(Springfield-jm) – The embattled head of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services will keep his job for now. Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that Marc Smith will continue to serve as director of the state's child welfare agency despite being held in contempt of court at least 12 times for the improper placement of children. John Kim will continue to serve as director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Jane Flanagan will continue to serve as director of the Illinois Department of Labor.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is warning about the dangers of carbon monoxide. CO is a colorless and odorless gas, and can cause symptoms similar to the flu says Fire Marshal Spokesperson JC Fultz…

 

 

State Fire Marshal Spokesperson JC Fultz. Carbon monoxide alarms should be placed on each level of the house. According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, local fire departments responded to nearly 20 thousand calls last year about carbon monoxide.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A U of I student is facing a charge for battery after police say he struck an employee at a bar. Thomas Kempf of Champaign, was arrested outside The Red Lion on Green St. in Champaign. Police were called by a security employee who reported that Kempf refused to leave the business after being instructed to do so and struck a security employee in the face, University Police said.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Rantoul man is in the Champaign County Jail for allegedly robbing a Champaign liquor store last month. Dane Williams was charged with aggravated robbery and burglary for allegedly entering Hollywood Liquors on North Mattis on December 1st. He allegedly told the clerk he wanted to buy cigars but that he had a weapon. Bond was set at $300,000 because of prior convictions. If convicted he faces 6 to 30 years in prison.

 

(Urbana-jm) – A Champaign County jury found a 22-year-old woman guilty of first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of a 19-year-old woman in October of 2021. Arieana Colbert was convicted of shooting and killing Acarrie Ingram-Triner of Rantoul the night of October 20, 2021. Police said there was an argument in an apartment complex near Kenwood Road and White Street in Champaign and shots were fired. Ingram-Triner was shot in the neck and later died at the hospital. Colbert was one of two people to be charged in connection to the murder. Quincy Hayes is charged with obstructing justice after police officials said he was also present at the shooting and provided false information to investigators. Hayes is scheduled to appear in court again on February 15 for further proceedings. Colbert will be sentenced on March 23.

 

(Washington-jm) – A member of the ag industry says explaining the importance of a Farm Bill to all Americans is an ongoing process for various reasons. Rod Bain reports…

 

(Paxton–jc)  One local F F A Chapter is preparing for its annual Farm Toy Show. The Paxton Buckley Loda F F A is hosting the event on Saturday February 11th says PBL FFA student Alex Potter…

 

 

PBL F F A Student Alex Potter

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers to check if they qualify for the earned income tax credit. The credit is for low to moderate wage workers, and the process starts with your federal income tax return, says Revenue Spokesperson Maura Kownacki (kuh-nacky)...

 

 

Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Maura Kownacki. For the last tax year, the credit ranged from 560 dollars to nearly seven thousand. You can learn more online at: tax dot illinois dot gov.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court defending the part of a SAFE-T Act that a Kankakee County judge previously ruled the law as unconstitutional. The Attorney General filed it in Court, arguing that cash bail is not in the constitution. Among their arguments includes the history of the word bail in the Illinois Constitution does not specifically mean cash bail. This is the state’s opening argument in the case that is expected to go on for at least a couple more months. The Court agreed to hear oral arguments from both sides in March.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing a 13 million dollar expansion of the state’s Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. This will be the second year for the program, with money going to 30 organizations statewide to train future workers in the building and trades industry. Governor J-B Pritzker says there will be a focus on diversity…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Up to 14 hundred people will be able to serve in pre-apprenticeship thanks to this funding.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District said 48% of homes tested in Champaign County have high radon levels, and they are encouraging people to learn more about the threat of radon and test for it in their homes, schools, and workplaces. The health department has safe and easy-to-use home radon test kits available for $7 that can be picked up at Environmental Health Division on Kenyon Rd. in Champaign Monday-Friday between 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

 

(Urbana-jm) – An inmate at the Champaign County jail has been found guilty of striking another inmate with a broomstick. Malik Chapple was found guilty of aggravated battery for striking an inmate following an altercation. Chapple will be sentenced March 15th. He was already in jail for unlawful use of weapons by a felon for his connection to a shooting outside a funeral luncheon at a Champaign American Legion.

 

(Danville-jm) – Vermilion County is getting more money to upgrade its courtrooms in Danville. The improvements will make the Rita B. Garman Courthouse more tech-savvy. They’ve been trying to update their courthouse technology since before the pandemic. Now, they’re starting back up again. The county is getting more than $88,000 from a state-wide technology program. The four courtrooms will receive technical upgrades for electrical operations like wiring and new computer equipment for tech clerks.

 

(Washington-jm) – Food shoppers this year may get a little bit of a price break for beef and pork. Gary Crawford reports…