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Illinois Collected $1.5 Billion More Than Expected Last Month

(Springfield--jc)  -- Illinois collected $1.5 billion more than expected last month, a windfall that could wipe out most the state's budget shortfall and help avoid a proposed pension holiday, but lawmakers disagree on what to do with the surplus. Illinois House Republicans want Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Democrats to end calls for increasing taxes now or in the future. The state’s comptroller urged caution.State government collected 38 percent more from taxpayers in April than it did a year ago.

 

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana is the latest state to legalize sports gambling. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation Wednesday allowing sports betting and allowing the construction of two new casinos in the state. Indiana, Montana and Tennessee have legalized sports gambling this year and six other states did so last year after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed it nationwide. Indiana's sports wagering could start in September. In Illinois, representatives from several major league sports organizations were in Springfield Wednesday to discuss sports betting.A House Revenue and Finance subcommittee is set to  discuss measures to legalize such wagering.

 

(Paxton--jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Hudson Drug and Hallmark Shop. The local business has been serving customers for over 70 years. Owner Andy Hudson says while some regional and national companies are starting at med-pak plan, Hudsons has provided that service for over 10 years…

 

 

Hudson Drug and Hallmark is a family owned pharmacy and a store with the largest selection of Hallmark cards, plus Mother’s Day gifts and more .Hudson Drug and Hallmark store owner Andy Hudson says one area of the business that has seen growth is the delivery to towns like, Rantoul, Gifford, Potomac, Onarga, Cissna Park and Gilman.  The delivery of medications also hilites Hudson’s as a destination in Paxton…

 

 

You can hear a full interview with Andy Hudson over the noon news block today.


 

(Springfield--jc)  -- The price at the pump as well as your license plate and driver’s license fee would go up under a plan to raise money for the state of Illinois. Democrat Senator Martin Sandoval says the proposal would bring i2 point 4 Billion dollars…

 

The plan also calls for vehicle registration fees to double. The new fee would be 100 dollars for cars and 200 dollars for trucks. If you register an electric car the fee goes from under 20 bucks to 1 thousand dollars. You can also add money to your gallon of gas. The proposal would increase the gas tax from 19 cents per gallon to 44 cents per gallon and then be tied to inflation. State Representative Don DeWitte, Democrat, from West Dundee says that is reasonable…

 

 

(Roberts--jc)  -- Motor fuel tax money is ready to be used in one Ford County town. Officials with the village of Roberts will use just over 15 thousand dollars in motor fuel tax money for seal coating of various streets, also some patching and culvert work. Roberts village leaders have also set May 13th as a day to flush hydrants in town.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)-- 104th District State Representative Mike Marron, Republican from Fithian says his bipartisan resolution creating a Coal Ash Task Force, has moved out of committee this week. Marron says the task force’s goal will be to bring legislators, coal company representatives, environmental experts, and the public together to study the effects of coal ash on the Vermilion River and the rest of the state.

 

 

104th District State Representative Mike Marron, Republican from Fithian

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- This is mental health awareness month and the Illinois Department of Human Services says it is a time to talk more openly about the topic. Each year mental health awareness month is held to note the importance of taking care of your mind as well as your body D-H-S Spokesperson Patrick Laughlin says mental illness is a problem that should not be ignored…

 

 

Department of Human Services Spokesperson Patrick Laughlin

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades in Illinois could soon have a new class in voting and government. The Illinois Senate is going to take up a proposed requirement to teach civics in middle school. Illinois high schools already teach civics, but Shawn Healy with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation said students need an earlier start than that. A Senate panel cautiously approved the idea. Lawmakers are cautious because they're not sure schools can fit a full semester of civics into an already crowded school day.

 

(Monticello, Piatt County, IL – ) As a result of an investigation by the Illinois State Police, James E. Donaldson, 61, of Monticello  was arrested on warrants for Theft and Official Misconduct, both felonies. He was transported to the Piatt County jail and posted bond. If convicted, these felonies range from probation to up to 5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. State Police say no other information will be released at this time.

