McLean County Sheriff Matt Lane said Control Operator Trent Arbuckle was taken into custody at approximately 2:40 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, on a charge of possession of child sex abuse material.

Arbuckle was initially booked into the McLean County Detention Facility, placed on administrative leave and later transferred to the Champaign County Jail.

Arbuckle appeared Tuesday before Judge William Yoder for a detention hearing. The court ordered that he remain detained.

The Sheriff’s Office also notified Arbuckle that it intends to seek termination of his employment.

Arbuckle previously worked as a corrections officer at the detention facility before transferring to the civilian Control Operator position in October 2023.

The Sheriff’s Office said no additional information about the investigation is being released at this time. Questions regarding the investigation should be directed to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

The event was held at Victory Church on U.S. Highway 150. Bailey, a former state senator, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in the 2026 election.

Bailey and Del Mar used the event to outline their priorities and speak with area residents as they campaign for the Republican ticket.

The legislation would exempt qualified Mortgage Revenue Bonds from existing Private Activity Bond volume caps, which limit the amount of financing states can provide each year. Supporters say removing the cap would allow housing agencies to offer more below-market mortgage loans as home prices and borrowing costs continue to challenge prospective buyers.

The bill is supported by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and several national housing and financial organizations. IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust said the legislation could allow the agency to significantly expand its assistance to first-time buyers. IHDA has helped more than 3,000 families purchase their first homes this year through down payment assistance programs.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson moderated the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable in Shirley, Illinois on Monday.

GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey said he has been a Farm Bureau member since 1982.

“We can preserve the family farm by, at a bare minimum, matching the federal rates with the inheritance tax, and I pray that goes away because I’m leaving under the same fate that you are,” Bailey said.

Bailey also called for a cap on property taxes.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said state lawmakers should pass the Family Farm Preservation Act to raise the estate tax credit from $4 million to $6 million.

House Bill 2677 was introduced in March 2025 but has failed to advance in the General Assembly.

The governor touted his record on agriculture and said he held a meeting with the Illinois Soybean Association last week.

“I signed an agreement with the Indonesian government that is likely to result in hundreds of millions of dollars more in soybean sales from Illinois farmers,” Pritzker said.

Independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett said he was intentionally left out.

"Excluding the independent candidate from this major policy forum denies Illinois farmers, rural communities, and voters a real choice," Corbett said in a statement.

Illinois Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy addressed the roundtable on Monday morning.

Tracy said the federal government has spent years operating under extensions of a farm bill written for a different ag economy and without an inflation adjustment.

“I will support a farm bill that protects crop insurance, provides a meaningful farm safety net and gives farmers more certainty when making decisions about planting, equipment financing and the future of their operations,” Tracy said.

Tracy said he supports permanent, year-round access to E15 gasoline nationwide.

“E15 access means another market for Illinois corn, more American-made energy and more choices for consumers,” Tracy said.

The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, did not participate in the event.

Independent candidate Whitfield Harrington Jr. is also on the ballot for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat Nov. 3.

Eligible projects include biking and walking paths, trails, streetscape beautification work and other improvements. An IDOT statement said at least 25% of state funding will be used for disadvantaged and economically distressed communities.

Applications must be received by Oct. 5.

MANUFACTURERS LAUD CTE BILL SIGNING

Manufacturing groups say newly-signed state legislation will secure the future of career technical education classes in Illinois high schools.

Starting in 2028, Senate Bill 3070 will allow students to complete CTE classes as an alternative to the two-year foreign-language requirement.

The Technology & Manufacturing Association and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association both released statements commending the bill that passed with bipartisan support.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed SB 3070 Friday.

CHICAGO OFFICIALS STUDY ALTERNATIVE SAFETY PROGRAM IN ALBURQUERQUE

A delegation of Chicago officials traveled to New Mexico this week to learn from Albuquerque's approach to behavioral health and community well-being.

