(Washington-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker has already signed a law to allow certain non-citizens to become police officers in Illinois. Now, the state's two U.S. senators want the same for the U.S. military. Many Republicans are opposed to the idea. House Bill 3751, allowing certain non-citizens with work permits or who are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients to be police officers, passed the Illinois General Assembly with bipartisan support during the spring session. The measure had the backing of the Fraternal Order of Police. Now, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin wants the same for the U.S. military through a measure brought forward by Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. U.S. Senate Resolution 2401, known as the Enlist Act, was introduced on July 19. It remains in the U.S. Senate Committee of the Judiciary.

 

(Springfield-jm) – With less than three weeks before Illinois’ gun ban registry deadline kicks in, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is preparing to take up revised rules filed by Illinois State Police. JCAR meets in Chicago Tuesday morning to take up revised rules. Revisions include updated definitions of various things, including who is exempt from registering, what a licensed firing range is and that airsoft components don’t need to be registered as banned attachments unless the components are attached to a firearm. It’s expected there will be discussion about the ISP gun ban registry rules at Tuesday’s JCAR meeting, including what public comments were received, what changes have been made and what’s further to be resolved.

 

(Washington-jm) – Despite reductions in the forecast for Brazil's soybean crop, analysts still expect a record large crop. Gary Crawford reports…

 

(Urbana-jm) – A man is dead after a Friday night shooting in Urbana. Officers responded to the 2000 block of Vawter Street at 9:41 p.m. Once on scene, they found a 34-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds inside a home. First responders then rushed him to the hospital where he later died. The Champaign County Coroner identified the man as Kadeem J. Moore of Champaign. He died from multiple gunshot wounds.

 

(Undated-jm) – As the holiday season approaches and online shopping intensifies, the United States Postal Service said it is ready to handle the expected package and mail delivery surge. To ensure packages make it under the tree in time for Christmas, USPS reminded customers of the holiday delivery deadlines. First Class (5 day) Mail is December 15th, First-Class Mail (2-Day); USPS Ground Advantage (2-Day) and Priority Mail Service is December 20th and Priority Mail Express Service (2-Day).

 

(Paxton–jc)  With the first block complete for the downtown “streetscape” project, work to fund the next block continues. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says city leaders have been in contact with the city's financial advisor…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.

 

(Undated-jm) – State Representative Jason  Bunting of Emington announced that he will be hosting traveling office hours in Ford and Iroquois County on Tuesday December 19. Representative Bunting will be at Tea and Grounds at the Railside Golf Course, located at 120 W. 19th Street in Gibson City from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. He will then be at The Gathering at 931 S. Crescent Street in Gilman from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  –  The distribution for toys and food with the Community Service Center of Rantoul’s Holiday Bureau is set for  Wednesday and Thursday. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford says there is still time to donate toys and dollars…

 

 

Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford. Those wanting to make a donation are asked to contact the center in Rantoul. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign City Manager Dorothy Ann David announced that she has appointed Andy Quarnstrom to serve as the City’s next Fire Chief. Quarnstrom has served at the Champaign Fire Department for more than 26 years and is currently the Acting Deputy Fire Chief of Operations. Quarnstrom will assume his new duties as Fire Chief on March 1, 2024.

 

(Paxton–jc)-- In our morning news  Fantastic  Local Finds for Christmas. At the State Street Mall in Paxton is the Ford County Veterans Assistance Center. The center provides a wide range of services for veterans and their families. Ford County Veterans Assistance Center Director Rebecca Rutledge says they also have a gift shop…

Ford County Veterans Assistance Center Director Rebecca Rutledge

WPXN news  will feature gift shopping ideas and Fantastic Finds from the local area each weekday morning  on the news this holiday season.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Measures ranging from lifting Illinois' nuclear moratorium to addressing electric vehicle policies in the state and lifting some fees on the state’s cannabis industry are now law. Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office announced Friday he acted on 17 bills that the Illinois Legislature recently passed. Effective June 1, 2024, House Bill 2473 lifts the moratorium on new construction of small modular reactors in Illinois and establishes regulatory guidelines. The governor had vetoed a similar bill earlier this year. Sponsors of that measure came together to approve language addressing the governor’s concerns.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Revenue has recently reported that cannabis sales generated $452 million in tax revenue for the state from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. While revenues have increased since recreational use was legalized, so have minority-owned cannabis businesses.

 

(Washington-jm) – A new USDA agricultural trade update for the 2023 calendar year is showing an export value decline for exports as well as imports. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Tolono-jm) – A Tolono man has been sentenced for predatory criminal sexual assault and possessing child pornography. James Shipley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 48 years in prison. On April 3, 2023 an arrest warrant was issued for Shipley in Champaign County for Child Pornography and on April 4, he was arrested at his home in Tolono. On December 7, Shipley pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 48 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

 

(Iroquois County-jm) – A 60-year-old man is dead after a two-car crash in rural Iroquois County on Friday. Iroquois County Sheriff's Police went to the crash at the intersection of County Road 2900E and County Road 2600N. According to reports, a 42-year-old woman driving an SUV was traveling southbound on Co. Rd. 2900E, approaching the intersection with the right-of-way. A sedan driven by 60-year-old Martin Perez of Morocco, Indiana was traveling west on Co. Rd. 2600N approaching the stop sign. Perez did not yield at the sign and traveled into the path of the SUV. In the collision, both vehicles entered the southwest ditch where Perez's car hit a utility pole and rolled over into a plowed field. Perez was pronounced dead at the scene by the Iroquois County Coroner.

 

(Gibson City–jc)  –  The Gibson Area Hospital Auxiliary continues to raise funds through their “Love Lights A Tree” giving campaign. Auxiliary Spokesperson Connie Reum (reem) says each time one thousand dollars is raised, another tree is lit…

 

 

Gibson Area Hospital Auxiliary Spokesperson Connie Reum. Last year, 23 trees were lit and organizers hope to exceed that number this year. Fundraising continues  through New Years Day January First 20-24.

 

(December 7, 2023) – The Illinois Community College Board has granted nearly $9.2 million to 44 organizations, including 21 community colleges, throughout Illinois to help address education and unemployment gaps.  The funding will be used to help minority and low-income students as well as individuals with disabilities remove barriers to completing their education and career goals through the Innovative Bridge and Transition Grant program.Parkland Community College received 211 thousand dollars, Danville Area Community College netted 220 thousand dollars and the Urbana High School district will receive just over 124 thousand dollars

 

(Champaign–jc)  – You’ve likely heard of bronchitis (bronk-EYE-tiss), an illness that impacts the larger lung airways and leaves you feeling short of breath. This winter, here’s another respiratory illness with “bronch” in the name to be aware of, especially if you have young kids: bronchiolitis (bronk-ee-oh-LYE-tiss). Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has more.