(Springfield-jm) – A measure allowing minors from out-of-state to come to Illinois and apply for public funds to get an abortion through the state’s Family Planning Program is now ready to be sent to the governor. State Sen. Senator Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, sponsored House Bill 5239 in the Senate and said the bill will allow minors to apply on their own behalf for financial aid for the taxpayer funded Family Planning Program. The measure would ensure that units of local governments in that state could not assist in imposing a civil or criminal liability against a person who received an abortion or gender hormone therapies and/or gender-transition surgeries in Illinois. Over 20 states have banned gender-transitioning surgeries for minors, including Iowa and Indiana. 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois senators have approved a package of bills that will make up the state’s budget for next fiscal year. Capitol News Illinois reports the 53 billion dollar spending plan increases funding for k-12 education, including an additional 350 million dollars for evidence based funding. It also creates a state Child Tax Credit, eliminates the state’s grocery tax and increases pay for direct-care workers who care for disabled and elderly people. Senate sponsor Elgie Sims of Chicago called the bill balanced and responsible…

State Senator Elgie Sims of Chicago. The fiscal plan was approved mostly along party lines, although two Democrats joined Republicans in voting no. The GOP call it-quote-”unconscionable” saying it increases spending and taxes on residents who can’t afford to pay any more. Republican Senator Don DeWitte was among those voting no…

State Senator Don DeWitte. Tax increases in the plan focus mainly on sportsbooks and corporations claiming losses on their taxes. With Senate approval, the budget now moves to the Illinois House, which returns to Springfield later this week to finish its work for this spring’s session. Locally, State Senator Paul Faraci voted for the budget bill while Senators Tom Bennett and Chapin Rose voted against it.

(Melvin–jc)  –June 11 is the deadline for entries to this year’s Ford County Fair Talent Show.  WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the details…

(Champaign County-jm) – A bird in Champaign County tested positive for West Nile Virus, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District announced in a release. This case marks the second known appearance of birds with the virus in Central Illinois this month, the first being in Douglas County. The virus is spread to mosquitoes when they feed on an infected bird. Just two weeks ago, a few counties in Illinois confirmed mosquitos had tested positive for the virus.

(Washington-jm) – The full House of Representatives now has a new Farm Bill proposal to consider after the House Agriculture Committee advanced the measure early Friday. Rod Bain reports…

(Rantoul-jm) – A 28-year-old Rantoul man died Sunday after being shot during a domestic incident, authorities said. According to Champaign County Coroner Steve Thuney, Robert McKinney Jr. was pronounced dead in the critical care unit at Carle Foundation Hospital at 7:51 a.m. Sunday. McKinney was shot in the 700 block of East Sangamon Ave. early Sunday, Thuney said. An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday, Thuney said. The case is being investigated by the coroner's office and Rantoul police.

(Undated–jc)  A large amount of Memorial Day services were held throughout east Central Illinois over the weekend and on Memorial Day, yesterday. In Rantoul, one speaker at Maplewood Cemetery was Loda American Legion Post 503 Commander Ron Dudley who talked about the importance and cost of Memorial Day…

Loda American Legion Post 503 Commander Ron Dudley speaking at Maplewood Cemetery in Rantoul on Monday morning. 

Another taking the mic at the ceremony in Rantoul  was Rantoul Township High School Student Olivia Hunt…

Rantoul High School Student Olivia Hunt at the Memorial Day Service at Maplewood Cemetery in Rantoul 

 At Glen Cemetery in Paxton, Paxton American Legion Post 150 Commander Tim Hess spoke about the importance and history of Memorial Day…

Paxton American Legion Post 150 Commander Tim Hess.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois could join a handful of states with digital IDs and driver’s licenses. House Bill 4592, introduced by Rep. Kam Buckner of Chicago, passed by a unanimous vote in the state senate. The bill now heads to Governor JB Pritzker for his signature. Several states, including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, and Utah already have digital IDs.

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker’s Healthcare Protection Act is one step closer to becoming law in Illinois. Capitol News Illinois reports House Bill 53-95 would, among other things, prohibit the practice of step therapy. This is when insurance companies force patients to use their preferred treatment before going with the one recommended by their doctor. The bill would also ban prior authorization for adults and children getting in-patient mental health treatment at a hospital for the first 72 hours. House sponsor, Representative Anna Moeller says the changes are critical…

State Representative Anna Moeller. The changes are not without opposition though. Republican Senator Dave Syverson remains concerned about the cost of these changes…

State Senator Dave Syverson. In addition, House Bill 24-99 is companion legislation that would ban the sale of short term limited duration insurance plans in Illinois. Both bills passed out of the House and Senate and now heads to the Governor’s desk where he’s expected to sign them.

(Champaign-jm) – This week will see a meeting between activists and Representative Nikki Budzinski to call for a permanent ceasefire in the war in Israel. On Wednesday, a group of seven people from a Champaign-based interfaith coalition will meet in person for the first time with Representative Budzinski. This meeting includes seven members from the Muslim Action Committee and Jews for Ceasefire. They will meet at Budzinski’s Champaign office.

(Washington-jm) – The USDA reports cattle inventories in feedlots were down as of May First, per its monthly Cattle on Feed report. Rod Bain reports…

(Urbana-jm) – The intersection of High Cross Road and Airport Road in Urbana will be closed starting today at 8 a.m. The intersection will be closed for about one week, for new culvert installation. There will be no marked detour. Drivers are asked to use alternate routes during this road closure and drive with caution. Even after the road is open to traffic loose aggregate will remain over the culvert.

(Center Square) – An Illinois district attorney says the state’s no cash bail law is allowing for some criminals to remain free pending a court appearance.

The Illinois Supreme Court declared the legislation ending cash bail constitutional. Beginning on Sept. 18 th last year, Illinois courts no longer used a cash bail system. Instead, they use a “pretrial release” system as allowed by the Pretrial Fairness Act found in the Safety Act of 20-21 The Federalist Society hosted a discussion with legal experts on an update around bail reform after nine months. David Olson from the Criminal Justice Department at Loyola University said no cash bail looks different around the state. DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said violent criminals are being held, but many other perpetrators go free.   Law enforcement agencies have opposed nearly every aspect of the SAFE-T Act, including no cash bail. Some, including the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, have expressed frustration by the lack of consistency on what is detainable. 

(Dekalb County-jm) – Legislation granting 15 hundred acres in Dekalb County to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has passed the Illinois Senate and will head back to the House. Capitol News Illinois reports Senate Bill 867 transfers the land, most of which is in the Shabbona (SHA-buh-nuh) State Park to the Potawatomi. This deal allows the tribe to reclaim land historians say was illegally taken nearly 200 years ago. Potawatomi leaders say they want to work with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and others to keep the land open to the public for recreation. Republican Senator Win Stoller says the bill is about integrity…

State Senator Win Stoller. In April, the U-S Department of the Interior placed 130 acres of land into a trust, creating the only recognized Native American reservation in Illinois. The House could consider the measure when they return later this week.