Illinois lawmakers are poised to make a second attempt at passing a bill that would give state regulators more authority to control the rising cost of homeowners insurance. Gov. JB Pritzker called for the legislation last summer after Bloomington-based State Farm Insurance announced it was raising premiums in Illinois an average 27.2%, citing years of losses in […]
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Lawmakers seek to regulate new data centers’ power, water usage
Amid concerns about data centers’ impact on prices, electricity supplies and the environment, two Illinois lawmakers have introduced a bill to regulate new projects in Illinois. The bill, called the POWER Act, establishes comprehensive environmental, water and energy regulations for “hyperscale” data centers. State Sen. Ram Villivalam is sponsoring the bill in the Senate, and […]
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Union president asked for leniency for Grayson
The president of the union that represents deputies in the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office pleaded with a judge to be lenient in sentencing former deputy Sean Grayson for the murder of Sonya Massey. Sangamon County Deputy Travis Koester was ultimately unsuccessful but told Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin in a letter that Grayson, 31, deserved mercy […]
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Marc Bell drops out of sheriff’s race
The only Democrat whose name will be on the March 17 primary ballot for Sangamon County sheriff decided Feb. 9 to withdraw from the race. Springfield resident Marc Bell, the lone Democrat on the ballot, posted on his campaign’s Facebook page that a lack of financial support from the Democratic Party was the reason for […]
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Leland Grove police chief granted pretrial release
The day after Leland Grove Police Chief Dan Ryan was arrested for domestic battery and driving under the influence, Sangamon County Judge Rudolph Braud granted Ryan pre-trial release. His next court appearance is March 11. During the Feb. 6 hearing, Braud also did not require an alcohol and drug evaluation that prosecutors argued is typically […]
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LLCC names new president
Lincoln Land Community College has named Curt Oldfield as its next president. Oldfield currently is president of Spoon River College, a community college in Canton, Illinois. He will replace current LLCC President Charlotte Warren, who announced in August that she would be retiring at the end of June. She has been LLCC’s president since 2006. […]
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Valente versus Cahnman
Miguel Valente, a 25-year-old budget analyst in the Illinois Governor’s Office of Management and Budget is running in the March 17 Democratic primary for the Sangamon County Board’s 18th District, pitching himself as a fiscally minded candidate focused on affordability, transparency and government efficiency. Despite Valente being on Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s staff, his opponent […]
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New craft grow operation in the works
Justin Conder is only 40 years old with a sturdy build and firm handshake, but gray already specks his otherwise brown hair. It’s quite possible a frustrating, eight-year odyssey to obtain a state craft-grow cannabis license has something to do with that. “I ask myself that sometimes,” Conder says with a weary laugh when asked […]
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Continuing her legacy
Members of Sonya Massey’s family, who declared victory with the recent sentencing of her killer to a 20-year prison term, say they hope her tragic death leads to policy changes in Sangamon County and nationwide. The sentence, which likely will be appealed to a higher court by lawyers representing former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean […]
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“This is chemical trespass.”
More than 700 Illinois schools are within a quarter-mile of crop fields, yet state law doesn’t require pesticide applicators to notify them before spraying. Advocates say a new notification proposal would give educators and park staff time to move children indoors and reduce exposure. This story was originally published by Investigate Midwest. When the wind […]
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State looks to expand manufacturing training at community colleges
As the U.S. sheds manufacturing jobs, Illinois is accepting applications for $24 million in grant funding to establish training facilities at community colleges aimed at bolstering the state’s manufacturing labor pool. The funding is for six “manufacturing training academies” at downstate community colleges that will add to two existing academies that opened in 2024. The […]
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Illinois joins WHO global outbreak network after U.S. withdraws
Illinois will join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN, to counterbalance the federal government’s withdrawal, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Tuesday. The network monitors disease outbreaks across the globe and prepares countries to respond to those outbreaks. As a member, Illinois will have access to research, timely alerts and information […]
