(Iroquois County-jm) -- One person is dead and three others were taken to the hospital, two of which with life threatening injuries, following an accident on I-57 in southern Iroquois County Monday morning. Illinois State Police say a vehicle was traveling southbound when it went off the road and overturned several times. The driver was ejected and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers were taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries. A 17 year old juvenile was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is signing what he calls the most comprehensive reform to state firearms laws in over a generation. The FOID Modernization bill lets the state police create a combined FOID and concealed carry license and grants card holders who submit their fingerprints automatic renewal. The Governor says there are safety provisions as well, such as universal background checks on all gun sales in Illinois starting in 2024…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The measure also requires the Illinois State Police to remove guns from those with revoked FOID cards and creates a stolen gun database.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois law will soon allow victims of sexual crimes to renew orders prohibiting contact by their assailants without having to face them in court. A law signed makes civil orders of no contact with survivors permanent in cases where the perpetrator was convicted. Current law requires sexual-assault survivors to face their assailants in court every two years to renew no-contact orders.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a package of legislation to further protect immigrants and refugees in Illinois. One new law makes it a civil rights violation for employers to harass or refuse to hire an employee on the basis of work authorization status. Another, sponsored by Senator Jacqueline Collins of Chicago, tackles violence…
State Senator Jacqueline Collins of Chicago. Other new laws make Illinois the second state in the nation to require local officials to end partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and create a task force on immigrants and state services.
(Undated-jm) -- Since Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 5,608 new cases. The seven day positivity rate is 4.9 percent. Vermilion County reported 75 new cases. Iroquois County reported 42 new cases. Champaign County reported 151 new cases. Champaign County also recorded their 160th death. Ford County did not have a report.
(Urbana-jm) -- Champaign County Recorder of Deeds Mike Ingram warns Champaign County residents of a rash of scam letters posing as false official-sounding agencies. According to Ingram, the letters originate from fake-but-trying-to-sound-official places like "Local Records Office" in Pekin or "Records Recovery Services" in Naperville, do not appear to attempt to phish any information from homeowners. Instead, the scam is believed to be an attempt by the sender to insert themselves between the Recorder's office and the homeowner to make some quick money. Scammers use publicly available information about your property to seem official and then ask for a sum of money for a copy of your deed.
(Springfield-jm) -- Crop conditions improved slightly as we hear in the weekly crop report. There were nearly six days available for fieldwork this past week, and temps and rainfall were about normal. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 96 percent of corn is silking…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 87 percent of soybean acres are blooming and 59 percent are setting pods. 67 percent of the soybean crop is rated in good to excellent condition. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated at three percent very short, 14 percent short, 76 percent adequate and seven percent surplus.
OSF St. James-John Albrecht Medical Center’s Diabetes Support Group will meet tonight from 6-7 pm.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is signing what he calls the most comprehensive reform to state firearms laws in over a generation. The new law streamlines the FOID card process, not requiring fingerprints, but granting those who do submit their prints automatic renewal. State Police Director Brendan Kelly says it also combines the FOID and concealed carry license into one card…
State Police Director Brendan Kelly. The law also creates a stolen gun database and in 2024, will require background checks for all gun sales in Illinois.
(Springfield-jm) -- Diabetes prevention and management programs are set to be eligible for Medicaid coverage in Illinois, pending final federal approval, Governor J-B Pritzker's office said. The programs involved are the Diabetes Prevention Program and the Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Program. Illinois leaders said CDC-recognized DPP organizations can enroll as Illinois Medical providers to deliver the program to eligible participants by administering services during regular sessions over the course of the year. This includes dietary counseling, fitness assessments and educational sessions on how to prevent Type 2 diabetes.
(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State Jesse White’s Office is kicking off the annual “Wave Away the Waiting” minority organ donor campaign. This year, the event is virtual, with educational materials posted online says Secretary White’s Spokesperson, Beth Kaufman…
Secretary of State Spokesperson Beth Kaufman. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, people of color make up 54 percent of the waiting list nationally, but account for only 35 percent of donors. You can learn more about the campaign at: life goes on dot com.
(Urbana-jm) -- The man accused of killing a 14-year-old boy in Champaign is set to be arraigned today. Daryl Vandyke is accused of killing 14-year-old Steven Butler III. Butler's body was found by two bicyclists riding in the 3400 block of East Washington Street. Prosecutors allege Vandyke killed Butler by hitting him repeatedly with an axe or an edged tool. He’s charged with three counts of first degree murder. Vandyke is being held on a $2 million bond.
(Springfield-jm) -- Crop conditions improved slightly as we hear in the weekly report. 96 percent of corn acres are silking and 49 percent are in the dough stage. 68 percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener looks at soybeans…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. The second cutting of alfalfa hay is nearly complete and 54 percent of the third cutting is done. Average statewide topsoil moisture comes in at three percent very short, 14 percent short, 76 percent adequate and seven percent surplus.
