(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a package of bills to assist crime victims and address the root causes of violence. One new law creates a co-responder pilot program in Peoria, Springfield, East St. Louis and Waukegan where police officers will be able to bring mental health professionals on calls to help assess the situation…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says the other bills fund efforts to retain police officers and the funeral expenses of children killed by gun violence.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois State Police say processing for Firearm Owners Identification cards now takes less than a month. State Police have also opened a fourth FOID kiosk in the state, this one down in Collinsville.
(Springfield-jm) – Four brave souls were honored at the annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony in Springfield Tuesday. Public officials, families and firefighters from across Illinois gathered on the state Capitol lawn to remember those who died in the line of duty last year. Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton spoke to the loved ones of the fallen firefighters….
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. The firefighters honored include Michael Pickering and Mashawn Plummer of the Chicago Fire Department, Lieutenant Garrett Ramos with the Sterling Fire Department and Wabash Fire Protection District Firefighter Mehdi Mourad.
(Springfield-jm) – COVID-19 cases are rising across Illinois, sparking a warning from health officials who say a fifth wave could be underway. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, after a decline in coronavirus cases a week earlier, numbers have picked up pace again in Illinois. As of Monday, the state was seeing an average of 5,154 new cases per day over the past seven days. That represents an increase of 41.6% in the last week.
(Springfield-jm) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month and help is available for farmers who are struggling. Whether it be stress over planting delays or uncertainties about the global market, farmers may be having a tough time right now. But Karen Stallman with the Farm Family Resource Initiative says a hotline is available for farmers to reach out 24-7…
Farm Family Resource Initiative’s Karen Stallman. The call is anonymous and resources will be offered for further assistance. Farmers, their spouses or kids having mental health concerns can call or text the hotline at: 1-833-FARM-SOS.
(Urbana-jm) – Inmates at the downtown Urbana jail are expected to be transferred by the end of the week at the earliest. The Champaign County Sheriff's Office said the move comes after a lack of corrections officers between the two jails in the county. Between the downtown and satellite jails, there are 11 openings for corrections officers and two openings for sergeant. The shortage is forcing the downtown jail to shut down permanently, with the new satellite expansion project to break ground next year. The county is planning to have between 100-140 inmates be boarded outside of the county due to the closure. The cost of boarding in another county is $60 per inmate, per day.
(Washington-jm) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is urging lawmakers not to forget the thousands of farm families who are in dire financial trouble. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a package of bills to assist crime victims and address the root causes of violence. One new law will fund efforts to retain police officers and pay for funeral expenses when a child is a victim of gun violence. Another pumps money into a crime witness protection program, says Peoria Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth…
State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth. Additionally, a co-responder pilot program will launch in four cities: Waukegan, Peoria, Springfield and East St. Louis, partnering police with social workers on calls to help assess potential mental health needs.
(Springfield-jm) – As Justice Rita B. Garman has announced her retirement from the Illinois Supreme Court, her replacement will become the first Black woman to serve in the role. Garman's retirement is effective July 7, 2022. Justice Garman has served on the Supreme Court since 2001. She is the longest serving judge in the state. She served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 2013 to 2016. The Supreme Court has constitutional authority to fill interim judicial vacancies and has appointed Fourth District Appellate Justice Lisa Holder White, to fill Justice Garman’s seat.
(Springfield-jm) – A new state law will ensure public high school students aren’t negatively affected by any outstanding fees. The bill was sponsored by Representative Joyce Mason of Gurnee, who says students shouldn’t be denied their grades, transcripts or diplomas…
State Representative Joyce Mason of Gurnee. Previously, diplomas and transcripts could be held as punishment for not paying up. The new law takes effect immediately.
(Springfield-jm) – A bill signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker aims to put a dent into a school bus driver shortage that’s impacting Illinois and the nation. The measure would allow drivers with suspended licenses, due to failure to pay child support the last three years, apply for a bus driver’s license permit. According to a survey by the National Association for Pupil Transportation, about 77% of respondents in the Midwest said they’ve had to alter bus services because of a driver shortage.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Police is offering a new training program to attract more potential troopers. The lateral entry training program is designed for local law enforcement looking to become a state police trooper. Cadets will spend time at the academy in Springfield, but also complete some of the training at home says State Police Director Brendan Kelly…
State Police Director Brendan Kelly. Additionally, a new state law lowers the retirement age for troopers from 60 to 55.
(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County market area home sales fell in March as tightened supply moderated demand amid rising mortgage rates, according to the Champaign County Association of REALTORS®. Home sales decreased in March by 26 percent to 201 units sold over 275 sales in the same month in March of 2021. The average home sale price rose 6.98 percent in March to $210,420 from $196,696 in March a year ago. The median home sale price for the Champaign County area was $164,900, down slightly by 1.85 percent from $168,000 in March 2021.
(Ford-Iroquois - tr) – On a local level, many farmers have started planting in one way or another. Some farmers have already completed planting one type of crop and are moving onto the next, while some have not even started planting yet wth many farmers in between. Ford-Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager David Treece has more…
Ford-Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager David Treece
