(Springfield-jm) – The Citizens Utility Board is asking consumers to make their voices heard to the Illinois Commerce Commission on Ameren Illinois’ $1.3 billion, four-year electric rate-hike request.  CUB said that proposed increase plus five other gas or electric rate hike requests by utility companies this year total a record $3.7 billion. According to CUB, the cost increases proposed by Ameren would add up to about $12 more per month initially and, by 2027, about $31 more per month on an average residential bill.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Attorney General Kwame Raoul says Illinois is joining a nationwide crackdown on illegal telemarketing and robocalls. The effort is dubbed “Operation Stop Scam Calls” and is targeting telemarketers, their employers and others. Attorney General Raoul says they also want to hold telecom service providers accountable…

 

 

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Additionally, Raoul says Illinois is part of a multi-state lawsuit against Avid Telecom. The company is accused of initiating and transmitting more than seven and a half billion robocalls to consumers on the national do not call registry.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Millions of Instagram users in Illinois may be eligible for a cut of a $68 million class-action lawsuit settlement. The lawsuit alleges facial recognition technology was used in the app, which violates the state's strict Biometric Information Privacy Act. Any Illinoisan who used Instagram between August 10, 2015, and August 16, 2023, will be eligible for a portion of the settlement once it is approved. Attorneys for the plaintiffs estimate around 4 million Illinois residents could be eligible. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Concerns continue about the state’s healthcare program for undocumented immigrants. Emergency rules requested by the Governor are freezing the program for low income immigrants between ages 42 and 64, and are capping the number of seniors that can get coverage. At a legislative rules committee hearing this week, Senator Cristina Castro of Elgin says there needs to be more communication about the changes…

 

 

State Senator Cristian Castro of Elgin. Lawmakers asked what has been done to let enrollees know about the new co-pays and move to managed care as well. Others called for public hearings if the rules are made permanent and said the program puts too big of a strain on state finances.

 

(Paxton-jm) – A Rantoul teenager charged in connection with the Feb. 18 shooting of a 19-year-old Danville woman in Paxton was released from custody this week as his trial was pushed back again, this time to October. According to our partners at The Ford County Chronicle, on Monday, July 17 — the day that 17-year-old Daniel E. Hoffman’s jury trial was to begin in Ford County Circuit Court — State’s Attorney Andrew Killian asked Judge Matt Fitton for a continuance, saying he was not yet ready to proceed to trial. Fitton granted Killian’s request — scheduling another pretrial hearing for 1:30 p.m. Monday, October 2 — and allowed Hoffman to be released from the custody of the McLean County Juvenile Detention Center until his trial has concluded. Under Illinois law, defendants in custody have the right to stand trial within 120 days of their arrest. In Hoffman’s case, he had been in custody at the juvenile detention center in Normal for 144 days — since his February 23 arrest on a Ford County warrant charging him as an adult with one count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, a Class X felony. To avoid a speedy-trial issue, Killian agreed to allow Hoffman to be released on his own recognizance.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state received some good tourism news recently. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City explains…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Iroquois County-jm) – Iroquois County Treasurer Kurt Albers has announced that the 2022 real estate tax statements have been mailed to the taxpayers of Iroquois County. The first installment is due August 18th, 2023 and the second installment is due September 18th, 2023.  After the due dates a 1 ½ percent penalty must be added each month it remains unpaid, according to Illinois State Statutes. All mortgage companies are still required to pay all real estate tax bills by the designated due dates and ONLINE. Taxpayers must include their tax bill when paying.The Treasurer’s Office is open 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday. To avoid waiting in line, you may also pay by mail or at any bank in Iroquois County including Iroquois Federal, Commonwealth Credit Union, the First State Bank of Forrest in Onarga.

