BLOOMINGTON — More State Farm employees could be headed to its Bloomington headquarters as a result of the company closing its location in Florida. The company in an emailed statement last week says consolidation plans to close operations in three other areas and move jobs to Bloomington, Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix. The announcement stated that some of the workers in Florida will be coming to the Bloomington operations.
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — The city of Peoria has sent out temporary layoff notices to more than two dozen employees. The (Peoria) Journal Star reports that the notices went out employees who belong to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees union and 16 members of the Teamsters union. The notices went to members of the unions that decided against taking furlough days.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Democratic president of the Illinois Senate says Gov. Bruce Rauner delivered a "slap in the face" to immigrant crime victims with a veto of legislation to encourage them to participate in criminal investigations. Sen. John Cullerton of Chicago sponsored the plan which Rauner rejected on Friday. It would push police to move more quickly to sign certification that an immigrant is a cooperating crime victim.
(Undated--jc) -- It will be a visual, if you make a stop at some rest stops in the state of Illinois. The Illinois Department of Transportation is using the state rest areas to show what can happen if people make bad choices when they’re driving. Vehicles from fatal crashes in Illinois will be stationed at 14 rest stops around the state with details about fatal crashes says Illinois Department of Transportation spokesperson Guy Tridgell…
I-DOT Spokesperson Guy Tridgell.
More than one thousand people died on Illinois roads last year.
NORMAL —McLean County authorities say a man suffered minor injuries after he was robbed on Constitution Trail Thursday afternoon.The man told Normal police he was on Constitution Trail, east of the bridge over Linden Street, when two males of unknown age approached him and hit him in the face, knocking him to the ground. His wallet was stolen..Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call McLean County Crime Stoppers at 309-828-1111.
URBANA —The next step in the sale of a Champaign nursing home is set for September. A state board plans has set a hearing in Urbana on September 13th concerning the pending $11 million sale of the Champaign County Nursing Home. The hearing location is the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center in Urbana
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner calls him "one of the youngest, most effective lobbyists" in Illinois. Hunter Martin's two-year lobbying effort ended this week when the Republican governor signed a law requiring insurance companies to pay for replacement hearing aids every three years for children under 18. 10-year-old Hunter lost one of his hearing aids at school. The Illiopolis boy waited two exhausting weeks for a replacement. His mother Ramona says he struggled so hard to hear in class he often took after-school naps. Hunter began testifying before legislative committees to require insurance coverage of replacements of hearing aids, which can cost up to 4 thousand dollars.
(Springfield--jc) -- A new state law cracks down on the owners of dangerous dogs. Owners with dogs that have killed another dog and continue to let them run loose, could be deemed, reckless, by a judge. State Senator Laura Murphy of Des Plaines sponsored the measure based on an incident in her district…
State Senator Laura Murphy of Des Plaines.
Anyone found guilty will be banned from owning dogs for up to three years.
(Undated--jc) -- Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s Bicentennial Minute…
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — A high school football game in northern Illinois was halted after an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles nearby sent hundreds of spectators running away and players dropping to the field for safety. The Rockford Register Star reports that there were no indications that any fans were hurt by gunfire outside Auburn High School's Wyeth Stadium on Friday night. But some people were hurt as they ran away.
(Champaign--jc) With some rain in East Central Illinois over the weekend and the past week, soil moisture is adequate. The corn crop is almost past the need for a needed rain in Ford Champaign Iroquois McLean and Vermilion counties. The western part of the state also received the needed rain. State Climatologist Jim Angel with the Illinois Water Survey in Champaign says some parts of North Central Illinois including parts of Kankakee County have been dry for several months…
State Climatologist Jim Angel with the Illinois Water Survey in Champaign
(Undated--jc) -- Marijuana growers across Illinois are expanding, despite years of lower-than-expected demand in the state's medical cannabis pilot program.The facilities expect more residents to gain access to the drug through a bill awaiting a decision by Gov. Bruce Rauner, the Chicago Tribune reported. The opioid bill would allow medical marijuana to be used in place of prescription painkillers.The state's prescription monitoring program tracked 1.5 million opioid prescriptions in the first quarter of 2017, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health.The governor's election this November also has operators seeing the potential to attract the general consumer, not just the patients.Rauner has said legalizing marijuana for recreational use would be a mistake. But Democratic contender J.B. Pritzker has said he would work to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
GENEVA, Ill. (AP) — An investigation has concluded that a police officer was justified in fatally shooting an armed jail inmate who had taken two nurses hostage at a suburban Chicago hospital last year. Kane County State's Attorney Joseph McMahon issued a news release saying he determined that North Aurora police officer Christopher Joswick had a "reasonable belief" that it was necessary to use deadly force to prevent the death or serious injury of one of the nurses or other officers.
URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A University of Illinois student is pushing for service animals to be allowed into science labs. Fifty-four-year-old student Joey Ramp and psychology professor Justin Rhodes have twice asked a campus committee to approve service animals inside labs that experiment with animals. They were denied both times. Rhodes says the university has many talented people that need their service animal.
(Pontiac-dg)-The 70th Annual Central States Thresherman’s Reunion takes place this weekend in Pontiac starting on Thursday. This year the event is hosting the National Allis Chalmers Gathering of the Orange. Thresherman Reunion President Dave Herz talks about the total number of farm tractors and equipment that is expected at this year’s show.
Central States Thresherman’s Reunion President Dave Herz
CARTERVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A new organization is trying to get more filmmakers and production companies to film their movies in southern Illinois. WSIL-TV reports the non-profit Southern Illinois Film Commission wants to highlight the natural beauty of the area while boosting the local economy. Commission member Jon Musgraves says Illinois offers incentives that are competitive with other states, but most filmmakers tend to go to Chicago.
DETROIT (AP) — Michigan seismologists are studying a meteor that exploded in the atmosphere over the state with the help of scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. The University of Michigan seismologists and the California scientists will publish their combined data in an upcoming research paper. The Jan. 17 meteor showered small fragments down west of Detroit. People in Illinois and Indiana also reported seeing the meteor.
Undated--jc) -- It may still be August, but if you’re anything like me, it’s never too soon to start thinking about Halloween. From costumes and decorations to what candy you’ll be handing out to the ghosts and goblins in your neighborhood, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to the spookiest time of the year. Reese’s, Kit Kat and Hershey’s chocolate treats are getting a makeover for the season — or rather, their wrappers are! They all will be offered with limited edition glow-in-the-dark wrappers.
Also...Today is the first day of classes for the University of Illinois.
