The Illinois House of Representatives passed floor rules on Wednesday ahead of adjournment.

Democrats currently hold a super-majority in both chambers of the General Assembly. House Republicans have called for greater transparency, equity, and a fairer process for legislation introduced in either chamber.

Following a Wednesday afternoon vote on the new rules, House Republicans believe the rules adopted by the House, along party lines, ensure that the old way of doing business in the General Assembly will remain in place for at least two more years.

100^th District State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer of Jacksonville took to the floor during debate to speak about rules changes proposed by Republicans that were rejected by Democrats: “I don’t think [our proposals] ties your hands on what direction to go. At the end of the day, I think these rules [we have proposed] are about fairness, about respect across the aisle, and about providing the equity that we discuss right here underneath this Capitol dome on this side of the Capitol. So, I hope that we can truly continue to work on this. This is a resolution that can be amended. I want to continue to work on these issues because none of these issues will effect your ability to continue to operate the way you have been operating. It will only provide more factual information by which we can make our important decisions.”

99^th District State Representative Randy Frese of Quincy says that having a set of rules for one side and not for the other is problematic: “The rules are made by the majority party, passed by the majority party in favor of the majority party. It’s sometimes a difficult thing to wrap your brain around, but listen, if we don’t play by the rules, what’s the use of playing then. There is a set of rules for every engagement we have in life and when one side has to abide by the rules and the other side can suspend the rules when they so choose, it gets to be problematic for the people of the State of Illinois.”

Frese says that Democrats sometimes play by the rules they set and sometimes they don’t: “I think it’s ironic that two years ago, we passed the rules on the floor of the Convention Center, and I think the very next vote we took after that was to suspend the rules because [Democrats] wanted to move something. They are not always used as a last minute effort to try to get something through. Sometimes they are just used whenever it’s convenient for them. I don’t like it. Again, I think it’s an uneven playing field and it always favors the majority party.”

The House will remain in session the remainder of the month of February and into March, with the deadline for new legislation due on February 17^th.

The North Greene School District is leaving all of its options open for food service.

The North Greene School Board voted over the summer to go with a vendor for food service, ending its long-time process of self-operation across the district. In a request for proposal of bids, Organic Life LLC won the bid at just under $700,000. The contract with Organic Life was for one year.

Superintendent Mark Scott, who has two children in the district who get lunches from the food service, says he hasn’t really noticed a difference in food quality but he says students like the multiple options provided each day. When the district had a self-operational food service, students only had one option for each day.

Scott says most of the complaints about the new food service hasn’t been from students, but have come from parents: “I have had food at both schools in the district. It seems okay to me. Most of the complaints that I have received are from adults or parents – ‘Well, my kid got a brown banana.’ ‘There was mold on bread.’ Half of the time it’s not even mold on the bread, it’s a floured crust. We’ve had a lot of complaints from adults and parents, and some students; but I know that most students enjoy the options. With the food itself, I don’t know if there is a lot more made-from-scratch meals or home cooked meals compared to before, I just know that we offer a lot more variety than what we were able to before.”

Scott says the cost to the district is about the same as when the district was self-operational. According to a report by the Greene Prairie Press, Organic Life CEO Jonah Falk told the North Greene School Board that food and staffing cost increases would have cost the district nearly a quarter million dollars more to operate this year and the district is fortunate to have them as a vendor.

Scott says that the school board is keeping all the options on the table as far as the food service is concerned: “The last report I was given from the board is that they want to keep their options open, which might mean resubmitting an invitation to bid back out to everyone to bid on it again. Whoever might want to bid on being our food service could bid again, or the board could vie for going back to self-op. Has a decision been made yet? No. At the February board meeting, they will definitely have to make a decision because the RFP process is pretty extensive and there is time frames you have to meet. Our current contract would be up at the end of June with Organic Life. The board could choose to renew it or not.”

Scott says going back to self-operational wouldn’t be cost prohibitive because the district still owns all the kitchen equipment, they would just need to interview and hire staff.

