(Springfield--jc)  Illinois Governor JB Pritzker unveiled his plan for a progressive income tax and one local state representative finds the plan troubling. State Representative Mike Marron says the original plan for a Millionaire’s tax is now a graduated income tax for those making 250 thousand dollars annually..

 

104th District State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian

 

DWIGHT, Ill. (AP) — A Virginia-based company is one step closer to building a private immigration detention center near Dwight after trustees  approved the plan despite pushback from activists. Dwight trustees voted to annex and rezone 88 acres where Immigration Centers of America plans to build a detention center. More than 200 people attended the village meeting, which was repeatedly interrupted by protesters.Dwight Mayor Jared Anderson says the project could stimulate the region's economy by creating about 300 jobs, The  community and area lost jobs with the closing of the women’s prison in Dwight. Some groups against the project continue to protest the idea.

 

 

(Gibson City-jc)  -- A loan application is the topic for the Gibson City C-DAP committee. The group will discuss a loan application from Jay’s Place. The Gibson City C-DAP committee meeting takes place at 8 tomorrow morning at city hall.

 

 

(Undated--jc)  -- A Wilmington man was fatally injured in a motorcycle versus van and lexus accident in Kankakee County on Monday night. Police say 30 year old Kristopher Cortese of Wilmington was pronounced dead at the scene by Kankakee County authorities. Cortese was going south along Route 45-52 just after 9 Monday night and was struck head on by a northbound van and a second vehicle also was involved in the accident. The accident remains under investigation this morning.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Attorneys who have represented clergy abuse victims across the United States say they are releasing a report that lists the names of every Catholic priest and lay person in Illinois who has been publicly accused of sexual misconduct. Today, the attorneys say they will release a 185-page report that includes background information and work histories of 395 priests and lay people accused in the state's six dioceses. It is not clear how much of the information will be new.

 

SEATTLE (AP) — A federal appeals court has thrown out a $4 million copyright infringement ruling against the Seattle-based online real estate company Zillow. Zillow faced a 2015 lawsuit from VHT, the nation's largest professional real estate photography studio. VHT said Zillow's use of its photos violated VHT's copyright. A federal jury awarded VHT more than $8 million, an amount a judge later cut in half. Last Friday, however, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that award

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  --An Illinois lawmaker wants the state to have a say in selecting the executive director of a private foundation that supports the state-run Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. The foundation had sought state money to help pay off the remaining 9 million dollars of a loan that comes due later this year. The foundation purchased Abraham Lincoln artifacts, including a stovepipe hat that may have been Lincoln’s.State Senator Andy Manar, Democrat of  Bunker Hill, says his measure requiring the state to appoint a director for the foundation is about resetting the relationship between the private foundation and the public institution.

 

 

(Springfield--jc) -- Low income taxpayers and seniors can get help filing their taxes at locations throughout Illinois. The I-R-S and A-A-R-P offer free counseling to qualifying individuals at 300 sites around the state says Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Terry Horstman…

 

 

Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Terry Hortsman. Help is available by appointment at the Rantoul Public Library and the Mahomet Library. More information is found on line at  tax-dot-Illinois-dot-Gov.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- A talent show is coming to Rantoul in early April. The event is set for April 7th at the high school says event spokesperson Paula Hopkins…

 

Rantoul Talent Show Spokesperson Paula Hopkins

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The Ford County Historical Society is set to meet tomorrow night in Paxton The 7pm meeting will take place at the Water Tower museum in downtown Paxton . Society member Jim Jarboe will speak at his collection of Civil War weapons. The meeting is open to the public and there is no admission charge.

 

(Minnesota--jc) A man from Clarence, who is accused of firebombing a mosque in Minnesota in 2017, has a trial date this fall. The News Gazette reports that U.S. Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer says the trial of 48 year old Michael Hari of Clarence will  begin September 30th at the federal courthouse in St. Paul, Minnesota. WPXN news will continue to follow this story as it warrants.

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Illinois could get an official state drink and an official state microbe.The northern cardinal is the official state bird. The monarch butterfly is the official state insect. The violet is the official state flower. And the white oak is the state tree. There's even a state fossil, the Tully monster, and state soil is Drummer silty clay loam. One state Senator wants to go even smaller. State Senator David Koehler, Democrat-Peoria, got an idea from a local columnist in a “kind of … almost tongue-in-cheek kind of way” to designate an official state microorganism. House Bill 3073 isn’t likely to settle the soda vs. pop debate, but one state representative wants to see if Illinois can make Ski the state's official drink. Popcorn is the official snack of the state of Illinois. The state vegetable is sweet corn. Legislators in the Land of Lincoln have even made pumpkin the state’s officials pie.State Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, is looking to make the citrus, cane sugar drink Ski the official state soda.

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- What do Hank Gamel, Chad Smith, Sherry Johnson, Mark Wilkerson and Gary Wilson have in common. They are all candidates for trustee positions on the Village of Rantoul board in April. The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce has set up a candidates forum at noon on Saturday at Rantoul Township High School. Candidates for school board races at Rantoul Township High School and Rantoul City Schools will also participate in the forum on Saturday

 

 

(Morton--jc)  -- A woman was found dead in a vehicle along eastbound Interstate 74 yesterday. Police say the vehicle was parked on the shoulder near Morton. Police closed the eastbound lanes just before noon. The victim was  pronounced dead at 12:15 p.m. No foul play is suspected. Traffic was slowed around the scene for several hours.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  One group is set to help small non-profits in the state. Through Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs office,  Charitable Trust is helping small non-profits across Illinois in areas of workforce & economic development, housing, and food programs.  Those interested in applying have until March 31st to apply, on line at the Charitable Trust website or by calling the State Treasurer’s office in Springfield.

 

 

(Ford County--jc)  -- Ford County artists, you are needed. The Ford County Amature Town and Country Art Show takes place on April 14th at the Paxton Park District Building on Fall Street. Event Spokesperson Shawn Fairchild says the event is for Ford County residents…

 

 

Ford County Amature Town and Country Art Show Spokesperson  Shawn Fairchild. More information is found on line at the Paxton Park District web site.

 

 

(Crescent City--jc)  Five area fire departments were called to a garage fire in Crescent City on Tuesday afternoon. The fire was at a property at 803 South Street as reported by the Times Republic. No word on damage estimates was given

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Tuesday was Agriculture  Legislative Day in Springfield. Famers, lawmakers and F-F-A members from around the state were at the state capitol. Under discussion were topics facing the ag community including promotion of agriculture and more Ag teachers says Illinois Ag Director John Sullivan…

 

 

Illinois Department of Ag  Director John Sullivan.

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- The state’s leading manufacturing group said it's on the defensive in Illinois, but plans to push for policies that it can get through the Democrat-controlled legislature. Governor . J.B. Pritzker encouraged more innovation and creation in Illinois to grow the state's manufacturing base at the m-HUB Manufacturing Industry Celebration last week in Chicago. Illinois Manufacturers’ Association President and CEO Mark Denzler said Tuesday that manufacturers feel like they are on the defensive in Illinois because of a number of mandates and regulations in energy policy, labor law and the state's minimum wage increase. Denzler added that the graduated income tax will cause a number of manufacturers to substantially increase costs. Energy legislation is also a topic the Illinois Manufacturers are watching

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  The annual Draggin’ Main event is set for the city of Paxton in April. Organizers say the downtown Paxton event takes place on April 20th. From 6pm until 11 pm car enthusiasts to the public are invited to participate. More information is found by contacting organizer Debbie Chapman-Herman. Draggin’ Main was popular for area residents for over 50 years in the city of Paxton.