(Springfield-jm) – A new report shows nursing homes in Illinois give residents fewer hours of care than any other state in the country. The Long-Term Care Community Coalition reports Illinois nursing home residents are getting less than three hours per day of care. A 2001 study by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommended a minimum of four hours of care a day.
(Washington-jm) – Despite a lot of attention on the grain market prospects of the Ukrainian situation, market analysts are still also focused on current crop prospects in South America. Gary Crawford reports…
(Undated-jm) – Rodney Davis filed to run for the 15th Congressional District Monday. The 15th Congressional District covers parts of Ford, Champaign and Vermilion Counties. It’s unclear if Mary Miller has filed yet.
(Champaign-jm) – A University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign student was arrested after biting two officers while being taken to a local hospital for intoxication. University Police responded to a call at Van Doren Hall, 1215 S. Fourth St.. to address a drunk student reportedly in possession of a knife. When police arrived around 12:24 a.m. on Monday, student Zachary Johnson, 18, resisted officers' attempt to arrest him and locate the knife. On the way to the hospital, Johnson reportedly bit two officers and was charged with aggravated battery.
(Gilman -tr) – The Iroquois West School District is undergoing some maintenance in their pursuit for better infrastructure in their locker rooms and overall air quality. IW Superintendent Angelo Lekkas says the projects could last through the summer of 2022…
Iroquois West Superintendent Angelo Lekkas.
(Urbana-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office is amping up patrols ahead of St. Patrick's Day weekend and reminding motorists to drive safely. The theme for the DUI patrol and seatbelt safety campaign is: “This St. Patrick’s Day, don’t rely on luck to get you where you are going." Speeding, distracted driving and other traffic laws will also be strictly enforced. The campaign runs March 11-18.
(Undated-jm) – Democratic and Republican politicians looking to get on the June 28 primary ballot began filing nominating petitions. Monday marks the first day of a week long filing period. Petitions have been circulating since the middle of January. After the close of the filing period March 14, challenges to petitions can then be filed and heard.
(Springfield-jm) – Retired public service workers gathered Monday to urge lawmakers to put more money into state pension funds. The pension situation in Illinois is often referred to as a crisis because as of June 2021, the unfunded pension liabilities were almost $140 billion, according to a Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability report. That is money the state has promised to retirees who say they need it to live. There's a proposal in this year's budget to put half a billion dollars toward pension debt on top of the required payments from the state. The governor's office says adding this extra money into the pension funds will save taxpayers $1.8 billion in the future. Lawmakers are expected to pass a budget before the close of their spring session, which is set to end in early April.
(Washington-jm) – How might an expected lower U.S. cattle inventory this year impact feedlot placements, beef production and price? Rod Bain reports…
(Bloomington-jm) – 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington is running for re-election. Barickman filed his petitions to run in the 53rd District yesterday, the first day candidates could file.
(Champaign-jm) – For the first time since 1995, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Boys State Basketball Tournament will take place at the State Farm Center in Champaign. Sixteen teams representing four classes will compete across sixteen games from March 10–12. This will be the first time since 1971 that the tournament will be held in one weekend.
(Springfield-jm) – The unemployment rate continues to fall from the record highs seen during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, it's not all good news says 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding a retail theft and aggravated battery that happened at Best Buy on February 26. According to police, at approximately 1:10 p.m., two people entered Best Buy, removed two iPhones from a display counter and attempted to leave the store without paying. When an employee confronted these two at the exit, one of the offenders pepper-sprayed the employee and fled the store with the stolen merchandise, officers stated. Police said the suspects were two women, one was wearing a tan coat and black/white/gray leggings and the second female wore a black hooded sweatshirt with lettering on the front and black pants with a white stripe down the side. The offenders were seen leaving in a silver Buick sedan.
(Champaign–jc) The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced a second significant gift for the Ubben Basketball Complex renovation and expansion project from 1976 Gies (geese) College of Business alumnus Steve Nesbitt and his wife, Michele. Last year, the Nesbitts made their first gift toward the facility project and now, only six months later, they are adding to that gift in an effort to build momentum toward the project's completion. Steve Nesbitt, of Moline earned a degree in accountancy from the Gies (geese) College of Business. He is a successful commercial real estate entrepreneur who got his start as a Wendy's and Chili's restaurant franchisee with more than 140 facilities. Michele is a successful entrepreneur and owner of Just Bare Skin Clinics in Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. To date University of Illinois officials say they have raised just over 31 million of the 40 million dollar project.
