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This Week is National Farm Safety Week

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker’s office announced the appointment of two census co-coordinators Monday, a position created by an executive order he signed in June to maximize participation in the 2020 U.S. Census. State officials say up to two congressional seats and more than $1 billion in federal funding are at stake in Illinois if the complete population is not counted in 2020. The General Assembly allocated $29 million in state funding to an outreach effort that will be led by the newly created Census Office within the Illinois Department of Human Services. Marishonta Wilkerson and Oswaldo Alvarez were selected for the position. Of the $29 million set aside for the outreach efforts, 500 thousand to 700 thousand will be spent locally in the Ford, Iroquois, Champaign, Vermilion, Livingston and McLean County areas.

 

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Texas-based Vistra Energy has agreed to shutter a central Illinois coal power facility by the end of 2022 under a preliminary settlement with environmental groups that sued the plant in 2013. The Sierra Club announced Monday that the agreement with Vistra Energy affiliate Illinois Power Resources Generating to close the E.D. Edwards coal plant in Peoria County must be approved by a federal judge.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Producers are getting ready for the fall harvest as we hear in the weekly crop report. Crop progress still trails last year’s schedule, but may soon be ready to harvest in a few spots says Crop Statistician Brad Summa. He says 67 percent of corn is in the dent stage and 14 percent is mature…

 

 

Crop Statistician Brad Summa. 25 percent of soybeans are turning color and three percent are dropping leaves. 42 percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition. The third cutting of alfalfa is now 88 percent complete and average statewide topsoil moisture came in at 12 percent very short, 25 percent short, 57 percent adequate and six percent surplus. 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- This is National Farm Safety Week and the Illinois Department of Agriculture has some reminders for the harvest season. The theme this week is “Shift Farm Safety into High Gear,” recognizing the perils farmers face working with huge machinery and the need for drivers to give them plenty of room says State Ag Spokesperson Krista Lisser…

 

 

State Ag Spokesperson Krista Lisser. The Department of Agriculture will be highlighting different safety concerns on social media this week, including youth in the fields and mental health issues during a stressful planting season. 

 

 

(Ford County-jm) -- The Ford County Public Health Department will be hosting a series of flu clinics throughout the county later this month and into the next month. 14 walk in clinics will be held throughout the county put on by the health department. The clinics will take place on September 24th (9-11) at the Piper City Rehab, September 26 at the Ford County Public Health Department (9-11, 2-4),  September 30 health department (9-11), October 1 Gibson City Schoolhouse Apartments (9-11), October 4 at the health department (2-4), October 8 Gibson City Telecare (9-11), October 10 American Evangelical Lutheran Church Gibson City (8:30-11) and at the health department (4-6), October 12 Big R Gibson City (9-11), October 15 Paxton IGA (9-11) and at the health department (2-4), October 16 Kempton American Legion (8:30-11:30) and October 18 at the health department (9-11).


 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The Paxton Buckley Loda FFA is doing some collecting. They want to collect plastic bottle caps and a bunch of them. Their goal is 175 pounds   says PBL FFA Spokesperson Autumn Bruens…

 


PBL FFA Member Autumn Bruens. The group is set to recycle the plastic bottle caps and make a bench out of them

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Champaign County is jumping on the recreational marijuana tax bandwagon. A county board committee recommended the 3 percent tax in incorporated areas and 3.75 percent tax in unincorporated areas of the county. Local municipalities must approve the sale of recreational marijuana in order for the county to receive money. A vote by the county board is expected at their September 19th board meeting.

 

(Kane County--jc)  -- Federal, state and Kane County health officials are adding two confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease to a dozen others in the Batavia communityThe previously reported 12 cases were found in Covenant Living at the Holmstad in Batavia.The two new cases were from out in the community.A water source with the bacteria has not yet been identified.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Gaming Board said Monday that state lawmakers need to change a law they enacted earlier this year if they ever hope to see a casio developed in the city of Chicago. The vote came in response to a feasibility study released last month that said such a casino would not be feasible given the tax and fee structure lawmakers imposed. Under the gambling expansion bill, lawmakers authorized six more land-based casinos however, according to the bill in addition to the taxes and fees that all casinos pay, the Chicago casino would be required to pay an additional 33.3 percent privilege tax which would bring the effective tax rate on a Chicago casino to roughly 72 percent. Lawmakers could revisit the issue when they reconvene for the fall veto session October 28th.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Producers are getting ready for the fall harvest as we hear in the weekly crop report. Corn harvest has begun with just one percent complete as only 14 percent of the crop has matured. The condition of the corn crop improved to 41 percent in good to excellent condition. Crop Statistician Brad Summa says 25 percent of soybeans are turning color...

 

 

Crop Statistician Brad Summa. Just 35 percent of pastures are rated in good to excellent condition. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated as 12 percent very short, 25 percent short, 57 percent adequate and six percent surplus. 


(Springfield-jm) -- This is National Farm Safety Week and the Illinois Department of Agriculture has some reminders for the harvest season. Whether it be working with large machinery, dodging cars, or the long hours, farming remains one of the most dangerous professions says State Ag Spokesperson Krista Lisser…

 

Illinois Ag Spokesperson Krista Lisser. Lisser says motorists need to give farmers plenty of room on the road as they work the fields and be aware that a slow moving vehicle may be ahead. Producers are urged to take care of themselves during this busy time. 

 

(Ford County-jm) -- Ford County probation officers salaries will be fully funded after the state Supreme Court received an increase in their budget. With the increase in the budget, salaries will be 100 percent funded instead of 62 percent. 

 

(Washington-jm) -- If you are a corn grower who thinks prices right now are too low, you may not have much reason to change that thinking for this next marketing year. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton Park District is holding off on the purchase of a new truck for now. The park district is looking to replace their 1999 truck. They are currently transitioning a 2009 truck to be a secondary truck. A decision on a new truck is expected to happen sometime in early 2020.

 

(Undated--jc)  -- Illinoisans have two of the most fun cities in the country within driving distance. Consumer finance website WalletHub ranked Chicago the fifth most fun city. St. Louis, Missouri, ranked No. 18. The rankings were based on entertainment, nightlife and costs, among other things.

 

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