(Springfield-jm) – From energy policy to the Invest in Kids Act, Illinois legislators returning to Springfield next month are already laying out their expectations. The fight of the fall session is going to be renewing the privately-funded Invest in Kids school choice scholarship program. The program gives a 75% state income tax credit for donations but expires at the end of the year. A bipartisan approach to lift the nuclear moratorium Governor J.B. Pritzker vetoed will also be top of mind.Lawmakers may also consider Pritzker’s veto of a measure giving right of first refusal to Ameren Illinois when constructing electric transmission lines.  The six-day veto session is scheduled to begin October 24 and end November 9.

 

(Gilman-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker visited Gilman on Wednesday morning to celebrate the expansion of Incobrasa Industries’ Manufacturing facility. The company is an industry leader in soybean processing and the $250 million project in Gilman will boost that presence further, says Governor Pritzker…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Incobrasa’s project includes adding a new state of the art soybean crushing facility and an array of solar panels to help fuel the plant.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – It’s been a discussion in Rantoul for decades: restore the Minuteman missile displayed at the old Chanute Air Force Base or tear it down and give it to the National Museum of the Air Force in Ohio. But time is running out for village leaders to make a decision. They have until March. The missile was placed at Chanute in 1966.

 

(Paxton-jm) – Emergency crews were called to a two vehicle accident in Paxton Wednesday evening. The accident happened on Route 45 in front of Dollar General. The road had to be closed for about an hour to clean up the damage.

 

(Washington-jm) – Our nation recently requested a USMCA dispute settlement panel related to Mexico’s ban of biotech food products, but what are the next steps in that process? Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Piper City-jm) – It may look just like an old fire truck, but to the town of Piper City, it’s their history in bright red. Now, the community gets to keep it. The antique fire engine was the first in Piper City’s history. It dates back to 1928. The truck recently went up for auction and the community raised over $11,000 to win the bid. The fire department plans on starting a committee to head the truck’s maintenance and to decide where it goes. They plan to use the fire truck in parades and other events, like the upcoming Touch-A-Truck event on Main Street on September 17. They also plan on putting it in car shows and allowing Santa to ride in it when he comes to town.

 

(Paxton–jc)  –  The delicious smells of barbeque are set to start in the early morning hours of Saturday September 16th in downtown Paxton. It is the annual Swine and Dine sponsored by the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce. Swine and Dine Spokesperson Alan Meyer says the contest starts around 5 that morning…

 

 

Paxton Swine and Dine Event Spokesperson Alan Meyer

WPXN will be broadcasting our On the Sidelines program live downtown Paxton starting at 7am on the 16th.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois lawmakers are expected to address a measure that would change the state's estate tax value from $4 million up to $12 million, according to Governor J.B. Pritzker. The state's estate tax kicks in when someone inherits a property or assets valued at $4 million or more, requiring the inheritance to pay a tax on the assets. According to state data, the Attorney General's office collected more than $456 million in estate tax revenues for the fiscal year 2022. A measure by state Senator Dave Koehler, of Peoria, would raise the limit from $4 million to $12 million, reducing the impact on some taxpayers. Lawmakers return for the fall veto session in late October. Some Republicans are calling for the end of the estate tax.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker joined the U-S Secretary of Education on the “Back to School” bus tour at a stop in Springfield Wednesday. Secretary Miguel Cardona has been visiting several schools to kick off fall classes. At Fairview Elementary in Springfield, he praised Illinois for what he calls “intentional collaboration”...

 

 

U-S Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Cardona said political division in education needs to end. Governor Pritzker says Illinois sets high standards for students and sends more funding to the schools that need it most.

 

(St. Joseph-jm) – Route 150 is open near St. Joseph after a 3 vehicle crash. The Illinois State Police said that all three vehicles were traveling east towards St. Joseph. One vehicle stopped to wait for westbound traffic before turning northbound. A second vehicle was waiting behind when a third vehicle rear-ended the second, pushing it into the first vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle was transported to a nearby hospital with non-critical injuries. The other two drivers declined medical treatment.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Community Coalition, in partnership with United Way, invites the public to attend Read.Talk.Play Everyday! The event will take place tonight from 5:30 PM - 7 PM. Volunteers will walk through identified neighborhoods in Champaign and Urbana to distribute bags of

early learning tools to families and caregivers of young children to help with engagement of their youth. Bags will include: books, crayons, pencils, and fun items such as shaving cream, playdoh, and beginning scissors.

 

(Washington-jm) – Farmers are seeing another decline in direct government payments. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) – A Holocaust exhibit will be in Gibson City starting next week. The exhibit sponsored by the Champaign Urbana Jewish Federation and The Holocaust Education Center will be at the American Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gibson City from September 10-29th. The public is invited to attend from 4-7 pm Monday through Fridays. Schools are invited to attend from 12-4 by calling 217-649-1962.