(Undated-jm) – Much of Illinois will see high winds today as a cold front exits the state. Southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph will stick around for much of the day, with gusts of 50 to 60 mph possible. Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, making power outages possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. A wind advisory is in effect until 6pm tonight.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J.B. Pritzker has issued another disaster declaration. It is the 40th emergency order since the first was declared in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began. The governor said last month that he would stop making the declarations in early May, which is in line with President Joe Biden’s plans for ending the national health emergencies. Illinois is the only state in the Midwest that still operates under emergency orders.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Internal Revenue Service is advising most Illinois taxpayers to delay filing their 2022 taxes. The reason for the delay in Illinois and 18 other states is due to special state tax refunds and payments that were provided to residents. In Illinois, some residents received one-time payments of up to $700, and complicating things, the checks consisted of two different rebates, one for individual income tax and the other for property tax. The IRS said they hoped to provide clarity of the situation next week.

 

(Springfield-jm) – New legislation aims to end discrimination when it comes to the cost of car insurance in Illinois. The bill, sponsored by Representative Will Guzzardi of Chicago, makes it illegal for insurers to discriminate and set higher rates based on a driver’s race, gender, marital status, religion or occupation. It also protects consumers from big rate hikes by giving the State Department of Insurance oversight authority…

 

 

State Representative Will Guzzardi of Chicago. Guzzardi says Illinois is one of very few states that don’t currently have such laws.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Thirty firefighters were on the scene at an apartment complex responding to a fire on Wednesday in Rantoul. Crews arrived at the 1200 block of Falcon Drive for a report of a fire at 4:19 p.m. Four families were displaced due to the fire. No injuries were reported.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man will spend time behind bars for pleading guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault. Warren Grob Jr. was sentenced to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with credit for 432 days previously served. In 2021, a teen told police that Grob molested him repeatedly while Grob was his caretaker. The victim claims it happened between January 2011 and December 2014.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Freedom Caucus held a capitol press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the ever increasing price of electricity in the state of Illinois. Caucus members reported that utility bills for last month are rolling in and Illinois taxpayers are feeling the hurt of Governor Pritzker's bad energy policies, specifically Clean Energy and Jobs Act, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.  Many are seeing increases in their bills at 150%. State Representative Dan Caulkins of Decatur…

 

 

State Representative Dan Caulkins of Decatur.

 

(Hoopeston–jc) Vermilion County authorities are continuing their investigation into a fatal horse shooting that was discovered on Tuesday. Police say a horse owned by A J Garrison of Hoopeston was found dead of gunshot wounds. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Hoopeston police or Vermilion County Sheriff’s police. That number is 217-442-4080. A reward has been offered in the amount of 1 thousand 500 dollars.

 

(Washington-jm) – USDA is cutting its forecasts for Argentina's drought-affected corn and soybean crops. Gary Crawford has the details…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois lawmakers are looking to pass a child tax credit bill. The bill is aimed at helping working families support their children. State Senator Mike Simmons and Representative Marcus Evans and advocacy groups are looking to provide more relief to families across Illinois who are struggling to support their children. Families who are median income or below the median income would get $700 per child under 17 and for disabled or dependent children, it would also be $700 per year per child per year. Those tax credits can be spent on groceries, school supplies, or whatever a child may need daily.

 

(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois state senator introduced legislation to require all ems workers to wear body cameras. Senator Doris Turner, filed the bill in the wake of the death of Earl Moore Jr. Moore died after he was strapped face-down to a stretcher. Two EMS workers, Peggy Finley, and Peter Cadigan are charged with first-degree murder in connection to Moore's death.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Low-income families would get a monthly diaper allowance under legislation introduced in both the House and Senate. Advocates say infants and toddlers can go through up to 12 diapers a day, creating a costly expense for parents living in poverty. Bill sponsor, Lakesia Collins of Chicago says families shouldn’t have to skimp on this important need…

 

 

State Representative Lakesia Collins of Chicago. There are two versions of the bill. One sets up a 70 dollar a month per child allowance while the other provides 30 dollars a month for eligible families. Supporters say they aren’t sure yet how much this would cost the state.

 

(Undated-jm) – A Pontiac man is facing charges of Indecent solicitation of a child. 

The Fairbury Police Department, Livingston County Sheriff’s Department, and Paxton Police Department concluded an ongoing investigation on Andrew B. Spiker, 52, for sexual crimes against multiple children between the ages of 13 and 15. Spiker was taken into custody in Pontiac and released to the Livingston County Jail.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department is investigating a man who walked in on multiple women in the shower. Police say a man had entered several women’s shower areas between 3-5:30 a.m. Sunday at Oglesby Hall in Urbana. He viewed at least one female student who was showering and ran from the area when confronted by resident advisers.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Freedom Caucus held a capitol press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the ever increasing price of electricity in the state of Illinois. State Representative Chris Miller of Oakland, chairman of the caucus, said Governor Pritzker has put politics above people and people are suffering, all because he wants to run for president in 2024…

 

 

State Representative Chris Miller of Oakland.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges. Denzel Travis pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance after police found 3.5 grams of cocaine. Travis was among three people arrested for their possible involvement with an incident involving a gun. In exchange for his guilty plea, 3 counts of possessing a weapon were dismissed. Travis must serve the sentence concurrent with a 2 year sentence he received for aggravated battery in a public place for punching a man at a Rantoul gas station in May 2020.

 

 

(Washington-jm) – Farmers this year will likely have to deal with continued rises in production costs. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

The St. Joe Ogden FFA Auction is Saturday at the High School. Doors open at 5pm with auction beginning at 6pm. No tickets are needed and there will be a meal provided.