This week is National FFA Week

(Paxton-jm) – A Danville teen was injured in a weekend shooting in Paxton. Police say the unidentified 19 year old woman was taken to the hospital after being shot in the head in the area of Chestnut and American Streets Saturday night. A pistol was recovered at the scene. Paxton Police, Gibson City Police, Illinois State Police and the Ford County Sheriff’s office are investigating the incident. More information is found on line with the Ford County Chronicle.com

(Springfield-jm) – Sports betting was up 51% to $795 million in revenue in Illinois in 2022. According to the American Gaming Association’s “State of the Industry” presentation, the commercial gaming industry saw a record $60 billion in revenue last year. Legislation has been filed during the spring legislative session that would make online casino gambling legal in Illinois.

(Springfield-jm) – A federal judge denied the state’s motion to delay a response to a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on certain guns and parts. The state requested that delay in the case brought by the Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois and others. Federal Judge Stephen McGlynn denied that request and ordered the state to respond by March 2.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is hitting the road to tout his proposed “Smart Start” early childhood development program. The first stop was at Springfield’s Early Learning Center where the Governor said that in the first year of the initiative, five thousand new preschool spots will be added across the state. There’s also a plan to provide child care workers with better pay…

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Smart Start adds funding for early intervention and home visiting efforts and dedicates capital dollars to expand or build new early childhood facilities.

(Buckley-jm) – The Iroquois County village of Buckley is receiving a $5 million grant from the state for wastewater infrastructure. Buckley will be constructing a new sanitary sewer system that will include sanitary sewer, two pump stations, and sanitary sewer force main. All septic tanks will be abandoned as part of this project. In all the state awarded over $21 million to 6 communities in the state.

(Urbana-jm) – A Champaign County Sheriff’s deputy is on administrative leave after prosecutors accused him of domestic battery against his wife. Edward Moody was booked into the Champaign County Jail and has since been released. State’s Attorney Julia Reitz said he was having a disagreement with his wife over a cell phone. During that altercation, Reitz said, Moody pushed his wife and closed the center console of their car on her hand.

(Washington-jm) – What are some of the trends associated with the 2023 edition of USDA's annual report on the number of farms and land in farms in our country? Rod Bain reports…

(Springfield-jm) – The Environmental Protection Agency is looking to expand biofuel volumes. This means an increase in production for producers in Illinois. The Illinois Renewable Fuels Association supports the proposal to increase the amount of required biofuels that are added to U.S. transportation fuels in the next three years.

(Springfield-jm) – Both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly return to Springfield Tuesday. Lawmakers are in session most weeks through the scheduled adjournment mid-May. They're tasked with negotiating a state budget before then with a start date for the spending plan being July 1, 2023. This is the 103rd General Assembly.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a new law to make it easier for Illinoisans to change the gender on their birth certificate. Under the law, those not identifying with the gender on their birth certificate can get it updated without a doctor’s note, says Senator Laura Fine of Glenview…

State Senator Laura Fine of Glenview. Previously, someone wanting to make this change would have to get certification from a doctor that they’ve had gender reassignment surgery or other clinical treatment.

(Rantoul-jm) – The Rantoul Police Department has released body camera footage and recordings of radio traffic, from an officer-involved shooting incident on February 6. According to police, Azaan Lee, 21, of Champaign, was fatally shot by one bullet from his own gun during a struggle between him and officers for that weapon, according to investigative findings by the Champaign County Multi-Jurisdictional Investigative Team, led by the Illinois State Police. Authorities report Rantoul Officer Jose Aceves fired three shots from his duty weapon after hearing Lee’s gun fire, but none of those shots struck Lee. Rantoul Officer Rikki McComas was also involved in the incident. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz made a preliminary ruling on Tuesday, that the officers’ use of force was justified based on the MJIT’s independent investigation.

(Vermilion County-jm) – Vermilion County voters will have a familiar question on the April 4th ballot. They’ll be asked to approve a 1% sales tax increase that would benefit county schools. Voters rejected the referendum in 2018 and 2020. But the majority of rejections came from the city of Danville where 43% of county students live. Hiring school resource officers and mental health professionals is also a priority.

(Washington-jm) – USDA recently announced a rule proposal to modify its Women, Infants, and Children program to allow for online ordering of products. Rod Bain reports…

Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country next week. Dylan Zwilling from Fisher High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what that have going on today

Fisher FFA member Dylan Zwilling

Morgan Sinn from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what activities they have scheduled this week.

Cissna Park FFA Member Morgan Sinn

With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Hope Watts from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on this week.