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Several areas of the state are experiencing drought conditions

(Springfield-jm) – New legislation in response to the Highland Park shooting creates a “White Flag” law. The goal is to close a loophole in current laws and add an extra layer of protection, says Villa Park Representative Deb Conroy…

 

 

State Representative Deb Conroy of Villa Park. There’s a bill already in the legislature banning assault weapons that is picking up traction in the wake of the deadly 4th of July shooting.

 

(Chicago-jm) – DCFS Director Marc Smith was held in contempt of court and fined $1,000 per day for the 12th time since January 6, 2022. This is the 12th time in less than six months that Director Smith has been held in contempt of court for failing to place a child appropriately in violation of court orders. The order involves a 15-year-old girl whom DCFS has kept detained in a locked psychiatric hospital where she has been ready for discharge since January 14, 2022

 

(Springfield-jm) – Several areas of the state are experiencing drought conditions. Precipitation has been down, and large chunks of northern, southern and central Illinois are rated as abnormally dry according to the latest U-S drought monitor. Far northwestern Illinois, eastern Illinois and southeastern Illinois are considered to be in a moderate to severe drought says State Climatologist Trent Ford…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford is hopeful the recent rain will make a dent in the drought conditions, noting it’s particularly important for crops to get moisture during this month’s critical growing stage.


 

(Cissna Park–jc)  The Cissna Park community lost a beloved former Mayor and businessman last week. 92 year old Richard “Dick” Baier passed away on Thursday at his home.  Baier owned and operated the Cissna Park News and Rankin Independent for decades and also served the village as Mayor for 4 terms. Baier was also a Marine and active in the Cissna Park American Legion. He also served there in many capacities, including Legion Commander. Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park is handling arrangements. 

 

(Rantoul-jm) – The former executive director of a Rantoul nursing home will have to pay thousands of dollars back after admitting she stole. Kimberly Cross was sentenced to 3.5 years of probation and 100 hours of community service for financial exploitation of an elderly person. Police said she deposited checks written to the Villas of Holly Brook into an account other than the business account. She will have to pay back more than $16,000 as part of her sentencing.

 

(Hoopeston-jm) – A 2020 Ford Ranger hit the Subway building in Hoopeston Friday night. 75 year old Larry Dunavan of Rossville turned into the parking lot hitting the east facing side of the building. He drove between the front of the building and concrete barriers in front of the door. He was ticketed for a DUI.

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA's next assessment of Ukraine's crop and trade situation is in the works. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Looking to make some extra money this summer? The Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair are hiring seasonal workers. The temporary jobs pay 14 dollars an hour and are vital to the operations of both fairs, says Spokesperson Krista Lisser…

 

 

Fair Spokesperson Krista Lisser. Those interested can apply online at the Illinois State Fair or DuQuoin State Fair websites.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor JB Pritzker reissued and modified the executive order to suspend the requirement of the Illinois Department of Human Services to notify county jails of the placement location within 20 days of the order. The executive order was issued one week after the Department of Human Services was held in contempt and the day before a scheduled injunction hearing in the case filed by Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell. The Illinois Sheriff's Association says the exact language challenged by Sheriff Campbell was deleted in this new executive order. Instead, it was replaced with subjective language about the Department of Human Services just needing to prioritize working with the sheriffs now. The crux of the issue is the long wait times inmates deemed mentally fit are experiencing in jails before being able to get the mental health treatment they've been ordered to receive.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A Highland Park area lawmaker says all ideas are being considered when it comes to preventing another mass shooting. Representative Bob Morgan says he’s looking at several pathways including an assault weapons ban, loopholes in the state’s red flag laws and how social media can potentially help prevent such tragedies…

 

 

State Representative Bob Morgan. Morgan says his office has been getting hundreds of calls since the 4th of July and that all suggestions are welcome.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The Champaign County downtown jail is officially closed. The county secured funding to move the final 70 inmates allowing for the closure. What happens next is unknown. The county approved a $20 million plan to expand the satellite jail in Urbana. However, an Urbana committee decided to not recommend a special use permit that is needed to move forward with construction. The full Urbana city council will vote on the committee’s decision this week.

 

(Champaign-jm) –  Firefighters were called to Champaign Central High School on Sunday to battle a fire that started in a dumpster next to the school.

The fire started around 1 p.m. A group of contractors working on school renovations discovered the fire and attempted to put the fire out with extinguishers; those efforts did not succeed.

 

(Washington-jm) – With its upcoming world supply and demand forecasts USDA's Outlook Board hopes to add a little bit of certainty to a market that has had very little certainty this season. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

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