The Chicago group included former state senator and mayoral chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas, deputy mayors Arturo Carrillo and Emmanuel Andre, Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Angela Green, and representatives from the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Department of Public Health, the city’s Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement program, city council and the mayor’s office.

ILLINOIS RANKS 18TH ON BEST STATES LIST

Illinois ranks 18th on a new list of the best U.S. states to live in.

WalletHub compared livability factors ranging from housing costs and income growth to the education rate and hospital systems.

Idaho topped the list, followed by New Jersey and Wisconsin. Iowa ranked 11th.

Illinois finished ahead of #25 Indiana, #30 Missouri and #41 Kentucky. The Land of Lincoln ranked fifth for quality of life, 37th for affordability and 42nd for economy.

Members of IAFF Local 2442 will collect donations from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 13 and 14 at the intersection of North School Street and West Willow Street. Off-duty firefighters will be stationed at the intersection with boots in hand to collect cash and card donations from motorists.

The fundraiser is part of a decades-long partnership between the International Association of Fire Fighters and MDA. Since 1954, IAFF members have raised more than $700 million to support research, medical care, summer camps and family programs for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and other neuromuscular diseases.

Firefighters are asking motorists to use caution as they move between vehicles while collecting donations. Those who would prefer to give electronically can find more information through the Normal Firefighters Facebook page.

Local 2442 represents firefighters, engineers and lieutenants of the Normal Fire Department.

Last year’s award winner was Jeremiah Fletcher, Vice President of Infrastructure and Chief Technology Officer at COUNTRY Financial. Fletcher earned his associate degree at Heartland and is currently active with the HCC Corporate Alumni Council at COUNTRY Financial/Illinois Farm Bureau. He also serves as a mentor in Heartland’s COUNTRY Scholars program.

Criteria for Nominations

To be considered for the Distinguished Alumni award, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Have completed at least 30 semester hours at Heartland Community College
• Achieved success of an exceptional nature within their chosen field or profession
• Made a positive impact in their community through leadership and/or active volunteering
• Agree to be present at the annual Celebration of Excellence event on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

Nomination forms are available at https://www.heartland.edu/alumni/alumniawards/index.html.

Nominations are due Friday, September 4, 2026.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said it took jurisdiction of the remains after the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended the license of South Chicago Chapel’s owner.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he is listening to IDFPR about the funeral home’s processes.

“We need to know whether this had something to do with monitoring, had to do with licensing, or it just had to do with really bad actors who were hiding what they were doing,” Pritzker said at a bill-signing event in Chicago on Friday.

Illinois DFPR Secretary Mario Treto Jr. said his agency licenses and regulates funeral directors, but it does not regulate funeral homes or crematoriums.

“As evident in this case, once evidence of misconduct by a licensed professional was identified, IDFPR acted swiftly and decisively within our jurisdiction to suspend the funeral director’s license,” Treto said in a statement released on Friday evening.

Treto said the agency suspended South Chicago Chapel owner Johanna Morgan’s funeral director license last week.

Johanna and Clark Morgan also operated a Chicago Heights crematory that was shut down by the Illinois comptroller’s office last year, after bodies were found to be improperly stored and hundreds of cremated remains had not been returned to their families.

Heights Crematory was the target of legislation introduced this year by state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights.

“You may recall last summer a real tragedy at a crematory that was located in Chicago Heights, and it prompted this legislation,” DeLuca said.

Pritzker signed House Bill 4695 on June 26 after both chambers of the state legislature passed it unanimously during the spring.

“One of the most significant aspects of this is that, under current language, you can cremate the human remains at convenience, and this would require within 30 days,” DeLuca said.

The legislation takes effect Jan. 1.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza said in a statement it was “infuriating” to hear that the Chicago Heights operators “did the same thing” in Chicago.

A statement from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s office said the medical examiner’s office is working to reunite family members and loved ones of decedents whose remains were stored at South Chicago Chapel.

The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Victory Church, located at 18180 U.S. Highway 150 in Bloomington.

Bailey, a former state senator, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in the 2026 election. The town hall is open to the public.