(Springfield-jm) – The Trump Administration’s lawsuits seeking access to sensitive voter registration data in Illinois and dozens of other states is one part of a broader effort to purge state voter rolls of suspected non-citizens, according to documents filed recently in federal court in Springfield. Those documents were filed by attorneys representing the Illinois AFL-CIO and other groups that have intervened in the case seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from obtaining the information. They say it proves the agency’s stated reasons for seeking the data-to determine whether Illinois is complying with voter list maintenance requirements-is only a pretext and the agency’s suit against the state should be dismissed. Illinois refused to hand over an unredacted voter registration list and only provided the DOJ with electronic copies of partially redacted files that do not include sensitive information such as dates of birth, driver’s license numbers or partial Social Security numbers. That prompted the DOJ to file a suit seeking unredacted files. Similar suits have already been dismissed in six other states and no court has yet ruled in favor of the DOJs request for access to the unredacted voter files.
(Undated-jm) — Strong winds caused blowing dust Monday afternoon. Dust storm warnings were issued for some areas as winds gusting over 30 mph caused blowing dust leading to reduced visibilities.
(Springfield–dm)-89th District Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie Republican from Savannah recently held a news conference to discuss the failures of Illinois' Safety Act, and what Republicans are trying to do to repeal the Safety Act.
89th District Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie Republican from Savannah
(The Center Square) – Four people from California are charged in connection with a conspiracy to burglarize pharmacies and distribute controlled substances in southern Illinois and across the country. The defendants are accused of burglarizing pharmacies in Bethalto, Maryville, Lebanon, Breese and Neoga in July 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois said three of the four defendants are in custody, but Idani Johnson, 34, of Compton, California remains at large.
(Champaign-jm) - Champaign Police have made an arrest in connection to a deadly shooting Friday evening. Police arrested 21 year old Charles Haynes in connection to the shooting death of 33 year old Aaron Sibley. Sibley was found shot in the 500 block of East Columbia Avenue. Haynes is charged with four counts of first degree murder.
(Urbana-jm) – A Savoy man has died following a crash in Urbana Saturday. Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer identified the victim as 39 year old John Goeken of Savoy. Goeken was driving a motorcycle on Lincoln Avenue when it collided with a vehicle Saturday afternoon. The driver of the other vehicle was also taken to the hospital.
(Onarga–dm)-The Onarga American Legion Auxiliary will be sponsoring their Poppy 5k-run-walk on Saturday May 23rd. Onarga Legion Auxiliary Poppy 5k Run Spokesperson Kaitlin Fink has more information.
Onarga American Legion Auxiliary Poppy 5k Run Spokesperson Kaitlin Fink, You can get more information on the Onarga American Legion Auxiliary Facebook page
(Champaign County–jc) A portion on Interstate 57 was closed early this morning due to a vehicle crash in the area. The crash occurred just after midnight this morning at mile marker 238. Traffic was rerouted for several hours. Traffic in the area is back to normal at this time
(Chicago–jc) AAA says gas prices continued to rise over the weekend, with the Illinois average for regular unleaded at $4.93 per gallon this morning. Friday’s price was $4.86. The average Illinois price for diesel is now $6 per gallon.
The national averages are $4.46 for unleaded and $5.64 for diesel.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Parkland College is launching a new healthcare pre-apprenticeship program this summer designed to prepare individuals for in-demand careers in the healthcare industry while creating a strong pipeline into registered apprenticeship and degree pathways. The program will provide participants age 16–24 with foundational skills, hands-on learning experiences, and career exploration opportunities healthcare pre-apprenticeship in healthcare settings.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois is maintaining high childhood vaccination rates. The state's newly-updated School Vaccination Coverage Dashboard shows coverage rates for school-required childhood immunizations are holding steady compared to last year. All but one of those immunizations is above the state's 95% coverage goal to prevent the spread of infectious disease. The Illinois Department of Public Health puts together the dashboard every year using data provided to the Illinois State Board of Education by PreK-12 schools and school districts. The dashboard tracks immunization rates in the current school year for eleven school-required childhood vaccinations at more than 4,600 Illinois schools. Data from the updated dashboard shows that immunization rates are slightly higher than the previous school year for ten of those eleven vaccines. The only exception is hepatitis B, which was only 0.03% lower than a year earlier. That 95% threshold is seen as optimal to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
(Normal–jc) During the sixth meeting with a federal mediator on Monday, Illinois State University and AFSCME Local 1110 reached a tentative agreement.
