(Springfield-jm) – Federal prosecutors said Michael Madigan's former chief of staff is not entitled to an acquittal or new trial after a jury convicted him in August of lying to a grand jury to protect his former boss. Tim Mapes, 68, served for decades under former Democratic Illinois House Speaker Madigan as the clerk of the Illinois House and as Madigan's chief of staff. In August, a federal jury found Mapes guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice charges. Mapes in November asked for an acquittal, or in the alternative, a new trial in a motion before Judge John Kness. Mapes and his attorney argued that mistakes by prosecutors and the judge required an acquittal. Prosecutors pushed back on those claims in a 50-page motion in response. Mapes faces 20 years in prison on the obstruction conviction and five years on the perjury conviction.
(Springfield-jm) – Hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 76,232 deer during the seven-day 2023 Illinois firearm deer season that concluded December 3. In 2022, 76,854 deer were harvested during the 2022 firearm season. The preliminary harvest for the first segment of this year’s firearm season November 17-19 was 53,348 deer. Locally, 195 were harvested in Champaign County, 117 in Ford, 477 in Iroquois, 329 in DeWitt, 193 in Kankakee, 597 in McLean, 121 in Piatt and 603 in Vermilion County.
(Washington-jm) – Will a change in the Mexican administration bring on a change in Mexico's policy on imports of genetically modified corn? Gary Crawford reports…
(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Police Department has invited the public to join them for Coffee with a Cop. The event will take place today from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. at the McDonald’s located at 501 N. Mattis Avenue in Champaign. No agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in your community.
(Springfield–jc) Gun owners are required to register their weapons with the state. The deadline to do so is the end of the year. Illinois Governor J B Pritzker says the numbers of those FOID card gun owners registering is misleading, depending on who is reporting…
Illinois Governor J B Pritzker.
Though blasting conservative media, the numbers of those registering their automatic guns remains, small.
(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department is still investigating a Campustown shooting that left two people hurt in October. Over two months later, they are asking for additional help via Crime Stoppers in solving the crime. The shooting happened the morning of October 29 in the area of South Third Street and East Healey Street. The investigation suggested that two men got into a fight at a large house party and shots were fired. Two uninvolved college-aged women were hurt, but both survived. U of I Police said in October that two Hispanic men were considered suspects: one wearing a brown trench coat and sporting short brown hair, a beard, and neck tattoos; the other with braided hair and wearing a blue shirt.
(Onarga–jc) – Three American Legion groups are helping with the Second Annual Onarga Christmas Tree Lane in the village. Onarga American Legion Auxiliary Spokesperson Deb Talbert says the event started with a BIngo event, a music event last week and continues with a meal on Friday.…
Onarga American Legion Auxiliary Spokesperson Deb Talbert. The Onarga Legion Hall is the venue for the event. Voting on the trees continues on Friday with the Fish Fry and Saturday with the visit with Santa Claus at the Onarga American Legion.
(Paxton–jc)-- In our morning news Fantastic Local Finds for Christmas..Here is an idea…Tickets to a Show at the Cadillac in Paxton Co-Owner Scott Harden says tickets are available for all shows on line and at their location in downtown Paxton…
The Cadillac of Paxton Co-Owner Scott Harden
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) – The Office of Statewide Pretrial Services released the first sets of data following the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act. OSPS currently serves 71 of Illinois’ 102 counties. The Illinois Supreme Court created OSPS in 2021 to provide increased public safety and equality in the pretrial stage of the criminal justice system. Since September 18, OSPS has completed 4,375 investigations and 2,318 defendants have been ordered to OSPS supervision. There were 1,496 petitions for detention filed in OSPS involving cases filed on or after Sept. 18, with 976 petitions granted, 469 petitions denied and 51 petitions waiting to be heard.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation has announced House Bill 2394 has been signed into law, which will allow the Department to use a competitive, expedited process to identify and implement a new professional licensing system. As required by House Bill 2394, the new licensing software must be able to process initial license applications and renewal fees, along with the issuance of licenses to qualified applicants. It’s to be completed within the 90-day window that begins with the signing of House Bill 2394 into law. After the 90-day period concludes, IDFPR will have another 90-day period to begin implementing the new online licensing system on its website.
(Washington-jm) – Soybean market conditions are putting downward pressure on U.S. soybean prices. Gary Crawford reports…
(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City police have released their recent activity report. On November 29th, Lowell Davis of Farmer City was arrested and charged with burglary, possession of stolen property, theft over $500, possession of meth and criminal trespass to property.
(Urbana-jm) – Two people were arrested for unlawful use of a weapon in Urbana last week. Urbana Police officials responded to a domestic violence call Thursday night around 10 p.m. near the intersection of West Eads and North Gregory Streets. Police say one of the parties was allegedly holding a pistol at another person. Urbana Police found the suspect’s vehicle and stopped them at West Main Street near North Busey Avenue. While searching the car, officers found two pistols: one with an extended magazine, one fully loaded. They arrested 21-year-old Jaquan Dorris for unlawful use of a weapon as well as obstruction of justice for lying to evade arrest from an outstanding warrant and a 17-year-old boy for unlawful use of a weapon.
(The Center Square) – A new Commonwealth Foundation report reveals the four largest government unions spent $27.9 million on Illinois politics from 2021-2022. That’s more money than any other state. Report co-author Dave Osborne said governments are increasingly led by politicians who care more about union executives than union members or taxpayers. The report looked at the top 10 politicians who received the most public union PAC money. They included. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Kay O’Brien.
(Paxton–jc) The Paxton Main Street Group continues to grow and look for opportunities to involve all citizens of the Paxton area. Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper says, going forward, it’s doing things for a wider audience…
Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper
