(Springfield-jm) – Firearm deer hunting season started strong in 2021, but didn’t outpace last year’s totals. The 2021 preliminary harvest for the 7-day Firearm Deer Season ended with 71,675 deer reported, compared to 77,160 deer harvested in 2020, a difference of 5,485.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is explaining that loud boom heard across Central Illinois Tuesday. The sound could be heard all across a large swath of the state, leaving many wondering if it was an earthquake or explosion. Neither says IEMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark. She says upon investigation, it was determined the noise came from an F-15 fighter jet in the airspace above Central Illinois that course corrected, causing a sonic boom…
IEMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark.
(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 10,264 new Coronavirus cases and 63 additional deaths. The seven day positivity rate continues to rise and now stands at 7.6 percent. Champaign County reported 269 new cases yesterday.
(Springfield-jm) – The state minimum wage increases January 1st. 2022 is bringing a one dollar raise, from 11 to 12 dollars an hour for minimum wage workers. Those under 18 will earn 9.25 and tipped workers will be at 7.20 an hour, says Illinois Department of Labor Assistant Director Jason Keller…
Illinois Department of Labor Assistant Director Jason Keller.
(Normal-jm) – Days after the University of Illinois made a similar move, Illinois State University announced Tuesday it will hold most all classes online from January 10-21 as a COVID precaution. An online message from ISU President Terri Goss Kinzy said students must provide proof of a negative COVID test within three days of returning to campus for the spring semester. The test must be “administered by a healthcare provider.” In other words, a self-administered rapid test will not be allowed. Students can return to their campus residence hall or apartment for the period of online classes, but they are not required to. ISU faculty and staff must take an on-campus COVID test within one week of returning. Students, faculty, and staff who are not fully vaccinated must do a weekly, on-campus COVID test.
(Ford County-tr) – 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City has officially announced his bid for re-election. Tom Bennett says he will continue to build what he's started and maintain focus on the 106th district even with the new census in effect…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City
(Paxton-tr) – Pride in Paxton has released the winners of the house decorating contest. 1st place went to Federated Church. 2nd place went to Julie and Brian Stagen and 3rd place went to Kim and Bob Fancher.
(Springfield-jm) – New laws in Illinois will affect sports wagering in one of the biggest markets in the country. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law several gambling measures. One allows bettors to place wagers on in-state college teams, but not on individual athlete performances or in-game action. The bets can’t be placed online and must be made in-person at state-licensed sportsbooks.
(Springfield-jm) – Tornado patterns across the country are changing. State Climatologist Trent Ford says there’s been an increase in tornadoes over the last 40 years, and a shift from the traditional hotspots like the Great Plains states to the mid-South and Southern Midwest. Is climate change to blame?...
State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says while tornadoes are most prevalent in the spring in Illinois, they can occur at any time of year.
(Champaign-jm) – An 18-year-old man was shot and is in stable condition, according to Champaign Police. The shooting happened Tuesday at 1:52 p.m. in the 300 Block of Bloomington Road. Champaign Police said while officers were on scene, a 18-year-old who was shot in his lower extremities was taken by a personal vehicle to an area hospital. In a preliminary investigation, officers said a silver vehicle and a red vehicle arrived at separate times in the parking lot at Golden Hour. Police said the 18-year-old got out of the silver vehicle and entered the business. As he exited, a person inside the red vehicle exited the car and walked into the business. Police said the 18-year-old and the other person had a disagreement while passing. Both showed a handgun and started firing at each other.
(Undated-jm) – Several area counties are eligible for disaster assistance following recent storms. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett discusses assistance available…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Urbana-jm) – One person is dead and four others are facing charges in an Urbana home invasion Monday night. Around 7:23 p.m. Monday, officers responded to the 900 block of North Division Avenue. They found one victim lying on a bedroom floor unresponsive. That person was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was identified as Trenton Jones. He suffered gunshot and stab wounds to his chest. Police arrested four people, and they are expected to face formal charges in court.
