(Springfield-jm) – With lame duck session for the Illinois statehouse to begin in just a few days, all eyes are on what happens with a proposed gun ban. House Bill 5855 would ban the future sale of nearly 100 different semi-automatic rifles, shotguns and pistols and require current owners to register them with Illinois State Police. It also would ban the sale and possession of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and prohibit anyone under 21 from getting a Firearm Owner ID card needed to own or purchase guns or ammo. Gun control advocates and victims of gun violence have been advocating for passage of the law. A group named Protecting Illinois Communities, which is the name of the proposed bill, released an ad urging that the gun ban pass. Gun rights advocates say they will challenge any ban to the courts.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinoisans with fingerprints on file with Illinois State Police will have their Firearm Owner ID Card automatically renewed. The new measure was part of an update to the FOID law and allows for the voluntary fingerprint option for automatic renewals to kick in at the start of the year. ISP will check the fingerprints against criminal databases for possible FOID card and Concealed Carry License prohibitors.

 

(Undated-jm) – The price of gas has increased in Illinois according to Gasbuddy. The average price of gas in Illinois has risen 10.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.24 per gallon. Prices in Illinois are 40.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 8.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. According to GasBuddy, the lowest price in the state on Sunday was $2.69 per gallon while the most expensive was $4.99 per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 12.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.17 per gallon on Monday.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Winter weather in Illinois can include snow, sleet and freezing rain, but what’s the difference? University of Illinois Extension Climate Change Specialist Duane Friend says snow forms when water vapor skips the liquid stage and crystalizes. Those large snowflakes are basically ice crystals that cling to each other and occur when the temperature is around 32 degrees. He says sleet usually doesn’t last very long…

 

 

University of Illinois Extension Climate Change Specialist Duane Friend. Friend says freezing rain is the most dangerous, because as soon as it hits the cold ground, it re-freezes and makes the roads and sidewalks very slippery.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Police responded to a robbery on campus. 

Police said a man reported that he was walking near the C-9 parking lot on E. Chalmers St. around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday when he noticed two groups of men arguing with each other. One of the men mistakenly thought the man was involved in the argument, and then struck him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Several others kicked the victim and took his wallet and hat before he ran away. The victim, who is not a U of I student, did not request immediate medical assistance but later visited a hospital for treatment of his injuries.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man is facing several charges after he allegedly punched a police officer during a fight at a gas station. Kevin Baskis is charged with aggravated battery to a police officer. Police were called to the Circle K by I-57 for a man being disorderly. Baskis was resisting officers and during the resistance, Baskis allegedly punched an officer in the face. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered back in court January 18th. If convicted he faces penalties ranging from probation to 3 to 7 years in prison.

 

(Danville-jm) – The Vermilion County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim of a Friday night fire at 805 N. Vermilion Street in Danville, as 72 year old, Bernard Baker of Danville. Mr. Baker was found inside the structure and was sent to autopsy. His family was notified. Results are pending and the investigation into the cause of the fire is on-going. The Danville Fire Department, Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office and the Vermilion County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate.

 

 

(Washington-jm) – What could the beef industry expect in 2023? USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer, has a quick summary of expected meat production trends in 2023…

 

 

USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The life expectancy rate in Illinois ranks in the middle of the pack among other states, according to data from the CDC. Illinois’s life expectancy rate is 76.8 years in 2020, down from 79 years in 2019 and 78.8 in 2018. The state falls in a similar range to a few other states, including Texas, Florida, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. States on the lower end of the spectrum regarding life expectancy rates at 71.9 – 74.8 years include Kentucky, Tenneseee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, among others. States with high life expectancy rates of 78.4 – 80.7 include California, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. The CDC also reports the leading cause of death in Illinois is heart disease. Other causes of death include cancer, Covid-19, accidents, and strokes.

 

(Springfield-jm) – If your New Year’s Resolution includes improving your finances, you may want to consider the “Smart Goals” method. “SMART '' is an acronym for five aspects of meeting a goal: specific, measurable, agreed upon, realistic and timely. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Nikki Giancola-Shanks says you should begin by setting a specific objective, like building an emergency fund or saving for a new car. Make sure you know how you will go about this and that if a partner is involved, that they are on board with the plan. It also needs to be achievable…

 

 

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Nikki Giancola-Shanks. Finally, Giancola-Shanks says you should create a timetable for hitting your goal, or a date in which you will check your progress.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign homeless man is facing arson charges in connection with three fires in a two week span. Buster Kennedy was charged with 3 counts of arson after police say he admitted to setting the fires in two vacant buildings and a garage he was staying in. Kennedy told police the fires got out of control. Two of the fires happened in vacant apartments on South Mattis Avenue and the garage at a home on Hill Street.

 

(Savoy-jm) – Two people had minor injuries following an accident in Savoy Monday afternoon. The accident happened at Curtis and Dunlap.

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – A longtime Vermilion County public defender has been named 5th judicial circuit judge. Robert McIntire was selected by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill the vacancy following the retirement of Nancy Fahey. McIntire will fill the remainder of Fahey’s term which ends December 2, 2024.

 

(Washington-jm) – USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer says that despite much higher retail prices for meat products. consumer demand in 2022 has been very strong all year…

 

 

USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer.