(Springfield-jm) – Briefs from Illinois and local governments in the consolidated case challenging gun and magazine bans are on file with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The city of Chicago says semi-automatic firearms “pose extraordinary risk to law enforcement” and their ordinance addresses “dramatic technological changes and unprecedented societal concerns.” Plaintiffs have argued elsewhere governments can’t balance public interest against constitutional rights of possessing commonly owned firearms. The case is set to be heard June 29.
(Paxton-dg)-A local teacher will compete as a contestant on the popular game show Jeopardy. Paxton Buckley Loda 7th grade Math teacher Collette Lee will compete on the episode that airs today at 3:30pm on NBC.
(Springfield-jm) – No more venue shopping when it comes to constitutional court challenges. Any lawsuits filed against state laws will be limited to just two counties: Cook and Sangamon, under a bill Governor J-B Pritzker signed Tuesday. Representative Jay Hoffman of Swansea (swahn-see) says the idea is to prevent lawyers from choosing a certain court where they think a judge might take their side…
State Representative Jay Hoffman of Swansea. Hoffman says this will also make it easier for the Attorney General’s office, which represents the state in these challenges, to travel to court.
(Springfield-jm) – After an election cycle freeze on the state's taxes for groceries and gasoline, the two taxes, among others, are set to increase beginning July 1. Next month, the state's gas tax will increase by 6.2 cents to a total tax of 45.4 cents, the second increase since January 1. The state's tax on groceries will also go back into effect after Governor J.B. Pritzker put a hold on the tax during last year's election cycle. The gas tax was just 19 cents when Pritzker took office.
(Springfield-jm) – A bill awaiting the Governor’s signature expands a probation program for first time gun offenders. Under the legislation, judges could sentence a person to 6 to 24 months of probation instead of jail time. It was sponsored by Senator Ram Villivalum (villy-vallum) of Chicago…
State Senator Ram Vaillivalum of Chicago. While there were opponents to the bill, some Republicans say it may be needed if a law-abiding gun owner is charged under the state’s tough new firearm laws.
(Urbana-jm) – Urbana Police are looking for a pair of shoplifting suspects and they’re asking the public for help in identifying them. Officials posted to the department Facebook page that the two are accused of taking a large amount of cosmetic and diaper products from a retail store. Officials also shared photos of the suspects, who were caught on camera as they walked into the store. Both appear to be Black females. One had brown hair with golden strands and was wearing a light tank top, black shorts and sandals. The other had black hair with a bow and was wearing a multi-colored shirt, black shorts and sandals. The second suspect was also carrying a maroon handbag.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is touring the state touting the over 50 billion dollar budget for the upcoming year. The budget was passed in the middle of the night along party lines with zero Republican support. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City shares some of his concerns about the new budget…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City. Democratic lawmakers have yet to send the budget bill to the Governor. The new state budget takes effect July 1st.
(Rantoul-jm) – A 16-year-old is recovering in the hospital after they were hurt in a drive-by shooting Monday night near Rantoul. Officials with the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office reported that the victim arrived at the Rantoul police station around 8:30 p.m. with a gunshot wound to his lower back. Officers immediately rendered aid to the victim before arranging for him to be taken to the hospital. Sheriff’s officials said investigators determined the teen was the passenger of a car that was shot at by someone following in another car. Investigators determined the shooting happened in the area of County Roads 2900N and 1800E, where they found shell casings and vehicle parts from the car that was shot at.
(Hoopeston-jm) – A Hoopeston man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for intimidation. Skyler Burke received the sentence in Vermilion County court after pleading guilty to intimidation and domestic battery. Prosecutors say Burke threatened violence against the mother of his children in front of police.
(Springfield-jm) – With the first round of briefs in the challenge to Illinois’ gun and magazine ban in front of the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal, plaintiffs are preparing their filings. Illinois banned more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities on January 10. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has the consolidated docket of cases from the Southern District and Northern District federal courts where plaintiffs are challenging bans on semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities. The lower courts were mixed with a preliminary injunction from the Southern District stayed and Northern District judges siding with the state and local governments. The briefs for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in the expedited appeal from Cook County, the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois argue the banned weapons pose “extraordinary risks to law enforcement,” are “not commonly used for self-defense,” and that “weapons in common use for criminal purposes may be regulated.” The plaintiffs are set to file their briefs by June 19. Reply briefs are due June 23. The case will be heard June 29.
(Springfield-jm) – No more venue shopping when it comes to constitutional court challenges. The goal is to prevent what’s called “venue shopping” where a suit is filed in a county that might yield the best outcome. Under the bill, constitutional challenges to state laws could only be heard in Sangamon and Cook Counties. Representative Patrick Windhorst of Metropolis opposed the measure…
State Representative Patrick Windhorst of Metropolis. The law comes in response to numerous challenges over the past couple of years such as COVID-19 mandates and the ban on assault weapons.
(Springfield-jm) – Without admitting wrongdoing, Google plans to pay around $95 each to Illinoisans who filed to be part of a class action settlement over violations of the state’s Biometric Privacy Information Act. The Chicago Tribune reports more than 687,000 current and former Illinois residents will get the payment from the $100 million settlement. Google was hit with a BIPA charge for using facial recognition to tag photos without explicit consent.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office is joining 9 other states in a lawsuit against crypto exchange company Coinbase. The suit alleges that Coinbase violated securities laws by illegally selling unregistered investments to more than 140 thousand Illinois clients, says Secretary Giannoulias…
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. If Coinbase had registered what’s called “Staking Offerings”, then consumers would have had a chance to evaluate the risks involved, says Giannoulias.
(Champaign-jm) – In partnership with the Illinois Attorney General’s office and CRIS Healthy Aging Center, State Senator Paul Faraci is co-hosting a senior fraud seminar in Champaign and Danville. The seminar will take place on June 27th at the CRIS Center at 309 North Franklin in Danville at 10 am and at the CRIS Center at 4116 Fieldstone Road in Champaign at 2 pm.
(Springfield-jm) – Several state agencies have faced lots of criticism recently. The two state agencies receiving the most are DCFS and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. But 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says there’s another one that needs to explain some results of a recent audit…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man is facing charges for damaging the federal and county courthouse. Kim Austin is charged with criminal damage to state property for allegedly breaking the glass doors to the federal courthouse and the Champaign County courthouse in Urbana. Austin allegedly told officers he was off his medications at the time.
(Champaign-jm) – The state is adding nearly 350 electric vehicle charging ports, including some in Central Illinois. Officials of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced they are giving $12.6 million in grants to add 348 fast charging ports in public places across the state. Seven contractors will build 15 charging sites across Sangamon, Champaign, Peoria and McLean Counties. The fast-charging stations will be at places like hotels, gas stations and shopping centers.
