(Springfield-jm) – The trial of four people accused of trying to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to benefit ComEd will be delayed. A U.S. District judge announced Tuesday that the trial will begin March 14 for Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former City Club President Jay Doherty, and ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker. The four were indicted in 2020 accused of trying to influence Madigan by arranging for jobs and money for his associates in exchange for legislation beneficial for ComEd. No reason for the delay was given.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois  Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton testified before a U-S Senate committee Tuesday, urging passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. This has been a long road for the Equal Rights Amendment, an initial version was drafted nearly 100 years ago but is still not a part of the US Constitution. It’s time, says Lieutenant Governor Stratton…

 

 

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. Stratton says while strides have certainly been made, women still earn less than men and reproductive rights continue to come under attack.

 

(Danville-jm) – A Vermilion County jury found Nicholas Trimble, 42, of Champaign guilty of six counts of first-degree murder in the murders of Rafael Arevalo, 26, and Omar Roman, 26, both from Danville. The two men were killed in September of 2017. Police responded to reports of gunfire at a home on Harvey Street in Danville where they found Arevalo and Roman already dead.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Consumers could see another rise in their utility bills. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says Ameren is requesting the raise for both gas and electric customers…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Paxton–jc)  – A Rantou man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a shooting that occurred on Paxton’s north side on February 18th. Police say 18 year old Kaiden McCubbins was arrested by Northern Indiana state police around noon today. To date, four people have been arrested in connection with the Paxton shooting. Paxton Police, Ford County Sheriff’s police, Gibson City police and Illinois State police continue to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call Ford County Crime Stoppers or one of the investigating agencies. More information is found on line with the Ford County Chronicle.

 

(Mahomet-jm) – A Mahomet man on bond for allegedly forging checks is facing new charges of the same. Matthew Bushman is facing additional forgery charges after police found a printer and equipment to create fake checks. Bushman allegedly tried to cash one of the fake checks at a bank to support his meth addiction.

 

(Springfield-jm) – County estimates are out for 2022 Illinois corn and soybeans. Counties with the highest average corn yields per acre were Stark, Woodford and Ogle, says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. As for corn production…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. McLean County was also the top county for soybean production nationally, with 21 point 2 million bushels. Other high soybean producing counties in Illinois include Iroquois, Champaign, Livingston and LaSalle.

 

(Washington-jm) – Growers with different ag production goals and backgrounds offer their ideas of what new and improved market opportunities for them might look like. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois-based insurance company is once again raising rates. State Farm, headquartered in Bloomington, reportedly is raising rates for Illinois drivers by 6.5%. The hike will add about $60 a year for most policyholders. Last year, State Farm increased annual premiums by nearly $70. It is estimated the company insures about one in every three Illinois drivers. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The State Department of Public Health is launching a new coalition to eliminate cases of Hepatitis in Illinois. The group is backed by a federal grant and will come up with strategies to address the rising number of Hepatitis B and C cases, says Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey…

 

 

State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey. Claffey says viral Hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplants.

 

(Urbana-jm) – A U of I student has been sentenced to 2nd chance probation for stealing from a campus student organization. Nubaira Kabir received the sentence after pleading guilty to stealing more than $10,000 from the Illinois Trial Team. Kabir was treasurer of the student organization.

 

(Paxton-jm) – The collapse of a wind turbine near Paxton is leading to concerns over a new law signed by Governor J-B Pritzker that takes away local ordinance control when it comes to wind and solar projects. Under the legislation signed by the Governor, counties can no longer have regulations more restrictive than the state. Counties have 120 days to change their ordinances to align with the state’s guidelines.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Parkland College’s truck driving program is changing locations. It’s moving from the Rural King lot in Champaign to the Atkins Group facility on Bloomington Rd. off of Mattis Ave. The new lot’s 75,000 sq. ft. will help expand the commercial driver’s license program to more students.

 

(Springfield-jm) – County estimates are out for 2022 Illinois corn and soybeans. The state really made a strong showing when it came to soybean production, says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Illinois had the top five counties in the U-S for corn production. McLean County, with nearly 71 million bushels of corn, was the leader last year, followed by Iroquois, Livingston, LaSalle and Champaign Counties.

 

(Washington-jm) – This year farm sector debt is predicted to grow faster than the value of farm sector assets. Gary Crawford reports…