Illinois lawmakers are looking to place more regulations around pop-up COVID-19 testing sites

(Springfield-jm) – A lawsuit filed this month alleged that prisoners at an Illinois Department of Corrections facility deal with rodents, insects and other unsanitary conditions in cells, bathrooms and the kitchen. The Chicago Tribune reports that the suit on behalf of a detainee also alleges that plumbing at the intake facility is faulty, including toilets that back up and cause raw sewage to overflow inside cells.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois lawmakers are looking to place more regulations around pop-up COVID-19 testing sites. This comes after state officials have warned residents about the legitimacy of some locations due to everything from slow test results to accusations of fraud at some sites over the last few months. A package of four bills currently making their way through the Illinois House would place more oversight on the testing sites. One bill would regulate the speed of results and license sites within the Illinois Department of Public Health. Other proposed legislation would place additional regulations on labs that sites use to test.

(Springfield-jm) – Area state lawmakers are asking for answers after the state moved several inmates from the Pontiac Correctional Facility. One of those is 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City…

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Unit 4 teachers have officially started the public posting process after a negotiation session last Thursday was unsuccessful. Teachers are members of the Champaign Federation of Teachers. The union has been bargaining with the district since last May. The posting was filed Friday. The earliest the teachers could formally strike is March 21.

(Champaign-jm) – An Illinois man is facing drug possession charges after he reportedly brought drugs into the State Farm Center over the weekend. The University of Illinois Police Department says 48-year-old Sanford Stacy Junior was arrested Saturday just before 6 p.m. at the State Farm Center. Stacy was entering the arena through a security checkpoint when campus security found meth in his possession.

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois reports anti-Semitic and hateful flyers being spread around campus, inside plastic bags filled with small rocks.

Chancellor Robert J. Jones sent students an email, condemning the racist flyers. University police are looking for anyone with information to come forward. Students can call 217-333-1216.

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man is facing multiple charges for allegedly sexually assaulting and hitting a preteen. 32 year old Timothy McCauley was charged Friday with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and one count of aggravated battery of a child. The child reported the abuse to school officials who called police. If convicted of the criminal sexual assault charges he faces 6-30 years in prison. Bond was set at $500,000. He is due back in court March 29th.

Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Katie Landers from Fisher High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what goes on today.

Fisher FFA member Katie Landers

Lyssa Kaeb from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

Cissna Park FFA Member Lyssa

(Springfield-jm) – There are new efforts to help hundreds of Illinois foster children stuck in hospitals after they've been cleared to leave. Groups are taking action after Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith was held in contempt of court over the issue. Smith has actually been held in contempt four times in the last two months.

(Springfield-jm) – Former Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) youth, who have reached the age of 18, could soon have access to search and reunite with former foster parents and foster siblings. State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is proposing a bill that would help former foster youth get in contact with their previous foster families through existing search and reunion services provided by DCFS. Under Senate Bill 3130, DCFS would be required to provide their youth an explanation of available services within 30 days of them turning 18.

(Buckley-tr) – The Owners of the 103 Bar and Grill in Buckley with the help of Katharine Grayson will be hosting a benefit to honor the life and family of Brian Norton, a Ford County Sheriff's Deputy. Brian Norton Benefit Spokesperson Katharine Grayson says plans for a silent auction are in place…

Brian Norton Benefit Spokesperson Katharine Grayson

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign City Council passed the Community Gun Violence Prevention Blueprint in hopes it will make help curb the gun violence crisis. The blueprint puts forward $6 million to go towards combating gun violence. The main focus will be on local organizations working on long-term solutions. The next step for the city is distributing the funds to local agencies.

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in getting more information about a recent retail theft. According to Champaign Police, on January 18, two subjects entered Kohl’s at 109 Convenience Center Road at around 4:25 p.m. and left the store separately with unpaid merchandise, totaling $3,500 to $5,000. Police said the first suspect was a man wearing a red cap and a black jacket with cartoon characters on the back. The second suspect was a woman wearing a black Chicago Blackhawks hoodie and carrying an oversized white coat. Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 217-373-TIPS

(Urbana-jm) – Urbana Police responded to a report of a missing juvenile with special needs early Monday morning. Police said they were called around 2:40 a.m. and learned the juvenile had a condition that necessitated a swift response from area agencies in order to locate her. Officers and Detectives from Urbana PD and the University of Illinois PD initially responded, soon followed by the assistance from the Urbana Fire Department, Champaign Fire Department, METCAD, and the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency Search and Rescue Team. According to authorities, the juvenile was located at about 7:10 a.m., safe and unharmed.

(Ford County-jm) – All 43 turbines comprising Ford County’s newest wind farm have been built, putting it one step closer to starting commercial operations in March. Known as the Ford County Wind Farm, the project’s first turbine was completed in late November and its last was finished earlier this month. Over the Ford County Wind Farm’s 30-year lifespan, it is expected to bring about $36 million in new tax revenue to local governmental entities and $50 million in lease payments to landowners.

With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Bailey Luebchow from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.