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Two of Three Militia Members Accused of Bombing a Minnesota Mosque Have Hearings Scheduled Next Week in Federal Court

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Two of three militia members accused of bombing a Minnesota mosque have hearings scheduled next week in federal court to change their pleas.Online court records show hearings for Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris on Jan. 24. The two men, along with Michael Hari, are accused of driving from Clarence, Illinois, in August 2017 and attacking Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center. McWhorter allegedly said the men did it to scare Muslims from the country.McWhorter and Morris have pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges. A change of plea hearing typically means that the defendants plan to enter a guilty plea before the court.McWhorter's and Morris' cases have been combined in Minnesota, while Hari's cases remain separate

 

(Springfield--jc)  Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has yet to figure out how much the raises he announced Tuesday will cost taxpayers, though estimates from his predecessor show step increases for about 14,000 state employees could add 200 million to the state's existing budget. The governor did not address the cost earlier this week. A spokesperson for the governor says the cost of the raises was still being calculated. The governor’s office is dealing with multiple unions representing workers across the many state agencies. The democratic leader says  it will take several weeks to provide an accurate picture of both cost and timing of the restoration of the step increases for the affected state employees.

 

(Springfield--ab) Today marks the 99th anniversary of the beginning of prohibition in the United States.  An expert at the Illinois State Museum talks about when the country went dry. Museum Art and History Curator Erika Holst says supporters believed the booze ban would reduce crime, make families stronger and improve the nation as a whole. She says some parts of Illinois were slower to adapt….

 

 

Illinois State Museum Curator Erika Holst. Holst says enforcement was tough and bootlegging was common, leading to the growth of organized crime. that included Chicago’s own Al Capone, a top gangster of the prohibition era.

 

(Champaign--ab) February begins Black History Month and a local Community College is having events the public can participate in. WPXN News reporter Austin Burklund has the report.

 

 

 

(Buckley--jc)  They are in need of donations and your appetite for an event on Sunday February 17th. The annual fundraiser for St. John’s Lutheran School in Buckley is the fundraiser for the school. A carnival, silent auction and live auction also hi-lite the event. To donate items, you may call the school in Buckley. All donations are tax deductible. Event Spokesperson  Kari Stachura says its an event for the whole family...

 

 

St John’s Lutheran School Buckley Auction Spokesperson Kari Stachura

 

 

CHICAGO (AP) — The Archdiocese of Chicago says it's closing its undergraduate seminary at Loyola University Chicago due to changing priesthood demographics.

The archdiocese said in a  release that St. Joseph College Seminary had 20 students enrolled and officials expected a small incoming class. The archdiocese says "the need to steward" resources led officials to decide to close the seminary. Officials say there is trend toward men choosing to enter seminaries after finishing undergraduate studies and gaining work experience, reducing the need for undergraduate seminaries.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — The teen birth rate has decreased in Illinois and Chicago, with the city recording a new historic low. There were 24.6 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 in Chicago in 2016. That's the most recent year for which data are available. That's a 10.5 percent decrease from 2015.Rates have been falling across the U .S. and statewide. Illinois recorded 18.7 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 in 2016, down from a rate of 22.8 in 2014.

 

 

SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (AP) — Funeral services are set for an Illinois State Police trooper killed when he was struck and killed by a vehicle along Interstate 294 in suburban Chicago during a snowstorm.The funeral for Trooper Christopher Lambert is planned for 10 a.m. Friday at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington. The 34-year-old Lambert was headed home on I-294 near Northbrook when he pulled over and got out of his squad car to respond to a three-vehicle crash. A car then struck him.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  Those with kids participating in Youth Center Basketball in Rantoul, the dates have been approved for team pictures. Rescheduled pictures for basketball players in the Rantoul Park District are set for January 19th for teams that play at Youth Center and January  26th for teams that play at the Forum. Recreation officials ask that you have your child ready for pictures at least 15 minutes prior to your game

 

 

(Loda--jc)  One local church is cancelling a concert this weekend due to the threat of snow and wintery weather. Officials with the Loda United Methodist Church say the Sunday concert featuring the  Dysart Family at the Loda United Methodist Church has been cancelled. No word was given on any rescheduling of the event.

 

(Chicago-jc)  The lawmaker who is expected to lead an Illinois House transportation committee said the state needs an infrastructure plan to address aging roads and bridges across the state said that all other funding options will be considered before talk turns to higher taxes. Illinois Governor  J.B. Pritzker wants a new infrastructure plan. The Illinois Economic Policy Institute said last year that roads in Illinois are so bad that motor fuel taxes should be set as high as 85 cents per gallon in addition to raising vehicle registration fees from 101 dollars per year to 578 dollars per year. The national Tax Foundation puts Illinois’ tax per gallon in 2017 eleventh highest at 34 cents. Increasing Illinois’ gas tax to 85 cents a gallon would make it nearly one-and-a-half times Pennsylvania's 58 cents a gallon.State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, who is expected to lead a House committee on infrastructure, said he’s glad a bill wasn’t rushed through because a thorough debate is needed on the issue. He said there’s a lot of talk about taxes.

 

(McLean County--jc) A move by former  Illinois Governor  Bruce Rauner will provide nearly 10  million dollars in capital funds for emergency repairs to fine arts buildings at Illinois State University.  Heating repairs, plumbing work and other repairs. This money is in addition to the 3 million dollars to repair a fine arts complex and 2 million dollars for a new roof at Turner Hall.

 

(Springfield--ab)  Illinoisans are urged to donate their time during Monday’s Martin Luther King Junior “day of service.” Serve Illinois Executive Director Scott Mcfarland says the day is a great time to give back, especially in honor of Doctor King who said “life’s most persistent and urgent question is… what are you doing for others.”

 

 

You can find volunteer projects in your area any time of the year on line at Serve-dot-Illinois-dot- gov.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The 31st annual Paxton Buckley Loda F F A toy show is set for the first Saturday in February.  P-B-L F-F-A spokesperson Mikayla Jones says this year’s show provides something for everyone…

 

 

PBL FFA Spokesperson Mikayla Jones

The show is set for PBL High School in Paxton on Saturday February 2nd.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- No bingo on Saturday in Paxton due to the promise of snow. The event sponsored by the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce at St Mary’s Church is cancelled.  WPXN will continue to bring our listeners information about closings and cancellations due with the winter storms. Information is also found on line at WPXN radio-dot-com

 

(Paxton--jc)  The National women go red day is set for February first. The Ford County Public Health Department is hosting a heart health event at the Ford County courthouse in Paxton. Free heart health information, free blood pressure screenings and prizes are part of the two hour event from 10-30 until 12-30. The event is also free to attend on February first at the courthouse in Paxton.


 

(Gibson City--jc)  Gibson City leaders say at public hearing is set for mid-February to consider annexation of some land into the city.  The date for the hearing is February 11th, 6pm, at the Villas of Hollybrook dining room. Rezoning some property from agriculture to manufacturing will be discussed. Bringing some property into the Gibson City limits is also on the agenda.

 

 

(Cissna Park--jc)  The P T O of one local school is raising money to help with school transportation costs for field trips among teacher requests. The Cissna Park Parent Teacher Organization is using a calendar raffle to raise the funds needed. A donation of ten dollars provides a chance to win some cash prizes. The efforts are to raise money for classrooms projects, field trips to tables and school room items.  Tickets are available at several Cissna Park businesses and at home basketball games. The giveaways start on February first.

 

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