(Springfield-jm) – The state is appealing a recent ruling on masks in schools to the Illinois Supreme court. After an Appellate Court refused to lift a temporary restraining order on the mask mandate in several school districts, Governor J-B Pritzker is turning to the top court for a reversal…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The state’s indoor mask mandate is set to be lifted on Monday and the Governor says that will also happen for schools but hasn’t provided a specific date.
(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois Senator facing embezzlement charges has officially resigned. Senator Tom Cullerton submitted his letter of resignation to Secretary of Senate Tim Anderson on Wednesday. The resignation is effective immediately. A federal grand jury indicted Cullerton on 39 counts of embezzlement from a labor union, one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a labor union and employee benefit plans and one count of making false statements in a health care matter.
(Springfield-jm) – Homeowners hit hard by the pandemic will soon be able to apply for housing relief. Applications will start being accepted in April says Illinois Housing Development Director Kristin Faust…
Illinois Housing Development Director Kristin Faust. Faust strongly recommends getting online now and seeing what steps are required before applying. You can do that at: illinois housing help dot org.
(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,733 new Coronavirus cases and 86 additional deaths. The seven day positivity rate remained the same at 2.6 percent. Vermilion County reported 24 new cases and 1 additional death. Champaign County reported 51 new cases. Ford and Iroquois Counties did not have a report.
(Cissna Park-tr) – The Cissna Park FFA Chapter is personally celebrating their 80 year anniversary this FFA week alongside numerous other chapters around the state. Cissna Park FFA Advisor Jeff Clifton shares that it all started with Dale Price back in 1942…
Cissna Park FFA Advisor Jeff Clifton
(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man is behind bars after being accused of shooting a 10-year-old boy in 2019. Decari Roberts was 10 years old when he was shot twice inside his home on December 1, 2019. On Wednesday, Champaign Police charged 21-year-old Devlon Miles in the shooting. Miles is charged with attempted murder, a Class X felony; aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony; aggravated discharge, a Class 1 felony; and unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 3 felony.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker was dealt a blow to his executive orders when it comes to masking in schools. A Sangamon County judge ruled the Governor's orders null and void after a group of districts sued. The state appealed that decision to the Appellate Court. Last week the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a bi-partisan committee of lawmakers, refused to approve an administrative rule requiring masks in schools and the Appellate Court rejected the state’s appeal. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says its now in the hands of local control…
53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington. The Governor has said he will appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.
(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office released its annual report about crime statistics in 2021. Sheriff’s deputies responded to more calls in 2021 than they did in 2020, but there was less gun violence. It highlights a slow return to normalcy after disruptions from the pandemic.
With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Alexis Putnam from the PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
PBL FFA Member Alexis Putnam
Emma Morrical from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
Cissna Park FFA Member Emma
(Springfield-jm) – House lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday creating a statewide drug take back program. Many pharmacies provide receptacles for tossing out old medications, but the legislation aims to make this easier across Illinois. It’s sponsored by Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz of Glenview…
State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz of Glenview. The program would be paid for by pharmaceutical companies and include consumer education about where they can drop-off or mail unused meds. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
(Springfield-jm) – There continues to be reaction to the Governor’s State of the State and Budget Address held two weeks ago. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says there were some things the Governor talked about that he was happy to hear but there were still some unanswered issues…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Champaign-jm) – Caterpillar Integrated Logistics Center, a provider of integrated supply chain solutions, has announced a new apprenticeship program in collaboration with Parkland College. The program, which combines on-the-job learning and mentoring in Caterpillar logistics centers with classroom instruction provided by Parkland, will upskill entry-level warehouse associates and prepare them for advancement opportunities within the industry. The apprenticeship program launches in late March.
(Paxton-jm) – Paxton leaders approved an environmental land use control at a small parcel between Cathy’s salon and Just Hamburgers. Mayor Bill Ingold says the old gas station at that site had a leak several years back…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.
(Champaign-jm) – Central Illinois has experienced a few reports of hate crime over the past few months. The most recent happened at Parkland College in Champaign. Flyers placed around campus by the Pride Alliance have been ripped down several times. Leaders say that has led to vulgar and hateful speech over the past couple of days. Over the weekend, plastic bags filled with gravel and anti-Semitic notes were found of the U of I campus. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz says this would be hard to prosecute as a hate crime because the bags did not violate a law that fits under the state’s hate crime statute. As far as the Parkland College case goes, it could be considered a hate crime if the college proves those flyers were taken down because of the message. Parkland College has submitted that case to Rietz’s office to find out.
With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Christian Thompson from the Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
Rantoul FFA Member Christian Thompson
Dominick Castens from Fisher High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
Fisher FFA member Dominick Castens
he Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper tonight from 5-7 pm at their building located at 134 W. State Street. Meal includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread dessert and drink for $10.
A benefit for the family of Ford County Sheriff’s deputy Brian Norton who passed away recently will be held at the 103 East Bar and Grill in Buckley will be held on Sunday, February 27th from 2-6 pm.
