GCMS golf finished third in triangular meet at El Paso

EL PASO — The Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley golf team finished third in a triangular meet at El Paso Golf Club on Wednesday, Aug. 26. The Falcons shot a 189 while El Paso-Gridley (155) won the meet and Bloomington Cornerstone Christian Academy (163) finished second. Connor Engel led GCMS with a score of 42, which was good enough for him to place […]

Illinois State Police conduct death investigation into Iroquois County Jail inmate’s injury, death

WATSEKA — The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Zone 3 is investigating two incidents at the Iroquois County Jail — one involving the death of an inmate and another that resulted in an inmate being hospitalized in critical condition. Preliminary information indicates the first inmate was found unresponsive by Iroquois County Sheriff’s Deputies on Aug. 25, […]

Appellate court: Pritzker has authority to set inmate transfer protocols

IDOC says it follows safety guidelines before accepting inmates from county jails Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect new information from an Illinois Department of Corrections spokesperson. The spokesperson previously stated to Capitol News Illinois that IDOC unknowingly accepted two COVID-19 positive men into a state facility, but later corrected her statement to reflect that it was […]

PBL XC Preseason Run

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, PBL High School hosted a four-team preseason invite. Here are some sights …

PBL boys, girls cross country teams win preseason races

PAXTON — On Wednesday, Aug. 26, Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School hosted its first sporting event in over six months, when the COVID-19 pandemic stopped spring sports. Cross country was one of two fall sports, in which PBL High School students compete, that was not moved to the spring by the IHSA last July. Rantoul and PBL coop in golf. Even then, […]

Survey: Local governments see drastic COVID-19-related revenue drops

Could lead to diminished services, increased local tax rates By REBECCA ANZELCapitol News [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — Illinois residents should expect fewer road repairs, community programs and other local government-provided services and higher locally-imposed tax rates as officials struggle with COVID-19-induced revenue shortfalls, a municipal government advocacy group warned this week. According to a survey conducted by the Illinois Municipal League, almost nine […]

IDPH reports over 1,707 new COVID-19 cases, 24 more deaths

Unemployment up, jobs down in all 14 metro areas By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,707 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 24 additional virus-related deaths on Thursday as the statewide death toll from the disease reached 7,977. Meanwhile, COVID-19’s economic impact continued to be felt throughout Illinois, where local July unemployment […]

PBL High School student tests positive for COVID-19

PAXTON — The Paxton-Buckley-Loda school district announced on Thursday, Aug. 27, that a student at PBL High School has tested positive for COVID-19. According to a letter posted on the school district’s website, the district has coordinated its efforts with the Ford County Public Health Department to “promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the COVID-19 […]

IDOC says it follows safety guidelines before accepting inmates from county jails

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect new information from an Illinois Department of Corrections spokesperson. The spokesperson previously stated to Capitol News Illinois that IDOC unknowingly accepted two COVID-19 positive men into a state facility, but later corrected her statement to reflect that it was only one inmate. By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — A state […]

Welch to push for contracting diversity legislation in veto session

‘The Black agenda cannot wait,’ he says By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch said Thursday that he will demand passage of legislation in the upcoming fall veto session to give minority- and women-owned businesses a larger share of the estimated $20 billion in state purchasing and contracting dollars allotted annually. “I am demanding that […]