SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Governor Bruce Rauner has signed a law allowing medical marijuana to be used as a painkiller instead of highly addictive opioids. The law the Republican signed Tuesday is effective immediately. It allows physicians to temporarily prescribe cannabis for pain relief as a means to combat a growing opioid-addiction epidemic. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that 11,000 people have died from opioid overdoses since 2008.
(Springfield--jc) --Citing low commodity prices and skepticism over the agriculture economy, bankers are tightening up on loans to farmers.Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Economy Index surveyed bankers in rural areas in Illinois and a number of other states in the Midwest. In total, bankers polled weren’t optimistic about the combination of low commodity prices and drought in some areas this summer. A third of them reported rejecting a higher percentage of farm loans.The confidence index among bankers reflects their opinion of the economy six months out. It rose to a weak 46.5 from July’s 42.7, indicating a pessimistic economic outlook among bankers. Fifty indicates a neutral indice.
(-Springfield--jc) -- In just a few years, drivers in Illinois will be able to pay for two years worth of registration on their car at once. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has signed legislation that would allow a vehicle registration to be paid for two years at a time. It won’t save money on the $101 annual cost but it would prove more convenient. Motorists would pay $202 for the multi-year registration. Trailer owners would be able to register for up to five years at once. State Senator Dan McConchie, Republican of Hawthorne Woods says his father inspired the bill.
(Pontiac--jc) -- The 2018 Pontiac Thresherman’s reunion starts on Thursday and Runs through Labor Day. Event Spokespeson and Club President Dave Herz says farm demonstrations will be featured daily…
20-18 Pontiac Thresherman’s Reunion Spokesperson and club President Dave Herz
(Champaign--ab) -- After a month's closure, the William M. Staerkel Planetarium will reopen to public audiences on the Sept. 7-8 weekend with a new operating system and a new fulldome show. "Experience the Aurora," featuring fulldome, time-lapse imagery of the Northern Lights, will premiere September 7th at 8 p.m. and run every Friday and Saturday night through October. The show will be presented on Staerkel's Digistar 6 operating system, an upgrade from the Digistar 4 system installed eight years ago. The planetarium has been closed since Aug. 8 to install the new system.
CHICAGO (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations are challenging panhandling ordinances in 15 municipalities across Illinois.
Letters demanding repeal of the ordinances were delivered Tuesday by the ACLU, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. Officials in 15 cities in the state from Chicago to East St Louis and including Champaign, Urbana and Danville are the recipients. Diane O'Connor of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless says panhandling laws unfairly criminalize people experiencing homelessness for exercising their rights.The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled panhandling is protected by the First Amendment right to free speech.
(Springfield--jc) -- Advocates are pushing to override the governor’s veto of tobacco 21 legislation. The bill raises the age to purchase cigarettes from 18 to 21. Democrat State Senate President John Cullerton supports the measure…
State Senate President John Cullerton
The governor says those 18 years of age are mature enough to make their own choices
(Springfield--jc) -- The Illinois Manufacturers' Association is applauding Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner for the veto of Senate Bill 904. The issue relates to medical fees and electronic claims. Vice President of the I-M-A Mark Denzler says the governor helped keep the cost of worker’s compensation for Illinois employers that already face the 8th highest costs in the nation. Information used in an injury investigation would also be limited under the bill. The governor says he wants to reign in medical costs and help set proper A-M-A standards. Currently, a doctor can bill a 350 percent increase in a workers compensation case than in a case covered by private insurance.
(Springfield--jc) -- State Senator Steve Stadelman of Rockford says a a new law requires schools to give kids that can not pay for a lunch, a lunch without making a big deal out of it. Payment plans can be worked out, behind the scenes. Stadelman says is the debt would reach 500 dollars then schools could ask the state to take the money out of a family tax refund…
State Senator Steve Stadelman of Rockford
(Undated--jc) -- Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s Bicentennial Minute…
(Mahomet--jc) -- An arrest has been made in a 2009 fatal stabbing of a Mahomet woman. Authorities say Michael Henslick of Mahomet was arrested at Market Place Mall On Tuesday night. Bond was set at 10 million dollars. Henslick is accused of sexually abusing and fatally stabbing Holly Cassano of Mahomet in November of 2009. Police are hosting a news conference this morning to release more information. WPXN News will update this story as more official news becomes available.
