(Springfield-jm) – Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey says he will repeal the Criminal Justice Reform Act if he's elected governor. The reform act, also known as the SAFE-T Act, went into effect last July when Governor JB Pritzer signed it into law. Among several changes, the act eliminates cash bail in the state.

 

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District says a second case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Champaign County. The first was detected on July 8, 2022.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Mega Millions jackpot is now over one billion dollars. One lucky winner has the potential to join an elite club says Illinois Lottery Spokesperson Lorell Lynch…

 

 

Illinois Lottery Spokesperson Lorell Lynch. Only three jackpots over one billion dollars have ever been won in the US Mega Millions costs two bucks to play and you can add a megaplier for one additional dollar to boost any non jackpot winnings. The chance of hitting all six numbers and winning the jackpot with a single ticket is about one in 303 million.

 

(Urbana-jm) –  A street on the Urbana side of the University of Illinois campus will be closing for a few days later this week as crews dismantle a tower crane in front of Noyes (noise) Laboratory. South Mathew Avenue will close today between West Green Street and West Oregon Street to allow for the operation. The street will remain closed until 5 p.m. on Saturday. Access will be maintained to all properties located within the closure, but through traffic will not be allowed. The sidewalk will also be closed to pedestrians.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign City Council moved forward with a plan to bring new life to the downtown area. The council voted 9-0 to move forward with plans to construct a building at 47 East Main Street, with retail and housing space. A parking lot currently sits at that address. Work is expected to begin in a year and a half.

 

(Loda-tr) – The Loda Truck and Tractor pull will take place Sunday July 31st with festivities to start on Saturday, July 30th, with a parade and music that night. Loda Truck and Tractor Pull Spokesperson Denny Starkey says the tractor pull won’t start until after church is let out… 

 

 

Loda Truck and Tractor Pull Spokesperson Denny Starkey. Many unique food vendors will also be available during the pull on Sunday.  WPXN will be broadcasting live from Loda from 11am to noon with Becky Puetz, It’s summer fun tour stop 13.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man is facing 15 years in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting a teen brought to the area from Mexico. Miguel Nicolas-Domingo is charged with criminal sexual assault. Nicolas-Domingo is being held in the Kankakee County jail due to a federal immigration case.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 30 months probation after pleading guilty to selling cannabis and possessing a gun. Adrian Gonzalez pleaded guilty in Champaign County court to possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number and possession with intent to deliver cannabis after police searched his home back in 2021. In exchange for his plea, charges of armed violence and possession of a controlled substance were dismissed.

 

(Urbana–jc)  Today is 4-H Day at the Champaign County Fair. A Kiddie Tractor Pull is planned for 3 this afternoon. The carnival opens at 5pm and its Monster Trucks tonight at 7. The Champaign County Fair runs through Saturday on the fair grounds in Urbana.

 

(Undated-jm) – Ameren Illinois is announcing a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that will provide $12 million in bill payment relief to 66,000 customers. Ameren officials said inflation and supply constraints led to an energy shortage. The increasing supply cost resulted in a significant rise in monthly bill amounts that officials said the company did not benefit from. 

 

(Champaign County-jm) – Officials with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District said there are now two confirmed monkeypox cases in the county.

Earlier in July, the health department announced a “single presumptive monkeypox case.” Now, there are two confirmed cases. Health officials said monkeypox is spread mostly through close contact with someone who has the virus. 

 

(Chicago-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker says Google will be taking over the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. The deal is now finalized, with the state receiving 30 million dollars in cash and a nearby office building. Governor Pritzker says the building will house Illinois government employees, helping the state save on downtown leases…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.  The Thompson Center will undergo renovations and then be occupied by Google. The Governor says this will further solidify Chicago as a technology hub.

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – A Vermilion County man is facing a murder charge after reportedly calling 911 about killing his wife. The Vermilion County Sheriff's Department says deputies and medical personnel responded to the rural Ridge Farm home after the call. They found 77-year-old Norma Smith dead at the scene. Don Smith, 75, was taken into custody on charges of first degree murder.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The University of Illinois says that its three locations will continue to require students and faculty to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, despite a policy change from Governor J.B. Pritzker’s administration removed a requirement for institutions of higher learning to implement such mandates. No determination has yet been made on whether masking will be required on campuses, with officials saying that decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.

 

(Ford County-tr) – The Ford County Public Health Department will be hosting a Health and Resource Fair tomorrow from 2-5pm at the Moyer District Library in Gibson City. FCPHD Community Health Educator Kami Garrison explains a few of the features to this health fair… 

 

 

FCPHD Community Health Educator Kami Garrison.

 

(Champaign-jm) — A Champaign man was arrested after he admitted to selling cannabis. Officers from the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant at the home of Donald Friend. Inside they found a pound of cannabis, a pistol, ammunition and money. Friend is charged with possession with intent to deliver. He is due back in court September 13th.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man who robbed a gambling parlor employee at gunpoint has been sentenced to 21 years in prison. Cornelius Tapscott pleaded guilty in Champaign County court to armed robbery. Tapscott went into Lacy’s Place on October 11th and pulled out a gun and demanded money before escaping. Police found his fingerprints on the counter of the establishment leading to his arrest.