(Springfield-jm) -- An Illinois lawmaker wants to require the use of paper ballots in state elections.  State Senator Darren Bailey has filed Senate Bill 2038, which would mandate the use of hand-marked paper ballots by election authorities. Ballots under this bill could be counted by hand or with optical scanners. Illinois election leaders would have to set up strict chain-of-command procedures for ballots, voter registration polls and tabulation results. In addition, the Illinois State Board of Elections would have to use software that monitors and detects potential vulnerabilities in voter registration roll security. 

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Democratic Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are introducing legislation to close a loophole that allows a gun sale to proceed if a background check is not completed after 72 hours, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The measure would prohibit federally-licensed dealers from transferring the guns until a background check is completed.  The measure is called the “No check, No sale” law. The law will not impact sales in Illinois since the state already requires the background check to be completed before the firearm is transferred.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state is launching a 10 million dollar COVID-19 vaccination awareness campaign. The campaign aims to reach those in areas hardest hit by the virus. Governor J-B Pritzker says while it’s a personal choice whether or not to get the vaccine, he wants everyone to have the facts…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The statewide campaign features COVID patients, doctors and people who have lost loved ones to the virus.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,182 new Coronavirus cases and 5 additional deaths Monday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,199,517 and deaths to 20,767. Locally since Friday, Champaign County reported 53 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 18,418 and deaths to 131. Iroquois County reported 4 new cases bringing their total to 2,792. Ford County reported 12 new cases bringing their total to 1,602. Vermilion County reported 34 new cases and 12 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 8,533 and deaths to 118.

 

 

(Buckley-cf)-- There are new types of Crop Insurance for the 2021 growing season. Farmers can now become 90 or 95% covered based off their last season. Diversified Insurance Agent Dylan Reetz explains the coverages, and how Diversified Insurance goes an extra step… 

 

 

Diversified Insurance Agent Dylan Reetz. You can visit the office in Buckley or contact Dylan at 815-822-5477.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Jury selection is expected to begin today for a double murder in St. Joseph back in 2020. Jonathan Perry is accused of shooting and killing 54-year-old Kimberly Coyne and her daughter, 24-year-old Blair Coyne. Perry is charged with 8 counts of first degree murder. If he is found guilty of two or more counts against both Kimberly and Blair he could be sentenced to natural life in prison with no possibility of parole.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- There's a new way to enter the emergency department at Carle Hospital in Urbana. Renovations are nearly complete, with just a few finishing touches remaining on the new patient entrance. It also increases the number of ambulance bays increased from four to six to meet rising demand. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The last day to register to vote in the April Consolidated elections at the county clerks office is today. You can still register online until March 21st.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA's latest agricultural trade update shows big gains in U.S. exports. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Attorney General Kwame Raoul leads a bipartisan coalition of 19 attorneys general who filed an amicus brief in support of a Washington state initiative regulating the sale of semiautomatic assault rifles. Raoul and the attorneys general argue that states have the right to enact reasonable firearm regulations that protect public safety and reduce gun violence prevalence. The coalition argues that this includes passing regulations to ensure that only individuals who are likely to use firearms responsibly are able to access them. In the amicus brief, Raoul and the coalition argue that states have the responsibility and power to protect their residents by promoting safety, preventing crime, and minimizing gun violence. Raoul and the coalition also argue that states can also permissibly promote public safety by restricting in-person sales of firearms to state residents, as Washington has.

 

 

(Chicago-jm) -- Health officials reported the first Illinois case of P.1, a COVID-19 variant. The P.1 variant was first identified in travelers from Brazil during an airport screening in Tokyo, Japan, in early January. Since then, it has been identified in several other countries. The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Public Health said the P.1 case in Illinois was identified in Chicago at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. CDPH found that a household contact of the positive individual had also recently been sick with COVID-19, but neither individual nor their household contacts have reported travel outside of Illinois. Health officials say this variant may spread more easily than the most currently circulating strains of COVID-19.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,182 new Coronavirus cases and 5 additional deaths Monday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,199,517 and deaths to 20,767. As for local active and recovered cases, Champaign County is reporting 18,051 have recovered, 236 are in isolation and 12 are hospitalized. Iroquois County is reporting 2,724 have been removed from isolation, 8 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. Vermilion County is reporting 222 cases are active with 5 hospitalized.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)--Last week, the Ford County Public Health Department was only able to give 2nd doses of the COVID-19 vaccine due to the winter weather that hit the area in late February delaying shipments. However, the Health Department is back on schedule says Community Educator Megan Ruetter… 

 

 

Ford County Public Health Community Educator Megan Ruetter.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- There are several meetings around the area tonight. At 5:30, the Paxton Park District could decide whether or not to open the pool this summer. At 6, Rantoul village leaders are expected to approve agreements for Maplewood Drive improvements and establish a human relations committee. Also at 6, the Vermilion County Board is expected to fill a vacancy on their board. At 7 in Paxton, council members will consider whether to move forward with rezoning of the former Westlawn Elementary School. Also at 7, the St. Joseph village board will consider a new restaurant liquor license and hear an update on the search for a village manager.

 

(Champaign-jm) -- A new pot dispensary may be coming to campus, but University of Illinois officials are already warning that nothing has changed about their smoking policy. NuEra, who already has an Urbana location, will open on 1st and Green streets right next to KAMS. Officials said the expansion will help them better serve their customers. In a statement, University officials made it clear they do not consider students to be part of that customer base. Smoking any tobacco or marijuana product is still completely prohibited on all campus properties. Any students who do not comply will be subject to a warning on the first offense; $25 fine on the second; $50 on the third; and $100 on every subsequent violation. After the second offense, students will have to take a course about not smoking on campus.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois lawmakers have until the end of May to pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about Governor J-B Pritzker's budget proposal…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Parkland College Foundation is announcing the scholarship period for Fall 2021 is now open. Workshops will be held today at noon on zoom or their facebook page. The deadline to apply for scholarships is 5pm on March 15th.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Latest numbers show Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products are continuing to be far above last year's levels. Gary Crawford reports…