(undated–jc) Illinois voters went to the polls on Tuesday for the Spring primary election.
In the 53rd district State Senate race, 4 candidates were vying for the Republican position on the ballot. Chris Balkema was leading the way in the race to replace retiring State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
In Champaign County the nominee for Champaign County Coroner for the Democrat party is Laurie Brauer
In Iroquois County…Michael Quinlan is the Republican nominee for Iroquois County State’s attorney.
In Vermilion county…Matthew Long is the Republican candidate for Vermilion County Recorder
In Ford County…Republican Incumbent Kasi Schwartz won a close race for the party nomination for Ford County Circuit Clerk
For the Ford County Board seats, newcomer Kelsie Vaughn and incumbent Tom McQuinn won seats in District 1. In District 2, newcomer Greg Niewold and incumbent Cindy Ihrke won seats.
WIth the two sales tax issues for Ford County voters…
The County wide one percent sales tax to support local schools failed by a vote of 1531 no votes to 1211 yes votes.
In Gibson City, voters approved a one percent non-home rule tax with 457 yes votes to 350 no votes
(Springfield-jm) – Data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows that Illinois experienced an increase in internet crimes last year. The FBI reports the number of victim complaints in Illinois rose 6% from 2022 to last year. There was also an increase in the amount of money lost by 20%. Nearly $336 million was lost to internet crimes in 2023. The top three types of internet scams in 2023 were investment fraud, business phishing attacks and tech support scams.
(Springfield-jm) – Most county clerks and recorders in Illinois could get a pay increase. A state lawmaker introduced a measure that would change the way county clerks and recorders across the state get their taxpayer-funded salaries. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders is a proponent of Senate Bill 2131 from state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, which says clerks have to be paid at least 80% of what the state’s attorney in that county is paid and that the pay is to mostly come from state taxpayer funds.
(Springfield-jm) – Last week was a busy week at the state capitol. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett is looking for feedback from constituents…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Washington-jm) – Democratic members of Congress representing Illinois are fighting to keep mail processing centers in the state open. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, along with U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley, Eric Sorensen and Nikki Budzinski, wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. In the letter, the Congressional members urged him to reconsider his decision to eliminate the Processing and Distribution Centers in Champaign, Peoria, Milan, and Springfield.
(Washington-jm) – Consumer demand for pork is projected to rise this year. Gary Crawford reports…
(Rantoul–jc) Rantoul firefighters were called to another fire in the Mahoning Drive area of the village just before noon Tuesday. The blaze occurred at 12 Mahoning drive. That area of Rantoul has been the site of several different fires this year. No word was provided on damages or cause.
(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Police were dispatched at 7:34 p.m. on Monday, to the 2500 block of W. Springfield Avenue for a report of shots fired. As officers arrived in the area and began searching for evidence of a shooting, they located a 46-year-old Champaign man in medical distress unrelated to the initial call and immediately rendered aid while calling for medical transport. The man was transported to an area hospital for treatment and while there, it was determined that a wound on his arm had been caused by a gunshot. The man was treated and released. The initial investigation indicates that the victim was entering an apartment building when he was approached by three unknown subjects who quickly opened fire. The subjects then fled the area and have not been located at this time.
(Paxton–jc) The WPXN Business of the Day today is Hudson Drug and Hallmark Shop, located in downtown Paxton. Owner Andy Hudson says he is the third generation, Hudson owner, of the store…
Hudson says they are gearing up for Easter and Spring…
Hudson Drug provides pharmacy delivery to dozens of towns and cities including to Onarga, Gilman, Hoopeston, Rantoul Thomasboro, Cissna Park, Rankin, Champaign, Buckley Potomac and more You can hear more about Hudson Drug and Hallmark Shop throughout the day today. Hudson Drug and Hallmark Shop is the WPXN Business of the day today.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Lottery on Tuesday announced results for the first six months of the 2024 fiscal year, in which the Lottery has generated $1.9 billion in sales leading to estimated returns to the State of Illinois of $456 million so far.
(Springfield-jm) – The 2024 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 6th at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. An early opportunity at select trout sites – the spring catch-and-release fishing season – will open Saturday, March 23rd. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release period, but anglers can keep trout after the opening of the regular season beginning April 6th. The daily harvest limit for each angler is five trout.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is proposing eliminating the state’s grocery tax. The tax was suspended during the COVID pandemic but now the Governor wants to make it permanent. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting supports the measure under one condition…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.
(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man is facing charges after he allegedly threatened his mother with a hammer. Troy Burke is facing charges in Champaign County court after authorities say he was wielding a hammer to steal cash from his mother after she evicted him for drug and alcohol abuse.
(Washington-jm) – This year's farm income may end up being higher than current projections. Gary Crawford reports…
(Savoy-jm) – On Monday, at approximately 11:20 p.m. the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of gunshots fired in the area of Prairie Fields Park, Savoy. Deputies searched for evidence of a shooting and located shell casings in the intersection of Gentian and Prairie Rose. A short time later, the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a shooting victim arrived by car at Carle Foundation Hospital. The 18-year-old male victim from Savoy sustained a single gunshot wound to the upper torso area of his body and is in stable condition. While at Carle, deputies learned a male subject left the vehicle on foot eastbound on University Avenue. An Urbana police officer located a subject matching the description of the subject who left on foot in the 500 block of West University Avenue, Urbana. A firearm was located on this male subject who was 17 years of age and from Savoy. He was arrested and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center where he was charged with Unlawful Use of a Firearm and Defacing Identifying Marks on a Firearm.
(Champaign-jm) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is getting involved in a case that alleges the Champaign Unit 4 School District violated the Open Meetings Act. The letter claims the district held a meeting on February 12 where anyone in attendance was welcome to publicly address the Board. Recordings of the meeting show one member was allowed to speak for over the allotted three minutes and had her microphone turned back on, while other speakers were cut off when their time was up. In the letter, the Attorney General requested that the board or a representative of the board provide a written response to the allegations, including an explanation and the board’s basis for any restriction of the speakers. Raoul also requested the board send copies of the board’s public comment policies, all available open session recordings, and the agenda and minutes from the meeting.
