(Springfield-jm) – With a deposit of $11.5 million, Illinois’ Rainy Day Fund surpassed $2 billion. The Pritzker administration notes that in 2017, the Rainy Day Fund had just $48,000, enough to run the state for under 30 seconds. A $2 billion reserve would run the state for about 15 days. Nearly half of all states in the country have at least a 50-day reserve. Comptroller Susana Mendoza has introduced legislation that would require regular deposits into both the state’s Rainy Day Fund and the Pension Stabilization Fund.

 

(Springfield-jm) – With the arrival of Thanksgiving and the season for family feasts, the Illinois Department of Public Health is advising Illinoisans to take precautions to protect everyone from food-borne illnesses. Hosts can protect their guests by following basic food safety steps, including keeping hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and properly thawing frozen turkeys before roasting them. The agency advises not to leave foods at room temperature for more than two hours.

 

(Washington-jm) – The President has continued a long tradition of pardoning a couple of deserving turkeys. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA has a new forecast for 2024 milk production and prices. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Champaign-jm) – Big changes are coming to Champaign, specifically in the area of North Market Street. A new water tower, hotel and 15 thousand square-foot expansion of SafeWorks are in the works.

 

(Paxton-jm) – The mapping sessions for the City of Paxton are complete but the work is just beginning. Community members met with representatives from the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University for 5 sessions. Community members came up with four priority groups: housing, infrastructure, business support and development and leisure and then broke into action teams based off of those groups. Mapping Program Manager Gisela Hamm says the full group will reconvene for a follow up session in January…

 

 

Mapping Program Manager Gisela Hamm.

 

(Mahomet-jm) – Eastbound traffic on Interstate 74 was being diverted off the highway in Mahomet yesterday due to a semi-truck fire. The fire happened at mile marker 175, just past the exit to Prairie View Road. Illinois State Police officials said both eastbound lanes were closed at the scene of the fire and traffic is being diverted off the highway at Prairie View.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The deadline to register assault-style weapons in Illinois is January 1, 2024, and failing to can result in criminal charges. Some officials have raised concerns because Illinois has not sent official notices to gun owners to inform them more directly of the law. Less than 3,000 gun owners have registered their assault weapons. The Illinois State Police have sent out information, such as press releases, posting on social media and having the law pop up on their website to inform people. The Governor’s office says they are confident gun owners will find the time to register their firearms and warn that failing to do so would mean breaking the law and facing consequences.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The 2023 harvest has confirmed it: Illinois is still No. 1 in states that produce soybeans. Early summer drought conditions did not portend well for the 2023 harvest. But the rains finally fell on Illinois, particularly in August when the soybeans need it the most. Soybean yields in Central Illinois averaged from 70 to 80 and 90 bushels per acre, with some farmers reporting 100 bushels per acre.

 

(Washington-jm) – Beef cattle herd contraction is still going on. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Washington-jm) – It appears that Thanksgiving Day through the holiday weekend should be mostly dry weather wise - conducive to good travel conditions. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that lanes that have been closed for construction will reopen for Thanksgiving travel. Non-emergency closures will be suspended from 3 p.m. today to 12:01 a.m. Monday. The following lane closures will remain in place during the holiday weekend. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through these areas.

 

(Springfield-jm) – An annual report out by the state shows a record number of investigations into state agencies. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City explains…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The persistence of higher mortgage rates and a large increase in the median home sale price in October provided challenging market conditions for home sellers and buyers. Residential home sales in the Champaign County area totaled 209, down 17.7 percent from 254 sales in October of 2022. Year-to-date home sales for the Champaign County area totaled 2,236, down 15 percent from 2,645 sales in the prior year. The median home sale price in October for the Champaign County area was $218,000, an increase of 25 percent from $175,000 from October in 2022. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more and half sold for less. The average home sale price for October stood at $229,662 up just 6.45 percent from $215,743 in October 2022. Houses are moving quickly, with the average home sold in 28 days in October 2023 versus 33 days in October 2022.  Inventory of homes for sale in the Champaign County area as of November 17, 2023, stood at 682 properties on the market, up from 676 properties last month. However, inventory at this time last year was 716 properties.

 

WPXN News Notes…

 

The Mighty Men of Valor Ministry will hold a free community dinner this afternoon from 12-4 at the Rantoul Recreation Center.

 

The Central Illinois Farm Toy Show will be held at the Parke Regency by Best Western off Towanda Barnes Road in Bloomington Friday and Saturday.