SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. — A motion filed Thursday indicates that the former Sangamon County deputy convicted of second-degree murder for shooting an unarmed woman is receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed location.

In the motion filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court, Sean Grayson’s lawyers stated he is currently receiving medical treatment outside of an Illinois Department of Corrections facility.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

“Counsel for the Illinois Department of Corrections has advised counsel for defendant that it is unknown at this time how long the defendant will be undergoing medical treatment,” the motion stated.

Grayson’s attorneys asked that a hearing on a motion to reduce his 20-year prison sentence that was scheduled for Friday be moved to May 8 to accommodate his medical treatments.

Grayson has battled colon cancer for years, but last month, his attorney Mark Wykoff said in court that the cancer had spread to his liver and lungs. Doctors have also diagnosed Grayson with rectal cancer.

While he was awaiting trial, deputies transported Grayson from the Macon County Jail in Decatur, where he was being held, to a Springfield hospital weekly to receive treatments.

IDOC confirmed that Grayson is in their custody, but remain mum on his whereabouts, keeping his location off a website used to locate individuals in IDOC custody.

Capitol News Illinois reported last month that Grayson was serving his sentence at a prison out of state, citing a person close to the case.

Grayson’s killing of Sonya Massey drew nationwide attention, even prompting then U.S. President Joe Biden to call for further police reform.

One expert explained that IDOC needs to shield Grayson’s location for security purposes as his status as a high-profile person and a former law enforcement officer could make him a target to other inmates.

Grayson’s security concerns and medical needs could make it difficult to place him in an in-state facility and he may need to be moved out of state or to a private facility that houses incarcerated people who are ill, the expert said.

Grayson was convicted of the second-degree murder of Sonya Massey by a Peoria County jury. The case was moved there to find jurors who could be impartial despite the intense media coverage.

On Jan. 29, Grayson received a 20-year prison sentence during a hearing in Sangamon County. IDOC took him into custody hours later.

The video in the player above is from an earlier report.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.

One of Illinois’ most beloved outdoor destinations is getting a major refresh, and improvements continue as we begin to emerge from hibernation and start to head outdoors. Starved Rock State Park, the state’s most visited park, is undergoing an $18 million trail improvement project designed to make hiking safer and help preserve the landscape for years to come.

Located about 100 miles southwest of Chicago, Starved Rock is home to towering sandstone bluffs rising above the Illinois River and forested trails winding through canyons carved by glacial meltwater more than 14,000 years ago. Established in 1911 as Illinois’ second state park, the site is known for its 18 dramatic canyons, seasonal waterfalls and sweeping river views.

The park’s popularity has taken a toll on its infrastructure, however. Over time, heavy foot traffic and harsh Midwest weather have worn down many of the timber bridges, stairways, boardwalks and retaining walls that guide visitors through the rugged terrain. To address that, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources launched a large-scale trail rehabilitation effort in late 2025 that will continue through most of 2026.

The goal is to repair aging structures, reopen previously closed trails and make the park safer and easier to explore.

Construction is being staggered so that only certain areas are closed at a time. Currently, several routes are temporarily off limits while crews work, including the Brown Bluff Trail above French Canyon, Tonti Canyon and Tonti Bridge, the west side trail between LaSalle Canyon and Tonti Canyon and the trail leading from the west entrance to the boat ramp area. The Lone Tree Canyon staircase and the Owl Canyon overlook have also seen closures during portions of the project.

Short-term closures are also happening for tree removal and maintenance work. Work continues, and as of February 24, 2026, the IDNR says that trails may close temporarily through mid-March, with conditions changing day to day. Visitors can still access much of the trail system, and the historic Starved Rock Lodge remains open throughout construction.

If you’re planning a trip, park officials recommend stopping by the visitor center for the latest trail updates before heading out. Staff and volunteers can suggest alternate routes so you can still experience the park’s sandstone canyons, waterfalls and wooded overlooks.

Stay up to date with the latest closures and improvements on the park’s website.

SPRINGFIELD (25News Now) – Illinois mayors are asking state lawmakers for more tools to manage local budgets, roads, and growth as part of their yearly pitch.

The Illinois Municipal League, a coalition of towns, cities and villages throughout the state, laid out their wish list for lawmakers in 2026. Their message: Give cities, villages, and towns more control over how money is raised and spent close to home.

One of their core demands is for the state for fully fund all revenue that is shared with municipalities. One example is the Local Government Distributive Fund.

According to the IML, the LGDF used to spread 10% of state income tax revenues across municipalities. In 2011, that percentage was changed to 6%. This year, Governor JB Pritzker proposed allocating 6.28% to 6.47% of tax revenue towards LGDF.

“Local governments are where residents feel impacts first, so shifting costs to the local level makes Illinois less affordable for residents,” said IML President and Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin.

“Reducing LGDF funding would leave us only two options: raise local taxes or cut critical services like public safety, infrastructure and transportation,” she continued.

City, town and village leaders with the IML are also pushing to amend laws around the Motor Fuel Tax.

“Under current law, only non home rule communities located in Cook County, or those with a population exceeding 100,000 are authorized to impose a local non home rule mobile fuel tax without a referendum”, said Mayor John Lewis and first Vice President of Illinois Municipal League.

New legislation aims to change that. The proposal would allow all Illinois municipalities to add their own local gas tax in one-cent increments, up to a maximum of three cents per gallon, on top of the state’s existing motor fuel tax of 48 cents per gallon.

Any revenue from a local gas tax would be dedicated to infrastructure projects. That includes repairing roads, replacing bridges, and funding other transportation improvements that residents use every day.

Supporters argue that a small local gas tax is a fair and transparent way to pay for the streets and bridges drivers rely on. Opponents focus on what it would mean at the pump. They warn that adding another layer of tax would drive gas prices even higher at a time when many families are already struggling with rising costs.

The motor fuel tax bill, HB 1283, was filed by Chicago Heights Democratic Representative Anthony DeLuca in January 2025. It was last sent to a House committee in March 2025.

Lawmakers will consider it during this year’s legislative session.

You can watch 25News – any newscast, anywhere – streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here.

Copyright 2026 WEEK. All rights reserved.