(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s office on Friday issued a letter barring those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol from being considered for state jobs, according to NBC News. The letter reportedly directs the state’s Department of Central Management Services to deny jobs to applicants who participated in “infamous and disgraceful conduct that is antithetical to the mission of the State.” It justifies the decision by citing the state’s personnel code, which “provides the basis for the civil service merit system in Illinois.”

 

(Undated-jm) – Tax season is underway, and the IRS expects 140 million people will file returns by April 15. The agency has also debuted a new online tool to help taxpayers check the status of any refund they may be entitled to. If you file your tax return electronically, the IRS says it should take 21 days or less to receive your refund. If you choose to receive your refund with direct deposit, it should take even less time. If you file a paper return, the refund could take four weeks or more, and if your return requires amendments or corrections, it could take longer. Taxpayers can use the online tool Where’s My Refund? to check the status of their income tax refund within 24 hours of e-filing and generally within four weeks of filing a paper return.

 

(Illinois–dm)-The state of Illinois is reporting that unemployment is down in most areas in the state.  WPXN’s Dan Mushrush has more.

   

(Paxton-jm) – Paxton first responders were called to a two vehicle accident early Saturday morning. It happened in the northbound lanes of I-57 about a mile north of Paxton around 4:30 am.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – The Rantoul Police Department, with the help of the Champaign County Metro SWAT Team, assisted the Chicago Police Department in an ongoing homicide investigation. At approximately 4:10 p.m., on Friday, authorities executed a court-authorized search warrant in the 1100 block of Falcon Drive. A subject wanted on a Cook County arrest warrant for homicide was found inside the residence and arrested without incident. The individual's name is not being released due to the ongoing investigation, police said.

 

(Paxton–jc)  – Parking for one downtown Paxton business will make it easier to shop there. Owners of the Pop Loft business in the city asked city leaders for a parking position along Market Street to help with access to the home based business. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says after consulting with state officials and the council, a specific parking spot will be placed just north of the Pop Loft…

   

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

 

(Spirngfielld–jc)   Illinois Republicans continue to call out the democrats in the majority on the gerrymandering of the legislative maps in the state of Illinois. Illinois  House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, Republican from Savanna, says it's nothing more than “Cheating”...

   

Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, Republican from Savanna

 McCombie, in her official capacity, filed a lawsuit with the Illinois Supreme Court to declare the current map unconstitutional and ask for a special master to draft a redistricting plan that complies with the Illinois constitution

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign city council member is under fire for posting a swastika symbol on his personal Facebook account. Multiple media reports, the since deleted post by Council member Davion Williams drew a strong rebuke from Champaign's mayor, at least one other member of city council, and members of the public.

 

(Paxton–dm)-The Ford County Board Farm Committee is scheduled to meet this afternoon. Items on the agenda include possible action to reimburse the Loda Sportsman club for FSA reporting penalty, possible action on cash rent lease language, possible action to obtaining deeds for Ford County farms and possible action on seeking sealed cash rent bids for farm #3 for the 2025 crop year. The meeting starts at 4:30 in the small courtroom at the Ford County Courthouse.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Real ID appointments are filling up "super fast," officials with the Illinois Secretary of State's office said, and with the deadline fast approaching, the number of people looking to book is growing.Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said last year that his office was stepping up efforts to ensure that residents get REAL ID-compliant identification prior to the May 2025 deadline, but acknowledged there are "tremendous concerns" about what will happen as the deadline arrives. According to state data, as of Dec. 31, 2024, the office has issued 3,295,078 Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and state IDs. This represents just 25.34% of all currently valid driver’s license and state IDs.

 

(Channoohan–jc)  The new 104th State legislature is set. 106th district State Representative Jason Bunting talks about his committee jobs in Springfield…

 

 

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state of Illinois is announcing new college credit opportunities for Illinois State Police troopers. Eastern Illinois, Governors State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Western Illinois University teamed up with state police for the opportunity. Illinois State Police Director Brenden Kelly says the classes troopers take at the academy are similar to those getting a criminal justice degree…

 

 

Illinois State Police Director Brenden Kelly.

 

(Savoy-jm) – A Savoy man is dead after he crashed into a tree Friday night. It happened in the 400 block of Wesley Avenue around 10:45 p.m. Champaign County Sheriff's Office said, Gaddis McAfee, 48, was driving north on Wesley Avenue at a high rate of speed when his car left the road and hit a tree. McAfee, the sole occupant, was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. McAfee was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, the sheriff's office said. Deputies also said alcohol and/or drugs may have been a contributing factor. This crash remains under investigation by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office and the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.

 

(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City firefighters were called to a fire Sunday afternoon. They were called to the fire in the 500 block of South Wood around 3pm. There’s no word on the cause of the fire.

 

(Paxton–dm)-If you have a room in your house that needs painting or maybe just touched up, you need to make some repairs. The first thing is to make sure the area is clean.  Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen tells us how to make the repair.

 

 

Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen.  You can hear more from Scott Saturday mornings at 730 on Scott’s Tips for Success

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man will spend the next 20 years in prison for a 2021 murder he committed when he was 17 years old. Tony Brock, 20, was charged three years ago with adult counts of first-degree murder, accusing him of killing Brandon Kelly the morning of Halloween 2021. Trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday, and a jury had been selected, but Brock reached a plea deal with prosecutors and avoided trial. He pleaded guilty to one of the murder charges against him with the rest being dismissed.

 

(The Center Square) – The jury is set to resume deliberations this morning at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain in Chicago. Jurors deliberated for less than five hours Friday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse before they wrapped up for the weekend. Deliberations began last Wednesday afternoon in a trial that began with jury selection October 8th.