(Springfield-jm) – 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City will take over for former 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman. Bennett will serve the remainder of Barickman’s 2 year term.
(Springfield-jm) – As he was sworn in for his second term as Governor, J-B Pritzker discussed some of his priorities for the next four years. After taking the Oath of Office the Governor expressed his love for Illinois and its people. He said he will continue on making sure kids get off to a good start…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says he also wants to make college free for working families, fight hate crimes and work towards making healthcare more affordable.
(Chicago-jm) – The racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has been set for April 1, 2024. The trial, which could last up to two months, was scheduled during a status hearing Monday. A federal grand jury indicted Madigan and his confidant Michael McLean after a years-long corruption investigation. Madigan is accused of leading a criminal enterprise for nearly a decade to enhance his political power and generate income for his allies.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois lawmakers have passed a supplemental spending bill that further boosts the state’s rainy day fund, helps hospitals and gives top government officials a raise. The measure also includes 400 million dollars to enticing businesses to come to Illinois and 160 million to handle the influx of immigrants sent here from Texas. But most of the debate centered on the pay increase for lawmakers, state agency heads and constitutional officers that’s included in the bill. Senator Elgie Sims of Chicago…
State Senator Elgie Sims of Chicago. 850 million dollars will go to the rainy day fund, which has been steadily replenished, and 460 million is slated for the state’s hospitals.
(Undated-jm) – Miss Ford County 2022, Gracelyn Greenburg, will compete in the 2023 Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs State Queen Pageant at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, Illinois. The dates for the competition are Thursday, January 19 through Sunday, January 22, 2023. Gracelyn will be competing with 72 other County Fair Queens for the title of Miss Illinois County Fair Queen 2023. Miss Ford County will officially compete on stage as Contestant #17 in the Saturday afternoon preliminaries beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Ruby/Diamond room on the second floor of the Crowne Plaza.
(Mahomet-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in locating a man wanted for two crimes. Trenton Willis is charged with unlawful restraint and driving under the influence. Last known to be living in Mahomet, Willis is described as being six feet tall, weighing 200 pounds and having brown hair and brown eyes.
(Paxton–jc) What will the city look like next year, in 5 years in 20 years and beyond? That is a question that Paxton city leaders would like to have more answers too with a “mapping” project. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says some tools are available to assist cities in planning on its future…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.
(Champaign-jm) – The longtime manager of the Champaign County Farm Bureau is leaving. Brad Uken announced he is leaving the farm bureau at the end of the month to become the chief administrative officer for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. Uken served as manager for Champaign County since 2003. Uken was appointed to fill the remainder of Tim Johnson’s term on the Parkland College Board back in June, which he plans to finish out when it ends in April.
(Washington-jm) – The latest USDA numbers for agricultural trade continue to show higher exports and much higher ag. product imports. Gary Crawford reports…
(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Police continue to search for a suspect who damaged eight air conditioning units in champaign. Between 5 p.m. on December 16 and 3:20 a.m. on December 17, an unknown suspect damaged eight air conditioning units located in the parking area at 202 East Green Street in Champaign. Security cameras captured images of a person of interest in the area at the time of the crime. The subject was described as a middle-aged white male. He was last seen wearing a dark blue jacket, grey or olive-green hooded sweatshirt, dark-colored pants, and boots.
(Springfield-jm) – As he was sworn in for his second term as Governor, J-B Pritzker discussed some of his priorities for the next four years. Governor Pritzker spoke during the inauguration ceremony, saying one of his top goals is to make preschool available to every family across the state. He also wants to bring down the cost of higher education…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says he would also like to see reproductive rights be solidified in the state constitution.
(Moline-jm) – The American Farm Bureau Federation and John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding that ensures farmers’ and ranchers’ right to repair their own farm equipment. The Illinois Farm Bureau announced the MOU, saying the issue has been a long-standing one for farmers and the agreement gives farmers access to tools, information and resources to repair their own equipment.
(Springfield-jm) – A deal has been reached on legislation banning assault weapons. The bill passed the Senate on a 34 to 20 vote. It bans the manufacture and sale of certain firearms, rapid fire devices and 50 caliber rifles. It limits magazines in long guns to 10 and handguns can hold 15 rounds. Senate President Don Harmon presented the measure…
State Senate President Don Harmon. The bill will require those who currently have assault rifles to register the serial number with the State Police. It also sets up a task force to fight the trafficking of guns into Illinois. The House Speaker and Governor praised the measure, which now must be passed by the house.
(Gifford-jm) – Two cats were killed in a house fire in Gifford on Sunday that also left the occupants displaced. Gifford Fire says the house was fully engulfed in flames by the time firefighters from Gifford, Rantoul and Ludlow arrived. The fire was extinguished within 45 minutes, but firefighters faced difficulty in extinguishing a large library of books that were inside. The occupants were at church when the fire started and were not home as a result. They said there were five cats in the home; two were found dead while the other three could not be accounted for. No one was hurt and the State Fire Marshal determined the fire was caused by an electrical issue.
(Urbana-jm) – A team at the University of Illinois received a USDA grant in the amount of $2.5 million to investigate uses for food waste and swine manure. According to the university, the U.S. produces millions of tons of food and agricultural waste. Converting this waste into useful products such as pavement and fuel could help reduce the high cost of managing waste while also mitigating environmental impact.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Supreme Court has put a halt on the implementation of the Safe-T Act. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City has the latest…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul teen has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for a 2021 July 4th shooting. Deleon Moffett pleaded guilty in Champaign County court to aggravated battery with a firearm. Moffett admitted he shot a man on Maplewood Drive in Rantoul on July 4, 2021. 4 people including two juveniles were injured in the shooting. In exchange for his guilty plea, charges alleging he shot the others were dropped. A second person, Teigan Hunt pleaded guilty in August and was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
(Undated-jm) – We are in the second week of January, but how are we doing on snowfall? State Climatologist Trent Ford has those details…
State Climatologist Trent Ford.
(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for holding a woman in a hotel room against her will. Mario Jones pleaded guilty to unlawful restraint. Police say Jones detained a woman in a hotel room in Urbana. Police received two calls of a woman saying she was being threatened. The first time they arrived the people in the room said everything was fine. The second time they arrived they found the door locked and barricaded. Once they got in the room, they found the woman tied up and Jones was arrested.