No details of the agreement will be released until after ratification has been completed.
(Cissna Park–dm)- The Cissna Park Business Development Board will be hosting an informational meeting tonight at the Cissna Park Family Restaurant beginning at 6pm. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the possibility of creating a Park District in Cissna Park. Cissna Park Business Development Board member Todd Kaeb has more information.
Cissna Park Business Development Board Member Todd Kaeb.
(Champaign-jm) – The 16 year old suspect in last week’s shooting at Champaign’s Schnucks was denied pretrial release Monday. Daelon Walton was ordered to remain in custody until his trial in connection to the shooting of an 18 year old. Walton is charged with a felony charge of aggravated battery with a firearm. If convicted he faces 6-30 years in prison.
(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana Police Department is looking for help through Crime Stoppers in solving an armed robbery and shooting that happened in December. The shooting happened at the Circle K gas station at 507 West University Avenue. At 10:44 p.m. on Christmas Eve, a man entered the station’s convenience store, pointed a black and silver handgun at the employee and demanded that he open the cash register. During the incident, the suspect battered and shot the employee several times. The suspect stole personal items from the employee before he fled in a white pickup truck he had previously stolen from the 1900 block of North Cunningham Avenue in Urbana. The truck was later recovered by officers, but the suspect was not located. The Circle K employee received medical treatment for their injuries and was later released from the hospital. The suspect is described as a light-skinned Black male, approximately six feet tall and wearing all black attire.
(Paxton–dm)--Do you have a 2 car garage, but your car sits outside because there’s not enough room for the cars? Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen has an idea on how to open up your garage
Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen, You Can hear more from Scott Saturday mornings at 730 on Scott’s Tips for Success.
(The Center Square) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says he is pleased that a federal court stated it will approve a $700 million settlement in a multi-state antitrust lawsuit against Google. Raoul joined a bipartisan group of 53 attorneys general in 2021 who sued Google for illegally dominating Android app distribution and for charging consumers up to 30% per transaction.
(Springfield–jc) –The Illinois Housing Development Authority is inviting public input for the 2027 Illinois Housing Blueprint to shape housing policy and investment. Residents can take an online survey and attend one of eleven listening sessions. The first two listening sessions are scheduled Wednesday in Belleville and Thursday in Marion.
(Springfield–jc) – The Illinois State Fair 100 Days Out event is scheduled today from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Reisch Pavilion on the state fairgrounds.
Parking and admission are free for the event, with food and drinks available for purchase from fair vendors. The Illinois State Fair is scheduled from Aug 13-23 in Springfield.
(Paxton–jc) The Ford County Board is set to meet this afternoon in Paxton to look at the county’s clerk and recorder position. Due to a retirement, the position is officially vacant. The board will look at its options at the 4-30 meeting this afternoon at the courthouse. The board may also appoint Emily Latiz to the Ford County Zoning Board of Appeals.
WPXN News notes…
The River Valley Church of Christ in Fisher will hold their free garage sale on Friday, May 8th and Saturday, May 9th. Hours both days are 7-noon.
The Rankin Lions Club will hold their Friday Supper on Friday, May 8th from 4:30-7:30pm.
The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, May 8th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $10.
The Harvest Moon Twin Drive In will hold their Spring Fling Craft and Vendor Show Mother’s Day Market on Saturday, May 9th from 9-2.
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School’s third annual Greenhouse Plant Sale & CTE Expo is set for 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the high school’s greenhouse in Gibson City.
The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Coffee and Connections on Wednesday, May 13th from 8-9 am at the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce office.
The Champaign Park District will hold a touch a truck at Sholem Park on Wednesday, May 13th from 4-7 pm.