According to the Greene Prairie Press report, Organic Life appears understanding of the situation if they aren’t brought back for a second year. The report also said that some North Greene School District staff members have indicated that it has been tough working with an entity from outside of the school district at times. The report did not specify what the issues and challenges were in working with the vendor during the current school year.

Motions filed in a case against two Springfield EMTS accused of first-degree murder say that false statements have been made to investigators and one of the EMTs are alleged to have tried to influence the statements of a Springfield Police officer.

Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright’s motions claim that an Illinois State Police investigation into the death of 35 year old Earl Moore Jr. of Springfield claims that LifeStar EMT Peggy Finley talked to Springfield Police officer Jacob Wayda, asking him to ensure HSHS St. John’s personnel that Moore was a “different patient” from the time he was picked up by Finley and EMT Peter Cadigan, to his arrival at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, according to a report from the State Journal Register. Moore had called police after hallucinating from detoxing from alcohol and marijuana in his system.

Moore died less than an hour after his transport to the hospital from compression and positional asphyxia after being strapped in a face-down prone position on a gurney by the two EMTs. Both have been charged with first-degree murder and have pled not guilty.

According to a copy of the motion, Wayda told State Police investigators that Finley said the hospital was probably going to want a statement from him and “to ensure that I told them that Moore was ‘responsive’ while we were at [Moore’s] residence.” Wayda told investigators that when he asked Finley to clarify what she meant about Moore being a “different patient,” Finley “did not form a clear answer.”

The motion goes on to say that Finley, in her patient care report, noted that Moore was “combative” at the scene. An ISP investigator testified on Jan. 20 that the body camera footage provided by the Springfield Police Department from the three officers, including Wayda’s, showed Moore needed assistance getting out of his home and onto the stretcher. The motion also says Finley texted Cadigan and another EMT the morning after Moore’s death saying she took responsibility for not shifting Moore out of the prone position.

According to a WICS Newschannel 20 report, the motion also says that Finley falsely claimed to the Illinois State Police that she took Moore’s vitals during transport from the scene to St. John’s Hospital. However, in a recorded call between Finley and the Medical Intensive Care Unit, Finley is heard saying she was not “messing with vitals” because she didn’t want to “poke the bear.” St. John’s Hospital staff also reported not getting vitals for Moore from the 2 EMTs.

According to the ISP investigation, Finley, who was riding in the back of the ambulance while Cadigan drove, told investigators the ambulance’s emergency lights and sirens were on during transport. But that claim is refuted by Cadigan’s statement along with surveillance video from an intersection the ambulance went through.

Cadigan also told ISP that he did not receive any training on patient positioning and the risks of positional asphyxia caused by prone transport. But state police found records that Cadigan went through training on the topics about six months before Moore’s death.

Both Cadigan and Finley will be back in court on Monday. They remain held on $1 million bond each at the Sangamon County Jail.

A Springfield man defending himself in Adams County Circuit Court in a November 2021 sexual assault, home invasion, and carjacking case complained and argued multiple motions during a hearing Wednesday.

35 year old Bradley Yohn appeared with special counsel, Adams County Public Defender Todd Nelson yesterday hoping to reach a resolution on multiple motions he’s filed in the case. Judge Roger Thomson addressed a motion to suppress that was filed by Yohn on June 22^nd saying he wasn’t properly read his Miranda rights at the time of his arrest in Sangamon County. Muddy River News reports that Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Jones said there was nothing to suppress, so Thomson granted the motion.

Yohn was then asked about a motion of discovery. The motion was filed along with 4 others on December 21^st. Yohn asked for a “full and complete” report of a video from Instant Replay, a Quincy bar, on Nov. 9, 2021. Jones told the court that video had already been turned over. A motion to suppress regarding phone calls from the Adams County Jail and a blood collection kit obtained by Dr. Scott Denton during autopsy of the victim Tina Schmitt was argued. Yohn then asked for a copy of the psychiatric history of Karen Blackledge, who was allegedly with Yohn on the night he assaulted Schmitt. Blackledge agreed on May 5 to serve two 20-year sentences to the Illinois Department of Corrections for her role in Yohn’s alleged crimes.

