on Saturday at 10 am.

Paxton IGA will host their cookout benefiting Temple Wolf Chapter on Saturday from 10-2.

(Springfield-jm) – A new study is shedding light on the outcomes of states that placed restrictions on residents and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Paragon Health Institute compared the degree of state government response measures developed by Oxford University to health, economic and educational outcome measures in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The index measured government interventions including state-enforced closures of businesses, schools, and other recreational facilities; restrictions on public gatherings; and masking and social distancing requirements. Co-author and American Well-being Initiative Director Dr. Joel Zinberg said states with fewer restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic outperformed states like Illinois that implemented more restrictions. The study showed severe government interventions strongly correlated with worse economic outcomes, with increased unemployment and decreased GDP, and also worse educational outcomes with fewer days of in-person schooling.

(Urbana-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker visited the University of Illinois Wednesday where he touted his plan to increase investments in colleges and universities in the state. The Governor says they are trying to make it more affordable for in-state students…

The Governor also says the state’s colleges and universities help provide future leaders…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign police are investigating after a person shot themself in the parking lot of Meijer on Prospect Avenue. Police say the unidentified individual had been wanted by police over a series of incidents. A deputy saw the person enter the Meijer and when they exited the store, the deputy approached the suspect, who pulled out a gun and shot themself. The person was taken to the hospital.

(Washington-jm) – A USDA meteorologist is forecasting delays in corn planting progress in the Northern corn belt. Gary Crawford reports…

(Paxton-jm) – Hours and rates for the Paxton pool have been announced. The pool will be open from 1-5 everyday this summer except for Thursdays when it will be open from 1-8. Daily admission is set at $5. Passes can be purchased, $60 for a single pass, $100 for 2 passes, $130 for 3 passes and $160 for 4 passes.

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s Business of the Day is PRIDE in Paxton and the downtown Speaker and Safety project. PRIDE in Paxton Spokesperson Kim Evans says the Queen of Hearts pot is now 18 thousand 205 dollars for the next drawing on April 12th…

PRIDE in Paxton spokesperson Kim Evans. 

PRIDE in Paxton Spokesperson Dawn Glad says 48 thousand dollars has been raised for the project…

PRIDE in Paxton Spokesperson Dawn Glad

The group's goal is 120 thousand dollars to put the system in 3 blocks in downtown Paxton.  The Queen of Hearts project takes place each Wednesday night at the Pueblo Lindo Event Center with a drawing at 7pm.

(Springfield-jm) – A study reveals that Illinois is in the top 10 in the country for the highest tax burden on its residents.  The personal finance website WalletHub reports Illinois has the 9th highest overall tax burden at a 9.3% share of personal income.  Illinois is 10th in the country for the highest property tax burden, and in the top half of states for individual income tax and total sales and excise tax burden. The study also found that Republican-majority states have a lower tax burden than Democrat-majority states.

(Urbana-jm) – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign police say a student was a victim of a scam where someone posed to be a representative for an artist and offered to pay to use the student's photos. The scammer said they would send a $2,000 deposit to the student and that the student should return a portion of that money to pay for materials. Before realizing the original deposit had not cleared the student paid $1,500 to the scammer.

(Washington-jm) – USDA's first condition rating for the winter wheat crop is not encouraging. Gary Crawford reports…

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign woman is facing multiple charges related to a December shooting. Arielle Spearman is charged with being an armed habitual offender, aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Police allege Spearman fired a gun at a vehicle with her partner and his mother in it.

(Undated–jc)   Local elections were held on Tuesday around the state of Illinois. In a race for alderman in ward 4 in Paxton, the winner is Kristen Lawson. The winner in a two person race in ward 2 is Joe Reinhart. In Gibson City in ward 2 the winner is Ray Hankes. In the race for Mayor of Melvin, the winner is Austin Fancher. 

