WJBC-AM (Bloomington, IL)

By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY Capitol News Illinois mdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Gov. JB Pritzker signed two pieces of energy legislation Thursday aimed at improving bill transparency and expanding access to the state’s low-income discount program. One of the bills increases the state’s eligibility for access to federal energy assistance funds to 300% of the federal poverty level, up from the previous 200% cutoff.

By MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com BENTON — An Illinois Department of Corrections payroll worker admitted in federal court Wednesday that she falsified her correctional officer husband’s overtime and holiday pay, defrauding the state of nearly $125,000.

By WMBD TV BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — The Bloomington Police Department held a community drone forum to address concerns and questions the community has about their new drone tech. The meeting also gave the department the chance to explain to the community what they are and are not using the drones for. “I think by and large, why does the Bloomington Police Department have drones? What are police agencies using drones for?

By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Story Summary The U.S. Department of Justice sent letters to top election officials in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., warning they could be held criminally liable for allowing noncitizens to vote. DOJ is also suing Illinois and several other states for access to their complete, unredacted voter registration databases which include sensitive personal information.

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, faces 10 counts of wire fraud, making a false statement to the FBI and conspiracy to obstruct justice, while her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, faces two obstruction of justice counts. A federal grand jury indicted the Ammonses late Tuesday following an FBI investigation at least two years in the making.

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A 45-year-old man has been identified as the person who was found dead in the Illinois River on Tuesday morning. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Damien Gulliford was identified by his tattoos and after being fingerprinted. The autopsy, which was done late Tuesday, indicated he suffered acute drowning, with no evidence of trauma or foul play, the coroner said.

NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — The town of Normal’s Historic Preservation Commission voted last week to demolish two buildings in Uptown, while another’s fate is still up in the air. “There are three buildings. One is on East Beaufort Street and two of them are on North Street, which the town purchased back in 2006 with the intention of one day taking them down to make way for two significant buildings adjacent to the circle,” said Mercy Davison, director of planning and zoning for the town.

By WMBD TV NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — A Bloomington man allegedly had more than five pounds of marijuana after he was caught fleeing from police. Barry D. Guyton, 29, was booked into the McLean County Jail on charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding a peace officer as well as manufacture or delivery of between 2,000 and 5,000 grams of cannabis. It was not immediately clear if he had been formally charged in McLean County Circuit Court.

CREVE COEUR, Ill. (WMBD) — A Kewanee woman is in the Tazewell County Jail on Tuesday, less than a day after she was arrested for first-degree murder in connection with a Creve Coeur man earlier this year. Caitlynn Girkin, 27, was booked on the single charge of first-degree murder in connection with the March 10 shooting death of 29-year-old Adolfo Cazares of Creve Coeur, an Illinois State Police spokesperson said.

By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY Capitol News Illinois mdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary Illinois American Water, the state’s largest private water utility, is seeking a $142 million rate increase, which would raise typical residential water costs by around $14 per month. Aqua Illinois, the second-largest private water utility, has asked regulators to approve a $26.5 million rate increase, which would raise average combined water bills by about $23 per month.