(Undated-jm) – Severe weather rolled through the area Friday night causing damage. Tornadoes were reported in southwestern Illinois including one in Edwardsville that struck an Amazon factory killing six people. Tornadoes were also reported near Shelbyville and Mattoon. Here storms brought down trees and power lines.
(Springfield-jm) – New cases of COVID-19 continue to climb, with more than 49 thousand reported over the past seven days. That’s a significant increase over the 42 thousand plus reported the week before and the 21 thousand the week before that. An additional 266 people have died and more than 32 hundred COVID patients are currently in the hospital, the highest number since back in January. Governor J-B Pritzker says everyone needs to continue to take precautions…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says communities seeing gi spikes may want to enact their own stricter mitigations. Friday, 7,531 cases were reported in the state along with 35 additional deaths. Locally, Champaign County reported 192 new cases. Vermilion County reported 176 new cases and 3 additional deaths bringing their total deaths to 218. Ford and Iroquois Counties did not have a report.
(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man has been arrested following a shots fired incident Thursday. Rantoul Police were called to the 1100 block of Falcon Drive just before 11 am for a report of shots fired. Witness information and information from a license plate reader led to the arrest of Adrian Rangel. He is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card.
(Champaign-jm) – A Springfield man is facing multiple charges after police found a stolen loaded handgun while investigating a shoplifting. Police were called to the Walmart in Urbana after a loss prevention officer at the store caught Linnez Blount removing the security wrap from video games. Blount admitted that he was going to steal them to sell. As officers were searching Blount they found a 9 millimeter handgun with 17 rounds in the magazine. He is charged with possession of a stolen firearm, unlawful use of weapons by a felon and burglary.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Board of Education has released their 2020-2021 school report card. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says there were some very disturbing numbers in the report card…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers are seeking the public's help in solving a burglary at a construction business. Between November 15th and 16th, two men entered CU Under Construction and stole numerous tools. One suspect is described as a black male with a goatee with short hair, wearing a white hoodie. The other suspect was a white male with balding or short hair wearing a gray shirt.
(Washington-jm) – Much of USDA's World Supply and Demand Estimates for Soybeans features news and notes from China. Rod Bain reports…
(Springfield-jm) – More communities will be eligible for gun violence prevention grants under a bill signed Friday by Governor J-B Pritzker. The measure is a follow up to the Reimagine Public Safety Act, and will bring funding to areas especially struggling with gun crimes. The idea is to get to the root of the problem, says Chicago Senator Robert Peters…
State Senator Robert Peters of Chicago. The law gives the new Office of Firearm Prevention more flexibility to award grants.
(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Police responded to several late night calls over the weekend. The first incident happened Saturday at 8:56 p.m.. Champaign Police responded to North 5th St. and East Bradley Ave for a shots fired report. Officers located more than 50 shell casings and police were told a 19-year-old male arrived at a hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his left arm. The second incident happened Sunday at 12:38 a.m.. Champaign Police responded to the 100 block of North Walnut St. for a report of a shooting involving injuries. A 29-year-old male had a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his lower left leg. The third was Sunday at 1:01 a.m. Champaign Police responded to the 700 block of Hollycrest Dr. for a shots fired report. A 22-year-old male has a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his left arm and a graze wound on his stomach.
(Paxton-jm) – Hundreds of people showed up for Paxton’s candy cane lane Friday night in Paxton. An estimated 500 people turned out for the second year event. Organizers plan to bring it back again next year.
(Rantoul-tr) -- The Rantoul Youth Center will be hosting a breakfast alongside a meet and greet with Santa on December 18th from 8am-10am. Rantoul Recreation Department Head Luke Humphrey has the details…
Rantoul Recreation Department Head Luke Humphrey. Reservations are required. The deadline is today and can be made by calling 1-217-893-5703.
(Urbana-jm) – Police said a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was arrested after admitting that he was involved in the “trading” of pornographic images involving children. According to University Police, 19-year-old Daniel Meyka was arrested at 9:10 a.m. Thursday at Saunders Hall at 902 West College Court after detectives obtained a court-approved search warrant for his residence hall room.
(Washington-jm) – The U.S. continues to buy more and more agricultural products from other countries. Gary Crawford reports…