In contested races in Iroquois County, Yamei Rohles won a race for Ward 4 alderman in Watseka and Scott Muench won the Watseka alderman race in Ward 1

Some final results in Champaign county were not available at news time this morning, WPXN news will update final results when they are provided. 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers that the filing deadline is rapidly approaching. State and federal income tax returns are due April 18th, and by the sound of it, plenty of people still need to file…

Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Maura Kownacki says the quickest way to get your refund is to e-file an error free return and opt for direct deposit. Taxpayers with simple returns can file for free at: my tax dot illinois dot gov.

(Springfield-jm) – The chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court won’t comment on a motion for two of the seven justices on the bench to recuse themselves in a case challenging Illinois’ gun ban. Governor J.B. Pritzker gave more $1 million each to then-justice candidates Elizabeth Rochford and Mary O’Brien. Now seated on the bench of seven, Rochford and O'Brien are set to hear a challenge of the gun ban Pritzker signed on January 10. The plaintiffs in the case have filed a motion for Rochford and O’Brien to recuse themselves from proceedings because of “unreasonably large campaign contributions” and other issues.

(Springfield-jm) – March weather gave Illinois a cold, wet start to spring. According to statewide preliminary numbers, March temperatures were about half a degree below normal and precipitation was more than an inch above normal, says State Climatologist Trent Ford…

State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says the cooler temps last month were probably a good thing, slowing down early blooming and trees budding. The long-range outlook for April through June is calling for slightly warmer and wetter than normal.

(Springfield-jm) – Some Illinois lawmakers are against creating a special commission to look into designing a new state flag. One of those against the idea is 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City who says the General Assembly has other more important issues to focus on…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in solving a car theft that happened in Campustown last month. Officials said that on March 7, two people stole a silver 2011 Toyota Corolla from the area of Sixth and Healey Streets. The car, they said, was left unattended with the keys in the ignition and it has yet to be recovered. It had Illinois license plates of DS45410 and tinted windows on the back and rear passenger windows. Police are asking for help in identifying the car thieves, who were seen on security cameras walking around Campustown before and after the theft. One appeared to be a darker skinned Black male wearing a black mask, black sweatshirt, jeans with red shorts underneath and white shoes. The other appeared to be a lighter skinned Black male wearing a green or gray sweatshirt, jeans, black and white tennis shoes and a black backpack.

(Urbana-jm) – Urbana Police need your help identifying a man who used counterfeit money. The police department shared on social media that the man used the counterfeit money to purchase items at a local grocery store. He was seen wearing all-black clothing and a black baseball hat.

*Paxton–jc)  Today’s  WPXN’s Business of the Day is  Mom and Pops Kettle Corn Stop in downtown Paxton. The business that started in 2008 as a fundraising group has turned into a popular family brick and mortar business in Paxton says owner Alan Meyer…

Owner Alan Meyer provides some information about hours of operation at the downtown Paxton store…

Mom and Pops Kettle Corn Stop Owner Alan Meyer

(Springfield-jm) – This is National Minority Health Month. There are several diseases that hit many minority groups harder than whites. They include diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke, HIV and infant mortality. That’s why it’s so important that people of color be their own advocate says the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health Services’ Chief Veronica Halloway…

Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health Services’ Chief Veronica Halloway. Halloway says they work closely with community groups to hi-lite immunizations, health screenings and other preventative measures.

(Springfield-jm) – Following tornadoes and severe storms that struck throughout Illinois Friday night, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning Illinois residents to be on alert for scammers looking to exploit homeowners and business owners who may be in need of repairs from storm-related damage. Raoul cautioned residents that scammers often move quickly into communities to take advantage of people with damage to their homes or businesses.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Corrections is holding hiring events throughout the state this month. The Department has nearly 30 locations statewide, all with a constant need for corrections officers says Recruitment Coordinator Brittany Ott…

Illinois Department of Corrections Recruitment Coordinator Brittany Ott. Ott says they’re also looking for nurses, wardens, office associates, social workers and more. Several job fairs are being held throughout April. The best way to find one near you is to follow IDOC’s social media accounts.

