(Springfield-jm) -- Federal tax changes from 2017 could make it more politically difficult for local governments to raise taxes, according to a report. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the first sweeping change to the federal tax code since 1986. It lowered corporate taxes, removed individual tax brackets and broaden the personal standard deduction. To make up for that lower revenue, the state and local tax deduction was capped at $10,000. The dedication limit is often referred to as the SALT cap. In a 2020 outlook for local governments, credit-rating agency S&P Global Ratings highlighted how that change could affect high-tax states, namely New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Illinois.
(Springfield-jm) -- Looking back over the last decade in Illinois agriculture, Illinois Farm Bureau Senior Economist and Policy Analyst Michael Doherty said it started with a bang but has since deflated. Although the state’s farming industry is still in good shape, he said predicting its immediate future would be like looking into “a murky crystal ball.” As populations overseas, especially in China, became larger and more affluent, people began wanting to eat more meat, creating major markets for soybeans, the state’s biggest crop, and even for pork. In addition, increased interest in biofuels fed demand for corn, Illinois’ second-largest agricultural product.
(Paxton)-The 32nd PBL FFA Toy Show is right around the corner, PBL FFA Member Maisie Kingren gives us the details of when and were the toy show is, what time and what to expect.
PBL FFA Member Maisie Kingren
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police are investigating a string of break ins in town. The burglaries took place Sunday morning. The laundromat, Contractor Services of Illinois and the Animal Clinic of Paxton were burglarized. Nothing was taken from the laundromat or Contractor Services, however, cash and medications was taken from the Animal Clinic. Anyone with information is asked to call Ford County Crime stoppers at 217-784-4173.
(Champaign County-jm) -- A cyber security expert has filed to run for the soon to be vacant Champaign County Treasurer position. John Bambenek filed his intent to run as a write in candidate for the March 17th primary. A court will decide whether or not Bambenek’s name will be allowed on the ballot since the resignation occurred after the filing period ended.
(Washington-jm) -- Brazil is forecast to overtake the United States as the world's top soybean producer. Stephanie Ho has the details…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The office of the State Fire Marshall is accepting applications for its Small Equipment Grant Program. The $3.5 million program provides grants of up to $26,000 for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment for Illinois departments. This includes items such as self-contained breathing apparatuses, backboards and communication equipment. Applications are due by Feb. 29.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois' new Senate President said the progressive income tax will be one of his top priorities, but Republicans worry the proposed tax structure would make Illinois less competitive at a time when the state's population is declining. New Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, faces a number of challenges heading into the start of the spring legislative session next week. Among them are how to address ethics regulations amid a sweeping federal corruption probe. He'll also face challenges in crafting the upcoming state budget and dealing with frustrations over the state's high property taxes.
(Springfield-jm) -- With early voting for the March primary set to begin early next month, Illinois House Republicans demanded an immediate hearing into how the Secretary of State's Office improperly caused voter registration cards to be sent to hundreds of non-citizens. State officials said 574 people who indicated they weren't U.S. citizens were sent voter registration cards by mistake in the past 18 months. The Secretary of State's office said it was the result of a glitch that had been corrected. Early voting for the March primary is set to begin Feb. 6.
(Buckley-jm) -- One area high school is starting to take applications for the upcoming school year. Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley will hold an open house in January says Executive Director Sandy Spitz…
Christ Lutheran High School Executive Director Sandy Spitz.
(Fisher-jm) -- The village of Fisher has entered into an electric aggregation agreement. The one year agreement is with Constellation Energy. The agreement locks in rates at 4.423 cents per kilowatt hour. Customers have the opportunity to opt out. The agreement expires in February of 2021.
(Elliott-jm) -- The village of Elliott has received a half a million dollar grant for work on their water main system. The grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will cover the first phase of replacing water mains and meters in the village. Village leaders hope to get a second grant to do phase two.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing nearly 30 million dollars in grants for park projects. The grants come from the state’s open space land acquisition and development program and will fund 85 different projects says Illinois Department of Natural Resources Spokesperson Rachel Torbert…
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Spokesperson Rachel Torbert. The money can be used to purchase land for a park or to renovate park pools, picnic areas and more.
URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A University of Illinois music professor has been awarded a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Musicology professor Christina Bashford was awarded one of 188 humanities grants across the nation receiving $30.9 million. She will use the grant on a book project about the impact of the violin on Great Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. U of I Chancellor Robert J. Jones noted that the fellowship is one of the nation’s more competitive humanities programs. The NEH awards an average of 79 grants a year out of 1,100 applications received.