Muddy River News went on to report that Yohn asked for the disclosure of an evidence inventory receipt from the search of a home at 1906 East Carroll in Springfield, as well as an audio recording of an interview of Schmitt on Nov. 10, 2021 prior to her death. Yohn claimed video recordings of that interview are not complete because batteries went dead, and he claims statements Schmitt made are contradictory. Jones said he already has supplied Yohn with the two interviews but if a third interview exists, he will get it to him by the end of the week.

Thomson said if the receipt exists, it needs to be turned over to Yohn by Feb. 10^th.

Yohn also argued against having extended media coverage of his case, saying it was a violation of his rights. Thomson said he had previously ruled on the media coverage and wasn’t changing his mind.

Yohn says he has not been receiving copies of documents from court proceedings. He also said he is receiving documents hand-delivered by jail personnel rather than through the U.S. Mail. He believes the information in those documents contains personal information that is in the view of Adams County jail personnel. He also says that his defense documents are being kept in a box and are being mishandled by jail personnel.

After continued complaint about claims of ill treatment at the hands of Adams County Jail officials, Judge Thomson said he wasn’t going to order the jail to treat Yohn any differently. A status hearing in the case was set for March 8. A trial date has not been set.

The fraud and money laundering trial of a former Illinois State Senator that represented the listening area won’t likely occur until this summer.

Former Illinois Senator and one time gubernatorial candidate William “Sam” McCann appeared in a video hearing in Central Illinois federal court yesterday before Magistrate Judge Eric Long.

McCann’s previous defense counsel, Assistant Federal Public Defender Rosana Brown filed a motion on January 25^th to withdraw as McCann’s counsel. According to the written motion, Brown claimed a conflict of interest had arisen between her and McCann that had become “materially adverse” and the attorney-client relationship had become “irreparably broken.”

Judge Long granted the motion yesterday and also recognized the entry of appearance by McCann’s new private defense counsel, Peoria-based attorney Charles Schierer. Schierer also filed a motion to continue in the case on behalf of McCann on January 25^th in order to receive additional time to receive and review discovery and prepare defense ahead of trial.

Judge Long granted Schierer’s motion and vacated McCann’s trial date, which was set to begin on February 14^th.

McCann is charged with 7 counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of tax evasion allegeding he misused campaign finances for personal use, laundered that money through his campaign accounts, and then, attempted to evade claiming campaign money as income on his federal income taxes.

Judge Long has set a status hearing for the case for March 13^th with jury selection for trial continued to June 25^th. McCann remains free on a recognizance bond with several stipulated conditions.

Carrollton has a new Chief of Police.

The Greene Prairie Press reports that Chief Mike McCartney abruptly retired from the position on January 27^th. According to the report, McCartney was offered a position to work campus security at Principia College. McCartney had been police chief in Carrollton since November 1, 2020.

In a special meeting held by the Carrollton City Council, Mayor Mike Snyder appointed Officer Jimmy Buchanan to the position, which received unanimous support from the city council. The 34 year old Buchanan who lives in Hillview is the only full-time officer for the city that doesn’t live in Carrollton, and he’s the second-youngest officer on the force. He has been employed with the department since July 2015.

A Christmas miracle came to the Jacksonville Salvation Army on Tuesday.

The annual red Kettle Campaign officially ended on Tuesday ahead of its $150,000 goal.

Captain Chris Clarke says an anonymous donor came through at the last minute: “The amazing thing is on Monday, a day before the campaign ended, we got a call from a very generous donor, a friend of the Salvation Army. They asked how much we were short. It was almost $8,000 at that point. They actually wrote us a check right down to the penny of what we needed on Monday. Then, on Tuesday, which was the last day of the campaign, we receive some more checks. We were actually able to exceed our goal by a little over $4,400.”

