(Springfield-jm) – Workers in Illinois will begin earning paid time off on January 1st, 2024. The new law allows workers to earn up to 40 hours of paid leave in a 12-month period. Workers will accrue one hour of leave for every 40 hours worked. Governor JB Pritzker signed the landmark legislation in March, making Illinois the third state in the nation and first in the Midwest to mandate paid leave for any reason. Workers will be paid their full wage while on leave and tipped workers will be paid the minimum wage in their respective locale. An employer cannot require an employee to find their replacement for the leave. This law applies to every employee working for an employer in Illinois, including domestic workers, but does exclude certain categories of workers that are not subject to the law.
(Springfield-jm) – Penalties for impeding picket lines and other demonstrations or protests will soon be increasing in Illinois. Beginning Jan. 1, the Labor Disputes Act limits the amount of monetary damages an employer can recover stemming from a labor dispute, and also imposes a fine of at least $500 for anyone to place an object that would obstruct a picket line or other demonstration. That includes placing objects in the public way. The law also grants picketers and protestors the right to use the public right of way to publicize their labor dispute. Opponents of the measure argued the law could have a negative impact on businesses in Illinois and ultimately cause them to pack up and leave the state.
(Springfield-jm) – 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City recently sent Governor J-B Pritzker a letter asking for more money for school improvement projects. Senator Bennett explains why he sent the letter to the Governor…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Rantoul-jm) – Two Rantoul men have been arrested for two different crimes, both related to firearms. On December 23rd, Rantoul Officers were dispatched to the area of the 1000 block of St. Andrews Circle for a report of shots being fired. During the course of the investigation, officers learned that a verbal altercation had occurred between a citizen and Antonio Thomas. After speaking with Thomas, he admitted that he had fired two shots into the air. Thomas was later transported to the Champaign County Jail where he was charged with the offenses of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Unlawful Use of Weapons, and Possession of a Firearm With Defaced Identification Marks. On December 26th, a Rantoul Officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Maplewood Drive and Kenneth Drive. During the officer's encounter, Benjamin Mason, was observed with cannabis on his shirt and admitted to having a firearm concealed under his seat. The firearm had previously been reported stolen from Missouri in 2022. Mason was transported to the Champaign County Jail where he was charged with Unlawful Possession of a firearm by Felon, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and possession of Cannabis over 500 grams.
(Champaign-jm) – Parkland College recently hosted a visit by Governor J-B Pritzker to show off their construction apprenticeship program. Parkland College President Pam Lau talks about the program…
Parkland College President Pam Lau.
(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Police Department reported it had a 298% uptick in community engagement this year with certain factors allowing officers to meet with residents. It includes hosting open houses, assigning officers to certain districts, and being present at community meetings. And this can be seen in shooting data with incidents dropping from 259 in 2021, and 129 in 2022 to 63 as of November 30th of this year. CPD said it's currently down 18 officers. But it says the 7 new officers hired this year have allowed officers to be more available.
(Washington-jm) – The Farm Service Agency is accepting applications through January 31st for a program designed to help specialty crop producers with costs associated with food safety certification. Rod Bain reports…
(Undated–jc) With the New Year starting on Monday, WPXN news asked area civic leaders and businesspeople to take a “crystal ball–look ahead to 20-24.
A “look ahead” into 20-24 from Gibson Area Hospital Auxiliary Co Vice President Connie Ruem (ream)...
Gibson Area Hospital Auxiliary Co Vice President Connie Ruem
A “look ahead” into 20-24 from Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper…
Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper
A “look ahead” into 20-24 from Simply Pats Hats Store Owner Pat Milchuck…
Simply Pats Hats Store Owner Pat Milchuck
Plus a “look ahead” into 20-24 from 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
Today through Monday, WPXN news will feature area leaders in a “Crystal Ball–look ahead to 20-24.
(Springfield-jm) – As 2023 comes to a close, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and nearly 200 law enforcement agencies across the state are reminding the public they'll be working overtime now through the beginning of the new year in an effort to keep roads safe for everyone. This final statewide enforcement push of 2023 has one goal – to save lives. During these last days of the year, additional law enforcement will be patrolling for impaired driving, seat belt, speeding, distracted driving and other traffic laws. Through December 14th of this year, 1,213 people have lost their lives in fatal crashes, which is 11 more than during the same period in 2022.
(Springfield-jm) – A new law that will help to solve Illinois’ firefighter shortage will go into effect on January 1st. The new law creates the Firefighter Training Leave of Absence Act, which allows state employees leave from their job to attend firefighter training. Fire departments across the state have faced a shortage of new recruits and volunteer firefighters in recent years. To also combat the issue, Senate Joint Resolution 7 was sponsored. This resolution created the Recruiting and Retaining Public Employee Firefighters and Paramedics Task Force to identify solutions to the shortage of eligible applicants for the positions.
(Champaign-jm) – Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker was recently in Champaign to announce the I-57/I-74 interchange project was moving into phase two. The Governor talks about the latest on the project…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The $251.8 million project is supposed to be completed in 2026.
(Champaign County-jm) – An advocacy group is looking into the need for nursing home beds in Champaign County. Advocates for Aging Care will conduct a study that will try to figure out the needs of the community after three local nursing homes closed over the past few years. The Illinois Department of Public Health suggests the county should have about 700 skilled nursing beds. Right now, it has about 400. After the January 2nd survey, there will be a market study, compiling data to get quantitative results. For more information, go to Advocates for Aging Care’s Facebook page.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has a program to help those interested in learning about hunting. Dan Stevens with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources talks about an upcoming program they will be offering…
Dan Stevens with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The workshop is free to attend.
(Milford–jc) Firefighters from several departments in Southern Iroquois County were called to a shed fire in rural Milford on Wednesday. Authorities say the fire was at a farm southwest of Milford. Firefighters from Milford and Cissna Park among others were helping at the scene. No estimates on damage were provided. No one was hurt in the blaze.
(Rantoul-jm) – Rantoul police continue to investigate Tuesday afternoons shooting. At 2:30 p.m., a gun shot detection system alerted Rantoul Police of possible shots fired near the intersection of Willow Pond Road and Par Drive. Several 911 calls also suggested gunfire in the area. Officers found three separate residences hit by gunfire in the area of Willow Pond Road and St. Andrews Circle. They also discovered shell casings.
(Washington-jm) – Farmers showed remarkable flexibility in 2023, and it paid off. Gary Crawford has more…
