(Springfield-jm) – The League of Women Voters of Illinois has issued a statement saying it strongly supports an independent Legislative Inspector General in the state of Illinois, and to accomplish that, existing law must be amended. One of the provisions the league supports is that the LIG should not report solely to the legislature or other political figures that may be subject of a potential investigation. The group said passing reforms in both chambers is essential to restoring public faith in Illinois state government.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois is in store for a temperature roller coaster this week.
The state will see unseasonably warm conditions to start the week with some areas getting up over 70 degrees today and Tuesday. A cold front is expected to move through the state, dropping temperatures into the 30s for highs on Wednesday. Temperatures will slowly rebound back into the 60s heading into the weekend.
630 am New
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker presented his State of the State and Budget Address. The Governor talked about the increases in staffing at state agencies especially DCFS…
***News nws 0483budget7***
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Local reaction continues to come in. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington…
***News nws0484bunting react***
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington. Legislators aren’t due back to the capital until March 5th.
630 am new
(Fisher-jm) – Champaign County Coroner, Stephen Thuney, is releasing the name of a Fisher man who has died from injuries sustained after being struck by a motor vehicle while walking in the middle of the roadway near 3200 North and 600 East in rural Fisher at approximately 10:00 PM Friday. Michael A. Jordan, 42-years-old, of Fisher was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:35 PM Friday. Mr. Jordan died of multiple traumatic injuries. An autopsy will be performed today. The death is being investigated by the Champaign Coroner’s Office and the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.
(Rantoul-jm) – One man is displaced after the Rantoul Fire Department extinguished a mobile home fire on Sunday. Firefighters reported to the scene near 12 p.m. in the area of Sycamore Lane and Basswood Drive. Upon arrival, they saw the mobile home totally engulfed in fire. A building to the east of the home was scorched on the outside due to the heavy flames, though no damage was done inside. Officials said no one was hurt in the fire. However, the mobile home was destroyed. The cause is under investigation.
(Ford County-dm) The primary election in Illinois is March 19th and if you can’t get to the election polls on election day, Ford County Clerk Amy Frederick tells us how you can cast your ballot.
Ford County Clerk Amy Frederick
(Iroquois County-jm) – The arrest of a Houston, TX man in Iroquois County for transporting cocaine/fentanyl now finds the case in the hands of federal prosecutors. 45-year-old Juan Carlos Oliva Lopez was transferred to the Jerome Combs Detention Center in Kankakee where he'll be processed for federal authorities. He's charged on a federal warrant for cocaine trafficking. State Police stopped a freightliner on I-57 near Ashkum for a safety inspection when 49 pounds of cocaine and fentanyl were found in the semi's cab. ISP estimated the street value at near $750,000.
(Washington-jm) – Grocery Store food prices are only a tad higher than one year ago. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) – A new measure would provide a $500 tax credit for abortion providers, abortion seekers, legal guardians of abortion seekers and public school teachers who move to Illinois due to abortion bans and content-based restrictions on educational materials in other states. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy of Chicago, introduced the measure and said in a social media post that Illinois wants to offer a hand up for those fleeing for their safety from states she said are banning health care and speech. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 20,000 residents from out of state came to Illinois to terminate a pregnancy after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the United State Supreme Court.
(Springfield-jm) – Legislation that would give the state’s largest utilities control over the construction of power lines in Illinois is back in the spotlight. A bill that would allow Ameren Illinois and Commonwealth Edison the right-of-refusal on what company was awarded the construction contract for power lines was the subject of a House Public Utilities Committee hearing. Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an amendatory veto on similar legislation last year, saying competition is important. At least a dozen states have adopted right-of-first refusal laws, including Indiana and Iowa, but the idea has been rejected in Missouri and Kansas.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker presented his State of the State and Budget Address last week. The Governor talks about some relief he wants to implement…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Local reaction continues to come in on the Governor’s address. Newly appointed 104th District State Representative Brandun Schweizer says he’s disappointed more relief isn’t being done…
104th District State Representative Brandun Schweizer.
(McLean County-jm) – The Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation is investigating an officer involved shooting in McLean County. On Saturday at 12:42 p.m. on Interstate 55 northbound near Lexington, milepost 178, ISP troopers responded to a call of shots fired. Preliminary information indicates two vehicles had pulled over and were on the shoulder of the interstate. Upon arrival, officers observed a subject shooting at the other vehicle. The subject then pointed a firearm at officers. Officers exchanged gunfire with the subject, who was fatally struck and later pronounced deceased. There were no other injuries.
(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana woman is in critical condition after police say she was involved in a fight with a 15-year-old family member. The Urbana Police Department says they were called to the area of Rainbow View and Kinch Street just past noon on Sunday. A 26-year-old woman was found unresponsive at the scene as life-saving measures were being performed. The woman was taken to a local hospital, where she remains in critical condition. Authorities found that the woman got in a fight with a 15-year-old family member, whom she lives with. The woman struck the teen with an object, and they both started wrestling on the floor. The boy put the woman in a chokehold until she lost consciousness. The 15-year-old was taken to the Urbana Police Department to be interviewed. After discussing with the Champaign County State Attorney’s Office, the police released the boy to his mother.
(Springfield-jm) – A bill that would require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to adopt and maintain rules implementing “the motor vehicle emissions standards of the state of California” in Illinois, effectively outsourcing an important area of Illinois’ transportation and environmental decision-making to California officials is being stalled following an uproar. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.
(Champaign-jm) – Tuition at Parkland College will remain unchanged next year.
At their regular meeting, Parkland College trustees approved the FY2025 base tuition rate of $154.75 per credit hour for in-district campus-based and online Tier 1 instruction. Tier 2 in-district tuition, covering Health Professions programs, also remains level, at $234 per credit hour. Universal fees remain unchanged at $23.75.
(Washington-jm) – What does USDA forecast regarding potential food prices for this year, and whether the trend is higher or lower overall prices? Rod Bain reports…
WPXN News Notes…
The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will have a food drive in northern Vermilion County today from 10-10:30 at the Gifford State Bank in Potomac, 11-11:30 at Andi Mae’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Bismarck, 12-12:45 at Christman Park in Rossville and Rankin Centennial Park from 1:45-2:15.
