Today –Severe Thunderstorms High: 86 °
Sunset in Metropolis – 7:50 PM
Tonight – Severe Thunderstorms 63°.
Today and Tonight – Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are forecast today into this evening. The main concern with the morning thunderstorm activity is lightning and locally heavy rain, but marginally severe wind and hail may accompany a few of the storms as well. New thunderstorm development by mid to late afternoon will be capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes. The activity will progress southward through the evening, and should be largely south of the Missouri-Arkansas and Kentucky-Tennessee state lines by around midnight. Thunderstorms will also produce lightning and torrential rain, which may result in isolated flash flooding.
Tuesday through Sunday Daily thunderstorms are forecast Thursday through the weekend, with best chances each afternoon and evening, during the peak heating hours. Locally heavy rain and lightning will be the primary storm hazards.
Local News
Signs Ordered to Enforce Truck Route Restrictions in Metropolis
Hear our conversation with Metropolis Police Chief Harry Masse below:
Massac Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Asks Community Members to Help in Promoting Awareness and Raising Funds for National Hospital Week
Illinois News
Gun buyers in limbo after Illinois’ gun ban restored
(IRN) Some Illinoisans who started a firearms transfer in the six days the state was enjoined from enforcing a ban are in limbo now that the law is back in effect. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals looks to consolidate several gun ban challenges into one.
On April 28, Southern District of Illinois federal Judge Stephen McGlynn enjoined the state from enforcing a ban on more than 170 semi-automatic guns and certain magazines. Gun stores reported record sales. Late Thursday, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay on that injunction, halting sales while the case proceeds.
Maxon Shooter’s Supplies owner Dan Eldridge said unlike when the ban was first implemented on Jan. 10, there is no provision allowing for sales to be completed this time.
“Our advice to customers is ‘sit tight,’” Eldridge told The Center Square. “We are going to appeal this. We are going to go through the process. We’re going to get clarity from Judge McGlynn on his order, whether we can open the window to deliver people their property or imagine somebody who brought a firearm into gunsmithing and we took it in good faith to repair it and now we can’t return it to them.”
GAT Guns compliance officer Nicole Guvenzo said when the injunction was in place, they had a large volume of buyers. Then the stay of the injunction turned that off, leaving some gun buyers lingering.
“We are seeking legal counsel on whether we can complete these transactions or not, and we have not heard a final decision on that,” Guvenzo told WMAY.
Illinois State Police said in consultation with the Illinois Attorney General’s office, if a purchase was initiated but not completed between the injunction and the stay, “the delivery of such weapon would be unlawful.”
“If the purchase of a firearm or firearm attachment banned under [the Protect Illinois Communities Act] was initiated and completed between the date of the Southern District of Illinois’ Order on April 28, 2023, until the stay of such Order by the U.S. Appellate Court on May 4, 2023, the possession of such weapon will be unlawful beginning January 1, 2024,” ISP told The Center Square in an email. “Persons who possess a banned firearm or firearm attachment are required to endorse an affidavit by January 1, 2024, stating that any banned firearm or firearm attachments were possessed prior to the enactment of PICA (January 10, 2023) pursuant to 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(d).”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker praised the stay in a tweet, saying restoring the law “allows” the state “to keep dangerous weapons off the street.”
“As I have said since the passage of this law, this is a constitutional piece of legislation that was carefully crafted by members of the General Assembly and advocates to keep Illinois communities safe,” Pritzker said.
State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, said the stay keeps “killing machines that have caused carnage” off the streets.
“We know the fight isn’t over – the gun lobby will continue to try and block any common sense efforts to keep assault weapons off our streets,” Morgan said.
While gun control advocates applauded the appeals court’s stay, Eldridge said there was no emergency to prompt such action.
“You had law-abiding Illinois citizens going about their lawful business buying guns like they’ve been doing for the last 20 or 30 years,” Eldridge said. “There was no emergency.”
The gun ban challenges are expected to be fully resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court, but a timeline of when or how is unclear.
Plaintiffs in the Southern District case have until May 9 to reply to the stay issued by the Seventh Circuit.
Separately, Monday is also when Naperville must answer to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett in a motion for an emergency injunction sought by plaintiffs Law Weapons.
On Friday, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the four plaintiffs groups challenging Illinois’ gun ban in the Southern District of Illinois to consolidate with five cases consolidated together in the Northern District of Illinois. Responses are due May 11.
WMOK Community Events Listing
We would love to include your event in our listing.
You may submit your event via email to WMOKnews@frontier.com with the words “upcoming event” in the subject line – You can also send details to us via Facebook Messenger on the WMOK Facebook page.
Monday, May 8
The Metropolis Garden Club meets on the second Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the Metropolis Community during the months of September through May for a business meeting and a program. During the summer months they schedule field trips.
9a-3p – COPE Food Pantry Distribution – 1013 North Avenue, Metropolis – Please bring photo ID and proof of Massac County residency
Tuesday, May 9
Wednesday, May 10
9a-3p – COPE Food Pantry Distribution – 1013 North Avenue, Metropolis – Please bring photo ID and proof of Massac County residency
Thursday, May 11
Friday, May 12
9a-3p – COPE Food Pantry Distribution – 1013 North Avenue, Metropolis – Please bring photo ID and proof of Massac County residency
7P – Massac County High School Graduation
7P – Joppa High School Graduation
Saturday, May 13
Massac County Farmers Market – Dorothy Miller Park – 7a to Noon
The Massac County Farmer’s Market takes place at Dorothy Miller park on east Front Street in Metropolis and is open Saturdays from 7 am- 12 pm.
There is no fee to set up at the Massac County Farmers Market however it is asked that vendors register with Alexis. You can call Alexis at 618-524-5811 or email at MassacFB1@gmail.com.
Metropolis City Clean Up Week – Monday, May 15 – Friday, May 19 – Items must be at your normal pick up point and within 5 feet of the trash container. All items must be bagged or in a container. Anything loose must be bundled so that one person can handle it. No construction debris, demolition debris or electronics will be picked up.
Memorial Day is Monday May 29, 2023 – Memorial Day is a national holiday and a federal holiday. On Memorial Day you can expect Banks, government offices and some businesses to be closed. The Metropolis City Pool will open on Memorial Day and admission will be free.
Coffee Break
This Week on WMOK’s Coffee Break
Tuesday – Massac County Sheriff Chad Kaylor
Wednesday – Massac Unit #1 School Superintendent Jason Hayes
Thursday – Alicia Paris – Massac Memorial Hospital
Looking for something for your earbud?
Visit the ever-growing WMOK Coffee Break Archives
Southernmost Illinois Job Listings
Massac County School and Sports News
Massac County Patriots Athletics Schedule for the week of Monday 5/8 through Saturday 5/13.
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