 

 

(Watseka--jc)  -- Iroquois County Sheriff’s Department personnel remind those who mow grass along roadways to make sure the grass clippings do not cover the roadway. It is illegal to spread grass clippings on roads. The grass clippings on roadways causes a major driving hazard for motorcyclists.

 

(Gifford--jc)  A Gifford resident was fatally injured in a house fire in Gifford, Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say 43 year old Shane Rasor was the lone occupant in the house at the time of the blaze. No word on the cause of the fatal fire. No foul play is suspected. Rasor later died at a Champaign hospital.

 

(Springfield--jc)  --A group representing gas station owners is pushing back as lawmakers consider multiple proposals to raise the state's gas tax. One proposal from state Senator Martin Sandoval, Democrat from Chicago, would increase the gas tax by 25 cents per gallon and tie future annual increases to the rate of inflation. House Bill 3233 would also increase registration fees for regular vehicles to $148, up from $101. Electric vehicles would pay a $1,000 registration fee. Combined, the higher taxes and fees would bring in $2.4 billion for Illinois’ infrastructure, Sandoval said.Illinois Petroleum Marketers’ Association President Bill Fleischli said the state already gets $4 billion in revenue from gas taxes through federal and state sources.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- One in 489 properties in Illinois started the foreclosure process during the first quarter of the year – the fifth highest foreclosure rate in the nation,

According to an Attom Data Solutions analysis of property data. A total of 10 thousand 909 properties in the state had foreclosure filings during the first three months of 2019. That’s out of 5 million 334 thousand  housing units statewide. The foreclosure rate in the state was down 12.6 percent from the same period a year earlier.

 

 

(Roberts--jc)  -- Roberts officials have set up May 18th as an open house and liquidation day for those wanting items from the Roberts Library. The event is set for 8am til noon.  Roberts village board members also have donated some paperbacks to the Ford County jail for use by prisoners. Several table and chairs will also be going to the Roberts gym to be used by area youth.


 

(Buckley--jc)  One local Christian High School has set the date for their annual fundraiser. The 15th annual Knight for Christ benefit  auction will take place Saturday August 24th at the Garden Hotel in Urbana. A catered meal, silent and live auction will be featured. Money raised goes to support Christian education at Buckley base Christ Lutheran High school.


 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- At the end of this month, you will see Porsches, Lamborghinis, to customized vehicles in Rantoul. The event is called a “Crown Rally.” The Rantoul Airport will be used as a checkpoint for the event which starts in Chicago and goes to Indianapolis. Hundreds of cars are expected to participate in the event.  The vehicles will make a one lap timed legal speed event. The Crown Rally is not open to the public.

 

(Springfield--jc)  A new proposal to raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 1 dollar emerged at the state capitol. The one buck increase would raise the statewide sales tax to 3 dollars. That is in addition to any local sales taxes. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Doctor Ngozi Ezike says this will help reduce the number of smokers…

 

 

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Doctor Ngozi Ezike.

The new tax proposal would also raise tax on cigars and other tobacco products.

The tax is expected to bring in an additional 180 million dollars to the Illinois coffers.

 

 

(Paxton--jc) The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce invites the business and civic public to a business after hours. Accolade Healthcare of Paxton is the host venue for the event. Chamber officials say  to use the time to network with fellow businesses in the city. The event runs from 5pm to 7pm. Refreshments and door prizes will be offered.

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois state prison officers who have died in the line of duty are being honored as part of National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. The ceremony for fallen heroes takes place Wednesday. It will be at the memorial wall on the campus of the Illinois Department of Corrections in Springfield. The event is co-hosted by the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.


 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- Rantoul Township High School board members will look to accept a bid for  a roof project when they meet on Monday night. Approving the student handbook for the next school year, and a Tax Increment Financing district extension from the  village is also on the agenda. The Rantoul Township High School Board meets at 7 in the high school board room.

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