(Springfield-jm) – Illinois lawmakers unveiled legislation that would require some high schools to change their mascots. The measure would require public K-12 schools with names, logos or mascots containing Native American tribes or culture to change them. The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Maurice West, said research shows mascot names like Braves, Indians and Warriors are harmful to Native American children.
(Chicago-jm) – A judge has ordered former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's longtime chief of staff to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons by June 11 to start his 2.5 year sentence for perjury. In August 2023, a federal jury found Tim Mapes guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to a grand jury investigating Madigan and others. U.S. District Court Judge John Kness sentenced Mapes to 30 months in prison earlier this month. The judge also recommended that Mapes be sent to the Federal Prison Camp near Pensacola, Florida.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinoisans could see help when it comes to their medical debt. Under a proposal unveiled during Governor J-B Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address last week, almost 400,000 Illinoisans would see their medical debt either reduced or eliminated…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.
(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding an armed robbery. On January 12th, at approximately 10:43 a.m., police officers were dispatched to the Circle K on North Neil Street in Champaign. Upon arrival, officers learned an unknown male came into the gas station armed with a pistol and demanded money. The suspect fled from the store after taking cash and several cartons of cigarettes. The suspect was described as a black male approximately 30 years of age, wearing a black mask, all-black clothing, and gray shoes.
(McLean County-jm) – The McLean County coroner has identified the person who died in Saturday’s officer-involved shooting on Interstate 55. Trayvon Little of Springfield died at the scene of multiple gunshot wounds. Illinois state troopers responded to a call of shots fired on the interstate near Lexington. When they arrived, they said two vehicles were on the side of the highway and one person was shooting at the other vehicle. Little then allegedly pointed his gun at officers, who exchanged gunfire. Interstate 55 was shut down in both directions for several hours.
(Springfield-jm) – One local lawmaker is calling out the Governor and Democratic leadership for what he calls out of control spending. Last week the Governor proposed a record nearly $53 billion budget. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Champaign County-jm) – Champaign County area home sales totaled 134 units in January, up 6 percent from 127 home sales in January of 2023. The monthly median home sale price of $161,000 in January 2024 was up 4 percent from $155,000 in January 2023. The average home sale price for the Champaign County area was $208,143 in January, up 11 percent from $186,848 in January of 2023.
(Washington-jm) – The USDA reports a sharp decline in Cattle Feedlot Placements compared to a year ago. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois task force investigating a possible switch to ranked choice voting in elections was presented with a number of complications with the change. In a ranked choice system, the voter ranks the candidates from favorite to least favorite. If one candidate has more than half of the first place votes, the election is over and that candidate wins. If not, then the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and that candidate's voters are moved to their second choice. Only two states in the country, Alaska and Maine, use ranked choice voting for their elections, but some states have moved to ban the voting method.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois corn farmers stand to benefit from the recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow year round sales of E15 fuel. In 2022, the governors of Illinois and several other Midwest states requested year-round E15 sales in an effort to lower gas prices. E15 is a 15% blend of ethanol to petroleum fuel and is also known as Unleaded 88. Despite E15 having a lower Reid vapor pressure than most fuel on the market, the ICGA said outdated regulations excluded it from being sold during summer months. The use of E15 was approved by the EPA in 2011 for all 2001 and newer vehicles, accounting for more than 96% of vehicles on the road today.
(Springfield-jm) – Senate Republicans are speaking out over the Governor’s handling of the migrant crisis. Senate Republican Leader John Curran says the Governor’s priorities are in the wrong spot…
Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran.
(Undated-jm) – On Monday, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity named the newest State-Designated Cultural Districts. The city of Champaign said the North First Street Cultural District is "home to sections of the African American Cultural Trail and newly redesigned Skelton Park, contains landmarks that are as old as the City of Champaign itself and play a significant role in its cultural heritage."
(Vermilion County-jm) – The Illinois State Police are investigating an Interstate 74 crash that happened Monday afternoon in Vermilion County. Officials reported to the scene at eastbound I-74 near milepost 198 for a report of a single-car crash. It happened just east of Ogden, within Vermilion County lines.
(Rantoul–jc) – The village of Rantoul is set to show its revitalized Youth Center in March. The village has invested over 4 million dollars to modernize the local facility. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says an open house is set for March 16th…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(Iroquois County-jm) – Information and forms for the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral program are available from the office of Iroquois County Treasurer, Kurt Albers, according to an announcement made by the Treasurer’s Office. The program allows qualified senior citizens to defer all or part of their 2023 property taxes up to $5,000 on their personal residence. Applications must be filed with the Treasurer’s office by March 1, 2023 in order to defer 2023 taxes billed in 2024. To qualify, a person must be 65 or over by June 1, 2023, have a total household income of $55,000 or less, and have lived in the property for at least three years. In addition, there must be no delinquent taxes on the property.
(Washington-jm) – The USDA is out with its new forecast for food prices. Gary Crawford reports…
