(Springfield-jm) – Illinoisans employing domestic workers like nannies, caregivers or housekeepers have new policies they must follow, like the state’s minimum wage law under a new rule finalized by the Illinois Department of Labor. Other provisions announced Monday include ensuring overtime pay, meal times and rest periods.

 

(Paxton-jm) – A local hamburger restaurant in Paxton will be reopening this weekend. Just Hamburgers closed in April after 43 years of operation when its owners retired. But there was so much demand for the restaurant that it will be reopening under new ownership. The grand reopening will be Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and the restaurant will be open until 1:30 p.m. The new owners said the menu should be about the same as it was when the restaurant closed.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Murphysboro, Illinois man wanted for a 2020 shooting in Champaign has been arrested on drug charges. An Illinois State Trooper stopped Robert Grady for a traffic violation in northwest Champaign. The trooper discovered Grady was wanted on charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Grady is accused of a shooting near Bradley and Duncan in Champaign in September 2020. The trooper also located two pounds of cannabis in the vehicle Bond was set at $450,000.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is urging the public to remain aware and be prepared for further heavy rains and flash flooding. Several significant storms may be impacting Illinois this week, bringing a potential for rapid flooding and storm damage. IEMA Spokesperson Kevin Sur stresses the need to stay alert during the threat of severe weather…

 

 

IEMA Spokesperson Kevin Sur. Sur also advises having an emergency kit at home and in the car and to include family pets in any preparedness efforts.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A man was arrested for possession of a stolen credit card, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, and on a Champaign County warrant for theft. Edward Bennett was arrested near Third and Daniel streets. Police say on July 31, a U of I student reported a man, later identified as Bennett, was chasing her near Second and Chalmers streets. U of I police saw Bennett trying to enter an apartment complex in the 900 block of South Third Street, Champaign. Officers say they found a stolen credit card on Bennett when he was arrested.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Savoy man has been charged with making a terrorist threat, a Class X felony. Michael Miller is accused of threatening a mass shooting at First and Green streets in Champaign. Charges were filed after Miller allegedly sent hundreds of emails to Champaign Mayor Deb Feinen over several months. On July 24, Miller reportedly sent a series of emails that suggested a mass shooting would occur at the intersection of First and Green Streets, and referenced “a handful of folk I would personally want to murder.” A search of Miller's home led officers to discover three ghost gun kits and materials used to make 9mm ammunition. Miller's bond was set at $1 million.

 

(Loda-jm) – A Loda man is facing charges following a single vehicle accident Saturday. Iroquois County police say Keanan Crabb was traveling eastbound on 200 east when he failed to negotiate a curve and went into a ditch. A witness told police they saw Crabb leave the scene and later, Crabb reported his vehicle stolen. Crabb was cited for leaving the scene of an accident, improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed and driving while license suspended.

 

(Washington-jm) – Recent adjustments in USDA's Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program result in an increase in available funding for payments to eligible producers. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois state agency is asking all federal student loan servicers to take a proactive step to alert student loan holders about a forgiveness program that may apply to them. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on Tuesday sent a letter to the servicers asking them to alert and educate student loan holders about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The program forgives the remaining student loan balance of full-time government and certain non-profit employees after making 120 qualifying payments.

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana teen has been charged with attempted aggravated arson for allegedly trying to set fire to a Tolono home. Jael Heredia is accused of starting two fires at a mobile home while a woman and her son were inside. Police say a neighbor saw Heredia watching the fires and yelled at him causing him to flee. He was located a short time later. Bond was set at $25,000.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man will spend the next 7 years in prison for shooting his pregnant girlfriend. Desmond Godbolt pleaded guilty in Champaign County court to aggravated battery with a firearm, admitting he shot the woman in the upper body in May 2021. 

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man has been resentenced to 4 and a half years in prison for violating his sex offender probation. Joseph Sloan pleaded guilty last September to indecent solicitation of a child and sentenced to four years probation. The state moved to revoke his probation after learning he failed to comply with two elements of his probation including not being around children and failing to undergo court ordered treatment.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 2 years probation for flushing cocaine down the toilet when police approached his house. Trayon Parker pleaded guilty to obstructing justice admitting he flushed the cocaine down the toilet as the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force entered his home with a search warrant. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – There will be a pair of lane reductions because of road construction in Champaign this week. In order to complete fiber optic install for i3 Broadband, Direct Line and Stark Excavation will close an eastbound lane of Windsor Road between Mattis Avenue and Windward Boulevard. The closure will begin today and will reopen on Monday, August 8 weather permitting. During the closure, eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in the area. In order to facilitate curb and gutter construction at 409 W. Town Center Boulevard, Mayfield Construction will be closing one eastbound lane of Town Center Boulevard between Moreland Boulevard and Neil Street.  The closure will begin today and will reopen on Wednesday, August 10. Eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in the area.

 

(Washington-jm) – Some USDA risk management and disaster programs are utilizing existing data to create pre-populated application forms for qualifying producers. Rod Bain reports…