(Rantoul--jc) Rantoul Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Bel Place and Bel Air Driver around 1-30 Thursday afternoon. for a report of possible shots fired. Officers responded to the area and spoke with several area residents who reported hearing two gun shots in the area. Officers were initially unable to locate any evidence of a shooting. As the investigation progressed officers located two victims who reported they arrived at a residence in the area and observed three male subjects nearby. One of the three male subjects then fired two shots from a handgun at the two victims. The two victims went into a residence while the three suspects fled the area on foot. No injuries were reported and no damage or evidence was located.The suspects were described as three teen-aged African-American males, two wearing dark colored hoodies and the third wearing a gray-colored hoodie. Based on interviews, Rantoul Police do not believe this was a random act.Detectives continue to investigate. Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Rantoul Police Department at (217) 893-5600, or Champaign County Crimestoppers at (217) 373-TIPS.
(Springfield--ab) Tobacco 21 legislation is headed to the governor’s desk.
The senate joined the house in banning anyone under the age of 21 from buying tobacco products in Illinois. Senator Julie Morrison Of Deerfield says they want to help keep teens from picking up the habit.
Illinois State Senator Julie Morrison of Deerfield
The ban include e-cigs and vapes. Governor J-B Pritzker has said he will sign it into law.
PEKIN, Ill. (AP) — The father of a man accused of killing four people at a Tennessee Waffle House is facing a weapons charge in Illinois. Jeffrey Reinking was charged Thursday in Tazewell County Circuit Court with the unlawful delivery of a firearm. Prosecutors say he gave his son, Travis Reinking, an AR-15 in November 2017 despite knowing he had been a psychiatric patient at a hospital within the last five years. Jeffrey Reinking posted bond and is due to be arraigned April 25. His son remains jailed.
(Paxton--jc) -- Some issues on dispatching is the topic between two local law enforcement groups in Ford County. City of Paxton Police Chief Coy Cornett and Ford County Sheriff Mark Doran continue to meet to work out solutions to the dispatching issues.
JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Illinois officials are planning a groundbreaking ceremony for a 200-bed hospital to treat mentally ill prison inmates. The ceremony hosted by the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Capital Development Board will be Monday in Joliet. The Corrections Department settled a 2016 lawsuit requiring the state to provide adequate services to about 12,000 inmates who suffer from mental illness.
(Roberts--ab) It’s almost Spring and time for area communities to do some cleaning. In Roberts, bids were taken to get some help cleaning up and village clean up day is June 1st says Roberts Mayor Rick Flessner...
Roberts Mayor Rick Flessner
(Gibson City-jc) -- One community has a group met on Thursday to look at the possibilities of building a new pool. The Gibson City Swimming Pool Exploratory committee continues to look at structures, goals, costs and a timetable for the proposed project. More meetings are planned
(Paxton--ab) The Paxton Buckley Loda School Board heard anan update on the progress on the Clara Peterson school addition. P-B-L School Superintendent Cliff McClure says inside work continues....
P-B-L School Superintendent Cliff McClure
(Gibson City--jc) -- One Ford County relay for life group is hosting a Euchre party fundraiser tonight in Gibson City. The Chic Meredith Relay Team says the game begins at 6-30 tonight at the Moyer Library. The fee to participate is 10 dollars. Snacks will be provided. Those interested may sign up at 217-784-5267.
(Paxton--jc) -- The Paxton IGA is hosting a cookout from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Raising money with the cookout is the Pink Heals group. On the menu is . Ribeye steak sandwiches, chips and pop..
(Chicago--jc) --Illinois Democrats are still talking about Gov. J.B. Pritzker's progressive income tax plan behind closed doors.Pritzker wants to amend the state constitution's flat income tax structure with a progressive one that has higher tax rates for those who earn more. The governor calls it a “fair tax” system. He has said the progressive tax rates and income brackets he’s proposed would generate $3.4 billion a year in additional revenue for the state.Ultimately, though, outside of promoting the idea, Pritzker has no role in getting the proposed constitutional amendment in front of voters. That’s entirely up to lawmakers in both chambers of the state legislature. If the House and Senate approve the measure with three-fifths majorities, the question would go to voters, who would have the final say at the ballot box. Democrats have supermajorities in both chambers.
URBANA, Ill. (AP) — University of Illinois students will see an increase in their health insurance costs for the upcoming academic year. The university's Board of Trustees set student health insurance premiums during its Thursday meeting. The steepest increase will come at the University of Illinois' Springfield campus, where premiums will rise 63 percent, going up to $866 per semester from $336. School officials say that's because of an enrollment decline in the insurance plan and increases in claims.
(Thomasboro--jc) The Thomasboro police department is growing. The local board approved the hiring of Janeen Henderson for around 30 hours weekly Henderson is from Washington, Illinois and will commute for the job 3 days per week
(Ludlow--jc) A machine shed west of Ludlow caught fire Thursday morning and was a complete loss. Sangamon Valley District Firefighters and several other departments battled the blaze for several hours. The contents in the building, including a mower and tools, were lost. Five area departments helped in the incident. They included Paxton, Ludlow, Elliott, Rantoul and Thomasboro. The high winds hampered efforts. No one was injured in the blaze.
(Springfield--jc) -- A group of lawmakers is introducing “March to Mental Health,” a package of legislation aimed at improving care and treatment in Illinois. There are 5 bills. They include to allow Pharmacists to administer anti-psychotics, and another requires more comprehensive insurance says State Senator Melinda Bush of Grayslake…
Illinois State Senator Melinda Bush of Grayslake
(Springfield--ab) The unemployment rate was up…as were jobs in most Illinois metro areas in January. All but Chicago and the suburbs saw an increase in the jobless rate from January of 2018 to January of 2019. But State Department Of Employment Security Spokesperson Bob Gough (goff) says most areas saw job growth.
Over-the-year job losses were seen in Bloomington, The East St. Louis Area And Danville.
(Springfield--ab) State and local police are boosting patrols for the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. The increased enforcement is already under way says State Department Of Transportation Spokesperson Jessie Decker.
Decker says the best way to do that is to make sure you have a plan to get home before you head out. last year, eight people died on Illinois roads on St. Patrick’s Day.
(Gibson City--jc) -- Gibson Sibley Melvin Sibley school board members will be approving some field trips when they meet in monthly session on Monday night. They include one for high school seniors to Parkland College and the Kindergarten class to the Miller Zoo in Bloomington and the F-F-A to Springfield. Board members also are expected to approve next year’s calendar. The G-C-M-S school board meeting comes to order at 6-15 on Monday night.
(Champaign--ab) In October 2017 the University of Illinois System officially launched a comprehensive fundraising initiative with an ambitious $3.1 billion goal. Now, less than a year and a half into the public campaigns, the U of I System has surpassed the $2 billion mark—or 64.8%—in funds raised toward this goal.The University of Illinois Foundation has secured an additional $26.9 million for the UI Alumni Alliance, U of I System or the Foundation and these gifts are directed to support the universities. This figure, combined with the amounts raised by the three university campaigns, brings the total to over $2 billion as of March 14, 2019.The University of Illinois System is supporting these campaigns with a brand messaging platform called, “Altogether Extraordinary,” which showcases the demand, growth, and life-changing impact of the U of I System’s three, best-in-class universities.
