(Springfield--ba)   --The State Board of Education is awarding one million dollars in grants to help address the teacher shortage in Illinois. The money is going to seven districts around the state and will be used to either promote leadership opportunities for teachers or set up residency programs between high-need schools and universities. Deputy Superintendent Jason Helfer says they hope to award additional grants to other districts as well.

 

Deputy Superintendent Jason Helfer

No area districts are receiving money this time, but state officials hope to hire more teachers to additional districts in the near future.

 

 

(Washington--ba)-An expert says some of us may misinterpret the planting percentages in the USDA crop progress reports. USDA’s Gary Crawford has the story.

 

 

(Urbana--jc)  A Champaign county woman was sentenced to 4 years probation on Tuesday, after pleading guilty to stealing 15 thousand dollars from the Fisher School District. The News Gazette reports that 47 year old Elizabeth Bidner of rural Mahomet received the sentenced in Champaign County court on Tuesday.

 

(Springfield--ba) The pride flag flew above the Illinois Capitol for the first time ever this week, but it shouldn't be a surprise, given Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's longtime support of LGBTQ equality. The state's new governor said his mother was a supporter of LGBTQ rights. Pritzker last week told a crowd at an LGBTQ pride event in Chicago that her advocacy never left him.

 

 

(Undated--jc)  --Midwestern bankers are tightening the purse strings on farm credit lines amid some of the toughest financial times for farmers in decades.A survey of bank CEOs by Creighton University’s Heider College of Business found they expect the percentage of farm loan defaults over the next 12 months in a number of Midwestern states, including Illinois, to be double the default rates for 2017.The survey is a part of Heider’s Rural Mainstreet Index, which fell below “growth neutral” for the first time since last November.

 

(Rankin--jc)  -- Wanted. Fire Departments to participate in the Waterball Fights in Rankin. The date for the competition is Saturday July 6th at 11am. Teams will consist of 3 fireman with a best of three format. Following the fireman competition is a kids water ball competition at the Rankin celebration. The kids event starts at

3pm. 

 

(Washington--ba) Planting progress for major crops like corn and soybeans are at record or near-record lows. Stephanie Ho has that story.

 

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- Paver bricks for the Paxton Grand Ole Flag Project are now available.  Spokesperson Denny Kingren says the bricks can be engraved and two sizes are available…

 

Paxton Grand Ole Flag Project Spokesperson Denny Kingren

To buy a brick, go on line at that’s-my-brick-dot-com-forard-slash-paxton-flag

 

 

(Undated--jc)  --A state Supreme Court decision in Rhode Island could possibly remove a hurdle to reforming Illinois’ pension debt load, but an expert said lawmakers here would first have to change course.Rhode Island’s highest court ruled earlier this month in Cranston Police Retirees Action Committee vs the City of Cranston that the city could freeze a cost of living adjustment for its police and firefighter retirees and not break the U.S. Constitution’s Contract Clause protection.Mike Stenhouse, CEO of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, said the city of Cranston’s budget was so upside down that the benefit freeze was deemed reasonable and necessary, a designed exception in interpretations of the clause.

 

(Cullom--jc)--  Tri Point School leaders approved a bid from Compass Insurance Partners for the district at a cost of 83 thousand 865 dollars. Clover Lead Farms was also awarded the milk bid for Tri Point. The Bread contract went to Aunt Millies. The Tri Point School board tabled to set the date for next year’s graduation. One date proposed was May 15th, 20-20.

 

(GIbson City--jc)  -- A historical walk event is set for Gibson City next month. The 20-19 “Gibson City, Through the Years” Historical walk takes place on Sunday July 21st at North Park in the city. Several area citizens will re-create some people and businesses from Gibson City’s  past. They include actors performing as Henry Hager of Hager Lumber, and Elmo Meiners of M and W Gear. Tickets go on sale July First. Those tickets will be available at Moyer Library.

 

(Springfield--jc) -- Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady says the new state budget was "as balanced as any budget" Illinois has adopted in decades, even though he voted against it. Brady gave his account of the flurry of legislation passed over the last month during a discussion in Chicago.  Brady told the group how Republicans fought to keep the Invest in Kids private school scholarship program over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to phase it out. The scholarship program is funded by private donors who get a 75 cents-on-the-dollar tax credit via the Illinois Department of Revenue.

 

(Springfield--ba)  -- An economist from a nonpartisan think tank said poverty rates could climb if Illinois changes from a flat income tax to a structure with higher rates for higher earners. Illinois' poverty rate is about 14.3 percent, which is right in the middle of the pack of all U.S. states and territories.  State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said the soon-to-be new adult-use cannabis industry will help address poverty in Illinois with more jobs.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  - Rantoul Village leaders are looking to help re-develop Heritage Lake in the village. Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer says the village is moving forward with some economic development ideas for the property…

 

 

Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer.

With the A-trel project in the village, local leaders expect the group to continue to develop their plans and have a ground breaking sometime over the next year.

 

(Washington--ba)  -- How will projected higher feed costs affect the hog sector?  Gary Crawford has that story.

 

 

 

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — A University of Illinois graduate student told jurors Tuesday that the man on trial for killing a 26-year-old visiting scholar from China tried to get her into his car by posing as an undercover police officer, saying she felt physically ill when she recognized him days later in a police photo display. Emily Hogan testified that Brendt Christensen, now 29, pulled up to her as she walked alone to a bus stop on the morning of June 9, 2017, the day Yingying Zhang went missing. Christensen was arrested on June 30, later pleading not guilty to a federal charge of kidnapping resulting in death. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce officials are seeking volunteers to help with the city’s 4th of July celebration, The popular Old Fashioned 4th of July  is set for Pells Park in Paxton. Anyone wanting to volunteer may contact the chamber of facebook. WPXN will again sponsor the Official Watermelon eating contest on the 4th of July in Paxton.

 

(Onarga--jc)  A business in the Iroquois County town of Onarga is relocating for  a time, while its downtown location is razed and re built. Demolition work  at the Beherns Farm and Home’s location in the downtown area began on Tuesday.

 

(Gibson City--jc)  -- Filling a Manager position and a report on the diving board are hilites of a pool committee meeting Thursday night in Gibson City. The committee will also look at pool finances. The Gibson City pool committee meets at 6 tomorrow night.