Clarke says the next thing to do is to the cede that money into the Jacksonville Salvation Army’s programs: “That money is used all year long for our many programs including our food program, our Free Lunch program, as well as our food pantry that sees as many as 70 families a day, helping people with shelter. We currently have 10 families in shelter using area motels. These are people who don’t qualify or wouldn’t be a good fit for them to go to New Directions for shelter there. We help people all year long with different things like utilities, housing, clothing, personal care needs, and so many different things. Really, we are just trying to help people in their emergency need. This next year we are excited to start our Pathway of Hope program, which is for people who are willing and able to get the help through some intense case management to move them along from where they are at to a more self-sustaining situation.”

Clarke says the Salvation Army is grateful to all the donors and bell ringers during this year’s campaign. 153 volunteers donated nearly 14,000 hours of service to reach the 2022 Christmas campaign goal.

It’s Groundhog Day and Illinois’ resident marmot meteorologist says he saw his shadow this morning.

The famous Chicago-area groundhog, Woodstock Willie, delivered his prognostication at 7:07AM this morning, according to NBC5 Chicago.

Woodstock hosts an annual Groundhog Festival leading up to Willie’s annual prediction. Woodstock’s place in lore lies in the fact that the 1993 cult comedy classic ‘Groundhog Day’ starring Bill Murray was shot on site there. Willie gives his prediction each year at the very spot Murray delivered his forecast acting as Phil Connors in the film.

History.com says a local newspaper editor created Groundhog Day as we know it today in 1887 at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. He suggested the idea of using a groundhog to predict the coming weather to a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters, known collectively as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, thus the legendary Punxsutawney Phil was born. Phil also saw his shadow this morning.

Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks and whistle pigs, are the largest member of the squirrel family in Illinois.

Ameren-Illinois has filed paperwork with the Illinois Commerce Commission seeking a rate adjustment that would cause the average household to see an increase in their utility bills.

WBGZ reports that the average household would see an increase by about $6 a month on the electric side and see a slight increase in natural gas. The increased costs are based on what WBGZ says the average user rates of 10,000 kilowatt hours, while the natural gas estimate of $6.68 per month is based on average monthly usage of around 745 therms.

Specifically, the utility is asking for about a $160 million increase on the natural gas side and about $435.6 million increase over the next four years on the electric side.

Ameren-Illinois’ spokesperson Tucker Kennedy told WBGZ that it amounts to on-boarding clean energy projects: “On the electric side, it’s really about preparing that grid for the transition to clean energy. The gas side is about complying with federal requirements and just making sure we have the most efficient and cost-reliable energy delivery system that we can have.”

Illinois utility watchdog, the Citizen’s Utility Board says they are leery of the increase request to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

CUB Spokesperson Jim Chilsen told WBGZ that the watchdog group is going to scrutinize Ameren’s bottom line for the request: “What we are really concerned about when Ameren asks for these big rate hikes is if the company is asking for an excessive profit rate for shareholders. That’s what these cases come down to. Over the next 11 months, we are going to challenge every penny that the company can’t justify. We are going to do our best to reduce these rate hikes as much as possible, and we are going to do our best to expose any attempt by Ameren to ask for an excessive profit rate for shareholders.”

The Illinois Commerce Commission will hold hearings and take comments over the next eight months before rendering a decision on the rate increase request. If approved, new rates would take effect early next year.

A Quincy couple accused of being a part of the mob that entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6^th two years ago pled guilty yesterday to federal charges.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Christina & Jason Gerding pled guilty to parading, demonstrating and picketing inside the Capitol building. The two will be sentenced in May and could face up to six months in prison and fines of up to $5,000.

The Gerdings were arrested at an unnamed location in Central Illinois just a few weeks after the Capitol Riot after the FBI said it received tips that identified the couple as participating in the attack at the Capitol, including one that provided a Twitter account linked to Jason Gerding and a photo of the couple holding hands in the Capitol Rotunda found on other social media.

The Gerdings’ case documents were the first from Illinois to directly reference the conspiracy theory community of Q-Anon. A Twitter account linked to Jason Gerding in the criminal affidavit referenced upcoming events at the Capitol a month before they took place.

The couple remains free on recognizance until their sentencing.