MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal magistrate is recommending that a judge decline to dismiss charges against an Illinois militia leader who was the alleged ringleader behind the 2017 bombing of a Minnesota mosque. Michael Hari’s attorneys had argued that four counts against him should be dismissed, saying that Congress exceeded its authority when it enacted a statute that Hari is accused of violating. U.S. Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer disagreed. A federal judge will now decide whether to adopt her recommendations. Prosecutors allege Hari and two others drove from Clarence,  to bomb a mosque in Bloomington, Minnesota, in hopes of scaring Muslims into leaving the U.S. No one was injured in the August 2017 attack at Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center. Hari is also charged in a failed bombing of a women’s clinic in Illinois.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Owe the state taxes? Now is a good time to pay up. The Illinois Department of Revenue is offering a one time tax amnesty program for those who have outstanding tax debt incurred between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2018. Spokesperson Sam Salustro…

 

 

Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Sam Salustro. Taxpayers have until November 15th to make a full payment. More information is available online at: tax dot illinois dot gov. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- A new report out shows fewer Americans are signed up for health insurance. The survey revealed 27.5 million people did not sign up for health insurance through the health insurance marketplace in 2018. That is 8.5 percent of the population, up from 7.9 percent of the population in 2017.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- New legislation aims to lower the cost of insulin for diabetes patients. Officials say a person with type one diabetes spends on average, about 475 dollars a month for insulin. That’s led to people risking their lives to cut costs says Representative Sue Scherer of Decatur…

 

 

State Representative Sue Scherer of Decatur. The bill, which may come up during the fall veto session, limits the copay for a 30 day supply to 100 dollars. Only one other state, Colorado, has such a law. 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton man has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for violating a court order to stay away from his former girlfriend after a domestic incident last year. Nathan Steinmeyer received the sentence after he admitted to violating the order in August. Steinmeyer pleaded guilty in April to aggravated domestic battery for choking his girlfriend. He was originally sentenced to 3 years probation and must serve at least 85% of his sentence.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton-Buckley-Loda School Board is expected to approve their fiscal year 2020 budget at tonight’s school board meeting. In addition to approving the budget, school board members will hear an update on the Clara Peterson addition and Eastlawn Elementary demolition and consider updating school policies. A budget hearing gets underway at 6pm with the regular monthly meeting starting afterwards.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- An open house on the streetscape project in downtown Paxton will be held on 23rd from 4 to 6 pm. Mayor Bill Ingold talks about the latest with the project…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul Public Library will be celebrating Banned Book Week with an open discussion. The library will hold discussions on banned and challenged books on September 24th and 25th from 6:30-7:30 pm. Banned book week runs September 22-28.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- If you want to see the flag that will fly over the city of Paxton next June, then you need to attend the Paxton Buckley Loda Homecoming football game later this month. The 30 by 60 flag will be on display at Jerry Zimmerman Field at I-57 Stadium on September 27th. A group of local volunteers has been raising money for the project since flag day this year. To date, the group has raised just over 30 thousand dollars for the project.  The plan is to have the flag raised on Flag Day in June of 20-20. Paver bricks continue to be sold for the project and donations may be dropped off at the Frederick Community Bank in downtown Paxton. 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is making her first endorsement of a liberal challenger to an incumbent House Democrat, backing Marie Newman in the primary against eight-term Rep. Daniel Lipinski in Illinois. The New York congresswoman for now is putting her name and small-dollar fundraising ability behind congressional candidates, rather than in the presidential primary. Lipinski, who opposes abortion rights, is among the more conservative Democrats in the House and defeated Newman in a primary last cycle. By backing a primary opponent to a colleague, Ocasio-Cortez is mounting a campaign strategy that resembles her own political rise last year, when she toppled a House Democratic leader in a stunning primary challenge. It’s a flex of power for the freshman lawmaker but also one that makes colleagues wary.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Energy-efficiency jobs are booming in Illinois, and the pace is not expected to slow down anytime soon. Mary Schuermann reports…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- National retailer Forever 21 is announcing they are closing 100 stores across the country. The company says declining mall traffic is a major contributing factor. The company is looking to restructure their brand. The only area location is at Marketplace Mall in Champaign. It’s unknown if that store will be affected.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- As Farm Safety Week continues, the Illinois Department of Labor is focusing on the danger of grain bins. In just the past few weeks, two workers in Illinois have become trapped in grain bins. It’s an accident that can happen quickly says State OSHA Director Ben Noven…

 

 

State OSHA Director Ben Noven. The majority of grain bin entrapments happen on family farms. Noven urges workers to wear a safety harness when entering the bin and to “Lock out and Tag out”, making sure all power to the bin is off and tagged to remain off. 

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- About 2000 Ameren Illinois customers were without power yesterday evening in parts of the area.. 1,972 customers were without power. Customers in Gibson City, Melvin, Roberts, Elliott and Saybrook were affected. No word on the cause of the outage.

 

 

(Gilman-jm) -- Iroquois West school board members are expected to approve Title one plans districtwide at tonight’s school board meeting. In addition, school board members are expected to consider approving a school maintenance project grant, letting of the bids for snow removal, approving the districts fiscal year 2020 budget and reviewing new school district policies. The Iroquois West school board meeting gets underway at 7 pm.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The smell of BBQ will soon fill the air in downtown Paxton as the 2019 Paxton Swine n Dine gets underway on Saturday September 21st. In addition to the BBQ competition, there will be a bags tournament, inflatables for the kids and of course food vendors. Once again this year, there will be live entertainment says Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Alan Meyer…

 

 

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Alan Meyer. Also new this year, you can purchase tickets to judge some of the competitors food.

 

 

(Penfield-jm) -- The Champaign County Forest Preserve is looking to raise $250,000 to restore Willow Pond at Middlefork. A hole has opened up underneath the pond causing the pond to lose water and leading to frequent closurers of the beach. The forest preserve is looking to drain, dredge and deepen the pond, add a clay lining and remove the center island. The forest preserve has looked into grants to cover the costs, however, there are no grants available.