CHICAGO (AP) — Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker has named an outgoing Republican state representative and a former Democratic state senator to key positions in his administration.Pritzker said Thursday that GOP Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights will be director of the Illinois Department of Revenue, the department responsible for collecting state taxes.Harris served in the state House from 1983 to 1993 and was elected again in 2010. He chose not to seek re-election in November.Pritzker, who'll be sworn in next month, also named John Sullivan of Rushville director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Sullivan served in the Senate from 2003 to 2016 and was a chairman of the Senate's Agriculture and Conservation committee.Ann Spillane, longtime chief of staff to Attorney General Lisa Madigan, was named Pritzker's general counsel.
LINCOLN — A transgender female inmate, whose alleged mistreatment by male correctional officers led to a federal judge ordering training for prison staff, has been moved to a women's prison in Lincoln. In the federal lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Corrections, Hampton has detailed her allegations of confinement and sexual harassment.She said she was threatened with rape and other violence while held in men's facilities. According to attorneys for Hampton, she has been moved from Dixon Correctional Center, an all-male facility, to Logan Correctional Center for women in Lincoln.
(Paxton--ba) 20-18 has been a positive year for new business in the city of Paxton Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says new business means more reasons to stop by the Ford County city....
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Rantoul--ba) In the job for just over a month,Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhower says there are similarities between the village of Rantoul and city of Danville.
Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhower
(Lewsiston--ba)-A central Illinois man faces felony charges after allegedly concocting a story his car being stolen with a 13-month old child inside that triggered a statewide Amber Alert. Police say Mitchell Dutz of Mason City reported to police that he was inside a gas station when three people stole his car. But police soon determined Dutz made up the story to cover up a drug deal. There was never a missing child and gas station surveillance video didn't reveal any vehicles matching the one Dutz described.
(Peoria--ba)-Peoria's police chief says investigators don't see connections between numerous recent shootings that have pushed the city's number of criminal homicides for 2018 pass the combined total for the two previous years. The city saw its 22nd criminal homicide of the year early Wednesday when police say a 43-year-old man was fatally shot during a birthday party. The city's had three deaths among 10 shooting incidents since Dec. 18, including early Tuesday gunfire that wounded a 12-year-old and another person. Peoria police Chief Loren Marion says his officers are working long hours to make arrests in the cases but need the community's help.
(Illinois--ba)-An Illinois-based internet provider is planning to spur broadband development in rural areas across five states in the central U.S. Wisper ISP Inc. is set to receive money from the Federal Communication Commission for broadband development in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Kansas. Malinda Heuring, marketing director at Wisper, said the company will need help locating areas to install the technology and in getting the word out to potential customers.
(Chicago--ba) U.S. District Court in Chicago is among the federal courts nationwide suspending civil cases where one party is the federal government. Chief U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo issued an order suspending all such civil litigation for two weeks because of the government shutdown that began last week. Among the suspended cases are ones where people are suing the U.S. government to get Social Security money they say they are owed. Asylum and some extradition cases also fall under the order.
(Undated--jc) Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s Bicentennial Minute…
(Springfield--jc) State and local police will be on the lookout for drunk drivers over this New year’s holiday. Officials say it’s everyone’s responsibility to make good decisions, before getting behind the wheel. Illinois Department of Transportation Spokesperson Jessie Decker says the New Year’s holiday can be dangerous…
I-Dot Spokesperson Jessie Decker.
(Urbana--jc) --Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup is releasing the name of a woman who has died from injuries she received in a shooting incident earlier this month. 29 year old Marlene M. Brown, of Danville, was pronounced dead early on December 25 at Carle Foundation Hospital. Ms. Brown was reportedly shot by a male subject in the 300 block of North Washington Street in Danville, Illinois at approximately 10:30PM on December 15, 2018 following a domestic dispute. An autopsy was performed on Wednesday of this week and an inquest may be held at a later date. This death is being investigated by the Danville Police Department and the Coroner’s Office.
(Springfield--jc) It’s graduation day for some Illinois State police troopers.
Illinois State Police Officials will welcome 59 cadets to their ranks this morning. Illinois State Police Director Leo P. Schmitz will formally address Cadet Class 128, followed by the oath of an officer ceremony. The 10am ceremony is set for Springfield. The new troopers will be assigned to districts throughout the state beginning on Monday.
Chicago--jc) – Attorney General Lisa Madigan Thursday released guidance on the impact of immigration status on employees’ rights in the workplace. Recent policy debates and court cases regarding changes to federal immigration programs have left many employees and employers in Illinois with questions about workers’ rights and obligations under federal immigration law, state and federal workplace laws, and the intersection between the two. Madigan’s office drafted and issued Guidance for Illinois Residents: Impact of Immigration Status on Employees’ Rights in the Workplace as a resource for Illinois employers.
(Urbana--jc) A Champaign County womans bond was set at 1 thousand dollars on a charge of felony aggravated battery in a public place after an incident at Carle Foundation hospital on Thursday. 20 year old Rashaya Brown of Champaign was ordered by Champaign County court officials to have no contact with the alleged victim and a new court date on the charges is set for February 12th.
(Watseka--jc) Iroquois County leaders are looking at ways to increase revenue for the county. The county board policy and procedure committee met on Thursday in Watseka and the topic was revenue. Iroquois County, like most counties in the state, continue to look at funds to run county programs. The full board meets in January to continue the look into the future.
(Champaign--jc) If you travel along North Mattis Avenue in Champaign, your commute to work, college or shopping will be somewhat slower through the weekend. Champaign City workers continue to fix a water valve in the area. Mattis between John and Henry streets is down to one lane northbound traffic through Monday.
(Springfield--jc) -- Did you get a drone for Christmas? The Illinois Department of Transporation is reminding the public on some rules you need to follow. One rule is you can not fly your drone within 5 miles of an airport says I-Dot Spokesperson Jessie Decker…
Illinois Department of Transportation Spokesperson Jessie Decker.
(Gifford--jc) It’s everything agriculture at Gordyville USA next month. The 20-19 Midwest Ag Expo is set for Wednesday January 24th and Thursday January 25th. The even offers over 175 exhibitors to showcast farm, industrial, outdoor power equipment, dairy and farmstead mechanization industry. The event is free to attend.. Hours of the 20-19 Midwest Ag Expo are from 8am to 4 pm on Wednesday January 24th and 8am to 3pm on Thursday January 25th. WPXN will be broadcasting live to help kick off the annual event.
