Today is Martin Luther King Junior Day. The pastor was a man of faith and was a protector of all rights for all people.  Banks, government offices, schools are all closed today to honor Martin Luther King Junior. It is also a day to do a good service to others.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker will be in Davos, Switzerland this week for the World Economic Forum annual meeting. The Governor is participating in several roundtable talks, and is eager to highlight Illinois’ achievements…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says he will also discuss the state’s electric vehicle initiatives and the Rebuild Illinois infrastructure program.

 

(Undated-jm) – The Illinois State Police are investigating two separate Scott's Law violations. On January 14 at around 2:33 am ISP officers began investigating a traffic crash involving an ISP Trooper squad car along interstate 57 northbound in Kankakee County. Bradley police located and stopped the suspect's Charger which belonged to 74-year-old Jonnie Wilson who was charged with a Scott's Law violation and Driving Under the Influence. The next incident happened the following day at 6 am on interstate 94 southbound in Cook County. The driver Nataly Guy was transported to a hospital with injuries and charged with a Scott's Law violation and Driving Under the Influence.

 

(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois lawmaker is pushing to legalize psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic purposes. The new legislation is dubbed the “Illinois Cure Act” and is sponsored by Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago. It paves the way for people to seek treatment for conditions like depression, PTSD and chronic pain using Psylocibin (sill-oh-cy-bin)...

 

 

State Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago. The bill also creates an advisory board, addresses rules and regulations and lifts criminal penalties for mushrooms.

 

(Washington-jm) – Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski announced this weekend that the U of I will receive more than $370,000 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding is through the Department’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Congresswoman Budzinski’s office said the federal funding will be used for research on the synthesis of biologically active terpenoids, small bioactive molecules.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A man was arrested after he was involved in a police chase that started in Indiana and a carjacking in Champaign. Police say officers were called to an unknown incident” in the area of Prospect Avenue and Baytowne Drive. Champaign Police learned that the subject had carjacked a driver in the 2000 block of N. Prospect Avenue. The officers followed the vehicle until it came to a stop due to mechanical failure near County Road 2400, where the subject briefly fled on foot before being detained. Champaign Police arrested Ryan Hutchinson on initial charges including Resisting or Obstructing a Peace Officer, Vehicular Hijacking, Violating an Order of Protection, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Aggravated Fleeing, and Child Endangerment. Hutchinson is alleged to have fled a traffic stop in a stolen vehicle in Indiana, eluding law enforcement as he drove westbound on Interstate 74. A female and two children were located unharmed in the vehicle he had previously abandoned near North Prospect Avenue, which led to the charges of child endangerment.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The first few days of the 103rd General Assembly are in the books. Newly sworn in 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City thanked those who supported him…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – How voters elect their representatives on the Rantoul village board could once again be changing. A 2018 referendum called for trustees to be elected by district instead of at large as had been the case. However, a petition started by former trustee Terry Workman, would change it back to trustees being voted at large. Voters will have to make a decision in the April 2023 election whether or not to switch back. Workman claims in the past it took at least 736 votes to be elected to the village board. Under the new way, some are only getting in with around 40 votes. Those that fought for the initial change to districts argue minority areas of the community are underrepresented. Rantoul Residents for Representation argued most of the people who signed the petition to switch back were from more affluent areas of the villages north side and do not represent areas of the former base. The group also argues that only one percent of the signatures calling for the referendum were African american. According to Illinois municipal codes, it cannot go into effect until spring of 2026. 

 

(Paxton–jc)  – Ford County leaders are set to meet next week and the subject is Arpa Funds. The meeting is set for 11am on Wednesday in the small courtroom in the Ford County Courthouse in Paxton

 

(Washington-jm) – Several factors are making it very difficult for analysts to project the size of Argentina's corn and soybean crops. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Fifty-nine counties in Illinois are now rated at medium or high community levels for COVID-19 as of Friday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The number of counties has decreased by 14, compared to the previous week, with three Illinois counties at a High Community Level and 56 at a Medium Level.IDPH also reported on Friday there are 16,602 new cases of COVID-19 in Illinois in the week ending January 8 and 113 deaths.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a new law that expands protections and access to reproductive healthcare in Illinois. The law expands the number of medical professionals who can perform abortions, lets patients get hormonal birth control over the counter from a pharmacist and shields patients and providers from any legal ramifications imposed by other states, says the Governor…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The law also requires the State Department of Public Health to work with organizations to provide grants for abortion training.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign police are searching for the Chicago teen who made threats to Urbana High School, after the teen failed to show up for a sentencing hearing on Friday. This is the second time the 16-year-old and her mother did not show up for court. The first sentence hearing was scheduled for December 9, 2022, but the two did not make it due to transportation issues. The teen is required by law to appear in person. Her absence caused the judge to issue an arrest warrant. She was previously charged with disorderly conduct and making a terroristic threat, but the latter charge was dropped when she pleaded guilty back in December.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Rock legend Alice Cooper is coming to the State Farm Center in Champaign in May. Cooper will bring his Too Close for Comfort Tour to Champaign on May 9th. Tickets go on sale this Friday.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The 103rd General Assembly is just beginning but its not without controversy. State Senator Chapin Rose talks about some of the controversial topics that came out of the lame duck session…

 

 

State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – Researchers at the University of Illinois are looking into how robots can help older adults. They are teaming up with the Hello Robot Company to design a robot that can perform helpful tasks. Stretch the Robot, is five feet tall and has telescoping arms. Researchers said Stretch will help older people with cognitive impairment and limited mobility perform everyday tasks including, picking things up, opening cabinets, delivering medications and cleaning.

 

(Savoy-jm) – The Village of Savoy is planning to start phase two of the Curtis Road Complete Street and Grade Separation Project. Two million dollars in federal money will help pay for utility and right-of way acquisitions. The Village was one of more than 550 places across Illinois that applied for the money. This is just one part of their overall plan. The entire project is expected to cost more than $30 million. The project will make repairs to Curtis Road and make it safer for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and easier for emergency responders to navigate the railroad in town. That includes building an underpass. The Village already has more than $20 million from a combination of local, state and federal funding. That helps fill an $8 million gap. They will keep applying for more grants to reach their goal.

 

(Washington-jm) – South American farmers may be hoping that the current La Nina weather pattern gives way next year to an El Nino pattern. Gary Crawford reports…