WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Weather Service says the flooding in Nebraska and Iowa is just a preview of widespread major flooding to hit much of the country this spring. More than 200 million Americans will be at risk for some kind of flooding _ with 13 million of them at risk of major flooding. The Mississippi, Missouri, Great Lakes, lower Ohio lower Cumberland and Tennessee rivers and their basins are at biggest risk.

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- The Rantoul Chamber of Commerce has announced its Grand Marshall for the 4th of July Freedom Celebration Parade.  This year’s Grand Marshall is Brad Gould. Gould is set to be the President of The Illinois Veterans of Foreign War Commander in June. Gould has been instrumental in starting the Champaign County Veterans Assistance Commission. Gould lives in Rantoul.

 

 

(Springfield--ba)-A major gas tax increase could cause problems for low income families. WPXN’s Braedon Arnett has the story.

 

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- A measure one Illinois lawmaker says will give non-home rule communities the ability to pay for storm sewer maintenance is being called a rain tax by another. Democrat State Representative Anthony DeLuca of Chicago says  House Bill 825 is a natural extension of existing state law and would allow non-home rule municipalities the ability to charge a fee to maintain their stormwater sewer system, Republican State Representative Allen Skillicorn of East Dundee, says the measure would allow rain to be taxed by, as the bill states, allowing “stormwater utility charges to offset the cost of owning, maintaining, and improving local stormwater infrastructure. Skillicorn said the bill should be voted down. He said the bill was open-ended and could lead to higher costs for residents who are already overtaxed.

 

 

(Washington--jc)  -- What are the issues on the west side of Illinois that have implications closer to home. U-S-D-A meteorologist Brad Rippey discusses flooding issues along the lower Missouri and mid-Mississippi River systems and concerns of future events..

 

 

U-S-D-A Meteorologist Brad Rippey

 

 

BENTON, Ill. (AP) — An 82-year-old man who says he was desperate when he robbed an Illinois bank has been sentenced to 10 weekends in jail. Federal Judge Phil Gilbert told Arthur Bays that he's never seen a criminal as old as him. Bays had a toy gun in his waistband when he demanded money from a teller at State Bank of Whittington in Benton last July. He got $12,500. Bays told the judge that he was talked into buying a new car after learning that it would cost $2,000 to fix the air conditioning on his vehicle.

 

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Officials say an early morning fire in a maintenance building at the municipal airport in DeKalb caused an estimated quarter-million dollars in damage. The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle reports that city firefighters and those from neighboring communities were called to the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport at about 6:45 a.m.

 

(paxton--jc) The Paxton Chamber of Commerce has an annual meeting next month. Paxton Area  Chamber of Commerce Director Ashley Tolley says the event is set for April…

 

 

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce Director Ashley Tolley

 

 

( Springfield--jc)  -- General contractors in Illinois may be on the hook for the wages of their subcontractors' unpaid employees if state lawmakers successfully pass a law requiring just that.Under state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz’ legislation, a contractor who hires others to do a job could be forced by the Illinois Department of Labor to be responsible for unpaid wages to workers that the subcontractor failed to pay. House Bill 2838 provides for primary contractor responsibility for wage and benefit theft in the construction industry to stop worker exploitation and bring tax dollars back to the state currently being lost by lawbreakers

 

 

(Rankin--jc)  -- The old school building on the east side of Route 49 continues to be a topic for Rankin Village Leaders. The property is considered an eye-sore, but local officials say clean up could be more due to potential asbestos in the ageing building. Vermilion County public health officials have been working with the owners of the building to find a resolution. Rankin Village board members are expected to bring up the issue when they meet on April 9th at 5-45 with a public hearing on the building. The regular monthly meeting begins at 6pm at the Rankin Lion’s Club building

 

 

(Woodworth--jc)  One local Christian school is hosting a fish fry today. St Paul’s Lutheran School in Woodworth is hosting a “Woodworth Style” fish fry. Carryouts are available starting at 4pm with serving in the school gym at 5pm. On the menu is Woodworth Style  fish, coleslaw, baked beans and pie.

 

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A scientific report says the Great Lakes region is warming faster than the rest of the U.S., which likely will bring more flooding and other extreme weather events such as heat waves and drought. The warming climate also could mean less overall snowfall even as lake-effect snowstorms get bigger. The report by researchers from universities primarily from the Midwest says agriculture could be hit especially hard, with later spring planting and summer dry spells.

 

 

(Springfield--ba)- A failing state tuition program could be giving refunds to some Illinois students. WPXN’s Braedon Arnett has the story.

 

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- If you owe the city of Paxton money from an ordinance violation, you can expect to be contacted to pay in the near future. The city of Paxton hired Credit Collection Partners to work on the past due payments. The company adds a surcharge to the collectible amounts to pay for their service. Ford County also has an agreement with Credit Collection Partners.

 

 

(Undated--jc)  Sunday is T B Day. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

 

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- One local Rantoul Church is hosting  a clothing giveaway on Saturday. The event is set for the Bethany Park Church on Grove Avenue in the village The   clothing giveaway is from 9 a.m. to noon VIsitors should bring bags

and use the west entrance to the church

 

 

(Gibson City--jc)  Do you have some household batteries, old-oil based paint, antifreeze, lawn chemicals and need to get rid of them. The Ford County Soil and Water Conservation District has an event tomorrow to dispose of unwanted waste. The Household Hazardous Waste Recycling event takes place from 8am to 3pm in downtown Gibson City. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is sponsored the waste take-back event. Other items you may bring include, insecticides, used motor oil and biological waste. Items may be brought for free during the collection times at 115 South Sangamon in Gibson City.

 

(Springfield--jc)  Unemployment remained steady in February. Kim Howard reports…

 

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  Tomorrows Paxton IGA cookout will benefit the Upper Room Bible Church in Paxton. The cookout takes place from 10am to 2pm in the IGA parking lot. On the menu is pork chop sandwiches, chips, and pop..

 

(Rantoul--jc)  Spring has just started, but plans for a summertime ag event continue for property surrounding the Rantoul airport in August. The 20-19 Half Century of Progress Show is set for August 22nd through August 25th. On display at this year’s show will be vintage fire trucks from around the area including a 1968 International Truck from the Limestone Fire District in Kankakee County.

 

 

 

MILWAUKEE (AP) —  MillerCoors has filed a lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch, saying its St. Louis-based rival wants to "frighten" people away from Miller Lite and Coors Light by claiming those beers have corn syrup. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Wisconsin federal court but the feud between the country's two largest brewers began when Anheuser-Busch aired commercials making the corn syrup claim during this year's Super Bowl . Corn syrup is a fermentation aid used by several brewers , including Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors. But no corn syrup remains in the beers once fermentation is complete. MillerCoors says Anheuser-Busch is preying on health conscious consumers who have negative connotations of corn syrup, sometimes confusing it with the high-fructose corn syrup in sodas. MillerCoors wants a judge to order Anheuser-Busch to stop the ads. Anheuser-Busch says it stands by its campaign and won't change it.