(Springfield-jm) – More than 170 semi-automatic firearms have been banned in Illinois for a full year as the law continues to face legal challenges and a low compliance rate. One year ago today, Governor J.B. Pritzker enacted the Protect Illinois Communities Act despite sheriffs and state’s attorneys across the state saying they won’t make enforcement of the law a top priority. The gun ban included a registry with a deadline of Jan. 1, 2024 to comply. About 98.7% of Illinois Firearm Owners ID card holders didn’t register now banned weapons, but not all own them. The law has faced multiple legal challenges since, in both state and federal courts. Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear state Rep. Dan Caulkins’ appeal of a state-level challenge decided by the Illinois Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court also denied preliminary requests from other plaintiffs to block the law while the case played out on the merits. Friday, a separate challenge in the Southern District of Illinois federal court has a scheduling conference to start addressing the merits of the case.
(Washington-jm) – Heavy rains, blizzard snows, and high winds are among the marks of a series of active weather systems that have or will travel cross country in the first days of January. Rod Bain reports…
(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois has filed a notice of removal to have the case heard in the U.S. District Court and not in the Champaign County Court, on Tuesday. The University's response comes after Terrence Shannon Jr. filed a temporary restraining order on Monday. A hearing has been scheduled for Friday. According to the notice, the university believes that the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois is the appropriate venue for the case.
(Rantoul–jc) Rantoul Village leaders continue to work with the University of Illinois on an autonomous track project. The meetings this month continue to look at the site and lay out the footprint for the project…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(Pesotum-jm) – A water rescue team and other emergency crews were called out after a vehicle crashed into a steep water drainage ditch along Interstate 57 near mile marker 18. At 12:25 a.m. Tuesday, the Pesotum Fire Department, Tuscola Fire Department, Tolono Fire Department, Savoy Fire Department, and Carle Arrow Ambulance were dispatched to I-57 at mile marker 218 northbound for an accident. Pesotum Fire found IDOT on scene with a vehicle that had left the roadway and landed in a steep water drainage ditch with running water in it. Out of an abundance of caution the Cornbelt Fire Department water rescue team was called to the scene. The fire department personnel were able to rescue four occupants and three dogs from the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle were transported to a local hospital for evaluation with non-life-threatening injuries.
(Danville–jc) – A longtime stroke coordinator at OSF HealthCare in Danville, Leslie Ingold has seen a problematic nationwide trend: a gap in stroke treatment for women compared to men. It doesn’t mean health systems aren’t striving to provide the best care. Rather, Ingold says women – specifically those 80 and up – may be unaware of stroke risk factors that greatly impact them. Tim Ditman of OSF has more…
Ingold is a resident of Paxton.
(Champaign-jm) – State Senator Paul Faraci announced that seven school districts in the 52nd Senate District will receive more than $20,000 to provide resources to libraries through books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs. Champaign School District 4 - $8,782, Rantoul School District 137 - $1,364, Rantoul School District 193 - $850 and Urbana School District 116 - $3,411.
(Springfield-jm) – The nonprofit Tax Foundation found Illinois residents have the highest wireless taxes in the country at 33.8% of total bills. Idaho residents pay the lowest wireless taxes at 13.7%. Adam Hoffer, director of Excise Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation, said wireless service prices have dropped because of increased competition but this price reduction for customers hasn’t been felt due to taxes on those services increasing. Over a third of Illinois residents’ wireless bills each month are just taxes, Hoffer said. A typical American household with four phones on a “family share” plan paying $100 per month for taxable wireless services would pay nearly $294 per year in taxes, fees and government surcharges.
(Washington-jm) – Next week is expected to start with an arctic front bringing cold temperatures and snow in parts of the central U.S. and even the Deep South. Rod Bain reports…
(Undated-jm) – Fair queens from around the state will be gathering in Springfield this weekend vying for the title Miss Illinois County Fair Queen. Ford County’s Maci Kingren will join Iroquois County’s Kiernan Tammen and Champaign County’s Katie Landers in competing for the title January 11-14 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield.
(Springfield-jm) – The courts are still hearing several cases dealing with the state’s gun ban. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City has the latest…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City. Earlier this week the U-S Supreme Court denied Illinois state Rep. Dan Caulkins’ challenge to Illinois’ gun and magazine ban that included questions about conflicts of interest at the Illinois Supreme Court.
(Kankakee-jm) – January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Clove Alliance invites community members to learn more about familial trafficking, a highly prevalent form of human trafficking by attending their upcoming workshop. The workshop will be held at Kankakee Community College on Wednesday, January 24th from 10 am - 12 pm. CEU and PD hours will be provided. The registration fee is $10. Participants can register by visiting clovealliance.org/events. Familial Trafficking is a hidden crime, happening within our local community. Almost half of identified cases of child trafficking begin with some family member involvement. Attendees will explore actionable and empowering solutions to become more aware and responsive to familial trafficking.
(Rantoul–jc) Its year 4 for the Rantoul Sports Complex. Year one in 20-21 saw 22 weeks of events mainly softball and baseball. This year the local Sports complex will see games hosting Parkland College in February, to baseball, softball, soccer, football and frisbee and more. Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Operations Ryan Ried says the economic impact of the facility continues to grow…
Rantoul Sports Complex Director of Operations Ryan Ried. The Parkland College baseball games begin in February
(Champaign-jm) – January is National Radon Action Month, and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is doing their part to protect against a dangerous gas. Radon is a noble gas listed on the periodic table of elements. It is colorless, odorless and can pose serious health risks if inhaled — lung cancer being chief among them. The gas can seep into homes, which is why the EPA advises testing indoor spaces. The CUPHD is providing radon tests for a price of $7 to anyone who lives in Champaign County. Tests can be purchased at the Environmental Health Division of the CUPHD’s headquarters at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. The testing kits are for households only.