(Rantoul-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in locating a man wanted for sexual crimes. Officials said Kevin Kryzanski of Rantoul is facing a charge of criminal sexual abuse, with bond set at $100,000. Kryzanski is described as being a 48-year-old White male with blonde hair and blue eyes. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds.

(Springfield-jm) – 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington is settling into the new role after being selected to replace former Representative and now State Senator Tom Bennett. Representative Bunting says he will have two offices for constituents…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

(Champaign-jm) – Two people were arrested on Saturday at a University of Illinois bar after police said they were identified as being responsible for two separate battery incidents. Officials named one of them as 22-year-old Dejuon Baltimore, saying that they identified him as the offender in a March 28 battery outside the McDonald’s on Green Street. Officers also arrested 24-year-old Bryce Bradley, who was identified as the aggressor in a fight that happened on March 21. Officials said Bradley is accused of hitting a student in the head outside of Burrito King on Green Street. Both were booked into the Champaign County Jail.

(Urbana-jm) – University of Illinois Police are investigating after a hate crime near campus was reported to them over the weekend. Officials said the crime happened outside Chopstix, located at the intersection of Green and Second Streets, early Sunday morning. A student reported that a group of men directed racial slurs at them, and the student responded by physically engaging the group. The men tried to push the student away several times before one of them punched the student in the face.

(Undated-jm) – Voters go to the polls today for the consolidated election. In Vermilion County, Rankin voters there will choose 3 candidates for village trustee between Roxane Hasting, Vernon Lee Hofer, Larry Palomo and Alyssa Duncan. Potomac school board voters will choose 3 candidates from Keri Newnum, Amanda Markwalder, Danielle Hoskins, Jenny Tholl and Beau Action. Armstrong Township school board 4 year term voters will choose 3 candidates Andrew Cler, Jason Frerichs, John Gordon and Hannah Catherine Dorsey. Vermilion county voters will also be asked to approve a 1 percent sales tax for schools in the county. In Iroquois County there is only one contested race and that is for the Iroquois West School Board where 5 candidates are vying for 4 spots on the board. They include Rodger Bennett, Bradford Howe, Amy Jo Schunke, Adam Vice and James Schnurr.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ Office is launching a new organ and tissue donor campaign. The gist of the radio and tv ads is that it doesn’t matter what color or gender you are, or which sports team you love, your pledge to give the gift of life can save lives…

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Secretary Giannoulias says a single donor can save or improve the lives of up to 25 people. You can sign up on the website: life goes on dot com.

(Springfield-jm) – A salmonella outbreak linked to flour in Illinois and 10 other states is being investigated by federal health officials. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported at least three people have been hospitalized. The CDC said most people reported eating raw cookie dough or batter made with flour before they got sick. Illinois is the only state where more than one person became ill.

(Springfield-jm) – The weekly crop report is back with a first look at the season. Even with Friday’s storms, this past week ended up being both colder and drier than normal, says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. As of Sunday, soil temperatures ranged from the mid-30’s in northern Illinois to the mid-40’s in southern areas. 56 percent of the winter wheat crop is rated in good to excellent condition.

(Paxton-jm) – To honor former Mayor Jim Kingston, the City of Paxton created a street sign in his name. Kingston passed away in February of 2022. He served as an Alderman, a Police Officer, and Mayor, dedicating over 30 years to the City of Paxton. The sign is at the corner of Pells and Market.

(Springfield-jm) – More grants for businesses that were affected by the COVID pandemic will be opening this week. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says the grants are through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity…

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Paxton-jm) – The Paxton Park District is beginning discussions on a potential tax referendum. The park district would use the funds for the pool or constructing a community building. The park district will continue considering and discussing the tax referendum over the next few months.

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Baier Family Funeral Service of Paxton, Buckley and Flatville. The Baier Family has owned the business since 1949.  Baier Family Funeral Service Owner Royce Baier Baier talks about local family service in a corporate world…

The funeral home has served the area since 1870.  Owner Royce Baier talks about local service from a local business…

Baier Family Funeral Service Owner Royce Baier.

You can hear more from Royce Baier in a noon interview today. 

