(Springfield-jm) – After lawmakers approved amendments to the SAFE-T Act that eliminates cash bail in Illinois, a lawsuit challenging the measure’s implementation will now be heard December 20, just 11 days before no cash bail is to take effect. Before leaving for the year, state lawmakers approved amendments to the sweeping criminal justice reform legislation that abolishes cash bail starting January 1. The amendments add a slew of serious crimes people can be held for pending trial. It was scheduled to be heard in a Kankakee County court Wednesday. Amended briefs are due at the end of the week. A ruling is expected December 28, just three days before no cash bail goes into effect.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The State Board of Elections is certifying final election figures and says turnout for the November midterms was 51 percent. That’s the fourth lowest turnout for a midterm in the past 40 years, says Spokesperson Matt Dietrich.  The highest was 65 percent in 1982. He notes that there was a slight decline in people voting early in person, but the number of vote by mail voters doubled from 2018…

 

 

State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich. Dietrich also says the constitutional amendment on Illinois Workers Rights passed with just over 53 percent of the vote.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois’ Discovery Partners Institute announced receipt of a $200,000 grant from technology company Google. The money will be used to expand the program’s efforts of developing diverse technology talent in Chicago by supporting tuition for 10 teachers next summer.

 

(Washington-jm) – Income from livestock and livestock product sales is up dramatically this year. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – There will be a new state Senator representing the area. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman announced Monday he is retiring. Barickman has served the 53rd District for 12 years.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Work in the downtown area of Paxton continues this holiday season. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold continues to work on redevelopment agreements with businesses and growing businesses near the Interstate 57 interchange is also on the radar…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

 

(Danville-jm) – As the Vermilion County Board re-organizes it will be missing two long-time leaders.  Steve Fourez and Dr. Wesley Bieritz decided not to seek re-election. Both men are Republicans and both have served as the head of some county board committees. Dr Bieritz has served the county since 1977 and spent the last 8 years on the board. Fourez has been serving as chairman of the County Board Finance and Personnel Committee which this year held a record number of meetings to improve the salaries of county employees.  He has served on the County Board for 16 years.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A group of Illinois lawmakers is calling for an end to a House practice that allows many measures to be voted on with one vote and little discussion. The Illinois Freedom Caucus, a group of downstate Republicans, said the practice enables House leadership to pass hundreds of bills with a single roll call vote. The practice is used every year in the Legislature, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, to pass a variety of bills. The Illinois Freedom Caucus released a statement calling for the end of the practice altogether, claiming it is against the public's best interests. The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of Adam Niemerg of Dietrich and state Reps. Chris Miller of Oakland, Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville, Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City, and Dan Caulkins of Decatur.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The federal government is extending the real ID deadline for another two years. The deadline had been this May, but you now have until May of 2025 to get the real-ID. At that time, it will be needed for those who fly domestically but don’t have a passport, and for people visiting military bases or secure federal facilities. There’s plenty of time to get the real ID, but Illinois Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt says if you want to get it taken care of…

 

 

Illinois Secretary of State Henry Haupt. That list has all the things you will need to bring with you, including proof of residency and signature. That website again is real id dot il sos dot gov.

 

(Urbana-jm) – A life-saving medicine is more accessible on the University of Illinois campus now thanks to the Illinois Department of Human Services. In a Mass Mail to the campus community, Awais Vaid, Director of McKinley Health Center, said an IDPH distribution program is putting NARCAN at several campus locations to treat an opioid overdose. Vaid said that the U of I campus has not had a reported overdose recently, but the broader Champaign-Urbana community has.

 

(Washington-jm) – By the end of this year U.S.farmers will have generated huge income numbers for the ag. Sector. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County’s first Democratic sheriff since 1934 was sworn into his second term at the county courthouse. Sheriff Dustin Heuerman is the first democrat to take the oath of office since former Sheriff Fred Shoaf held the office for one term from 1930-1934. The largest ongoing project is the consolidation of the Champaign County jail facilities in Urbana. After a decade-long, $20 million debate, in 2021 the Champaign County Board approved Heuerman’s plea to close the increasingly run-down downtown jail and expand the satellite jail in its place. He expects to see that project through by the end of 2024. The Sheriff’s Office would need to hire 10 to 15 more correctional officers to adequately staff the new facility, including existing gaps.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  Tourism remains a top priority for leaders in the village of Rantoul. The Sports complex has completed its second year of operation and now is the busy time for Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch just west of the village. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says that Hardy’s helps bring visitors from all over the country to the local reindeer ranch…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

 

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance regarding an aggravated battery. On September 17, two males battered a male inside One Stop Food and Liquor located at 701 North Neil Street in Champaign. Officials say they have identified one of the suspects but are asking for assistance in identifying the other suspect captured on video. Crime Stoppers says the suspect appeared to be a black male, last seen wearing a gray Super Mario Brothers t-shirt and black Adidas pants.