(Springfield-jm) – Medical officials in Illinois are warning adults to keep marijuana edibles out of the reach of children after what they call an alarming jump in the number of accidental consumptions. The number of incidents of children 5 and younger consuming edibles from 2017-2021 in Illinois increased from 5 to 232 cases. Most cases were not severe, and were resolved over the phone, but some required hospitalization. Illinois legalized recreational marijuana in 2020.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will be celebrating Lincoln’s birthday and Black History Month in February. Plenty of activities are planned in honor of both occasions, says Museum Spokesperson Chris Wills, including free admission the weekend of February 11th and 12th…

 

 

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Spokesperson Chris Wills. The museum will kick off Black History Month on February 1st with one of 10 performances of a short play called “Small Beginnings.” It’s about Robert Smalls who was enslaved since birth and commandeered a confederate ship, taking family and friends to freedom. You can learn about more activities planned for next month at: president lincoln dot illinois dot gov.

 

(Kankakee-jm) – A Kankakee priest has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for sexually assaulting a resident of Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee. Richard Jacklin was a local priest who was contracted to provide religious services to residents of SDC, a residential facility for adults with Intellectual Disabilities.  On October 31, 2017, Jacklin was on duty at SDC and went into a room with a 39-year old adult male who suffered from a physical handicap, had an IQ of 47 and functioned at the age equivalent of a 6-year old.  A staff member at SDC walked into the room and interrupted Jacklin as he was performing oral sex on the SDC resident. 

 

(Buckley-jm) – Buckley village leaders will hold a public hearing tomorrow to discuss building a wastewater plant. The village is looking at $8 million in grants and low interest loans to build the plant on the southwest side of the village. The hearing will take place at 10 am at Christ Lutheran High School.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Board of Trustees has approved a tuition increase for in-state freshmen who will begin school next fall at the Champaign-Urbana and Chicago campuses. Incoming freshmen from Illinois will see a 1.9% increase in their tuition. With the increase, the base in-state tuition for undergraduates at the Champaign-Urbana campus will be $12,712 a year, which is an increase of $238. Tuition at the U of I-Springfield will remain the same.

 

(Washington-jm) – The current Deputy Agriculture Secretary announced Thursday she will soon be leaving her current role. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Champaign-jm) – With the support of State Senator Paul Faraci, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District will receive $7.15 million to improve transportation through bus upgrades. The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District will receive $7,150,000 to replace outdated or worn buses with new hybrid vehicles to increase accessibility and ensure transportation options are up-to-date. The first two rounds of downstate transit grants went to projects that renovated the transit facility and passenger information kiosks for the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, a new transportation center and headquarters in downtown Bloomington.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A University of Illinois art and design professor who is currently exhibiting at Parkland College's Giertz Gallery will provide two talk sessions on Thursday, February 2. University of Illinois Associate Professor of Graphic Design Stacey Robinson will speak at Parkland College's William Staerkel Planetarium at 10:45 a.m., followed by a "Chat & Chill" with the artist at noon.

 

(Undated-jm) – An Illinois school is warning parents regarding a new social media app that school officials think could be putting them in dangerous situations with strangers. The free app, called Omegle, randomly pairs users with others from around the world to talk "one-on-one" anonymously. Users can add interests that will allow the app to pair them with someone who shares similar interests. Mokena Junior High School said it was made aware of the "concerning" app, which it believes many students are actively using.

 

(Bloomington-jm) – Bloomington-based insurer State Farm reportedly is refusing to issue new auto policies on some Kias and Hyundais in the St. Louis region as theft rates of the vehicles remain high. The report comes after news of a surge in thefts of older Kia and Hyundai cars around the country. The vehicles lack an immobilizer, a common part that prevents car thieves from bypassing the ignition system. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports Progressive Insurance also has suspended policies for the vehicles.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The City of Champaign and its fire department are giving people a chance to add a life-saving tool to their homes this winter season if they can’t afford it on their own. The city is giving away and installing smoke detectors in households. As long as the recipients live in single-family, owner-occupied homes, the Champaign Fire Department will provide and install a smoke detector free of charge. People can call Champaign Fire at 217-403-7200 to learn more and schedule an installation.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – The trial of a woman accused of murdering a Rantoul woman got underway this week. Prosecutors allege Acarrie Ingram-Triner was murdered over $35. Arieana Colbert is on trial charged with murder.

 

(Washington-jm) – USDA is forecasting another year of rising milk production, even as milk prices fall. Gary Crawford reports…

 

***News nws 0242dairy***

 

(Watseka-jm) – Mike Tilstra will remain CEO of Iroquois Memorial Hospital. The Board of Directors approved a two year agreement with Tilstra earlier this month. Tilstra served in an interim role of CEO at the Watseka based hospital last January after retiring from Nexus Academy in Onarga after 30 years.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department says Bobby  Battle, 32, was arrested for stealing a coat containing a wallet and headphones from an unattended seat at the State Farm Center. Battle was a temporary employee at the State Farm Center and was working the basketball game. Battle is charged with theft and obstructing justice. When questioned by police, Battle made statements that contradicted his actions caught on security cameras.