(Springfield-jm) – Lawmakers return to the state capitol today. The Governor gives his State of the State and Budget Address tomorrow. Thursday is the final day of session for the month.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A state child tax credit would be a game changer for thousands of low-income working families in Illinois. Under legislation now being considered during the current session in Springfield, working families making under $70,000 a year and single heads of households making up to $50,000 a year would receive a tax credit of $700 a month per child. Another proposal would give up to $300 a month for a child tax credit for qualifying families. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Illinois has more than 440,000 children, 16% of the children in the state, who live in poverty. A four-person household with a combined income of $27,500 a year is an example of a family living at the poverty level.

 

(Washington-jm) – What are the highlights of USDA’s forecasts for meat and dairy production and prices for the coming year? Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Ashkum-jm) – A semi fire on I-57 in Iroquois County Friday morning damaged several thousand pounds of merchandise. An Amazon semi caught fire near Ashkum. When crews arrived the trailer was fully engulfed. Mutual aid was requested from Gilman and Chebanse. An estimated 23 thousand pounds of merchandise was lost in the fire.

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – The Vermilion County Master Gardeners are inviting the community to their annual Garden Day Festival on March 9. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bremer Conference Center at Danville Area Community College. The festival has been a local tradition for over 25 years. This year’s celebration will feature unique vendors, a silent auction, donation baskets, door prizes, and four speakers from Illinois Extension as well as local and national businesses. Tickets cost $30 and will include lunch from the DACC Culinary Arts School, a goodie bag, access to all speakers and more. All proceeds go to Master Gardener Projects in Vermilion County. Register at go dot illinois dot edu slash garden day 2024.

 

(Urbana–jc)  Monitoring your blood glucose levels, being active and watching your diet are keys for diabetics. Tim Ditman with O–S-F has the story…

 

 

(Undated-jm) – Every five years, the USDA releases the agriculture census, which is a count of every single farm and ranch in the United States, along with the number of people operating those farms. The most recent census was published last week, and it brought with it some unsettling news. The United States has the lowest number of farms and ranches since 1850. To put that into perspective, in the year 1850, the 13th President of the United States was sworn into office, and the U.S. was only made up of thirty-one states and four territories. The current census uncovered that there are 1.9 million farms in the nation. In the 2017 census, that number was over two million. Then if we look back to the 2007 census, our count was at 2.2 million farms. So, we have been seeing this decline for decades. The cost of production has made it harder for smaller farms to survive, resulting in farms consolidating. Nevertheless, no matter the size of a farm, they are still being run by families. The census revealed ninety-five percent of farms and ranches are operated by families.

 

Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Pascaline Phongo from Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what goes on today.

Rantoul  FFA member Pascaline Phongo 

 

With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Cale Zwilling from Fisher High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

 

Fisher FFA Member Cale Zwilling

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state capitol will be abuzz today as lawmakers return. Several committee meetings are scheduled. The Governor gives his State of the State and Budget Address tomorrow. They wrap up this short session Thursday.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A new Tax Foundation study finds Illinois with the second highest corporate tax rate in the country. Some say that signals more struggles ahead for the Land of Lincoln. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation ranked states by their corporate income tax rates as of Jan. 1, 2024. Six states, Texas, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, South Dakota and Ohio, do not levy a corporate income tax. Of the 44 that do, Illinois’ 9.5% rate put the state at No. 2, up from No. 3 in last year’s report. The top spot in 2024 goes to Minnesota at 9.8%. The state with the lowest rate outside of the states that do not have such taxes is North Carolina at 2.5%. The new state-by-state rankings also highlight that Illinois’ flat corporate income tax rate of 9.5% is four percentage points higher than the flat 5.5% rate now in place in neighboring Iowa.

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA adjusted its milk product and class prices this month higher based on several factors. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) – To give residents a chance to receive direct assistance and have their voices heard, State Senator Paul Faraci has teamed up with Congresswoman Robin Kelly to host mobile office hours Thursday in Rantoul.  The free event is an opportunity for residents to get help from both offices, such as assistance with state and federal resources. Coffee will be provided for attendees. The mobile office hours will be held on Thursday from 1-4 p.m. at the Rantoul Business Center.

 

(Hoopeston-jm) – A Hoopeston woman was arrested following a theft at the Hoopeston Dollar General. Jalisa McGhee was arrested on charges of retail theft and trespassing after police were called to the Dollar General in regards to a theft. McGhee was released as part of the Pre-Trial Fairness Act.

 

(Undated-jm) – It may not feel like it now but spring is quickly approaching and with that warmer weather farmers will be hitting the fields soon. Besides getting the tractors and fields ready, farmers also need to be thinking about crop insurance. The deadline for many crop insurance programs is March 15th. 

 

With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Morgan Sinn from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

Cissna Park FFA Member Morgan Sinn

 

We were also able to talk with Owen Pree from Iroquois West High School’s FFA Chapter. 

 

Iroquois West  FFA Member Owen Pree

 

Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters.  Alex Ward from GCMS High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.

 

GCMS FFA Member Alex Ward

 

We were also able to talk with Ally Wright from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter.

PBL High School’s FFA Ally Wright