(Springfield-jm) – The intersection of Illinois’ Firearm Owner’s Identification card and the Freedom of Information Act was the focus of an Illinois Supreme Court case heard this week. The case stems from two people requesting public records regarding why their FOID cards, a state-issued identification required in Illinois to own or buy firearms and ammunition, were either revoked or suspended. The plaintiffs’ FOIA requests to Illinois State Police were denied. After challenges, the case made it to the Illinois Supreme Court. Illinois State Police attorney Valerie Quinn said that they can’t release such personal information through FOIA and the proper way to request such information is through the Firearms Services Bureau. Quinn said one reason FOID card information is protected is because of previous cases where news media attempted FOIA requests to get all FOID card data was blocked.

 

(Washington-jm) – The Agriculture Secretary discussed the potential of climate smart markets and innovations to provide new opportunities for producers around the world. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Manteno-jm) – A Chinese-linked electric vehicle battery manufacturing getting Illinois and federal tax credits to set up a facility in Kankakee County is raising red flags for some. Earlier this month, Governor J.B. Pritzker joined local officials in Manteno to announce the Chinese company Gotion is bringing a new factory to Illinois. Wirepoints founder Mark Glennon said the $536 million in tax credits for Gotion does not include federal tax credits as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.  Others have raised concerns around the company’s ties to the Chinese government, which is considered an adversary to the United States. Several Illinois House Republicans said they would have never voted for the Reinventing Electric Vehicles state tax credit if they knew it would be used to give more than half-a-billion in tax incentives to a Chinese-linked company.

 

(GIbson City–jc)  A Holocaust exhibit continues to bring in area school children and the public to an area Church in Gibson City. The “Courage to Remember” exhibit will remain at the American Lutheran Church in Gibson City until September 29th. Retired University of Illinois-Springfield Teacher Brian Kahn says the exhibit brings history and information about the holocaust to those who attend…

 

 

Retired University of Illinois-Springfield Teacher Brian Kahn. The exhibit is open to school groups Monday through Friday from Noon until 4pm. The general public can stop by after 4pm each day. After Friday September 29th, the Holocaust exhibit will be heading to the Vermilion County Museum in Danville for another showing. 

 

(Champaign County-jm) – Champaign County coroner Duane Northrup is resigning from the coroner's office after nearly 20 years of service. Northrup will become the new facilities director for the Mahomet-Seymour School District. There is no final date yet as to when Northrup will officially leave the coroner's office. The next election is in November 2024.

 

(GIlman–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is The Gathering in Gilman

The Gathering is a variety store that has everything from clothes, arts and crafts, one-of-a kind items to candles, a cafe and fudge. The business started with a group of ladies going to craft shows, 

 

 

Jody from the Gathering talks about a cafe that offers daily specials, a wide variety of coffees and fudge…

 

 

Jody from The Gathering in Gilman. Their final Junk in the Trunk for the season is set for Saturday September 30th from 9am until 2pm. Holiday events are also coming soon to the Gathering in Gilman.
The Gathering in Gilman is the WPXN Business of the Day, today.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker joined a Clinton Foundation panel to discuss how he has addressed the issue of access to abortion after last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision put the issue back to the states. In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to return the issue of regulating abortion back to the states led to multiple states, including several neighboring Illinois, restricting the procedure. Since then, Illinois has seen an increase of out-of-state patients coming to the Land of Lincoln for the procedure. Pritzker said he believes the issue is still very important in the next election. Pritzker joined Hillary Clinton and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on stage during a panel discussion for the Clinton Foundation. In January, Pritzker approved House Bill 4664, which aims to protect people seeking abortions, assisted reproduction and gender reassignment procedures in Illinois while expanding who can perform these procedures. There was also House Bill 3326 signed into law, which limits other states' ability to access automatic license plate reader data in Illinois to punish someone from out of state seeking an abortion in Illinois. Among other policies in Illinois, the state no longer requires parental notification for a minor to terminate a pregnancy. Those opposed to abortion criticize Illinois' policies as being too extreme.  As Illinois continues to have some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the nation, 14 states voted to outlaw most abortions following the Supreme Court's decision.

 

(Washington-jm) – The Agriculture Secretary recognizes the role of corporations among the many groups of partners within USDA’s Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodity program. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Danville-jm) – A Prophetstown, Illinois, man, Philip J. Buyno pleaded guilty to attempting to use fire to damage a building used in interstate commerce. Sentencing for Buyno is scheduled for February 5, 2024, at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Urbana. In court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, Buyno admitted that, on May 20, 2023, he brought several containers filled with gasoline with him and used his car to breach the front entrance to a commercial building at 600 N. Logan Avenue in Danville for the purpose of burning it down before it could be used as a reproductive health clinic. Buyno has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since May 2023, where he remains pending sentencing. Buyno faces statutory penalties of a minimum five years up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, three years of supervised release, and restitution for the damage caused to the building.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Driver Services Facilities around the state changed their hours of operation earlier this month. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City reminds about the change…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A 23-year-old man from Champaign was killed Tuesday night in a crash after law enforcement officials said he tried to flee from Champaign County Sheriff’s deputies. The crash happened at the intersection of Springfield Avenue and Staley Road around 8:35 p.m. Champaign Police said the car ran through a red light and collided with another car. The car that ran the red light then left the road and hit a tree. Champaign firefighters were called to extricate the driver from that car, after which he was taken to an area hospital. The man later died. The people inside the second car involved were not hurt.

 

(Urbana–jc)  Making good food choices is a key to a healthy life style. Key food choices for diabetics is even harder to keep a healthy life style. O-S-F’s Tim Ditman has more…