(Springfield-jm) – Three years after Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order closing businesses and restaurants statewide, Illinois still is struggling to get back to normal. On March 16, 2020, Pritzker ordered a halt to in-person dining at restaurants. March 20, he issued a stay-at-home order for businesses he declared nonessential. Unemployment spiked with more than 1 million claims filed in the following weeks. Since then, the governor's orders restricting business were ratcheted down. Despite that, the state’s job market has failed to recover about 39,500 jobs, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

 

(Springfield-jm) – 2022 was another record year for the Illinois film industry. Governor J-B Pritzker says last year saw the highest film and tv revenue in the state’s history, at 691 million dollars. That includes tv shows like Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, The Bear, and more…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor credits a workforce training program, amazing locations and tax credits for the industry’s success in Illinois.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The investigation into an Urbana teenager’s murder has resulted in an arrest, Urbana Police officials said. The suspect, they added, is also a teenager. Officials said their investigation into the murder of Montrell Emery, 16, led detectives to obtain an arrest warrant for a 14-year-old juvenile from Urbana. They executed that warrant early Saturday morning in the area of Washington Street and MacArthur Drive, just a few blocks away from where Emery was killed. The teenage suspect was arrested during that police operation. In addition, officers also executed two court-ordered search warrants at the scene of Emery’s murder.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Four dogs perished in a weekend fire in Rantoul. Fire crews were called to a garage fire on North Penfield Street just before 2 pm Saturday. The garage had been converted into a man cave and the resident had his four dogs inside when the fire broke out. The owner was not home when it happened. Fire investigators believe the cause of the fire was electrical and estimated it caused about $70,000 in damage. 

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Progress continues on several new businesses in the village of Rantoul. Mayor Chuck Smith talks about the development near the Walmart…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith.

 

(Paxton-jm) – A Ford County man will spend at least 12 years in prison after he was found guilty in January of multiple crimes related to domestic violence, including sexual assault. Arthuro Crawford of Paxton was sentenced on the four counts he was convicted of: two of aggravated domestic battery and one count each of criminal sexual assault and unlawful restraint. In addition to these charges, Crawford is also facing charges related to his efforts, while in the Ford County Jail, to communicate threats to the victim through a third party, a violation of an order of protection and bond restraints. The trial for those charges is scheduled for April.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Artists at Taylor Studios in Rantoul are finishing a unique project nearly a year in the making. The statue’s next steps include making its way to the U of I campus. It’s a 3500-pound and 16-foot tall wooly mammoth. It will go outside the Natural History Building.

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA is investing in bringing risk management education and training to more farmers and ranchers. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois continues to be one of the top sports betting states in the country.  The Illinois Gaming Board reports that Illinois sportsbooks set a record for handle in January and topped $1 billion for the fourth consecutive month. Illinois is just the fourth state to post four consecutive months of billion-dollar handle. The others are New York, New Jersey and Nevada. Illinois passed Pennsylvania for third place in lifetime sports betting handle with over $19 billion bet on sports. In January, Illinois sportsbooks produced total tax revenue of $15.4 million. Last year, sports betting in Illinois produced total tax revenue of nearly $128 million.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois House passed a bill that aims to keep rideshare customers safe. The legislation places companies like Uber and Lyft under what’s called “Common Carrier” laws. That means they would be held to higher safety standards, just like taxis are, says Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz of Glenview…

 

 

State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz of Glenview. Opponents worry about the extra regulation being placed on rideshare services. The bill now moves to the Senate.

 

(Champaign-jm) – University of Illinois Police are investigating after thousands of dollars’ worth of damage was discovered on two outdoor mailboxes near campus. UIPD officials said the incident happened at the post office at 302 East Green Street, located in the Campustown neighborhood. Someone tried to use a pry bar to access the contents of the mailboxes. The damage is estimated to cost $6,000.

 

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County is in desperate need for election judges ahead of the April 4th election. The county needs 210 election judges to staff polling places, but right now they are about 100 election judges short. Both parties must be represented and the Champaign County Clerk's office says of the 100 election judges they still need, about 60 need to be Republican. If they don’t get enough election judges, they could be forced to consolidate polling locations. The deadline to sign up to be an election judge is March 28th. You can sign up online at champaign county clerk dot com.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Senate was not in session last week but that doesn’t mean things weren’t being done. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says he held a meeting with ag leaders…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – One school in Champaign County now has the green light to start a renovation project.  Rantoul Township High School will soon have a refreshed lobby, loft area, and basement. They’re working with a Champaign contractor to make the first phase of the multi-million dollar program happen. Some offices will be gutted and replaced with bathrooms. The work is set to begin next summer and continue during the school year.

 

(Ford County-jm) – One Ford County Board member wants to solve a problem plaguing many communities like his across the country. Board member Tim Nuss wants the county to explore options to bring health providers to rural areas of the county. Right now, there is a clinic in Paxton and Gibson Area Hospital in Gibson City but nothing else in the county. Transportation is also a challenge that he hopes to address as well.

 

 

(Washington-jm) – The Agriculture Secretary says that agricultural disaster programs need more built-in flexibility. Gary Crawford reports…