(Springfield-jm) – Despite Illinois’ efforts to smoothly integrate electric vehicles into the state’s economy, a new report from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute is warning of a potential steep decline in transportation revenue as the process of electrification accelerates. The primary issue is motor fuel taxes, which will see a significant drop as more electric vehicles make their way to the road and fewer people fill their cars with gas. Motor fuel tax is the state’s leading source of transportation funding and makes up 52 percent of Illinois’ total transportation revenue and 82 percent of its contributions to the federal highway trust fund. The report’s main policy recommendation is implementing a vehicle miles traveled, or VMT, fee which would replace the existing motor fuel tax with a fee determined by the number of miles a car travels on Illinois roads.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Area lawmakers are continuing to react to the passage of the assault weapons ban that Governor J-B Pritzker signed into law last week. One of those is 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City. Several county sheriff’s including Ford County’s Chad Johnson and Iroquois County’s Clint Perzee have said they will not enforce the ban saying it is unconstitutional. Governor Pritzker has told sheriff’s to do their jobs or they won’t be in a job.

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man has been arrested for allegedly breaking a window at a business to steal cigarettes. Deilo Ware is charged with burglary, retail theft and aggravated assault for allegedly breaking the front window of the Walgreens on Philo Road in Urbana. Ware reportedly resisted arrest and threatened to hit officers. Bond was set at $100,000.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Police Department is asking the community to register their outdoor security cameras online. Police say this is voluntary and does not give direct access to your camera system. Registering your camera allows the Champaign police to contact registered owners to request video. Camera owners decide if they want to submit videos if they've been requested.

 

Springfield-jm) – An Illinois lawmaker is pushing to legalize psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic purposes. The proposal sets up an advisory board and creates a program where adults could use Psilocybin (sill-oh-cy-bin) to treat conditions like depression and anxiety. It’s sponsored by Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago who says it would have to be done under the supervision of a trained facilitator or therapy center…

 

 

State Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago. The “Illinois Cure Act” also decriminalizes mushrooms. Ford says people should have access to new treatment options. Several other states are considering similar legislation.

 

(Washington-jm) – American consumers are buying and trying more food items from other countries, despite rising prices for those items. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – An attorney in a case against the state of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Corrections says his lawsuit will progress even with the department making changes to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. In April 2022, attorney and former GOP nominee for Attorney General Thomas DeVore filed a lawsuit against IDOC attempting to block Governor J.B. Pritzker's executive order requiring all workers to be vaccinated. DeVore said he was recently made aware the department removed its requirement for the vaccine. However, DeVore said this would not stop his lawsuit. DeVore claims the change in protocol comes from IDOC struggling to find workers. Those employees who are not vaccinated will still be required to test for the virus once a week, according to a department email DeVore shared. According to Devore, the mandate went into effect in 2021 and many workers have already been terminated after refusing to get the vaccine.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Area lawmakers are continuing to react to the passage of the assault weapons ban that Governor J-B Pritzker signed into law last week. State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet gives his thoughts on the bill…

 

 

State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet. Ford County Sheriff Chad Johnson and Iroquois County Sheriff Clint Perzee have both announced they will not enforce the ban or registry. Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Huerman said they will enforce the ban while it pans out in the legal system.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man who admitted he possessed a gun that he pointed at a woman to break up a fight has been sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison. Ah-Heem Carter-Brumfield received the sentence in Champaign County court after pleading guilty to unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Carter-Brumfield admitted to pointing a loaded gun at two women who were fighting in a parking lot of a convenience store. 

 

(Kankakee County-jm) – The death of an Arkansas man and woman is being treated as a murder-suicide in Kankakee County.   Illinois State Police and the County Coroner's Office investigated a call Wednesday along I-57.  A semi was located in the median after the call was answered around 1:30 pm. Officers found 40-year-old Michael J. Hendrickson inside. He was pronounced dead at the scene.  34-year-old Tiffany C. Hendrickson was found to be the driver.  She was the wife of Michael Henderickson.  She was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.  An autopsy showed both died of gunshot wounds to the head.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a law that expands protections and access to reproductive healthcare in Illinois. The comprehensive law aims to protect abortion and gender-affirming care patients and providers from out of state legal action, and lets physicians assistants and advanced practice nurses perform some abortions. Attorney General Kwame Raoul was at the bills signing…

 

 

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The measure also requires health insurers to offer Plan B morning after pill, HIV prevention medications and gender affirming meds to be covered at no cost to the patient.

 

(Washington-jm) – U.S. soybean exporters have three factors working against them right now. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday from 5-7 pm at their station located at 134 W. State Street. Cost is $10 for adults, $6 for kids 6-13. Deliveries are available in town by calling 217-202-6441.

 

Onarga American Legion Post 551 will host their fish fry on Friday from 4:30-7.