SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says he supports Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker's plans to legalize recreational marijuana and create a graduated income tax.The Chicago Democrat said Tuesday he's had several "very friendly and very productive" conversations with Pritzker since the Democrat beat Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in last week's election.Madigan said he believe Pritzker would pursue the marijuana and tax platforms he campaigned on. Pritzker believes taxes on legalized marijuana could bring in $700 million to $1 billion a year. The graduated tax ideas would require a constitutional amendment.
(Springfield--jc) The Illinois legislature is in fall veto session. Dozens of measures are being looked into. WPXNs Austin Burklund has the story…
(Springfield--jc) -- Corn and soybean harvesting is nearing completion as we hear in the weekly crop report. Temperatures were 7 degrees below normal and rain was almost an inch above normal this past week. State Crop Statistician Brad Summa says producers are wrapping up harvest…
State Crop Statistician Brad Summa.
90 percent of winter wheat has been planted and 74 percent has emerged. As for statewide topsoil moisture, 4 percent is short, 70 percent adequate and 26 percent surplus.
(Paxton--jc) A Clarence Illinois man was due in court yesterday to face a misdemeanor battery charge. 47 year old Michael Hari did not make a court appearance on Tuesday in Ford County Court because his public defender was unable to make the court appearance due to an illness. Ford County judge Matt Fitton set a pre trial hearing for 11-30 am on January 29. Hari is being held in Livingston County jail. Hari faces federal charges concerning the bombing of a mosque in Minnesota. That trial is expected to start on February 5th.
(Washington--jc) -- Producer group and ag organization members believe a new Farm Bill will be completed and signed into law before Congress ends its current session this year. Rod Bain talks with national group leaders…
(Chicago--jc) --J.B. Pritzker, Illinois' next governor, promised higher taxes on the wealthy would provide for new state revenue to spend on everything from roads to schools, but some tax experts say other states have sometimes had trouble collecting from wealthier residents who own property and businesses elsewhere.Pritzker, along with other Democratic lawmakers, have proposed changing Illinois’ Constitution to allow for graduated income tax rates that would require people who earn more to pay higher income tax rates.If lawmakers succeed in taxing the state’s wealthy residents more, some could choose to move elsewhere. It’s relatively easy for well-to-do residents to declare a winter address in Florida as their main homestead, said Zach Gray with Wall Street Financial Group, a financial planning firm with locations in Bourbonnais, Bloomington, and other towns across Illinois. Such tax avoidance schemes have been problematic in other states, including New York.
SPRINGFIELD — A federal judge has ordered state corrections officers to undergo training on transgender issues, stemming from a lawsuit filed by an inmate who wants to be transferred to the women's prison in Lincoln.Inmate The Pantagraph reports that Deon Hampton, who is known as Strawberry Hampton, identifies as a female and is being held in the segregation unit of Dixon Correctional Center, an all-male prison. Hampton, 27, has sued the state and I-D-O-C officials, claiming she was subjected to harassment and sexual assault while housed at four male prisons during the past two years. She is serving a 10-year sentence for residential burglary in Cook County.
(Champaign--jc) -- Officials with the Champaign County coroner’s office believe the death of an 11 year old boy from Mahomet was due to natural causes. Officials say a rare heart defect was the cause of death. Joel Roberts passed away over the weekend. Services are set for Friday morning at 11am at the Mahomet United Methodist Church. A visitation takes place from 3 until 7 Thursday at the church
(Springfield--jc) -- New legislation would make metal detectors available to all Illinois Schools. State Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago says the use of metal detectors would greatly help prevent mass school shootings..
State Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago
(St Joseph--jc) The road project between Champaign and St Joseph will be complete tomorrow. The project has slowed traffic along Interstate 74 for months. Illinois Department of Transportation officials say a few minor items will remain, but the signs and equipment will be gone. State Police remind the motoring public to please drive defensively on all roadways.
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he is not sorry the city and the state of Illinois didn't offer Amazon more than $2.25 billion to bring its second headquarters to the city. Amazon announced Tuesday it will divide its second North American headquarters between Crystal City, Virginia and the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York. Emanuel acknowledged subsidies are part of the reason Chicago lost the Amazon sweepstakes.
CHICAGO (AP) — Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker says he will live at least part time at the Illinois governor's mansion in Springfield. Pritzker says he and his wife will do a lot of commuting to their Chicago home as their 16-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son will stay at their current schools. The billionaire Democrat will take office in January. The mansion built in 1855 underwent a $15 million renovation that was completed this year.
(Watseka--jc) A southern Iroquois County man plead not guilty to an aggravated arson charge. 36 year old Ronald Camp the second made the not guilty plea in Iroquois County Court on Tuesday. The charge stems from a fire at a downtown business and apartment complex in the village of Loda. That fire occurred on October 23rd. . The next step in the case is a status hearing on January 3rd at 9-30am
(Washington--jc) -- Soybean crop may be lower than most analysts had expected. Gary Crawford reports…
(Rantoul--jc) Rantoul Chamber officials are inviting area businesses for a Community Coffee this morning. The event is set for the chamber office in downtown Rantoul. The coffee time runs from 7-30 until 9. Those attending are asked to bring business cards, talk about promotions, issues and ideas.. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
DECATUR, Ill. (AP) — Authorities say a 20-year-old man has been arrested following the shooting death of a 12-year-old boy in central Illinois. The shooting happened Monday evening near downtown Decatur. Police say officers responding to a report of shots fired found the boy, who was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The (Decatur) Herald and Review reports Macon County Coroner Michael Day identified the boy as Marqueius N. Gray. Police say additional arrests were possible.
(Naperville--ab) Thanksgiving is almost here and the folks at Butterball Turkey are ready for your questions to make the best Turkey possible. Butterball Hotline Host Nicole Johnson says there a lot of ways to interact with the Butterball hotline for your holiday prep….
Butterball Hotline host Nicole Johnson
You can hear the entire interview with Johnson during the 8am hour today.
(Champaign--jc) – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced today that it will break ground on a new state-of-the-art indoor practice facility for the Fighting Illini baseball program, and that a lead naming gift of three million dollars has been pledged by Susie Atkins. The facility, which will go before the University of Illinois Board of Trustees for final approval at its January meeting, will be named the Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center.
This donation, which makes the Illinois baseball building a reality, is the second major Illinois Athletics facility gift from the Atkins Family. The first was the $2.5 million donation for the Atkins Tennis Center, completed in 1991. The Atkins Tennis Center's creation sparked the beginning of the great national and Big Ten success the Illinois tennis programs enjoy today.
(Undated--jc) Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s bicentennial minute…
