FREEPORT, Ill. (AP) — Residents in northern and western Illinois continue to deal with flooding as rivers swell from melting snow and recent rains. National Weather Service readings Monday show major flooding along the Pecatonica River at Shirland and Freeport and the Rock River in the Rockford area and Moline. The Mississippi River also is at major flood stage from New Boston, Illinois, south to Burlington, Iowa.
LEMONT, Ill. (AP) — The Department of Energy plans to spend $500 million to build what could be one of the world's fastest computers at Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago. The department said Monday that the supercomputer will be able to do more than one quintillion operations per second. That's equal to a 10 with 18 zeros behind it. The computer will be named "Aurora" and plans are to turn it on in 2021.
(Rantoul--jc) The Northern Champaign County and Ford County Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization held a recent bowling event in Rantoul that saw all lanes filled for two sessions. The money is being used to support the local efforts of Big Brothers-Big Sisters. Local Director Kristian Hopkins of Rantoul says there is a need for “Bigs” to help out with some area youth. Hopkins says those interested have several ways to contact the organization…
Big Brothers Big Sisters Local Director Kristian Hopkins of Rantoul.
(Washington--jc) --The U.S. pet food industry is experiencing growth in export markets - a trend one industry insider expects to continue, despite some trade challenges. Rod Bain reports…
CHICAGO (AP) — Experts in Illinois say preparations for next year's U.S. Census are important because there's a lot at stake, including billions in federal funding and congressional seats. The Chicago Tribune reports that an analysis by George Washington University's Institute of Public Policy has found that at least $34 billion in federal funding for programs that assist Illinois residents is tied to census figures. The Illinois Complete Count Commission says Illinois could lose up to two congressional seats.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Four new sites have been added for this year's Illinois Spring Trout Fishing Season. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says this year's season opens 5 a.m. April 6 at 58 ponds, lakes and streams throughout the state. The new sites are Baumann Lake in Cherry Valley, Weldon Springs Lake in DeWitt County, Casey Park Pond in Casey and Belk Lake in Wood River. The agency stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout for the spring season and another 80,000 trout for the fall season.
(Springfield--jc) Tickets will be available at ticketmaster-dot-com starting April 20th for tickets to acts coming to the Illinois State Fair. State Fair Spokesperson Morgan Booth says there are 3 tiers of tickets, plus the V-I-P track ticket and pre-show party…
State Fair Spokesperson Morgan Booth
(Rantoul--jc) -- The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Official R-A-C-C Election Candidates Forum for candidate seats on the Village of Rantoul, Rantoul High School and City Schools boards and Rantoul Library Board Seats .
The forum is set for Saturday March 23 at Noon at the Rantoul Township High School Cafetorium. Candidates are asked to call the local chamber with questions and to sign up for the forum. Phone 893-3323,
(Cissna Park--jc) -- A blood drive is set for today in Cissna Park. The drive is set for Creekside Prairie on the village’s north side. Times to give blood start at 2pm and run through 7pm tonight.
(Springfield--jc) -- Illinois’ governor said small businesses in Illinois should be paying higher taxes and that taxpayers can expect deep cuts to government services if they don't approve his 3 point 4 billion dollar progressive tax plan. Governor. J.B. Pritzker visited Belleville City Hall on Monday to promote his plan. He was backed by mayors from the Metro East area who support changing the state constitution’s flat income tax to a structure where those who earn more pay higher tax rates. The governor's tax proposal includes modest rate reductions from the state's existing 4.95 flat rate for 97 percent of taxpayers. Those making more than $250,000 a year would pay 7.75 percent or more in state taxes. The governor says several neighboring states use the progressive tax and it is time for Illinois to get on board.
(Springfield--jc) Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office is providing more information about a settlement with 4 fast food chains over employee no-poach agreements. Under the deal, Dunkin, Arbys, Five Guys and Little Caesars will stop making workers sign no-poach clauses. Attorney General Spokesperson Annie Thompson says employees sometimes do not even know about that rule…
Illinois Attorney General Spokesperson Annie Thompson
Agreements with Panera and Wendy’s have also been reached
(Rantoul--jc) -- What to do this summer at Rantoul Township High School? That is the question before the Rantoul School Board of Educations, Building and Grounds committee tomorrow night. The committee will look at summer projects at their meeting at 7 on Wednesday evening.
(Springfield--jc) -- Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs is working to modernize outed banking rules for the legal cannabis industry. Currently, banks and credit unions are not supposed to do business with marijuana companies. That is the old law. Frerichs says the legal companies need new banking rules…
Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs.
(Springfield--jc) -- The Illinois State Police is warning to drivers to follow the state’s “move over” law or face a penalty of up to $10,000.The law requires motorists to move over from stopped emergency vehicles, which includes police, fire and EMS, construction, tow truck drivers and the general motoring public when they have an emergency and have emergency flashers activated on the side of the road, said Sgt. Christopher Watson of the Illinois State Police.Watson said that the law was designed to not only keep first responders safe, but also to protect the public.
(Undated--jc) -- Illinois State police have announced results of Nightime Enforcement patrols from over the St Patrick’s Day weekend. State police in District 21 in Ashkum conducted the patrol in Kankakee County. 32 written warnings were given along with 7 driver licenses offenses, 3 insurance violations and two alcohol citations. On Friday night into Saturday morning, State police conducted an ACE patrol. 12 citations were given, including 4 registration violations and 4 driver license offenses. With the road safety check on Sunday, State troopers handed out 34 citations in Kankakee County that included 10 insurance violations and 5 alcohol citations.
(Paxton--jc) One Paxton restaurant is set to close and a new restaurant will open on the west side of the city. In a facebook announcement, the Country Garden will close this weekend as the owners are retiring. A new restaurant is taking its place. The restaurant is located on Route 9 on the west side of I-57 in Paxton.
(Gibson City--jc) -- The Gibson City Swimming pool exploratory committee is set to talk with pool builders. The group will meet with Mike Friend of the Farnsworth Group. The local committee is looking a investment costs, design and size of a proposed new pool for Gibson City. The committee meeting starts at 7 tonight.
(Washington--jc) The struggling ethanol industry probably won't see a quick increase in demand from year-round sales of E15 blended gasoline. Gary Crawford reports…
(Collinsville--jc) --An effort is underway to establish a downstate site as a national historical park. Supporters are trying again to convince federal lawmakers to make Cahokia Mounds a part of the National Parks Service. The 2,200-acre site in Collinsville draws about 300,000 visitors a year. Ed Weilbacher, vice president at HeartLands Conservancy, said Cahokia Mounds more than qualifies for the designation.
(Chicago--jc) --Job seekers should be on high alert for potential scams.That’s the word from the Better Business Bureau, which reported the number of employment scams increased in 2018 along with financial losses. Better Business Bureau President Steve Bernas says there are some warning signs to look for. One is that when you post your resume online on a job site and they reply back immediately you have a job that pays a lot of money for doing little to no work and with little to no education or experience. The Better Business Bureau report said these scams are effective because they prey on people who may be desperate for work. Employment scammers often impersonate leading brands like Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft when fishing for information.
