(Springfield-jm) -- A new state law aims to make it safer for people to cross the street in Illinois. Mason’s Law cracks down on drivers who fail to yield at intersections and at crosswalks and end up seriously injuring someone says State Representative Lindsay Parkhurst of Kankakee…
State Representative Lindsay Parkhurst of Kankakee. Previously, drivers in this situation usually only ended up paying a fine. The law takes effect next summer and is named after 24-year old Mason Knorr of rural Clifton. He was killed in an intersection last year.
(Springfield-jm) -- The state’s finances look bad but there are signs of improvement according to a new report released by Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s Office. In fiscal year 2018, the state ran up its deficit up 7.7 billion more. While that sounds bad, that is actually about half of what the deficit was the fiscal year prior. The 397 page report showed the state’s largest area of spending was in the health and social services sector, which encompassed nearly 41 percent of the state’s budget. Education took up the second largest area at 28.5 percent. The state deficit at the end of the fiscal year is 136 billion including $133.6 billion in long-term unfunded pension liabilities plus another $55 billion in other postemployment obligations including health, dental, vision and life insurance for retired state and university employees.
(Springfield-jm) -- This is Campus Fire Safety Month in Illinois. Many students haven’t received fire safety education since elementary school and may need a few reminders as they head out on their own says State Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz. Students in dorms are urged not to overload electrical outlets and those in an apartment should test their smoke alarms…
State Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz. Fultz also says students should never leave candles or cooking unattended and those off-campus should have an escape plan in case of a fire.
(Rantoul-jm) -- A golf outing benefiting Toys for Tots will be held in Rantoul. Willow Pond Golf Course will host the event on Saturday, September 14th. Registration is required by calling Patti Irvin at 217-841-0532 or Willow Pond at 217-893-9000.
(Champaign-jm) -- The month of August was a mixed month in the state of Illinois with some places seeing above average precip while others barely saw any. State Climatologist Trent Ford has a look at how the first part of September could look…
State Climatologist Trent Ford.
(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul man has been arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at his neighbor during an argument. Mark Donoho was arrested and charged with aggravated assault after he admitted to possessing a gun and pointing it at his neighbor. Bond was set at five thousand dollars.
(Paxton-jm) -- The City of Paxton will seek a grant to finish repair work to the historic Pells Park Pavillion. The city filed for a $20,000 grant with the help of State Representative Jason Barickman, through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development. The grant would pay to replace the shingle roof, add flashing around the dormer windows and add white vinyl soffit to the interior ceiling above its seating area.
(Springfield-jm) -- The condition of Illinois’ corn and soybean crops dropped slightly as we hear in the weekly crop report. Crop progress still lags behind, with 82 percent of corn acres now in the dough stage says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. The soybean crop also dipped to 46 percent in good to excellent condition, with 84 percent now setting pods. The third cutting of alfalfa is now 77 percent complete. Average statewide topsoil moisture increased to eight percent very short, 21 percent short, 66 percent adequate and five percent surplus.
URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A University of Illinois student accused of leaving a noose in a residence hall elevator has been charged with a felony hate crime. Andrew Smith was also arraigned on misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges Tuesday. A prosecutor said during the arraignment that the 19-year-old student from Normal found some rope in an elevator and tied it into a noose. Other students reported finding the noose early Sunday. A friend reported him to authorities and he was arrested Monday.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois drivers can now purchase St. Louis Cardinals license plates. The Redbirds are the sixth sports team to be represented on an Illinois license plate. Secretary of State Jesse White says he expects they will be popular…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. The Cardinals plate with random numbers costs 69 dollars after the usual registration fee. Personalized and vanity plates cost more. 25 dollars from each plate goes to public schools. Order online at: cyber drive Illinois dot com.
(Springfield-jm) -- An Illinois circuit court has thrown out a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of two of the state’s general obligation bond issuances. The Illinois Policy Institute filed the suit challenging the legality of the bonds the state issued in 2003 and 2017, arguing they violated the Illinois Constitution’s requirement that such debt may be issued only for specific purposes. At issue were $10 billion in pension funding bonds the state issued in 2003, early in Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration, and another $15.2 billion the state issued in 2017 to pay down debts owed by the state employee health insurance system. The latter was part of a budget package that ended the state’s historic two-year budget impasse which occurred under former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
(Springfield-jm) --First responders at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency’s annual training summit in Springfield are hearing about lessons learned from the Aurora workplace shooting. The Aurora Police Department spent a lot of time analyzing what they did right and what they need to improve after an employee of the Henry Pratt Company killed five co-workers and injured five police officers. For example, Aurora Deputy Chief Keefe Jackson says they realized they need a notification system for the families of officers involved…
Aurora Deputy Police Chief Keefe Jackson. Jackson says they also realized dispatchers didn’t know all the jargon and acronyms their officers used, which hampered communications.
(Gibson City-jm) -- Frightfest will be making its annual return to the Harvest Moon Twin Drive Inn theater in Gibson City. The multi-weekend event kicks off September 6th and 7th. Screen 1 will feature IT 1 and IT2 while screen 2 will feature IT2 and Annabelle Comes Home. Other Frightfest weekends are September 13th and 14th and 20th and 21st. Each night will feature a costume contest.
(Springfield-jm) -- After a blistering report came out in late August of allegations of harassment in the Illinois State Capitol, the state’s highest leader is speaking out. The allegations surround House Speaker Mike Madigan. Governor J-B Pritzker says he is aware of the allegations and is taking steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.
(Watseka-jm) -- Iroquois County Treasurer Kurt Albers is reminding residents the deadline for the 2nd installment of real estate taxes is quickly approaching. The deadline to pay the installment without penalty is September 16th. After that date a one and a half percent interest rate will be added.
(Champaign-jm) -- Traffic was backed up on I-57 Tuesday afternoon near Champaign following a crash. State Police say the accident happened around 1pm in the southbound lanes near the University exit. No word on if there were any injuries.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul Township High School is celebrating homecoming this week. Homecoming court is Cecilia Ramirez, Thrinnagee Sengsone, Madison Palmer and Ashlinn Pitzer, Darianyelis Medina, Bria Connelly, Noeloni Franklin and Luke Zech. The parade gets underway Friday at 4pm.
(Springfield-jm) -- The condition of Illinois’ corn and soybean crop dropped slightly as we hear in the weekly crop report. 95 percent of soybeans are blooming, compared to 100 percent normally says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. The corn crop is also rated 46 percent in good to excellent condition, with 46 percent dented and two percent mature. Temperatures were below normal, and rain was nearly half an inch above normal, raising average statewide topsoil moisture to eight percent very short, 21 percent short, 66 percent adequate and five percent surplus.
(Loda--jc) -- A Hope Walk is set for Saturday at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. The event is sponsored by the Great Lakes Region of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. The walk begins at 8 on Saturday around the golf course. Walkers will be going around the course to raise awareness and dollars for Huntinton’s Disease. The public is invited to attend the event. A silent auction will also be held.
