(Chicago-jm) – Exelon Corporation, Commonwealth Edison's parent company, continues to spend money on lawsuits after a bribery scandal and is preparing to pay out another $173 million. That's on top of the $200 million ComEd paid in July 2020 to resolve a criminal investigation into the years-long bribery scheme centered around former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, ComEd admitted it arranged jobs, vendor subcontracts and payments to associates of Madigan in a bid to influence the speaker on legislation affecting the utility's finances. The utility also returned about $38 million to customers as part of an agreement with the Illinois Commerce Commission, a quasi-judicial body created by lawmakers to regulate utilities. That agreement resolved the question of whether customer funds were used in the scheme. The $31 million ICC refund is going to customers during the April billing cycle. The remaining money is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Senate Republicans are calling for legislation to be passed that would provide justice for crime victims. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Police were dispatched at 11:42 p.m. Friday night, to the 2500 Block of Springfield Avenue in Champaign for a report of a Shooting with Injuries. Upon arrival, officers located a 28-year-old female victim from Champaign with a non-life-threatening graze wound from a gunshot to the left hand. The victim was treated on-scene. The initial investigation indicated that the victim was a bystander struck by a bullet after an unrelated argument escalated and shots were fired. Anyone with information is asked to call Champaign Police.

 

(Campustown-jm) – A Champaign man and a juvenile were arrested early Sunday morning for weapons offenses following an alleged unprovoked attack in Campustown on two University of Illinois students. U of I police say officers were called to the 300 block of East Green Street at 12:15 a.m. Sunday for a report of a man who had jumped out into the personal space of a female student to scare her. When her male friend attempted to intervene, several people in a group began punching and kicking the male friend and the female was pushed to the ground. Kayveon A. Watkins of Champaign, was identified as one of the people involved in the attack and told police that he had a gun in his pants. Officers recovered a loaded handgun with an extended magazine. Watkins was arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated battery, and mob action. Upon searching the vehicle, police found a second loaded handgun on the floor in the backseat, and officers learned that it belonged to a 15-year-old who was arrested and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.

 

(Washington-jm) – Grain markets this coming Friday will have a lot of new USDA information to chew on. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Urbana-jm) – The City of Urbana is in the process of evaluating its public safety service delivery and city officials are inviting the community to meet with the people conducting the review. The city is working with national consulting firm BerryDunn for the review, which involves considering which services are to be provided by the police and fire departments. The review is also determining which services are more appropriate for an alternative response model. As part of the project, the city is giving the community a chance to voice their thoughts on public safety and explore the proposed alternative response models. BerryDunn will be hosting a town hall tomorrow to facilitate this community engagement. The town hall will take place at The Stone Creek, 2502 South Race Street, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Monical's Pizza of Paxton. Monicals is famous for it’s Family Pleaser, french dressing and sandwiches too. Monicals Pizza of Paxton Store Manager Jason Mills talks about the Monday night special…

 

 

Monicals Pizza of Paxton Store Manager Jason Mills says the dressing is available in bottles and is available to take with you and ship it anywhere …

 

 

Monicals Pizza of Paxton Store Manager Jason Mills

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Measures removing gender-specific language from various Illinois laws have cleared the General Assembly. One changes "mother" to "person who gave birth." Another removes gender-specific language from who can be insured for certain cancer screenings. House Bill 2350 removes gender language for who can get Pap smears or prostate exams covered by their insurance. A Pap smear test for cervical cancer in women. A prostate exam tests for colon cancer in men. House Bill 1596 replaces in state statute the word “biological” with “birth," replaces the word “mother” with “person who gave birth,” and replaces references to “boys and girls” with “children.” Republicans argue there are more serious issues to discuss and push extreme leftists social agendas.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Local legislative reaction continues to come in following the guilty verdicts of 4 Commonwealth Edison executives and lobbyists last week. One of those is 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington…

 

 

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

 

(Paxton-jm) – A viewing party for Gina Miles' semi-final appearance on the NBC hit show The Voice will be held tonight in downtown Paxton. Doors open at 6:30 with the viewing beginning at 7 pm at the Dr. E.T. Grove Civic Room on the 2nd floor above The Mercantile. 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man has been arrested following an investigation into an April 2023 shooting on Sherwood Terrace. On April 29th, Champaign Police were dispatched to the 700 Block of Sherwood Terrace for a report of a Shooting with Injuries. Upon arrival, officers located a 32-year-old male victim from Champaign with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the left leg. An investigation indicated that the victim had been standing outside when Artez Winston, of Champaign, arrived and opened fire before fleeing the scene. The victim indicated that he and Winston had engaged in an argument earlier in the night. Friday, members of the United States Marshals Great Lakes Regional Task Force arrested Winston on a warrant for his involvement in this incident. He remains in the custody of the Champaign County Correctional Center awaiting arraignment on charges including Aggravated Battery with a Firearm.

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA will hold listening sessions beginning in May as part of its information gathering process for its cattle contracts library pilot program. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign Centennial High School is investigating a threat made on social media Friday morning. The school’s associate principal sent out a communication just before 8:30 a.m. informing school families and staff that they were made aware of a generic social media threat Friday morning.