(Springfield--jc) -- Advocates are pushing to override the governor’s veto of tobacco 21 legislation. Under the bill, customers will have to be 21, instead of 18 to buy cigarettes in Illinois. Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed the bill citing a few concerns…
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner
The issue is expected during the fall veto session in November.
(Rantoul--jc) Rantoul village leaders have three possibilities to replace Rick Snider as Rantoul Village Administrator. The local board met in executive session and met with three candidates for the local position. They are Jeff Eder of East Peoria. Eder holds the city administrator post there. Also, private consultant David Nord of Cherry Valley and current Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhower. Rantoul leaders says a new village administrator is expected to be hired in September.
CHICAGO (AP) — A federal appeals court in Chicago has found that the U.S. Fair Housing Act places obligations on landlords to protect LGBT tenants from harassment by other tenants. Monday night's ruling by the 7th U.S. Court of Appeals sides with 70-year-old Marsha Wetzel. She accused a suburban Chicago senior living center of doing nothing to stop other residents from hurling homophobic slurs at her and even striking her because of her sexual orientation.
(Champaign--jc) The Champaign Planning department is looking to build a downtown plaza. They have some ideas in place. A public open house is set for October. And city council members could vote on the idea of turning a parking lot into an interactive zone.
(Undated--jc) -- The second installment of real estate taxes are coming due in several area counties. In Champaign County, the second installment is due next Tuesday. For Iroquois County property owners, the due date is Wednesday September 5 and for Ford County property owners, the due date is Friday September 7th. Payments can be made on-line, at most banks and at the local county treasurer’s offices.
(Champaign--jc) There was another shooting last night in Champaign. Authorities say the incident happened around Larkspur Lane. Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup says that 16 year year old David Sankey was taken to a local hospital and later died. The death is being investigated as a homicide. Champaign police are continuing their investigation this morning.
(Tuscola--jc) A semi crash on Tuesday night halted traffic along Interstate 57 near Tuscola. The road was blocked for several hours. No word on any injuries was provided by authorities.
(Washington--jc) Increasing beef production could bring on lower retail prices. Gary Crawford reports…
(Paxton--jc) Paxton Chamber leaders says a lunch and learn is set for September 6th. The topic is Ameren’s Energy Efficiency program. More information and sign up is found by contacting the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce.
(Champaign--jc) The University of Illinois will adopt a clear bag policy for entrance into State Farm Center for the current school year. The policy will be enforced at all public events held at State Farm Center, which includes Fighting Illini men’s and women’s basketball, concerts, shows, musicals, plays, and other sports and entertainment events. Each ticketed guest can carry one large clear plastic or vinyl bag, also binoculars without cases, pocket cameras and items related to a medical condition are o k too. Prohibited items include food and drink, flags, banners, weapons, laptops, and selfie sticks.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Governor Bruce Rauner on Tuesday defended his veto of legislation to hasten paperwork that immigrant crime victims need to stay in the U.S. despite earlier approving welfare assistance for immigrants in similar circumstances. Republican Rauner told The Associated Press that the 2016 law he signed was "good humanitarian action" and did not suggest conditions of a "sanctuary state," which he opposes.The law, which took effect in January, provides state-funded health care, cash and food assistance to immigrant victims of human trafficking, torture and other serious crimes while they await federal visas to avoid deportation.
(Danforth--jc) The fall festival and quilt auction for Prairieview Lutheran Homes in Danforth is set for early September. The two day event runs on Friday September 7th and Saturday September 8th. A Woodworth fish fry, Singing pastors and the group Natural High hilite the activities on Friday. On Saturday its the popular local band Back Paiges, a 5K Run, quilt auction, and a pork chop meal are events of day two.
