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The Illinois House Could Vote on a Plan this Week to Increase the Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois House could vote on a plan this week to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour, but inflation will largely negate the impact for low-income workers by the time the pay floor reaches that level in 2025. It's no windfall for more than 1 million Illinois workers who rely on the minimum wage. An Associated Press analysis found that assuming the current 2.1 percent rate of inflation, by 2025, $15 will only be worth $10.46.

 

 

(Springfield--ab) State officials and American Legions  honored Abraham Lincoln’s 210th birthday on Tuesday. At an annual wreath laying ceremony at Lincoln’s Tomb in Springfield, Governor JB Pritzker said Lincoln’s leadership and legacy leaves lessons to guide Illinois forward today.

 

 

The governor pledged to honor lincoln’s legacy of action and compassion, and to listen to the opinions of others.

 

(Paxton--ab) The Paxton Buckley Loda School Board is meeting today with a myriad of items to be discussed. The local board will discuss the amended budget for financial year 2019. Other items include approving teachers that have acquired tenure and affirm resignations and new volunteer coaches.

 

 

(Roberts--ab) Roberts village president Rick Flessner is resigning at the end of April 2020.  Flessner says his best memories involve fixing the water problems of the village…

 

 

Roberts Village President Rick Flessner.


 

(Urbana--jc)  A Champaign County man was sentenced to 4 years probation on Tuesday after pleading guilty to inappropriately touching a teen in the back seat of a van.  The News Gazette reports that 21 year old Ronnell Throw of Rantoul plead guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He was arrested on December 12th as police found him in a van with a 13 year old girl.

 

 

(Coles County--jc)  Some land once owned by the 16th president was sold on Tuesday. WPXN ‘s Austin Burklund has the story…

 

 

 

(Farmer City--jc)  The winter winds continue to blow, but one local racetrack is getting ready for the 2019 season. Officials with the Farmer City raceway are reaching out to area drivers to reserve a pit stall for the upcoming season. Those interested in getting a pit stall at the Farmer City Raceway are asked to find more information on the raceway’s facebook page or contact track official Lance Spieker.

 

(Pekin--jc) --  On February 24,the Pekin Amateur Hockey Association and Peoria Youth Hockey Association will join forces to host a benefit for the family of fallen Trooper Christopher Lambert, who was struck and killed in the line of duty on January 12th The hockey associations are hosting an event on the 24th at the Pekin Memorial Ice Arena in Pekin. The area youth hockey teams will be participating in various hockey scrimmage games upon the ice for the public to enjoy.  Various gift baskets for raffle, as well as a 50/50 drawing, will be featured at the benefit. Admission is by donation.

 

AURORA, Ill. (AP) — Snow and strong wind gusts in northern Illinois forced the cancellation of flights at Chicago's two major airports. By Tuesday evening 335 flights had been canceled at O'Hare International Airport. The Chicago Department of Aviation reports 103 flights were canceled at Midway International Airport. Delays at both airports were averaging more than 15 minutes. The intense gusts prompted a wind advisory for much of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana that will remain in effect until early today. Those with travel plans for the two Chicago airports are asked to check on flight availability and delays.

 

(Rantoul--ab) One issue before the Rantoul Village board is a property buying program. Rantoul  Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer says it's a win-win.

 

 

Rantoul Village Administrator Scot Eisenhauer

 

 

(Champaign County--jc)  -- It’s down to a lottery when it comes to a contract for solar energy projects in Champaign County. The Illinois Power Agency is expected to make its decision today. Areas in Champaign county up for a solar type project are near Ludlow, Homer, Sidney and two near St Joseph.

 

(Undated--ab)--  Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau will sponsor two Viewpoint Breakfast Meetings.  The first meeting will be held on Thursday, February 21, at Happy Days Diner in Roberts.  The second meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 26, at the Farm Bureau in Gilman. The meetings will begin at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast followed by discussion on the topics members wish to talk about.  Viewpoint is the name given to Farm Bureau’s grassroots effort to raise issues and concerns from members. There is no charge for member to attend and reservations are not needed.


 

 

(Springfield--jc)  Illinois Governor JB. Pritzker created two new groups to study ways to improve the state's underfunded pension systems.One will focus on the consolidation of more than 650 local pension funds for police officers and firefighters. The other will look at selling state-owned real estate and infrastructure assets to improve the balance sheets of the state's five pension systems.The Pension Consolidation Feasibility Taskforce will look at the 656 police and fire pension funds. Those funds manage $170 billion in assets and have liabilities of more than $355 billion.

 

 

(Springfield--jc) --  Changes in the Illinois House on the minimum wage issue? Austin Burklund has the story…

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The Ford County circuit clerk’s office could get an additional worker. Ford County leaders are set to meet next Tuesday at 9am. The issue goes back to the Ford County Personnel committee. Local leaders took no action on the position at their monthly meeting this week. The full county board could get a recommendation about the position when they meet in March.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker has announced a new criminal justice reform effort. Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton will lead the new justice, equity and opportunity initiative which she says will examine at the issues from several angles…

 

 

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton.

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