(Switzerland-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker is in Switzerland for the 2023 World Economic Forum to tout his agenda. Some back home say the governor should be more focused on the state's issues. Pritzker is making his second trip out of the country during his time as governor of Illinois. During a panel discussion on domestic politics with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and members of the U.S. Congress, Pritzker touted his energy and social policies, including a gun ban and abortion expansion, and was asked about a possible U.S. recession. Pritzker also spoke about bipartisanship within American politics saying people don’t want bipartisanship, they want things to get done.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Human Services says enhanced benefits in the SNAP program are ending next month. SNAP, or food stamp recipients have been getting extra benefits during the pandemic, but that changes come at the end of February, says Secretary Grace Hou (ho)...

 

 

Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Grace Hou (ho). D-H-S says the reduction will be between 95 to 250 dollars per person, per month. You can learn more online at: abe dot illinois dot gov.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Supreme Court has announced they will hold arguments remotely today. The Illinois Supreme Court will meet over Zoom because multiple court support staffers have tested positive for COVID-19. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on two cases: MB Financial Bank v. Brophy and Walton v. Roosevelt University.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs says his office’s Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program has hit the 100 million dollar mark. More than 100 thousand workers that don’t have a pension or other retirement fund through their employer are saving for the future with the program. Treasurer Frerichs explains how it works…

 

 

State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. Frerichs says it’s estimated that workers are 15 times more likely to save for retirement if they can do so through payroll deductions.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in solving an attempted bank robbery that happened last week. The attempt happened on January 10 at the Champaign County Schools Employees Credit Union, located at 1203 South Mattis Avenue. Crime Stoppers officials said a man walked in at 3 p.m. and demanded money. The employees refused the demand and the man left without obtaining any money. He is Black and was wearing a face mask, a black Nike sweatshirt, black pants, white shoes and a light purple wig.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The 103rd General Assembly is underway. New and old faces are back in the state capital preparing for the spring legislative session. State Representative Dan Caulkins talks about the upcoming sessions…

 

 

State Representative Dan Caulkins of Decatur.

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man has been sentenced to 4 and a half years in prison for hitting a woman for the second time. 66 year old Reuben Johnson received the sentence after being found guilty of aggravated battery. 

 

(Washington-jm) – USDA has lowered its forecast for U.S. corn exports this marketing year. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The first lawsuits have been filed against the state of Illinois’ new ban on certain guns the legislature deems assault weapons and more lawsuits are expected. Last week, on the final day of the 102nd General Assembly, the legislature and Governor J.B. Pritzker approved a ban on certain semi-automatic firearms. No future sales are allowed. Guns already in possession must be registered with Illinois State Police by January 1, 2024. Non compliance can bring a Class 2 felony. Magazines of more than 10 rounds for rifles and 15 rounds for handguns also are banned. Possession could be a petty offense and a fine of $1,000 for each violation. An emergency hearing for one of the lawsuits is scheduled for this morning.

 

(Springfield-jm) – This is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and a group of Illinois lawmakers is urging women to get screened. According to the National Cancer Institute, the survival rate for cervical cancer is 92 percent if caught early. Representative Anna Moeller (mole-ler) of Elgin says cases have declined over the years, but that women need to be vigilant…

 

 

State Representative Anna Moeller of Elgin. Moeller urges women to speak to their doctor about the screening, which includes a pap test and potentially an HPV test. That’s the virus that most often causes cervical cancer. It's recommended that pap tests begin at age 21.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A new survey finds that two-thirds of companies that are moving are doing so because they are expanding and need more office space. According to Crain’s, 82% of the companies with growing revenue want a better configuration and more space to accommodate employee growth. For a third of the companies seeking smaller offices, the main reason is an increase in remote work.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is announcing his transition team’s recommendations for improving the office. Ideas came from group members and the general public and cover a wide range of areas, says Secretary Giannoulias…

 

 

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Giannoulias says other recommendations he intends to make a top priority are ethics reforms and increasing access to e-books and online education resources at libraries across the state.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for help in locating a woman whom they said never appeared in court to face aggravated battery charges. 

Cassie Arenibar, is facing two counts of aggravated battery. Out of jail on bond, officials said Arenibar never appeared in court, which resulted in an arrest warrant being issued. Arenibar is described as being 5 feet, 4 inches tall, 140 pounds in weight, and has brown hair and brown eyes.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The 103rd General Assembly is getting underway. There are some new faces in both the House and Senate, but one of the familiar faces returning is State Representative Mike Marron. Marron is starting his 4th term in the statehouse and talks about some ideas he has for this legislative session…

 

 

State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian.

 

(Undated-jm) – Illinois produced the most soybeans out of any state in the country in 2022. The Illinois Soybean Association announced that, after a slow start to the planting season, followed by a hot and dry summer, the?National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates Illinois soybean farmers raised 677.25 million bushels on 10.75 million harvested acres with an average yield of 63 bushels per acre.

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA has lowered its crop forecast for Argentina's corn and soybean crops. Gary Crawford reports…