CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois’ powerful House speaker spent nearly half a million dollars in campaign contributions on legal fees in the last three months of 2019, records show. Of the $445,000 that Democrat Michael Madigan’s campaign spent on legal fees, $275,000 was for a settlement with a former campaign worker who filed a lawsuit in 2018 alleging that she was hindered from advancing in the speaker’s organization after alleging sexual harassment by a top Madigan lieutenant. Of the remaining money, $139,209 went to the Chicago office of Hinshaw & Culbertson and $6,500 to attorney Michael Kasper to cover costs tied to three other civil cases, spokeswoman Eileen Boyce said, according to the Chicago Tribune.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois’ automatic voter registration program, though not fully-implemented, appears to have allowed more than 500 non-citizens onto various county’s election registries. In letters first obtained by Bloomington-based political blogger Diane Benjamin, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office notified the State Board of Elections that a keypad glitch in the non-REAL ID license and identification card process allowed a number of non-citizens to have their information forwarded to ISBE from July 2, 2019 to Dec. 13, 2019. Those non-citizens were then sent voter cards. The errors, as admittedly serious by authorities, represent less than one percent of the more than 740,000 new voters registered through Illinois DMV facilities since the automatic voter registration program began in July 2019.
(Urbana-jm) -- More low income students may be able to go to the University of Illinois. Governor J-B Pritzker says the University of Illinois has agreed to expand their free tuition program for low income families, meaning half the households in the state will now qualify. The Governor says it’s important that more students have college options…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. U of I officials announced last week that they are raising tuition for incoming freshmen for the first time in six years.
(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul man has pleaded guilty to a single count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child dating back to April 2015. In return for his guilty plea, an additional charge of predatory criminal sexual assualt of a child and aggravated criminal sexual assault were dismissed against Larry Hayden. Hayden had been convicted previously and was sentenced to life in prison however an appeals court overturned the conviction saying there should have been two separate trials because of two victims. Hayden was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison and given credit for 4 and a half.
(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul man on parole is facing four drug related felony charges. 39 year old Shannon Sabol was arrested last week after police discovered more than half an ounce of cocaine. Sabol was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. He faces a mandatory sentence of 6 to 30 years in prison.
(Paxton-Cale)- Youth Gymnastics sign ups are underway for the Paxton Park District. The group meets after school at 3:30pm two days a week. Park District Director Neil McKenry has more on the sign ups.
Park District Director Neil McKenry
(Rantoul-jm) -- Two area school districts are receiving library grant money. Rantoul City Schools received $1,194 while Rantoul Township High School received $750. The grant money will go towards offering more library books and material for students.
(Springfield--jc) The winner at the State Ag Fair Association talent show over the weekend is from Iroquois County. Watseka High School Senior Anna Parmenter won the annual competition in Springfield on Saturday. This weekend was the annual Illinois County Fair Association convention.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois lawmakers heard the latest in the state's fight to reduce opioid-related overdoses. The Illinois Senate committee on opioid crisis abatement got updates from state agencies during a hearing Thursday. Illinois Department of Human Services Assistant Secretary Kia Coleman reviewed the statistics showing the state reported more opioid-related deaths than initially estimated, but it still represented the first drop since 2013 and a larger reduction than what they had expected. The number of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2018 was 2,167, which represents a 21.6 percent reduction from the initial projection.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Don Harmon was elected Sunday as the next Illinois Senate president, becoming the first new leader of the Illinois General Assembly’s upper chamber in more than a decade. Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat who was elected by a 37-12 margin, will replace Sen. John Cullerton, 71, who last year announced his retirement after four decades in the General Assembly, including five terms as Senate president.
(Springfield-jm) -- A new state law will make sure Illinoisans don’t lose their driver’s license because they have a bunch of unpaid parking tickets. The state won’t be able to suspend a license for non-moving violations under the new “License to Work Act”. Governor J-B Pritkzer says people shouldn’t be hampered from getting to work or visiting the doctor’s office…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The new law takes effect July first.
(Rantoul) -- Rantoul Police Investigators arrested two seventeen year old males from Urbana in connection with a shooting that occurred last Saturday in the 1200 block of Aspen Drive in the village. Investigation revealed these teens were involved in a robbery attempt, which resulted in a sixteen year old male being shot in the leg. That male was treated at Carle Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. As a result of the investigation three handguns were recovered, including two that were reported stolen. The two arrestees were transported to the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center on charges including Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Armed Robbery and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. The investigation is continuing, and more arrests are possible. Rantoul Police were assisted in the investigation by the Urbana Police Department.
(Gibson City-jm) -- A convicted felon from Gibson City who had access to guns and ammunition has been convicted of nine counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. 37 year old Noah Ringel will be sentenced March 26th in Ford County court. He faces a mandatory sentence of 2-10 years in prison.
(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 Normal.
(Buckley--jc) -- One local Christian High School has an open house for potential new students later this month. The event is set for Thursday January 30th from 5-30 to 7pm at Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley. Tours of the school, meeting the teaching and support staff and information about the application process will be part of the event. More information is found by calling the high school at 217-394-2547.
(Kempton--jc) Tri Point School board members will look to approve the Piper City Bus barn project when they meet on Monday night in Kempton. Updating school policies, a PACE report and use of the high school for a Gonzaga Conference are also on tonight’s agenda. The Tri- Point School Board meeting starts at 7pm in Kempton.
