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State lawmakers are working to address the increase in catalytic converter thefts in Illinois

(Springfield-jm) – State lawmakers are working to address the increase in catalytic converter thefts in Illinois. The legislature passed a bill requiring metal dealers to keep a record of any catalytic converters they buy, says Chicago Representative LaShawn Ford…

 

 

State Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago. Additionally, dealers can’t purchase a catalytic converter worth over 100 dollars with cash. Illinois is one of the top states for catalytic converter thefts.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Democratic State Representative Justin Slaughter of Chicago blasted Illinois House Republicans contending they were racist for opposing the so-called Safe-T Act. The Safe-T Act was passed in early 2021 by the previous legislature in its closing hours. Law enforcement around the state has felt demonized by the measure which will ease criminal penalties and make it more difficult for police to do their jobs. Law enforcement agencies have had difficulty hiring officers while veteran members have retired, resigned or taken jobs in other states. Most of the Safe-T Act will not become law until 2023. Yet, Republicans have successfully been building support to use the Safe-T Act as a campaign issue while calling for tough crime bills.  Democrats tried to counter some of the blow back last week by introducing their own measures and providing more than $200 million for law enforcement in the FY 2023 budget. Republicans have said the state is in a crisis because of the act and point to an increase in violent crime.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Students would be able to take a day off school to attend a civic event under a bill headed to the Governor’s desk. The legislation lets public middle and high school kids take an excused absence to attend a civic event such as an artistic or cultural performance or an event sponsored by a non-profit group. Senator Dave Syverson of Cherry Valley voted against the measure…

 

 

State Senator Dave Syverson of Cherry Valley.  Supporters say these events can be very educational. It’s now up to the Governor to sign it into law.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is warning drivers to be on the lookout for turtles on the roads. When the weather warms in the spring, IDNR says turtles tend to start crossing roadways. Whether they are females going to or returning from a nesting site or turtles looking for a new home, there are many reasons turtles are on the move this season.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Cool, wet weather kept farmers out of the fields for the most part as we hear in the weekly crop report. Temperatures this past week were below normal and rainfall was above average says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Four percent of winter wheat has headed and 51 percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition, a slight improvement over the previous week.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Officers are investigating after a call of shots fired on Sunday night. Champaign Police officials said they got a report of shots fired near West Kirby Avenue and Westfield Drive. When they got there, officers found shell casings in the street and two homes hit by gunfire. No one was hurt in this incident.

 

(Urbana-jm) – People flock to the U of I’s Japan House every spring just to see the cherry blossom trees, and they’ll be blooming any day now. They say depending on the weather, the flowers may open up by the end of the week. The bloom won’t last long; the petals start to fall shortly after they open.

 

(Washington-jm) – The value of U.S. agricultural exports continues to climb, but what about the actual tonnage being shipped? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Rantoul–jc)  The WPXN Business of the day today is Furniture World downtown Rantoul. The business has been family owned since 1959 and located across the tracks in the downtown area of the village. The store carries name brand furniture like Lane and Best and also Bemco Mattresses. Currently the store has just received a large amount of recliners. The company's business liner is, “name brand furniture, at everyday low prices.”

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois may soon ban latex gloves for certain workers. The legislature passed a bill prohibiting restaurant, grocery store and other food service employees from wearing latex gloves while preparing food. This would apply to EMS personnel as well. It’s sponsored by Representative Justin Slaughter of Chicago…

 

 

State Representative Justin Slaughter of Chicago. If signed into law by the Governor the ban would take effect January 1st.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announce the second cohort of the Regional Engagement for Adoption + Digital Equity program. Broadband READY will allow five selected regional entities to receive a total of $250,000 to support planning, research, and data collection as they work to eliminate the digital divide.

 

(Springfield-jm) – State lawmakers passed a bill last week to end a type of housing discrimiantion. Some renters are being denied because of where their money comes from, such as social security or a housing choice voucher. Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago says his measure puts an end to that, by making it a civil rights violation to discriminate because of a source of income…

 

 

State Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago. 19 other states also have a similar law. It’s now up to the Governor to sign the legislation.


(Springfield-jm) – Cool, wet weather kept farmers out of the fields for the most part as we hear in the weekly crop report. Less than one day was suitable for fieldwork on average this past week as above normal rainfall in most parts of the state kept fields pretty soggy. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener gives an update on the Illinois wheat crop…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated as four percent short, 50 percent adequate and 46 percent surplus.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A pattern is beginning to surface following several shootings in north Champaign. A pair of parallel roads right off of I-74 has seemingly become a hotspot, particularly for drive-by shootings. The latest, on N Market Street early Sunday morning, marked the sixth shooting to trace back to N Market Street or Prospect Avenue in the last seven months. All of the incidents happened within a couple of miles, and all but one of them were drive-bys. At least one person was injured during each shooting dating back to late August. Two kids, a 9-year-old and a 15-year-old boy were among those hurt in the line of fire. In mid-October, a Champaign family ended up at the hospital after getting caught in the middle of two cars exchanging bullets on N Market Street near E Marketview Drive. Champaign police said two cars were chasing each other and eventually, the people inside started shooting at one another. 24-year-old Liam Gasser was shot in the head a couple of weeks later during what police called a “road rage incident” at a busy Prospect Avenue intersection. Then in February, a shooting happened in the parking lot of MarketPlace Mall. 22-year-old Diamond Mitchell shot a 19-year-old in the leg after a fight over a pair of shoes, according to Champaign Police Lieutenant Ben Newell. A late March shooting on I-74 marked the fifth incident in the area. State Police found a car that had crashed into a center median wall between the Prospect Avenue and Neil Street exits after it was struck by gunfire, according to a press release. Two people were taken to the hospital.

 

(St. Joseph-jm) – Interstate 74 near St. Joseph will be reduced to one lane in each direction this week as IDOT crews begin construction on four bridges in the area. The bridges span the Salt Fork River and the Saline Branch west of St. Joseph. The right lane of the eastbound bridges will close today and the right lane of the westbound bridges will close on Wednesday. IDOT said the closures are necessary for a bridge deck overlay and substructure repairs. Construction on the right lanes is expected to be complete by Labor Day, after which construction will shift to the left lanes. The entire project is expected to be complete in November.

 

(Washington-jm) – U.S. agricultural export values are setting records during the first five months of this fiscal year. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

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