(Springfield-jm) – While a split Illinois Supreme Court upheld the state’s gun and magazine ban, Governor J.B. Pritkzer acknowledges the chances it survives a federal challenge aren’t great. Pritzker praised Friday's ruling in a statement. Friday's outcome was “the best justice money can buy,” State Representative Dan Caulkins said. Caulkins' attorneys motioned for Justices Elizabeth Rochford and Mary O'Brien to recuse themselves before the case was heard in May because of $1 million political donations they each received from Pritzker last year. The justices denied those motions. Rochford wrote the majority decision upholding the law Friday. O'Brien joined the dissent. Pritzker previously downplayed concerns over donations he gave to two of the justices’ campaign accounts last year.  Separate challenges of the law in federal court focus on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. It’s unclear when the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals will rule on the Second Amendment challenge in federal court. That could go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Pritzker acknowledged the outcome in federal court could trump that.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The deadline for licensed daycares to apply for free HEPA air purifiers is being extended. The Illinois Department of Public Health launched a 10 million dollar, federally funded program to get the air purifiers into daycares, and some are still available. The agency’s Charles Williams says they can help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID, the flu and RSV. He especially urges daycares in central and southern Illinois to apply…

 

 

Illinois Department of Public Health’s Charles Williams. Only daycares outside of the City of Chicago and licensed by the state are eligible. The deadline to apply is now August 25th.

 

(Melvin–jc)  The Annual Knight for Christ Fundraiser for Buckley based Christ Lutheran High School is set for Saturday August 26th starting at 4pm. The event is set for the Ford County Fairgrounds in Melvin. Event spokesperson Larry Abbe says its 4 hours of bidding, fellowship, heads or tails and a live auction too…

 

 

Knight for Christ Fundraiser Event Spokesperson Larry Abbe. Tickets for the event are available by calling the school in Buckley, stopping by Abbe Insurance of Buckley or the WPXN studios. 

 

(Watseka-jm) – U-S Senator Dick Durbin will be in Watseka this morning. Senator Durbin will be at Iroquois Memorial Hospital to make a major federal announcement regarding the long-term future of the hospital. WPXN News will follow this story.

 

(Gifford–jc)  A weather anniversary is coming to one small town later this year. It was ten years ago on November 13th 20-13. Gifford Mayor Adam Pannbacker says he remembers how quickly, aid from everyone, came to those affected by the tornado in 20-13…

 

 

Gifford Mayor Adam Pannbacker.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Corn and soybean crop conditions continue to improve in Illinois. This past week was slightly cooler and wetter than normal in most parts of the state. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says soybeans were blooming on 95 percent of acres…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. The condition of the Illinois corn crop also improved and is rated as 64 percent in good to excellent condition. 71 percent of corn acres have reached the dough stage and 20 percent have hit the dent stage. The third cutting of alfalfa hay is now 55 percent complete and average statewide topsoil moisture came in at 3 percent very short, 13 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker is talking publicly about an ongoing probe into Paycheck Protection Program fraud by Illinois state workers. According to the Illinois Office of the Executive Inspector General, the employees facing discipline sought loans for small businesses outside of their state work. But those businesses may not have existed, or if they did, may not have earned the income they claimed. In total, the Illinois Department of Human Services reports that, as of early August, 47 of its workers had been fired, resigned or face pending discipline related to PPP loan fraud. Pritzker says at one facility, the word got around. That facility with 37 disciplinary actions is the Ludeman Developmental Center in Park Forest, which included 32 mental health technicians, three supervisors, one program coordinator and a nurse. PPP fraud has been a problem nationwide. The inspector general for the Small Business Administration estimated that the agency paid out more than $200 billion in “potentially fraudulent” aid during the pandemic.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A new state law will make it easier for students to pursue activities like 4-H and FFA. Instead of being considered absent, kids attending work-based learning events will have that time count towards the school day. Senator Doris Turner of Springfield sponsored the bill…

 

 

State Senator Doris Turner of Springfield. It will be up to the student to make up any missed school work

 

(McLean County-jm) – A mosquito pool collected by the McLean County Health Department in the 61705 zip code area of west Bloomington has tested positive for West Nile virus.  A bird sample from the 61701 zip code area of Bloomington submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health has also tested positive. On July 28, 2023, the health department also reported that a dead bird tested positive for west nile in the 61761 zip code area in Normal.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Local governments around the state can take advantage of funding for parks and other open spaces. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City explains…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Paxton–jc)  The Ford County Veterans Service Center has been open for around 4 months now. Center Director Rebecca Rutledge says the mission is going well…

 

 

Ford County Veterans Service Center Director Rebecca Rutledge. The center is located in the State Street Mall, along Route 45 in Paxton. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Corn and soybean crop conditions continue to improve in Illinois. 95 percent of soybean acres are blooming and 80 percent are setting pods. That’s ahead of the 5 year average. 70 percent of the soybean crop is rated in good to excellent condition, a nice jump from the previous week. Crop Statistician Mark Schleuener looks at corn…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. The third cutting of alfalfa is now 55 percent complete and average statewide topsoil moisture increased to 3 percent very short, 13 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus.