(Springfield-jm) – Illinois has a likelihood of succeeding on the merits of defending the state’s gun and magazine ban. That’s according to the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which released their ruling Friday. The ruling comes as plaintiffs challenging Illinois’ gun ban are back in the Southern District of Illinois federal court with an amended complaint to block the Jan. 1 gun registry deadline as public comments about the rules continue. The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals heard the Second Amendment challenge of Illinois’ gun and magazine ban in late June. Friday, the three-judge panel issued their opinion. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is expected.
(Washington-jm) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack believes a new Farm Bill will not be approved by Congress before the end of the year, but what can be done to avoid a lapse in various USDA Farm Bill programs? Rod Bain reports…
(Gibson City-jm) – One Earth Sequestration is the latest to formally ask state regulators for permission to build a pipeline capable of transporting for permanent storage the carbon dioxide captured from ethanol production. One Earth filed October 18 its Application for Certificate of Authority with the Illinois Commerce Commission to construct in Illinois the 7.34-mile One Earth Sequestration Pipeline. The pipeline would transport liquid carbon dioxide captured from the 150-million-gallon ethanol facility operated by One Earth Energy in Gibson City to an injection site in McLean County, according to the 36-page filing. About 420,000 metric tons of CO2 is produced by the ethanol facility each year, but the pipeline would be built with the capacity to transport up to 4.5 million metric tons annually. The emitted CO2 would be captured, dehydrated, compressed and readied for transport. If approved, construction of the pipeline would start in 2024, with service expected in 2025.
(Paxton-jm) – The final mapping session for the City of Paxton took place Thursday night. Representatives from the USDA Rural Development, Small Business Development Center, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Department of Transportation and the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission met with the group. Mapping Program Manager Gisela Hamm talks about the purpose of having those groups present…
Mapping Program Manager Gisela Hamm.
(Watseka-jm) – Iroquois County residents are asked to participate in the Harbor House community outreach survey. The survey is part of an ongoing effort to build stronger relationships with the community to increase advocacy and prevention efforts against domestic violence. The public feedback will help identify key community values, shape future outreach efforts and enhance community engagement and involvement. The survey is available online, visit harborhousedv.org. Questions can be directed to 815-932-5800.
(Rantoul–jc) Village of Rantoul leaders continue to invite shoppers into Rantoul. With the New Jersey Mikes store now open, along with, Verizon and Starbucks on the west side, near the sports complex to the downtown shops gearing up for Christmas, to businesses in the Rantoul Plaza on the east side, Rantoul offers a wide variety of businesses, says Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith…
Village of Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Insurance has fined a major insurance company for not updating their provider directory in a timely manner. The state agency previously fined Blue Cross Blue Shield in March more than half a million dollars for violating laws related to network adequacy. Agency officials say they have fined the company an additional $231,900 because Blue Cross Blue Shield has delayed implementing changes to their provider directories to address the network adequacy violations from the first fine.
(Washington-jm) – The USDA and the National FFA Organization recently renewed its partnership to prepare students for careers in the ag, food, science, and natural resource sectors. Rod Bain reports…
(Paxton-jm) – Paxton firefighters were called to a dryer fire at Ludlow Co-op Elevator Saturday evening. Crews were called just before 9:30 pm. There’s no word on how much damage was done.
(Champaign-jm) – The teenager accused of spray-painting swastikas and racial slurs on headstones in a Champaign cemetery has been arraigned in court on hate crime charges. Dominic Koca was charged on Friday with three counts of committing a hate crime. Prosecutors also requested that he be detained under the Pretrial Fairness Act, a hearing on which will be held today.
(Ford County-jm) – An area group is raising awareness about farm legacy. Cheryl Mitchell with Impacting Farm Legacy talks about what impacting farm legacy means…
Impacting Farm Legacy Spokesperson Cheryl Mitchell. The group will be holding a session November 16th at Engelbrecht Farms in rural Paxton.
(Danville-jm) – Vermilion County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. The equalization factor is determined annually for each county by comparing the sales price of individual properties sold over the past three years to the assessed value placed on those properties by the county supervisor of assessments/county assessor.
(Rantoul–jc) The Community Service Center in Rantoul helps those in the village, surrounding towns and area all year long. The upcoming Holidays are also a time, to help those with needs. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford provides contact information…
Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford. Monetary donations, new toy donations for the Holiday Bureau and food items are current needs at the center for the upcoming holidays
(Gifford–jc) One community is gearing up for it’s 39th annual Christmas Craft Show. The annual Gifford Community Christmas Craft Show is set for Saturday November 19th from 8am to 5pm and Sunday November 20th from 9am to 3pm. The venue is Gordyville USA along Route 136 just west of Gifford. A Harvest Lunch will take place at 11am both days and pictures with Santa are also part of the event
