(Ford County-jm) – State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington will be hosting traveling office hours in Ford County today. Representative Bunting will be at Kino’s Coffee, located at 103 N. Market Street in Paxton, from 9 a.m. until noon. He will then be at Piper City Village Hall, at 133 E. Peoria Street, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. No RSVPs are necessary, but anyone with questions may call Representative Bunting’s district office in Watseka at (779) 218-3070 or contact him through his legislative website at RepBunting.com.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing record breaking hotel revenues for the past fiscal year. Hotel revenues reached 308 million dollars over the last 12 months, surpassing the previous record set before the pandemic began. Additionally, the Governor says Illinois saw 111 million visitors in 2022, up 14 percent from the previous year…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker credits the campaign touting Illinois as “The Middle of Everything” with much of the state’s recent tourism success.

 

(Springfield-jm) – State revenues once again reached a record high in the fiscal year that ended June 30, creating what Governor JB Pritzker called a “one-time” budget surplus of over $700 million. The $50.7 billion in base general revenues that the state collected in fiscal year 2023 – which exclude one-time pandemic-related federal funds – topped last year’s previous record by $373 million. That’s $726 million beyond what was projected by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget in its most recent estimate adopted in May during negotiations for the fiscal year 2024 budget.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is offering some tips for National Extreme Heat Safety Month. There are an estimated 300 heat-related deaths each year in Illinois. IEMA Spokesperson Kevin Sur stresses the importance of staying well hydrated when it’s hot outside and avoiding alcohol and caffeinated drinks. He also advises not doing any strenuous activity in the afternoon when temperatures are the highest, as well as…

 

 

IEMA Spokesperson Kevin Sur. Sur says about 40 percent of unwanted heat buildup in homes is through windows so you can try keeping the lights off and shades drawn when it’s light outside.

 

(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City officials announced Monday that all water restrictions in town have been lifted. The recent rains have rectified the dry, drought conditions. More showers and T-storms are yet to come.  City officials first announced that water restrictions were put in place due to the ground water levels declining.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state’s corn and soybean crops are faring a little better. The weather in Illinois this past week was cooler and slightly wetter than normal, although crops are still in need of rain, says Statistician Mark Schleusener. He offers an update on corn…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Schleusener says that’s up from the previous week. The condition of the soybean crop improved to 36 percent in good to excellent condition, with 40 percent of soybean acres blooming and 10 percent setting pods. 88 percent of the winter wheat crop has now been harvested and average statewide topsoil moisture is now rated 17 percent very short, 24 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

 

(Mahomet-jm) – A certain area on Route 150 in Mahomet may look empty right now, but soon enough, construction will start and six locally owned businesses will call it home. The businesses include a yoga studio, a real estate company and more. Work is expected to be completed in early 2024.

 

(Washington-jm) – If you are enrolled in Medicaid, officials want you to know that eligibility checks are resuming after a three year hiatus. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Fisher–jc)  –  The Fisher Fair has a new queen. Four young women participated in the queen pageant last night at the fair.  The 20-23 queen is Ella Luna Drone of Mahomet. Drone is joined by Junior Miss Alleigh Kellems and Little Miss McKinlee Robison. All three will be busy this week at the local fair. At the Fisher Fair today includes Bingo from 1-3 in Glades Hall, karaoke night at 6:30 in the commercial building, $2 rides on Swyear Amusements from 6-10 and at 7 it's the donkey races.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A Chicago lawmaker is working on legislation to further protect college athletes. The bill was already in the works when new details about hazing and sexual abuse allegations within the Northwestern University football program emerged. It’s called the College Athlete Bill of Rights, says Representative Kam Buckner…

 

 

State Representative Kam Buckner. Buckner notes that hazing is already illegal in Illinois, but says there might be additional protections that can be added to the law.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A state legislator says the Illinois General Assembly may have to use the power of the purse to force state agencies to clean up repeated audit findings.  In the past week, a series of audits were released by the Illinois Auditor General. In one, a rare “adverse opinion” was given for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The agency had 37 findings. Ten were repeats.  Governor J.B. Pritzker downplayed repeated findings in some reports. In another audit released last week, the Illinois Auditor General found several repeated findings with the Illinois Department of Employment Security over a lack of proper record keeping of pandemic unemployment assistance programs. The scope of fraud in the program is still not known, something Crespo said he’s been frustrated over for years. The next Legislative Audit Commission hearing has yet to be scheduled.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A little pruning of your perennials can tidy up your garden. A horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Extension explains some of the methods. First there is pinching, where you remove a portion of the plant’s top growth to encourage more blooms and a bushier appearance. Perennials that respond well to this include Asters, Yarrow, Chrysanthemums and Golden Rods. The Extension’s Nicole Flowers Kimmerle (kimmer-lee) says another option is deadheading, where you remove old blooms…

 

 

U of I Extension Horticulture Educator Nicole Flowers Kimmerle. A third method is cutting back, where you remove older and worn foliage to make room for new, healthy growth. Flowers-Kimmerle says if you cut back a significant amount, the plant will need extra care and water.

 

(Thawville-jm) – An unexpected death occurred in Iroquois County when a Thawville man was discovered in the family pond along with the mower he was operating. 40-year-old August Crowley was found in the pond by family members. County Coroner Bill Cheatum said Crowley had been mowing near the Iroquois – Ford county line in preparation for the holiday weekend. Cheatum reports a preliminary autopsy indicated drowing as the cause of death. Toxicology results are pending.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state’s corn and soybean crops are faring a little better. The Illinois corn crop improved to 39 percent in good to excellent condition, up three points from the previous week. 27 percent of corn acres are now silking and one percent is in the dough stage. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says soybeans are blooming on 40 percent of acres as of Sunday…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Schleusener says that’s up from just 30 percent the previous week. 88 percent of the winter wheat crop has been harvested and 67 percent of the second cutting of alfalfa is now complete. Average statewide topsoil moisture fell to 17 percent very short, 24 percent short, 57 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Schleusener says most fields could use a good rain.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – An alley wall in downtown Rantoul is getting a makeover and the village Chamber of Commerce wants to use plastic bottle caps to make it happen. The village government is looking for ways to spruce up their downtown just like many other small communities in Central Illinois. But the village decided against doing a typical mural with paint at Tanner Street and Congress Avenue; instead, they’re covering the wall in colorful bottle caps. Rantoul citizens are asked to save their bottle caps and contribute them to the mural. All caps will be accepted at the Chamber’s office at 120 East Sangamon Avenue. The Chamber of Commerce is also taking design ideas; people can text 217-714-7316 to submit an idea.

 

(Washington-jm) – U.S. agricultural exports are still running below last year's pace. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Fisher–jc)  –  Entertainment at the Fisher Fair tonight includes Donkeys. Donkey races are back at the Fisher Fair at 7pm says Fair President Todd Cotter…

 

 

Fisher Fair President Todd Cotter

Alsos Bingo from 1-3 in Glades Hall, karaoke night at 6:30 in the commercial building, and 2 dollars with Swyear Amusements from 6-10