(Danville-jm) – A Rantoul man will learn in March how long he’ll be in prison for a beating and sexual assault of his estranged wife. A Vermilion County jury on Thursday found 57 year-old Darren Monroe guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated domestic battery. The man faces nine to 44 years in prison to be served at 85%, and he will be on the sex offender list for life. Sentencing is March 16. Monroe will be in jail until then. State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said in December 2019, Monroe came to the victim’s home, beat her, and sexually assaulted her. Lacy said at trial, Monroe admitted to beating the woman but claimed she sexually assaulted him.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Republicans in the Illinois Senate are pushing for tougher government ethics reforms. The GOP Senators say last year’s ethics bill didn’t go nearly far enough to weed out corruption. They are releasing their own plan that addresses several concerns. That includes extending a ban on legislators working as lobbyists to one year after leaving office, says Senator Terri Bryant of Murphysboro…

 

 

State Senator Terri Bryant of Murphysboro. Bryant says they also want to prohibit a sitting lawmaker’s spouse or children from lobbying the legislature.

 

(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 14,422 new Coronavirus cases and 149 additional deaths. The seven day positivity rate continues to fall, down to 13.8 percent. Locally, Champaign County reported 227 new cases. Vermilion County reported 174 new cases. Ford and Iroquois Counties did not have a report Thursday.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing nearly 220 million dollars in Rebuild Illinois money for downstate transit and port projects. The Governor stopped in the Metro East area to tout the critical infrastructure funding…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Local projects receiving funding including $8 million to the Bloomington Normal Public Transit System for electric buses. Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District is receiving $2.1 million for phase 2 of a solar array expansion project. C-Carts will also receive $134,000 for vehicle replacement. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – Two Champaign area police officers have been recognized by the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge for their roles during and following a May 19, 2021 shooting incident that took the life of fellow officer Chris Oberheim. Officer Jeff Creel received the FOP’s Valor Award and Officer John Wright received the Fraternalism Award during a special presentation in Champaign. Champaign Police Officers Chris Oberheim and his partner Jeff Creel responded to a domestic abuse call on May 19, 2021 and were fired upon by the suspect. Oberheim was killed and Creel severely wounded. Officer Creel was shot twice in the chest and once in the arm but still managed to return fire as he was trying to save Oberheim. The suspect also died during the exchange of gunfire. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois GOP lawmakers are calling for changes in the new police reform law. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman says the changes don’t keep people safe…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

(Mahomet-jm) – The Bulldog Blueprint team recently wrapped up a community survey as a way to gauge interest in voting for or against a tax increase that might address some of the capacity issues in the district. The committee says that although plans are not finalized, the funds needed to add classroom space in the Mahomet-Seymour School District will result in a property tax increase until 2042. When walking through the Bulldog Blueprint survey, responses to whether or not a taxpayer would approve of or oppose a $95 to $100 million referendum lead in two different directions. Those who oppose, strongly oppose or don’t know are asked if they would support the measure, knowing that a $150,000 home would see a $41/month increase in taxes. The median market value of a home in Mahomet-Seymour is approximately $218,000.

 

(Crown Point, Indiana-jm) – Prosecutors say an Illinois man was surfing a pornographic website moments before his tractor-trailer collided with a tar tanker near Lowell, killing the road construction worker who was driving. Clark Johnson, 69, of Hoopeston was charged with reckless homicide, two counts of criminal recklessness, and three counts of misdemeanor distracted driving. The Post-Tribune reports Johnson was ordered held on a $4,000 cash bond. The crash occurred on August 25, 2020, on U.S. 41 in Lowell.

 

(Springfield-jm) – House Republican Leader Jim Durkin is calling for an overhaul of the State Prisoner Review Board. Leader Durkin says the board needs to put the needs of crime victims before that of inmates and parolees…

 

 

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. Durkin is pushing for five members of the board to have law enforcement or prosecution experience, a higher threshold for granting parole to those convicted of first degree murder and for victims to have a stronger voice at board hearings.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is kicking off a new initiative to get students ready for a job in the construction trades. The Governor announced a yearly 10 million dollar investment in the “Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program” earlier this month and grants have been awarded to groups around the state…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Grantees are already recruiting a diverse group of participants and are expected to help more than one thousand people get a jump start on a career in the construction industry.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A 17-year-old boy has recently been arrested in connection with a homicide investigation that started in October, 2021. Champaign Police were dispatched to an area near the intersection of Bradley Avenue and County Fair Drive at around 12:25 a.m. on October 31, 2021 in response to a reported shooting with injuries. When police arrived at the scene, they saw several vehicles departing the scene and individuals fleeing on foot before they located 20-year-old Brandon Kelly with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers rendered medical aid until Kelly was taken to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.  According to police, there had been a large gathering in the parking lot of Parkland Pointe Apartments when 17-year-old Tony Brock approached Kelly on foot and shot him multiple times at close range before fleeing on foot.   

 

(Paxton-jm) – The city of Paxton has approved a dispatch agreement for emergency services with Ford county. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says it's a cost effective move…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Central Illinois organizations were among those receiving a slice of $47 million in newly-announced broadband expansion funding. Among the local projects include $117,000 to Mediacom for work near Dewey and nearly $604,000 to Comcast for work in Vermilion County.

 

The Onarga Public Library is collecting donations for G.O.D’s Food Pantry during the month of January.

 

The Watseka FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction will take place on Sunday. Doors open at noon with the auction starting at 1 pm.