Highway camera expansion covering 6,600 miles of road in 22 counties awaits Pritzker’s signature
SPRINGFIELD – A pair of bills on Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk would expand a state roadway camera monitoring program to 21 additional counties while also expanding the number of crimes the cameras can be used to investigate and the number of parties that can prosecute them. The measures – House Bill 260 and House Bill 4481 – were among […]
Champaign PD announces new Chief of Police and partnership with University of Illinois
CHAMPAIGN – A Colonel in the Illinois State Police is the new Chief of Police in the city of Champaign. On Wednesday, City Manager Dorothy Ann David announced Timothy T. Tyler will become the new chief on June 6, 2022. Tyler’s starting annual salary will be $180,000. At a Wednesday morning news conference announcing his […]
Pritzker commemorates 100 years of Illinois State Police as crime remains campaign flashpoint
SPRINGFIELD — From his ceremonial office at the Capitol Tuesday, Gov. JB Pritzker proclaimed the 12-month period beginning April 1 as the Illinois State Police centennial year, ordering the ISP flag to fly atop the Capitol dome for the month of April. The news conference in Pritzker’s office followed an appearance on the Capitol’s east […]
ISP director talks challenges facing the agency
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly told a state violence prevention task force this week that expressway shootings, gun trafficking, trooper staffing levels and officer wellness are some of the biggest challenges facing the agency. According to the ISP expressway shootings dashboard, in 2021 there were 310 reported expressway shootings in Illinois, 273 […]
Criminal justice expert says the Jelani Day death investigation lacks evidence to warrant an FBI takeover
NORMAL – A law enforcement expert says it’s rare, but not unprecedented, for the FBI to take over a local investigation. That’s what the family of Jelani Day wants. The Illinois State University graduate student drowned in the Illinois River near Peru, authorities said. But it’s not clear how Day got in the water. It’s been […]
‘Do You Not See My Son?’ Mother Of Jelani Day Says Case Is Not Getting The Attention It Deserves
NORMAL — The mother of missing Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day said the discovery of an unidentified body on Sept. 4 seems to have brought her son’s case to a standstill. “Since they found that unidentified body, it doesn’t seem to me that they are pushing to continue to look for my son,” […]
California Law, U.S. Constitution At Center Of FOID Case Before Illinois Supreme Court
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court is being asked to consider the laws of the state of California and the U.S. Constitution in ruling on one man’s eligibility to be issued a Firearm Owners Identification card by the Illinois State Police. The high court heard oral arguments Thursday morning in Springfield in Thomas Brown v. […]
Illinois State Police Director On Diversity, Delays And FOID Cards
The Illinois State Police say they’re working to improve diversity at the agency and expand capacity, but this comes after years of criticism over a huge backlog in DNA evidence and the slow processing of firearm licenses. The 21st was joined by Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly to talk about it. GUEST Brendan Kelly Director, Illinois State Police Today, Illinois […]
Miles From 2019 Aurora Shooting, Pritzker Signs Gun Law Overhaul Into Law
SPRINGFIELD – Within five miles of the scene of a 2019 workplace mass shooting that left six people dead and five law enforcement officers injured, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a wide-ranging bill reforming the state’s gun laws Monday at the Aurora Police Department. Advocates for the new law – including Illinois State Police Director Brendan […]
State’s Attorney Says Deadly Force ‘Justified’ In Police Shooting
Editor’s Note: Illinois State Police released videos of the deadly May 19 shootings in Champaign. You can find a synced video of area surveillance cameras and police body cams here. The video is graphic. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. CHAMPAIGN – On the day after Champaign Officer Chris Oberheim’s funeral, Illinois State Police released surveillance […]
FOID, Concealed Carry Permits Extended Again
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police has given another 150-day extension to people whose Firearms Owners Identification cards or Concealed Carry Licenses have expired due to a backlog in processing renewal applications. A panel of state lawmakers gave approval Tuesday to that emergency rule after ISP officials assured them that the agency had made significant […]
State Police Sued Over Concealed Carry License Delays
SPRINGFIELD – Four Illinois residents who have been waiting for months for their state-issued Concealed Carry Licenses are suing officials with the Illinois State Police for allegedly depriving them of their right to bear arms and right to due process. The lawsuit, filed Friday by the four individuals as well as the Illinois State Rifle Association […]
GOP House Members Renew Calls For Gun License Reforms Amid Delays
SPRINGFIELD — Four GOP state House lawmakers on Wednesday voiced complaints from their central and southern Illinois constituents who say they have waited months after applying for new or renewed gun ownership licenses without an update from the Illinois State Police amid an unprecedented volume of applications this year. Reps. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, CD Davidsmeyer, […]
North Suburban Counties Join Mitigation List As Pritzker, State Police Talk Enforcement
North suburban Lake and McHenry counties will be the eighth region of the state’s COVID-19 plan facing increased economic restrictions as COVID-19…
News Around Illinois – February 26, 2020
Special House Committee Challenges Newcomer SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday, the Illinois House formally began investigating the appointment process used to replace former State Rep. Luis Arroyo. The Chicago Democrat resigned from office last fall after he was arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe a state senator. But two lawmakers are challenging the qualifications of his […]