CHAMPAIGN – Organizers throughout Champaign County say Juneteenth is about history, but also about bringing attention to systemic issues that the African American community still faces. Juneteenth, which falls on June 19, is also now an official state holiday, after Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation on Wednesday. Rantoul resident Debbra Sweat was having coffee with
Friday, April 2, 2021 Today’s headlines: One state lawmaker wants to make submitting standardized test scores to colleges and universities permanently optional. Republican Congressman Rodney Davis is telling his fellow Republicans to trust the science and get vaccinated for COVID-19. Rantoul village officials say the first commercial development near the new Family Sports Complex is in the
RANTOUL – Village officials in Rantoul have been hoping the Champaign County town’s new Family Sports Complex will attract new commercial development. Now they say a deal on the first such development is in the works. Rantoul officials say an affiliate of Chicago-based developer Core Acquisitions LLC is in the process of buying the vacant
Wednesday, March 31, 2021 https://will.illinois.edu/nfs/217Today3-31-21.mp3 Today’s headlines: Illinois Republicans are again calling for an independent commission to draw Illinois’ new legislative maps. A bill introduced in the Illinois House earlier this year would require the state to tackle gun violence as a public health issue. Dozens of people gathered outside the Champaign City Building Tuesday
RANTOUL – There’s a three-way race for mayor in the village of Rantoul in northern Champaign County. But that’s not the only contest on the April 6 ballot for Rantoul voters. They will also be voting for candidates to fill every seat on the Rantoul Village Board. And for the first time, they will choose
CHAMPAIGN – Small businesses have had to deal with an added expense this year, paying for supplies and equipment to prevent the coronavirus from spreading at their stores, offices and factories. Champaign, Urbana and Rantoul are offering state-funded grants to help with those new expenses. The grants can be used by small businesses in the
(UPDATE: Since its newsroom closed in September 2020, the Rantoul Press has continued to appear as a free weekly newspaper, featuring articles from the News-Gazette. The website and social media pages for the Rantoul Press have not been continued. – JM 3/11/21) RANTOUL – The Wednesday, Sept. 30 edition of the Rantoul Press is the last
RANTOUL – At least eight migrant workers who were infected with COVID-19 waited several days before isolating because the company they worked for, Bayer, declined to pay for expedited tests, Champaign County health officials said. The company’s rejection came after its occupational health team had agreed to pay about $5,000 in quick testing for about
The Illinois State Board of Education is leaving it up to districts to decide how to reopen schools this fall. Some have chosen to continue remote learning, while others are bringing students back into classrooms amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. ISBE has strongly recommended that schools provide as much in-person instruction as possible. But state
RANTOUL – As hundreds of migrant farmworkers arrive in central Illinois to work on detasseling — a process needed to create hybrid seed corn — local organizations are stepping up to provide services to the workers and their families. Martha Gonzalez, executive director of the Rantoul Multicultural Community Center, says the child care they offer
Gov. Pritzker Warns Illinois Cities That Re-Open Could Put Communities At Risk CHICAGO – Illinois reported 2,341 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, bringing the state total to 63,840. 46 additional deaths in the last day brings the total state fatalities to 2,662. Gov. J.B. Pritzker also responded to news that the mayor of East Peoria says
This story has been updated on Tuesday May 5 at 12:00 p.m. to reflect updated case numbers. One of the largest meat processing plants in central Illinois is battling an outbreak of coronavirus in which 21 cases of Covid-19 have been already been counted, a company official confirmed Monday. By late afternoon, that number stood
CHAMPAIGN – As early voting continues for the March 17 Illinois Primary, Champaign County is opening seven additional early voting locations on Monday, March 8, in Champaign, Rantoul, Tolono, Mahomet and St. Joseph. Two other early voting locations opened a week earlier on the University of Illinois campus. Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons says he
UPDATED Friday 7:15 a.m. – Icy conditions forced some roads to close in Central Illinois and some schools to close or delay opening on Friday. Much of the area is also under a Wind Chill Advisory. Here are the latest closures: CHAMPAIGN COUNTY Champaign Unit 4 Schools – Closed Friday Heritage Unit School District #8
Rantoul is looking forward to opening a new outdoor family sports complex, in 2021. Hopes for the $20 million project made it easier for village trustees in the Champaign County town to vote to prohibit cannabis-related businesses within their borders. Meanwhile in Vermilion County, city officials in Danville chose to allow cannabis businesses. The two