(Springfield-jm) – While 50 Illinois counties are now recognized for being at medium or high-level risk for COVID-19, the Pritzker administration is not considering new mitigations. Governor J.B. Pritzker said he is not considering reinstating a mask mandate or other mitigations right now. He said the state is in a much better place to be able to respond to the pandemic today.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation is launching a new public safety campaign called “It’s Not a Game.” You may have seen the tv ads already, designed to look like an old-school video game says IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel…

 

 

IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel. “It’s Not a Game” takes a comprehensive approach to safety, addressing everything from distracted driving to pedestrian safety.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in solving a shooting that left two people hurt last month. One of those victims was just five years old at the time. Kamryn Riley was only a few days away from his sixth birthday when bullets flew into his home near Fourth and Church Streets on May 18. One of the bullets hit Riley in the hand; he was treated at the hospital and released shortly after. An 18-year-old man was also hurt in that shooting; he too survived. Officers found multiple shell casings at Fourth and Church and determined that two suspects walking on foot opened fire on a third person in the street. The suspects fled the area in a white four-door sedan, last seen traveling north on Fourth Street.

 

(Gilman -tr) – The Iroquois West School District will be turning their focus towards summer projects such as general maintenance and the new playground. Iroquois West Superintendent Angelo Lekkas says he's ready to bring the building back to life for the next school year…

 

 

Iroquois West Superintendent Angelo Lekkas.

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man already awaiting trial has been found guilty in another case. Michael Simmons of Urbana was found guilty of aggravated discharge of a firearm. Police say Simmons fired a gun at a vehicle in 2019. Simmons is awaiting trial for a 2018 murder.

 

(Washington-jm) – This week USDA will have an updated assessment of the agricultural situation in Ukraine. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Undated-jm) – Illinois is one of 13 states where a gallon of gasoline is over $5 a gallon. The Illinois average for a gallon of gasoline is about $5.45, according to AAA, with some stations in Chicago approaching $7 a gallon. There are some areas in the state where gas is closer to $5 a gallon, including Champaign, the Quad Cities and Metro East.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois now has an official state rock. The push for naming a state rock came from elementary school students in Naperville and Burr Ridge. They came up with a list of potential contenders and launched a campaign for other kids across the state to cast a ballot for their choice. The winner was Dolostone, a type of limestone that makes up the majority of bedrock in Illinois, says Representative Janet Yang Rohr…

 

 

State Representative Janet Yang Rohr. Students involved in the project wrote letters to lawmakers about their effort and a few testified in a legislative committee.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The opportunity for debt-free college is becoming more of a reality for students across the state thanks to 23 institutions’ partnership with Hope Chicago. Hope Chicago is a nonprofit that would like to reduce economic and social burdens of higher education for students. With community partnerships, the organization raises money to offer scholarships to students. This money could go toward tuition and fees, room and board, books, laptop or other academic materials and an annual stipend. The University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign, Springfield and Chicago campuses, Illinois State University and Eastern Illinois University are among the institutions partnering with Hope Chicago in this endeavor.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois residents are already feeling the pinch of high inflation but now they have a new concern…rising electricity costs. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman explains the increase and what assistance is available…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

(Urbana-jm) – A downtown Urbana staple will be closing its doors for good in a few weeks. Crane Alley announced over the weekend that it will be closing on June 18 after serving the community for 19 years. 

 

(Washington-jm) – There is more than the usual market interest in the size of Brazil's corn harvest. Gary Crawford has why…