SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois state officials are offering $100 million in low-interest or interest-free loans to federal workers going without paychecks during a record 33-day government shutdown. State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says the state treasury would put money in local banks that agree to offer the loans..

 

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs

The government is partially shut down because of Republican President Donald Trump's disagreement with Democrats on Capitol Hill over U.S.-Mexico border security.

 

(Rantoul--ab) Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive director Belynda Allen is searching all throughout the area for businesses to join the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce. Allen says there are  numerous reasons for a business to join the local chamber...

 

 

Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive director Belynda Allen

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Those who accuse a lawmaker of wrongdoing have few rights in Springfield, but a new bill would change that, giving accusers insight into what has been an opaque process.When anti-violence advocate Denise Rotheimer filed a complaint of sexual harassment against Illinois State Senator Ira Silverstein, she quickly learned that blowing the whistle in Springfield was different than filing a harassment complaint in the private sector. In terms of an ethics complaint under the dome, there is no such thing as a complainant, meaning they have little to no rights. The new legislation aims to change that. She says the law as it stands allows too much discretion.

 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Parkland College students and area residents who have not completed their Parkland College degree and/or certificate are invited to a special event Wednesday February  20th . They can meet with an academic advisor to see what courses are needed to finish their degree. Degree Completion Day will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Parkland's Student Union.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc) A portion of Rantoul was without power Wednesday morning. The area did include the Super Walmart store area of the villages west side. Rantoul Electric Department officials say crews were on the scene for about two hours, Most homes and businesses effect were back with power within an hour.

 

 

DECATUR, Ill. (AP) — Authorities in central Illinois are attempting to determine the cause of death of two people whose bodies were found in an auto repair shop.Macon County Coroner Michael E. Day says 34-year-old Beau W. Ford and 30-year-old Jacinda M. Jiles were found dead Saturday in the back room of the shop in Decatur.Day says in a statement that autopsies were carried out on both bodies the same day they were discovered and there was "no injury and no trauma detected in either person." He added the cause of the deaths were undetermined pending completion of toxicology testing.

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois State Board of Elections has voted to end the state's participation in a multistate voter registration system. Board spokesman Matt Dietrich said Wednesday that the board voted 8-0 Tuesday to withdraw from the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program. Eight other states have left the program due to security risks and data reliability concerns.

 

(Gibson City--jc)  Country Financial and the Illinois Farm Bureau  have set up a crop insurance meeting on Monday in Gibson City. The  winter crop meeting for local farmers across Illinois, starts at 7-30 Monday morning at  Railside Golf Club, on Gibson City’s west side. Presentations with Doug Yoder, Country Financial crop agency manager hilite the meeting.   Country Financial’s Operations Manager Brad Clow will talk aon crop insurance and crop claims updates More information is found by calling Guy Percy at 217-784-8280 or Pete Hornstein at 815-265-4751.

 

 

(Fisher--jc)  -- One young lady from Fisher has seen success on the pageant state. 8 year old  Jordynn Huskisson just competed for her 4th crown in Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin over the weekend. She was judged on poise and presentation, interview and runway fun fashion. She won 2019 USA Miss Prairie State and is headed to Orlando Florida in July to compete for the USA National Scholarship pageant, there will be 300 plus girls there. Jordynn currently is active in the community with her own organization called Blankets of Hope where she makes tie blankets for children with cancer.  She was just selected to be featured in pageant Royalty Magazine to be featured as their Service queen for February. Huskisson is also a associated with the Paxton Market theatre.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois state officials are offering $100 million in low-interest or interest-free loans to federal workers going without paychecks during a record 33-day government shutdown. Governor. J.B. Pritzker says the goal is to help federal employees during the government shutdown...

 

 

Illinois Governor  JB Pritzker

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says his office will place the money in local banks that are participating with the program.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- The tax filing season begins on Monday. Despite the federal government shutdown, you can start filing both your state and federal taxes on Monday January 28th Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Terry Horstman says state officials urge taxpayers to e-file…

 

 

Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Terry Horstman

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The Ford County board is set to meet  tonight to talk more about wind farms and their future in Ford County. Setbacks, tower height, flicker and noise are the topics that continue for local leaders.  The special meeting is set for 7pm at the Ford County Courthouse in Paxton.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Recently retired Republican State Senator Pam Althoff voted against medical marijuana back in 2009, but she voted for the idea just four years later, and she voted to make pot possession a civil fine in Illinois. She's now the head of the Illinois Cannabis Alliance. That's the trade group that focuses on Illinois' medical marijuana industry. Althoff says the group should play a role as Illinois lawmakers look to move toward legal.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- The Illinois Supreme Court will decide if Chicago's food truck regulations, which require GPS tracking and prohibit parking near brick-and-mortar restaurants, are constitutional.Laura Pekarik, owner of LMP Service's Cupcakes for Courage, sued the city over the regulations in 2012, claiming the restrictions were unconstitutional because they only served to protect existing restaurant businesses.Pekarik's attorney, Robert Frommer of the Institute for Justice, told Illinois Supreme Court Justices in Springfield on Wednesday during oral arguments in the case that the city's regulations were designed to forestall competition, not to guard against congestion. Lower courts have twice sided with the city.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — State officials are ordering a study of the Illinois Capitol dome after workers found small pieces of concrete fell from the inner portion of the outer dome. State officials say there's no emergency but there is evidence of leaking. The Illinois Secretary of State's office is in charge of the Capitol building. Office project manager Harl Ray says concrete pieces about the size of marbles were seen between the Capitol's inner and outer domes. He says the leakage is likely where the outer metal dome skin is bolted to concrete panels.

 

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Frontier Airlines will offer direct flights from coastal Alabama to Chicago and Denver later this year.News outlets reported Frontier will offer the service from a new passenger terminal using the Downtown Mobile Airport.Service will begin May 1 with one-way fares as low as $39 for passengers heading to Chicago who reserve flights before midnight Wednesday.

 

EUREKA, Ill. (AP) — A sheriff says he's committed to getting a clock and bell working again atop an Illinois courthouse that was built in 1897.The clock tower and a one-ton bronze bell were added to the Woodford County courthouse in Eureka in 1906. But neither has worked reliably for about 10 years. Cincinnati based Verdin Clock,inspected the site and said a total rehab would cost about $46,000. Sheriff Matt Smith says the county has paid $12,000 as a partial down payment. He says he's hoping that businesses and residents make donations.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Supreme Court is hearing  arguments that rock quarries backfilled with demolition debris need groundwater monitoring to protect drinking water. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for today. State and Will County officials are protesting a decision by the Illinois Pollution Control Board that omitted groundwater checks in rules for disposing of so-called clean construction demolition debris. The idea is to divert "clean" concrete, brick and asphalt from scarce and expensive sanitary landfill space. The Pollution Control Board determined the material is safe for reclaiming dug-out quarries.

 

 

(Gibson City--jc)  -- The Gibson Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet and meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 7th. The annual event begins at 6pm at the Kruse Center with  a cocktail half hour. A catered meal and the announcement of the Citizen of the Year and Lifetime achievement awards will be announced. A comedian will also perform that night. The event is free for chamber members. The public can purchase tickets for twenty dollars.

 

 

(Undated--ab)  --- One weather system out and and one weather system is coming in. Make sure to be prepared again. WPXN’s Austin Burklund has the details…