(Springfield-jm) -- Senators plan to return to Springfield on Sunday to pick the chamber's next leader and whoever is picked will only be allowed to serve in that capacity for a decade. After the Senate adjourned on the final day of the fall legislative session, Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, announced his retirement. Senators will pick his successor over the weekend.
(Watseka--jc) A rural Iroquois man received 4 years probation on a charge of aggravated battery. 27 year old Shayne Weber plead guilty to the charge in court on Thursday in Watseka. The incident stems from a confrontation in Buckley in July of 20-17. Weber was also told to pay 1 thousand dollars in court costs. Restitution of 115 thousand dollars will also be given.
(Springfield-jm) -- Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to make criminal justice reform a major focus in the years ahead. The governor recently took part in a fireside chat about his administration’s Justice, Equity and Opportunity Initiative. Afterward, he laid out some of the things he wants to tackle over the next three years. One of those things is working on ending cash bail. Also working on reducing or eliminating mandatory minimum sentences, giving judges more discretion to take into account circumstances in each case.
(Paxton-Cale)- Youth soccer sign ups are officially out for the Paxton Park District. Any person aged 3 to 19 can participate. Paxton Park District Director Neil McKenry tells us more….
Paxton Park District’s Neil McKenry.
(Fisher-jm) -- Ameren Illinois says several hundred Fisher residents mistakenly received a notice they were going to see an increase in their bill. The company sent out a notice to 782 Ameren Illinois customers in the village saying the villages municipal utility rate is increased. The company says it was a programming error and Fisher isn’t increasing their rate.
(Buckley-jm) -- One area high school is starting to take applications for the upcoming school year. Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley will hold an open house in January says Executive Director Sandy Spitz…
Christ Lutheran High School Executive Director Sandy Spitz.
(Thomasboro-jm) -- Thomasboro is moving forward with hiring a new full time police chief. Following a 4 to 1 vote, village leaders approved making an offer to Eric Shumate. Shumate is a retired Champaign County Sheriff Deputy. The offer includes a salary of $45,000 plus benefits. Mike Martinez has filled in as interim police chief. He will go back to being a part time officer for the village.
McHENRY, Ill. (AP) — Police say a pickup truck has slammed into an Illinois Starbucks, injuring five people and causing massive damage to the coffee shop. Patrick Polidori, public affairs officer for McHenry police, told The Associated Press that the driver and four people at the cafe were injured. Four were taken to the hospital, including one in critical condition. Polidori said it wasn't known why the full-sized pickup ran off the roadway in McHenry, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, and collided with the building after striking a vehicle at the drive-thru window.
(Washington-jm) -- There are small changes on the USDA balance sheet for soybeans. Stephanie Ho reports…
(Springfield--jc) -- Members of the Illinois Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reforms heard concerns about lobbying influence in Illinois.During a hearing Wednesday, experts talked about the lack of uniform lobbying reporting standards and the need to look into so-called consultants doing shadow lobbying, among other reforms.But the Better Government Association’s Marie Dillon said the issue of corruption in Illinois was larger than lobbying.The commission must provide recommendations by the end of March.
(Gilman--jc) The Gilman Community Fire Protection District received approval from city leaders to move ahead with a new building in the city. A 30 by 56 foot building will be placed at the corner of Third Street and Chamberlain Avenue in Gilman. The new building for the local fire protection district will feature two east facing bay doors. Neighbors had no objections to the building. Construction is expected this year.
(Springfield--Cale)--State of Illinois retirees who were notified of termination of some of their state health insurance benefits now have a second chance to “opt in” to immediately restore their prescription coverage. Dan Brady State Representative R- Normal was happy with the decision….
State Representative Dan Brady of Bloomington
(Bloomington-Cale)-- The IHSA Board of Directors had their meeting on Jan. 15 to discuss some of the topics that were pressing. The first order of business was that “The Board modified the Executive Director’s ruling on Champaign(Judah Chrisitan). They ruled that all of the school’s State Series results form the 2018-19 school year after it was discovered that the school did not meet IHSA membership requirements for that season due to its status with the Illinois Board of Education, The school did resolve all matters with IBSE and is in good standing as an IHSA member schools.
(Washington--jc) --Illinois’ U.S. Senators want the U.S. Army to review how an Illinois-based Army Reserve unit handled mutliple sexual assault claims. U.S. Senators. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth called for a review of the 416th Theater Engineer Command after media reports say the unit mishandled at least two sexual assault complaints by not referring them to outside investigators.
