SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The speaker of the Illinois House said Wednesday that he had no knowledge of an alleged unreported rape that was referenced in an email written in 2012 by one of his close friends, a powerful lobbyist, and sent to the office of former Gov. Pat Quinn. Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat who is not referenced in the email or mentioned in connection with the alleged incident, issued a statement asking for cooperation from anyone with information. The 2012 email from lobbyist Michael McClain to one of Quinn’s top aides mentions an apparent cover-up of the sexual assault that allegedly happened in the central Illinois city of Champaign.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- 2019 was the 5th wettest year on record in Illinois. Illinois received nearly 50 inches of rain last year says State Climatologist Trent Ford…

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. The average statewide temperature for 2019 was 52 point one degrees, which is only about a degree below normal.. The local forecast shows 3 to 4 inches of rain over the next 48 hours and a possibility of 3 to 4 inches of snow this weekend.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul business destroyed by fire last week is open in a new location. TT Distribution Fasteners and Tools relocated to a location on Sangamon Avenue. Firefighters believe a wood burning stove caused the fire last week.

 

(Gifford-jm) -- The village of Gifford has approved a three percent cannabis tax in the village. The move comes after village leaders voted in November to ban the dispensing of recreational cannabis. Village leaders say the tax leaves open the possibility of reversing the ban in the future.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Now that a Senate committee has agreed to send the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to the full Senate, speculation begins on how soon the matter be voted upon. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Groundbreaking for the new $20 million sports complex in Rantoul will be held next week. The village announced Wednesday the groundbreaking will take place next Tuesday January 14 at 1pm. The new sports complex will be built near the Walmart and Holiday Inn Express.

 

(Washington-jm) -- It has been three weeks since the U.S. House with only Democratic support passed two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump and Illinois’ Republican delegation, even though they didn’t support the articles, want the House to send them to the Senate. Trump was impeached Dec. 18 without any Republican support. The two articles majority Democrats passed were for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over allegations the president withhold military aid from Ukraine in exchange for a domestic political favor. The president has denied any wrongdoing. U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said the issue of impeachment has taken all the oxygen out of Washington. He said he was baffled as to why House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had not sent the articles to the Senate. Pelosi has said she wants to see what the Senate process will entail.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state Department of Labor wants Illinois workers to know their rights when it comes to breaks and time off. For starters, Labor Department Assistant Director Jason Keller says all full-time employees must get a meal break of 20 minutes for every seven and a half hour shift. That break must be no later than five hours into the shift…

 

 

State Department of Labor Assistant Director Jason Keller. There are exceptions for some employees, like farmers, coal miners and security guards. Violations of the One Day Rest in Seven Act can be reported on the Department of Labor’s website.

 

 

(Watseka-jm) -- The deadline to register to vote in the March primary is coming up. The deadline to vote in the March 17th primary is February 18th. For those wanting to vote early, the last day to vote is March 16th. 

 

 

(Sibley-jm) -- The village of Sibley is looking to possibly restock Sibley Lake this year. The village didn’t restock the lake last year. The village typically spends $1,000 to restock the lake.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- How much will the pending U.S./China trade deal play into this Friday's new round of USDA crop and livestock forecasts? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Tax appeals for three properties in the Rantoul Township High School district have been settled. Outdoor Vista settled their assessed value at $2.2 million instead of $2.7 million. Rantoul Foods settled at $626,000 instead of $1.1 million. Golfview settled for $682,000 instead of $1.3 million. Golfview is coming off the tax increment financing district and will be on the tax rolls.