(Springfield-jm) – New changes to Firearm Owners' Identification cards.As of January 1, the Illinois State Police will automatically renew a person’s FOID card. Now, with a full set of fingerprints, it will be easier for people to get their FOID cards renewed. ISP said the automatic renewal will allow staff to focus on clear and present danger reports, firearm restraining orders, and FOID correlations and enforcement. The Illinois State Police will check the fingerprints against all available state and local criminal history record files. If you apply for a FOID card, you can include the full set of fingerprints transmitted through a live scan fingerprint vendor. But those vendors must be a part of the approved vendor list. The fingerprints will then be kept on file for potential automatic renewals.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker says he feels comfortable that the no-cash bail portion of the Safe-T Act will be upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court. The Pre-Trial Fairness Act was ruled unconstitutional by a Kankakee County Judge and now the state has appealed to the Supreme Court. At an unrelated press conference, the Governor was asked for his reaction…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The state Supreme Court has issued a stay on the no-cash bail law while the matter is reviewed.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) – A 26-year-old Decatur man is under arrest after Paxton Police said he was caught in a child predator sting last month. Paxton Police said they started investigating Dylan Conerty on August 7 when they learned he contacted a 14-year-old girl. The investigation developed enough evidence to warrant his arrest and Conerty was arrested during a traffic stop on December 29. He is facing four charges: Traveling to meet a minor, Indecent solicitation of a child, Solicitation to meet a child, Exploitation of a child. The sting Conerty was caught in has been active since the summer and at least 11 other men have been arrested as a result.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  A streetscape project is under consideration for the village of Rantoul. A business building continues to be built on the village’s west side and more development is set for this year in Rantoul. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says sales tax figures are also up in Rantoul…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

Village leaders are expected to look into the next steps of a streetscape program when they meet next week at village hall. 

 

(Urbana-jm) – A Champaign County judge has delayed the sentencing of an 18 year old convicted of murder. Amari Robinson was found guilty of first degree murder in the shooting death of Martin Morrow. The delay comes after Robinson fired her public defenders and hired a pair of attorneys. A second person also accused of the shooting is awaiting trial. If convicted, Robinson faces a minimum of 45 years in prison.

 

(Mahomet-jm) – A Mahomet man remains behind bars accused of forging checks. Matthew Bushman is charged with 4 counts of forgery and one count of continuing financial crimes enterprise. According to Champaign Police, Bushman allegedly cashed 3 forged checks at a currency exchange on north Prospect Avenue on November 28th, 30th and December 2nd. Those checks totaled more than $3,400 and were from a closed account at a Bloomington bank for a construction company. On December 16th, Bushman allegedly tried to cash a check written on a Savoy couple's account at First Federal Bank in the amount of $15,000. A bank official noticed the numeric amount did not match the written amount and asked him to fill out additional paperwork but Bushman fled. A Mahomet police officer arrested Bushman after he allegedly presented counterfeit cash at two different stores in town. A search of his vehicle turned up a box containing blank checks, other people’s W-2 earnings forms and utility bills. He admitted to being paid to do it. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man wanted for arson has been arrested. Kristian Williams was charged with residential arson and aggravated battery. Police say Williams set fire to an apartment on Kenwood Drive on December 16th. If convicted on that charge he faces a mandatory prison sentence of 4 to 15 years in prison. He also has 3 pending felony cases. Williams was also wanted for a November 24th aggravated battery for allegedly knocking out a person with a piece of concrete with rebar in it. He has not yet been arraigned on that case.

 

(Washington-jm) – Will this new year be an even better one for farmers and for the ag. Economy? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois sure experienced a mixed bag of weather to kick off winter last month. The statewide average temperature for December was 29.4 degrees, but that doesn’t tell the whole story, says State Climatologist Trent Ford. The first half of the month was warmer than normal, but then an arctic blast set in mid-December…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says it’s unusual to see temperatures get that cold in December. He notes that last month was the first time since July that precipitation was above normal. Far southern Illinois saw the most, with over 5 inches.

 

(Savoy-jm) – The man arrested in relation to the murder of four University of Idaho students was photographed during a refueling stop in Champaign's Willard Airport. The photos provided by TMZ, show Kohberger being led by law enforcement agents from the plane to the airport. Kohberger is in the process of being extradited to Idaho where he will likely go to court this week.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The new year did not bring an end to University of Illinois students being scammed over the phone, as U of I Police report the first scams they’ve become aware of in 2023. Three of the scams happened in December and were only just reported to police after the new year while the third happened on Tuesday. In total, scammers got nearly $10,000.

 

(Watseka-jm) – The Watseka Park District is teaming up with Sorensen Wilder & Associates to offer an Active Shooter/Intruder Training Program in Watseka.  The training program invites businesses, schools and individuals to attend one of two sessions on Tuesday, January 17 at the Elk's Lodge.  Sessions will be held 8 am - !2 noon and again from 1 - 5 pm. A $20 fee per-person if registered by January 10.  After that, a fee of $25.  Space is limited so early registration is recommended.  Contact the Watseka Park District for info 815-432-3931.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A man was arrested near Fifth and Healey streets, Champaign, for battery. The Champaign Police Department says Jeulius K. Johnson, 27, was identified as the person who head-butted and punched a maintenance employee the previous day at an apartment building in the 400 block of East Healey Street, Champaign. The employee received minor injuries. He was assessed on-site by medical personnel who determined that hospitalization was not necessary. Officials say the attack occurred after the employee asked Johnson to leave the property.

 

(Washington-jm) – Will food shoppers see prices finally dropping in 2023? Gary Crawford reports…