(Undated-jm) – Voters head to the polls today for the consolidated election. There are several contested races throughout Ford County. Gibson City ward 2 voters will choose between Wayne Link and Ray Hankes. While in Paxton ward 2 voters will choose between incumbent Paul Crutcher and newcomer Joe Reinhart for a 2 year unexpired term. Ward 4 voters in Paxton will choose between incumbent Jonas Hoedebecke and newcomer Kristen Larson. Melvin will have a new village president as Austin Fancher faces Glen Netherton to replace Harold Forbes. In Robert's 4 people are vying for 3 spots on the village board: Sharon King, John Viner, Janet Walker and Cassandra Ehman. For the GCMS school board 4 candidates are vying for 3 spots for a 4 year term: Emily Tucker Davis, Adam Mussman, Adam Elder and Miranda Leonard. In Champaign County, for Foosland, 4 people are vying for 3 spots on the village board: Shawn Scott Lucas, Paul Volker, Dale Aldrich and Pricilla Wallis. In Rantoul for district 4 voters will choose from Gary Wilson and Debbra Sweat while voters in district 6 will choose between former trustee Terry Workman and Mark Wilkerson. In St. Joseph 5 candidates are vying for 3 spots on the village board: R Daniel Davis, Arthur Rapp, James Wagner, Kelly Miller Skinner and Alexis West-Henkelman. 5 people are running for 4 spots on the Fisher school board: Bradley Zwilling, Ryan Logsdon, Travis Tedlock, Dustin Frandle and Janice Douglas. For the Gifford school board 4 candidates are vying for 3 spots: Traci Harris, Benjamin Steven Bangert, Justin Rademacher and Caroline Franzen. Mahomet voters will have an advisory question on the ballot asking if the village should issue $28 million in bonds for an indoor recreation facility and outdoor pool.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation is out with its annual “Think Before You Throw” anti-littering campaign. Littering on the state's 150 thousand miles of road is unsightly, bad for the environment and expensive, says IDOT Spokesperson Maria Castaneda…

IDOT Spokesperson Maria Castaneda. IDOT reminds that littering is illegal and carries a fine of up to 15 hundred dollars.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Freedom Caucus is calling for an ethics investigation into the recent House floor voting controversy. During debate March 24, the Democratic leadership attempted to shut off the opportunity for opposing speakers to discuss legislation. Shortly after this, the group said it became apparent that many members of the Democratic Caucus were absent from the House Floor, and in fact were absent from the Capitol Complex entirely and were still voting on legislation. A verification showed at least four votes were cast on the motion which could not be verified.

(Springfield-jm) – The weekly crop report is back with a first look at the season. Temperatures were nearly three degrees below normal this past week and rainfall was slightly below the statewide average. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says just one point seven days were suitable for fieldwork. He details some other stats…

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture was rated one percent very short, four percent short, 51 percent adequate and 44 percent surplus.

(Urbana-jm) – Starting today, Carle Health patients will see radiology reports interpreted for them in plain language through the MyCarle account or the MyCarle app. The new software, ScanSlated, uses artificial intelligence to translate the original language submitted by Carle clinical experts in radiology and also highlight key terms in the report. It provides easy-to-understand definitions as well as an anatomical illustration.

(Urbana–jc)  Illinois Senator Dick Durbin was at O-S-F Healthcare in Urbana Monday to talk about a new cap on insulin for Medicare recipients. Senator Durbin says marketing by the big pharmaceutical companies is driving up the cost of medicines..

U S Senator Dick Durbin. Congress has passed legislation to cap insulin costs to 35 dollars monthly for those on Medicare.

(Undated-jm) – An area hardware store has been sold. The Ace Hardware in Mahomet and Gibson City has been sold to the Amir family from the Hood family. The Amir’s operate 4 other Ace Hardware stores in Illinois. The Ace Hardware in Gibson City is expected to reopen in April following a fire next door last summer.

