(Washington-jm) – Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth will be absent from the Senate in the coming days after testing positive for COVID-19. She is the latest senator to test positive for the virus with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin doing so in recent weeks. The news means that Senate Democrats will be down a vote this week as they begin consideration on the first batch of spending bills.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Police is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center. The “STIC” as it’s called, was created in 2003 in response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks. It’s one of 80 fusion centers across the country, says Chief Intelligence Officer Aaron Kustermann (coosterman)...
Illinois State Police Chief Intelligence Officer Aaron Kustermann. Kusterman says that effort is supported by analysts in the watch center of the STIC. Then there is the public safety component, which aims to get information about threats or emergencies to the proper local or national authorities. The STIC is open around the clock, 365 days a year.
(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City police have released their recent activity report. On the 8th, Clinton Schultz of Gibson City was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident with damage.
(Paxton-jm) – Ford County Clerk and Recorder Amy Frederick is inviting the public to attend a demonstration of the new voting machines. The demonstration open house will take place on Thursday from 2-4 pm at the Ford County Courthouse.
(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man has been arrested following an investigation into a homicide on West Springfield Avenue. On August 25, William Wesley was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia for his involvement in this incident. Wesley is now in the custody of the Champaign County Correctional Center awaiting arraignment on murder charges. Champaign Police were dispatched to the 2500 block of West Springfield Avenue at 7:06 p.m. on July 3, 2023, for a report of a shooting with injuries. On-scene, officers located 27-year-old Marcus Catchings of Champaign unresponsive inside an apartment from an apparent gunshot wound. Catchings was pronounced deceased on the scene.
(Springfield-jm) – Despite a dry week, crop conditions held steady for the most part. This past week was slightly warmer and definitely drier than normal. Average statewide topsoil moisture dropped to 22 percent very short, 43 percent short and 35 percent adequate. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 87 percent of corn acres have reached the dent stage…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 97 percent of soybeans are setting pods and 27 percent of acres are dropping leaves. The third cutting of alfalfa hay is now 85 percent complete.
(Undated-jm) – In meeting notes for around the area tonight…the Rantoul village board will consider a construction loan for the Youth Center Renovation, consider a contract for flock safety cameras and approve the safe routes to school plan for Eater Jr High. The Paxton city council will hear a discussion on the 120 water program, consider a new pump for the Chestnut street lift station and consider late water and sewer bill procedures. In St. Joseph tonight, village leaders will continue discussing the wastewater treatment plant expansion.
(Washington-jm) – USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says lawmakers are facing some major challenges as they try to craft a new farm bill before the old one expires. Gary Crawford reports…
(Cissna Park-dg) School is about a month in and one area organization is collecting donations for its local food pantry. The Cissna Park FFA will be conducting a food drive Wednesday evening. Cissna Park FFA Adviser Jeff Clifton says the FFA students will be going around Cissna Park and surrounding towns from 5-8pm gathering collections.
Cissna Park FFA Adviser Jeff Clifton
(Springfield-jm) – The end of cash bail in Illinois begins September 18, but the debate over whether the measure will lead to better public safety continues. As part of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act approved in early 2021, the end of cash bail was approved with a delayed implementation date. The law has been modified several times since. The Pretrial Fairness Act portion of the SAFE-T Act Governor J.B. Pritzker signed was supposed to go into effect January 1, but was blocked by a lawsuit brought by dozens of state’s attorneys from across the state and was later upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court. Republicans and some critics of the legislation wonder how prosecutors should handle cases on weekends and holidays with the 48 hour deadline.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation is announcing more than 11 million in planning grants is being awarded to communities around the state. The money is funding initiatives ranging from transit service for those in need in Lee and Ogle Counties to a long range transportation plan for Cook County says IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel…
IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel. Funding will also go towards a bicycle transportation plan for the cities of Pickneyville, DuQuoin and West Frankfort, as well as Carterville, Herrin and Murphysboro.
(Undated-jm) – Local legislators are remembering former state representative Bill Black. Black died unexpectedly over the weekend after a brief illness. State Senator Paul Farachi along with State Senator Chapin Rose offered their condolences to the Black family. Black served in the Illinois House from 1986 until 2010. Bill Black was 81.
(Urbana-jm) – The man involved in the shooting outside of a church where a funeral was taking place was arrested on Monday. Police say Linnell Blount was arrested at 9 a.m. on Monday after a Champaign County Court Security Officer recognized Blount at the Champaign County Courthouse where Blount was attending a status hearing on an unrelated case. On Friday, the Urbana Police Department responded to shots fired outside of a church where a funeral was taking place.
(Champaign-jm) – The State Farm Center announced the addition of the Harlem Globetrotters to its lineup of shows on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, September 25 at 10 a.m.
(Springfield-jm) – Despite a dry week, crop conditions held steady for the most part. 58 percent of the Illinois corn and soybean crops are rated in good to excellent condition, about the same as the previous week. Temperatures were just a bit warmer than average this past week and the state saw less than half of normal rainfall. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener has the rundown on soybeans…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. The third cutting of alfalfa is now 85 percent complete. Average statewide topsoil moisture declined to 22 percent very short, 43 percent short and 35 percent excellent.
(Washington-jm) – Here's a look at the origins of USDA's fifty year old World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield–jc) – One educational opportunity will expire soon if lawmakers do not take action during the upcoming fall veto session. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City provides some details on the “Invest in Kids Scholarship Fund”...
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City