 

(Washington-jm) – Steer prices are rising higher than expected this year, but will they cool off in 2024? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Crescent City–jc)  –  Today is day 3 of the 20-23 Iroquois County Fair. There is a new vendor at this year’s fair, one familiar to many in the local area. SpringCreek Barbeque of Buckley has taken over operations in the East Food Buildings on the grounds. SpringCreek Barbeque Owner Mark Henrichs says its a great opportunity…

 

SpringCreek Barbeque Owner Mark Henrichs

Today at the Iroquois County Fair its junior animal shows at 8, blindfold teamwork course in the kidszone at 10 this morning. ALso the , master gardeners at 1 this afternoon. You can , milk cows at 4,  and the demolition derby at 7:30.

The WPXN Charity Ice Cream Booth will be in operation starting at noon today.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A recent report that shows Illinois is one of the worst states for personal injury lawsuits.  The report was compiled by the Florida law firm of Anidjar and Levine using data from USCourts.gov and covered 12 months ending in March 2023. Illinois is ranked fifth in the country for the most personal injury cases per capita, with a total of 2,887, the report showed. Personal injury cases occurred in Illinois at a rate 140% over the national average, as the cases comprise over 23% of the state’s entire civil caseload. Illinois is consistently near the top in American Tort Reform Association’s “Judicial Hellhole” list.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is wrapping up a trade delegation tour to the United Kingdom and says a great deal of opportunity has opened up as a result of the trip. Governor Pritzker and members of the delegation have been visiting with government, business and education leaders. They’ve talked to people in a number of industries including clean energy, hospitality, manufacturing and quantum technology…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says he and minister of State Nigel Huddleston have committed to boosting trade and investment between each other’s economics.

 

(Springfield-jm) – There is now a law in Illinois designed to improve care for people who suffer from strokes. The legislation authorizes the Illinois Department of Public Health to recognize a new level of certification that hospitals can voluntarily seek for treating stroke victims. Officials said the measure will help ensure patients who need care during or after a stroke can be sent to hospitals that provide the appropriate level of care. According to IDPH data, stroke, or cerebrovascular disease, was the fifth highest cause of death for Illinoisans in 2021, with over 6,700 deaths recorded.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state’s Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program is expanding its reach with another 10 million dollars in funding. The program helps people prepare for a career in the construction and building trades industry, says Illinois Works Deputy Director Norman Ruano (roo-ahn-oh)...

 

 

Illinois Works Deputy Director Norman Ruano. This additional money will ensure specific regions and racial groups have access to the program. Interested groups that want to offer this service and apply now for grants ranging from 55 thousand to more than half a million dollars are now being accepted. More information is available online at: dceo dot illinois dot gov.

 

(Mahomet-jm) – The Mahomet Police Department is making it a little easier for people to dispose of their leftover household medications. The department recently unveiled its new take back program, which accepts leftover, unused and out-of-date prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. These can be dropped into a box at the lobby of the department’s headquarters at 303 East Oak Street. The take back program is part of the department’s effort to reduce the risk of drugs in the home that can potentially hurt people of all ages. Officials said that unused medication is a source of drug abuse in millions of homes, with the opioid crisis fueled in part by that availability. 47% of misused prescription pain relievers are given by, bought from or taken from a friend or relative, and on average, someone in the United States dies of a drug overdose every five minutes.

 

(Springfield-jm) – One area lawmaker is providing solutions for the state to help residents. The grocery tax and an increase in the state’s gas tax started July 1st. 104th District State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian has some ideas of ways to help residents in the state…

 

 

104th District State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Acclaimed medium and personality Theresa Caputo is coming to Champaign in October, according to the Champaign Park District. The park district announced Wednesday that Caputo, known for her unique ability to communicate with those who have passed, will appear live at the historic Virginia Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 13. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at the Virginia Theatre box office, online, or by phone at (217) 356-9063. Reserved seating tickets start at $50.75 plus an additional processing fee of $5.

 

(Washington-jm) – Conditions for the nation's hog producers should improve over the next year. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Crescent City–jc)  –  The 20-23 Iroquois County Fair continues today and runs through Sunday. Newly crowned Queen Kiernan Tammen of Danforth is no stranger to the competition barns at the fair and says her duties at the fair include helping at the animal barns…

 

 

20-23 Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen Kiernan Tammen of Danforth