(Washington-jm) – How close do the intended planted acreage numbers reported in late March usually line up with what actually gets planted? Gary Crawford reports…

(Undated-jm) – The National Weather Service has confirmed at least two tornadoes touched down in the WPXN listening area Friday evening. The first tornado, rated an E-F-1 touched down 3 miles south of Dewey and continued going northeast for 11 miles, causing significant damage to the FS plant and flipping several semi’s and a bus on I-57 about 2 miles south of Ludlow. The second tornado, also rated an E-F-1, touched down 4 miles southwest of Rankin and traveled almost 17 miles to the north side of Wellington in Iroquois County, damaging several farm buildings along the way. The severe threat isn’t over, the National Weather Service warns another round of significant severe weather is possible tomorrow with more tornadoes possible.

(Springfield-jm) – As Child Abuse Prevention Month kicks off in April, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is hi-liting one telltale sign. Bruising can often indicate that a child is being abused, but it’s important to note where the bruises are located, says DCFS Spokesperson Deobrah Lopez. She says they use the “ten-four” rule…

DCFS Spokesperson Deborah Lopez. To report suspected cases of child abuse, you can call: 1-800-25-ABUSE or visit the website: child abuse dot illinois dot gov.

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Fire Department responded to a fire inside an attached garage at 1524 Harrington Drive Sunday afternoon.   Firefighters responded to a report from an occupant of a fire in the garage of this single-story home.  Once on the scene, firefighters reported heavy smoke coming from the garage.  Crews deployed a single hose line to quickly extinguish the fire contained to the garage.  The cause of this fire is accidental and has been attributed to the improper disposal of smoking materials.

(Washington-jm) – Here are some highlights from USDA's Prospective Plantings Report. Gary Crawford reports…

(Champaign-jm) – Another marijuana dispensary is coming to Champaign. Cloud9 will be located at West Town Center and Moreland Boulevard. This is Champaign’s third dispensary and the fourth shop in Champaign-Urbana.

(Paxton–jc)  –  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Central Illinois Disposal and Recycling of Paxton. The family owned business has been in operation since 1979. Owner Gene May says the company offers garage hauling and recycling, but also has a wide variety of roll-off containers for projects ranging from cleaning out a garage to a large construction project…

Central Illinois Disposal and Recycling Owner Gene May

(Undated-jm) – Minor injuries were reported following a pair of tornadoes touching down in the WPXN listening area Friday evening. Tornadoes were reported near Rantoul and near Rankin. A bus and a couple of semi’s were flipped over on I-57 as the tornado crossed it, resulting in a couple of minor injuries. The road was closed for several hours on Friday night. Work on power lines between Rantoul and  Dewey also continues. Clean up on Interstate 57 near Ludlow continued on Saturday night as traffic was rerouted for around 3 hours. The National Weather Service warns another round of severe weather is expected tomorrow including tornadoes.

(Springfield-jm) – A bill passed by the Illinois Senate last week will give college students more access to emergency contraceptives. Public universities, colleges and community colleges would have to set up at least one “wellness” kiosk on campus that offers emergency contraception under the bill. Opponents argue that schools shouldn’t be required to bear the cost of these machines. Senator Celina Villaneuva of Chicago responds…

State Senator Celina Villanueva of Chicago. The kiosk may also be stocked with things like condoms and tampons. The bill now moves to the House.

(Champaign-jm) – University of Illinois Police have issued a campus safety update that they have arrested the person Saturday responsible for at least five incidents of trespassing or attempted burglaries on the U of I campus last month. The incidents happened at apartments on the 300 block of East Green Street in Champaign. Officials said that a single intruder entered five unlocked apartments in the building. In some of those cases, the tenants were at home when it happened, and the intruder stayed for several minutes before leaving. Police said they are unable to provide additional information about the arrest because the arrestee is under 18 years old.

(Washington-jm) – A USDA report indicates that total planted acres to the 22 principal crops this spring will be significantly higher than last season. Gary Crawford reports…

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man is facing multiple sexual assault charges. Andrew Kirk of Champaign is facing 2 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. Bond was set at $100,000.