(Springfield-jm) – Illinois is one of several states poised to allow online casino-style gaming to help offset pandemic relief funding losses, a new report indicates.  A report by Bonus.com said states have bills to pay and with federal funds drying up, they may look to alternative revenue sources instead of raising taxes on their residents. Illinois already allows online sports betting, which has been a cash cow for the state. Since March 2020, Illinois has become one of the top sports betting markets in the country. Researchers say Illinois is one of five states to watch in 2023 for possible online casino legalization.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois lawmakers passed legislation making it easier for people to change the gender on their birth certificate. Under the bill, those not identifying with the gender on their birth certificate can get it updated without a doctor’s note, says Senator Laura Fine of Glenview…

 

 

State Senator Laura Fine of Glenview. Fine says this brings birth certificate requirements in line with Illinois driver’s license. Those seeking a change can choose the gender designation of male, female or x.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois households now pay over three times more than they did nearly two decades ago to cover the cost of state pensions. According to Illinois Policy Institute, each Illinois household spent $2,769 to fund government pensions in 2021, paying the third most for government workers’ retirements in the U.S. despite leading the nation in debt. State and local pensions cost homeowners $808 a year in 2002.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois legislature is wrapping up the lame duck session. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about the schedule for this week…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Democratic Party Chairs for Champaign and Vermilion chose Champaign Township Assessor Paul Faraci to replace the late Sen. Scott Bennett as Senator for the 52nd District in the 103rd General Assembly. Faraci has lived in the Champaign area for 45 years. He has a long history of working in local and state government, including for the State Treasurer’s office. The party chairs picked Faraci from a group of 10 applicants. He will serve out the full two year term that Bennett was elected to. He will be sworn in with the rest of the General Assembly on Wednesday in Springfield.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Champaign man is facing a disorderly conduct charge after prosecutors said he made a false bomb threat toward his Rantoul workplace last week. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said Andrew Vasen, 28, was at Rantoul Foods on December 30 when he started acting erratically, disturbing other employees. He was ultimately removed from the building but threatened there was a bomb inside. He also made other statements that caused concern about his mental state. Reitz said the bomb threat turned out to be false. Champaign County Sheriff’s records indicate that Vasen has been released from the Champaign County Jail. He is due in court next on March 14.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Police Department  reported shootings are down by about 50%. In 2021, there were 259 shootings. In 2022, there were approximately 124.

 

(Champaign-jm) – In updating our story from Friday. Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup has identified the 21-year-old Champaign man that died following a shooting in the Garden Hills neighborhood Thursday night. The shooting happened just after 5:30 p.m. on Garden Hills Drive near Bradley Avenue. Northrup identified the victim as Jalen Williams. Responding officers were advised that there had been a shooting with injuries and found Williams had suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds to the chest. Their initial investigation indicated that the victim was walking in the street with an unidentified man, who shot Williams and ran away.

 

(Springfield-jm) – About 30,700 mail-in ballots in Illinois were rejected statewide in last year’s November election, according to preliminary data from the Illinois State Board of Elections. Data shows a total of more than 2.2 million mail-ballots were requested across the state for November's election. More than 657,000 were returned with around 626,300 counted.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois House is voting to expand and protect reproductive rights in Illinois. The legislation shields abortion providers and patients from any legal trouble and ensures patients can get over the counter birth control. It’s sponsored by Representative Kelly Cassidy of Chicago…

 

 

State Representative Kelly Cassidy of Chicago. The bill also requires public colleges to have at least one vending machine on campus with plan B emergency contraceptives and mandates insurance coverage of HIV prevention drugs, gender affirming medications and drugs to induce abortion. The Senate has similar legislation, although it does not address gender affirming healthcare.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced that 2022 set cannabis sales records in all categories. This includes number of items sold, sales totals to Illinois and out-of-state residents, and sales total by month. For the year, Illinois adult-use cannabis dispensaries sold $1.5 billion worth of product, an increase of more than 12% from 2021 and 131% from 2020, the first year cannabis sales were first legally allowed in Illinois.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Democratic majority passed an 18 percent pay raise for themselves late Friday night. It would raise legislator pay to $85,000. State Representative Mark Batinick spoke on behalf of the Republican caucus…

 

 

State Representative Mark Batinick of Plainfield. The measure passed along party lines with all Republicans voting against the measure.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Illinois State Police officials reported that one person is dead in the crash on Interstate 57. The crash happened at 3 p.m. south of Monticello Road and involved two vehicles. Officials said the passenger vehicle was driving northbound when, for unknown reasons, the car went off the roadway, crossed the median and entered the southbound lanes and hit the truck. The driver of the car, identified by Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup as 22 year old Frank Vargas of Highland, Indiana, was pronounced dead on-scene. The driver of the semi was transported to an area hospital with injuries. An autopsy on Vargas is scheduled for today.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois system has removed its COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements for students and faculty. They are no longer required to be fully vaccinated against the virus or test regularly. The university will continue testing at the SHIELD Illinois community site, Monday through Friday. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign woman is in custody less than a week after Crime Stoppers asked for help in locating her. An arrest warrant issued on December 28 charged Angelia Gant, 47, with aggravated discharge of a firearm. Champaign County Crime Stoppers included her as part of its Crime of the Week release on Monday and on Friday, Gant was taken into custody. The warrant was issued in connection to a shooting incident on October 9 in the area of Country Fair Drive and White Street. Gant is accused of firing a shot in the direction of her ex-boyfriend during a post-breakup dispute.

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – The search for a permanent administrator of the Vermilion County Public Health Department continues. Only two applicants have applied for the position. The opening comes after Doug Toole resigned in November after being with the health department since 1992. Jana Messmore is serving as interim administrator.