(Springfield-jm) -- Another measure has been filed to create a taxpayer-funded program to ensure Illinois residents have their first two years of college tuition paid for. State Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, D-Shorewood, filed Senate Bill 2324 on Jan. 8. It mirrors legislation filed in 2019 by Chicago Democratic state Rep. Will Guzzardi. The new bill would ensure residents “seeking an associate degree, certificate, or diploma from an institution of higher learning” a taxpayer-funded state grant that would pay for tuition and fees, minus any other aid awarded, starting in 2021. The bill said the cost could exceed that of a local community college's tuition and fees.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A state commission is looking at tightening up Illinois lobbying laws. The group heard testimony this week on lobbyist registration and what constitutes lobbying. Some suggested that local governments and school districts have lobbyist registrations. Senator Elgie Sims of Chicago says there is a concern that regulations become too strict..

 

 

State Senator Elgie Sims of Chicago. Several bills have already been filed, including legislation that bans lawmakers from becoming lobbyists for one to two years after leaving elected office.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The state’s climatologist is predicting Illinois farmers are likely to endure more burdensomely wet weather while they try to plant cash crops this spring after suffering major losses as a result of a record-wet planting season last year. April through June is likely to be wetter than normal in Illinois, according to rainfall projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, posing a challenge to corn and soybean farmers in the heart of planting season.

 

(Washington-jm) --  A White House ceremony Wednesday saw the President and China's Vice-Premier sign the initial phase of a new trade agreement. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Ford County Sheriff Mark Doran is awarding a $500 scholarship. The scholarship is through the Illinois Sheriff’s Association. To be eligible, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Illinois, must be utilized at an institution of higher learning in Illinois and the student must be enrolled full-time during the 2020-2021 school year. Applications can be picked up at the Ford County Sheriff’s office in Paxton or online at ilsheriff dot org. Applications are due by March 15th.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has announced office closures for the MLK holiday. Facilities open Monday through Friday will be closed on Monday, January 20th. Facilities open Tuesday through Saturday will be closed on Saturday, January 18th. All facilities will reopen Tuesday, January 21.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton Buckley Loda School District has received their report card from the state. Superintendent Cliff McClure talks about how the district did…

 

 

PBL Schools Superintendent Cliff McClure.

 

(Undated-jm) -- Cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV are unusually high this year. RSV is a virus that causes cold like symptoms but lasts longer than the common cold. RSV is most common in the fall, winter and spring.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- As the state's pension liabilities mount, fewer taxpayers remain to pay the tab. The Auditor General reported the state’s largest pension fund, the Teachers’ Retirement System, increased in overall liability by $4.5 billion to $134.4 billion. Around $3.2 billion of that isn’t funded. The total unfunded liability for TRS was $81.1 billion, meaning TRS was 39.6 percent funded. Truth In Accounting Research Director Bill Bergman said the increased liability is even more concerning when considering a different datapoint Illinois continued to lead the nation in outbound migration as it did in the past decade with six years of population declines.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A new study from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority finds most police officers are carrying naloxone to help prevent opioid overdoses. The random sampling of departments garnered responses from 82 police chiefs. 90 percent say officers have naloxone on hand, usually the nasal spray version. Researcher Jessica Reichert says police do have some concerns though…

 

 

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Researcher Jessica Reichert. Departments that don’t have their officers carrying naloxone cite budget issues, low stock of the drug and relying more on firefighters and E-M-T’s to administer the dose.

 

(Undated-jm) -- Anyone who bought infant Tylenol over the past five years could be eligible for part of a $6.3 million settlement. The settlement comes after a class action lawsuit claimed the packaging was misleading and deceiving to customers because the medication dosage was the same for infant Tylenol as children's Tylenol. The settlement is for products bought between October 2, 2014 and January 6, 2020.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- It’s Fair Time, Illinois State Fair convention time in Springfield. A new Illinois State County Fair Association Queen will also be crowned this weekend. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

 

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- New trade deal with China may bring quick export sales increases for U.S. pork producers. Gary Crawford has the details…

 

 

 

(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police have released 2019 activity numbers. Troopers issued 6,149 citations and 16,802 written warnings including 132 DUIs, 493 seat belt citations and investigated 954 traffic accidents resulting in 17 fatalities. 

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Controversial graffiti has been found on the U of I campus again. An employee found graffiti referring to the Ku Klux Klan in a mechanical room in Altgeld Hall. The graffiti has since been removed.

 

 

(Paxton-Cale)- The PBL Hall of Fame selection committee is now accepting applications for its next class. Committee member and PBL High School principal Travis Duley shares information about how the committee makes their selections and what criteria must be met.

 

 

Hall of Fame selection committee member and PBL high school principal Travis Duley

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Flu deaths are up 65 percent in 2020 according to the CDC. 4800 people have died and 87,000 people have been hospitalized because of the flu. 32 of the deaths have been children. The CDC reports 33 states have high flu activity currently including Illinois. They say flu season began early and was aggressive.