(Springfield--jc)  -- Illinois’ state treasurer could soon become the lien holder of your student loan debt. An initiative of Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ office would allow him to refinance an Illinois resident’s college loans at low-interest rates in hopes that it will help them better afford their payments. The office could extend up to 5 percent of the $31 billion it manages to help with student loans. That's about $620 million. Local State Representative Carol Ammons of Urbana says the program would help reduce the number of local student loan defaults. Ammons adds that the  goal is to get the interest rate low enough so that people can really afford to make their payments. If the bill passes. the interest rate would be set by the treasurer.The treasurer’s office said there would be an upfront cost of $150,000, but the interest on payments from students should then cover the administrative costs thereafter.

 

GRAYSLAKE, Ill. (AP) — A visitation and funeral are set for an Illinois State Police trooper who was killed when a wrong-way driver struck his squad car.State police say the visitation for 36-year-old Trooper Gerald Ellis will be this afternoon and funeral will be Friday morning at the College of Lake County's James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts in Grayslake. Ellis will have a private burial. Ellis died early Saturday in the accident along Interstate 94 in northern Illinois. He is the third state trooper to die in a traffic crash so far this year.

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Each baby born or adopted in Illinois would get a savings account under a bill passed by the Illinois House on Wednesday. The state would kick off the account with a 50 dollar investment, in hopes parents will keep adding to it over the years. It’s sponsored by State Representative Robyn Gabel of Evanston…

 

 

State Representative Robyn Gabel of Evanston

34 other states have a similar program. The cost would be 9 million dollars per year.

 

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Six states, including Illinois, and the District of Columbia sued the Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, saying it weakened nutritional standards in school breakfasts and lunches when it relaxed the requirements affecting salt and refined grains last year.The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court asked a judge to overturn the changes, saying they were carried out in an arbitrary and capricious manner. The government "significantly weakened" nutritional standards for sodium and whole grains, according to the lawsuit, without giving the public a chance to comment on them and in opposition to nutritional requirements for school meals set by Congress.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  One Central Illinois Lawmaker is pushing for tougher penalties for Scott’s Law violators. 16 Illinois State Police Troopers have been struck by motorists not following the state’s move-over law this year. There have been 3 fatalities. State Representative Tim Butler of Springfield says his bill creates tougher laws…

 

 

State Representative Tim Butler of Springfield

 

 

(Buckley--jc) One question before village leaders in one southern Iroquois County is what to do now, that a referendum to upgrade its sewer system failed. The plan voted down by Buckley residents would have put approximately 3 to 4 million dollars in needed upgrades. Iroquois County officials and state officials say the situation with septic tanks and the aging sewer will not go away. Local leaders are expected to put together another plan when they meet as a new board with the Spring election completed

 

The Rantoul Beautification committee is hosting an event that spotlights local stars and a chance to raise money for projects. Rantoul’s Got Talent is a new venture says  Rantoul Beautification committee spokesperson Paula Hopkins.

 

 

Rantoul Beautification committee spokesperson Paula Hopkins.

The event is Sunday April 7th at 2pm at Rantoul Township High School.

 

(Springfield--jc) --  No local government in Illinois would be able to restrict collective bargaining issues for public or private unions under a measure that is one step closer to being sent to the governor’s office .State Representative Lance Yednock, Democrat of Ottawa, sponsored Senate Bill 14-74 in the House. Yednock says the U.S. Congress didn’t include political subdivisions in the National Labor Relations Act and doing so avoids confusion with the 7 thousand units of local government in Illinois.  

 

(Washington--jc)  Weather forecasters are predicting a wet Spring and that has issues for local and state to farmers around the country. U-S-D-A Meteorologist Brad Rippey looks at the national numbers for topsoil as we start the month of April..

 

 

U-S-D-A Meteorologist Brad Rippey

 

(Springfield--jc)  --Legislators from both sides of the aisle are sitting down to begin hashing out details of the state budget with less than two months before the end of spring legislative session and the May 31 deadline to pass a budget with simple majorities. House Majority Leader Greg Harris, Democrat from  Chicago says that Democrats and Republicans would work together. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, Republican from Western Springs, says the state needs a balanced budget. Durkin says the governor indicated he had a 1 point 2 billion dollar increase in spending, and Durkin adds that Illinois needs to live within our means.A balance budget is a must for Durkin and measures to create jobs and help the economy Democrats are pushing for more gas taxes, a gambling tax and plastic bag tax to bring in more dollars to the state’s coffers..

 

(Springfield--jc)  Each baby born or adopted in Illinois would get a college savings account under a bill passed by the Illinois House on Wednesday. The account would be set up with 50 dollars from the state. The cost would be around 9 million dollars per year and the account would be handled by the state. State Representative Grant Wehrli of Naperville voiced his concern…

 

 

State Representative Grant Wehrli of Naperville

 

 

 

(Washington--jc)  Do you know how much food is wasted each year. You may be shocked to find out. Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

 

(Farmer City--jc)  -- The 12th Annual Illini 100 presented by Douglas Dodge kicks off with Open practice from 6-9 tonight at the Farmer City Raceway. The campgrounds at the raceway will be open tonight.  One purse for the winner on Friday night is 6 thousand and the winner of the Illini 100 on Saturday nets a prize of 15 thousand dollars. The races kicks off a season a racing at the Farmer City Raceway.

 

 

(Springfield--ba)-The Illinois Sheriff’s Association would like to announce the 2019 Officer Safety and Scott’s Law Safety Initiative. WPXN’s Braedon Arnett has the story.

 

 

 

(Undated--jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the day is Butcher Boys Burgers in Rantoul. The local business  is celebrating its 9th anniversary all day on Friday. One way to celebrate tomorrow at Butcher Boys Burgers in Rantoul is free jello cake says owner Jerry Glazik...

 

 

Butcher Boys Burgers of Rantoul owner Jerry Glazik

The anniversary celebration is all day tomorrow with free jello cake.

You can hear the entire Business of the Day interview in our noon newsblock today