(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s taking a cue from Republicans in pushing to eliminate the state’s 1% grocery tax. Republicans say their plan would make local governments whole. The second-term Democratic governor proposed eliminating the tax during his State of the State speech last month. Municipalities criticized the move, saying they could be out of $325 million in tax revenue if the proposal passes. Pritzker repeated his response Tuesday at an unrelated event, saying local governments could implement their own sales tax if they wanted.
(Washington-jm) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says producers welcome USDA's livestock market reforms. Gary Crawford reports…
(Champaign-jm) – A mother and daughter are suing Christie Clinic and a deceased doctor under a new Illinois law meant to address fertility treatment fraud. Paula Duvall and her daughter Erin Culver have named Bradley D. Adams and Christie Clinic in a lawsuit regarding a fertility treatment almost 50 years ago. According to the suit, Duvall sought fertility treatment with Dr. Adams in the early 70s. He agreed to perform intrauterine insemination, a relatively new procedure at the time, using semen from an anonymous donor. The doctor told Duvall that he would be obtaining donations from a University of Illinois medical student. It was later determined Adams used his own.
(Iroquois County-jm) – The Iroquois County Republican Women invite you to join us for the Candidates Forum on Thursday, March 7th at Shagbark Country Club in Onarga. Social time at 5:30 p.m. and the Forum will start promptly at 6:15 p.m. The Forum will feature the two Iroquois County State's Attorney Candidates and the four 53rd Senate District Candidates.
(Rantoul–jc) – With the Rantoul Sports Complex gearing up for a full season of events, to the draw of Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch to working with the University of Illinois on an Autonomous Track, the village of Rantoul continues to see positive economic development. Village of Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says several companies have purchased some land areas within the village and have plans for business to recreational investments…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(Purdue-jm) – The latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reveals a modest increase in farmer sentiment compared to the previous month, though concerns remain regarding farm financial performance in the year ahead.
The February barometer reading reached 111, marking a 5-point rise from last month. The small uptick is attributed to producers expressing increased optimism about the future, with the Future Expectations Index climbing 7 points to 115. However, the Current Conditions Index remained unchanged. Despite their improved outlook for the future, farmers’ financial performance expectations did not keep pace. February’s Farm Financial Performance Index registered at 85, a slight dip from January and notably lower than its recent peak in December. When producers were asked about their primary concerns for farm operations in the upcoming year, the top concern cited by 34% of respondents was “high input costs,” closely followed by “lower crop/livestock prices,” chosen by 28% of respondents. Worries about rising interest rates among producers seem to have diminished somewhat, with only 18% of February respondents citing it as a top concern, down from 26% who did so in November.
(Undated-jm) – Illinois State Police issued 57 citations during a recent effort to track motorists not buckled up. The Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols were held in Kankakee, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston and McLean counties in February. ISP reported 27 safety belt citations, one child restraint violation and 22 written warnings. The OREP patrols provide extra coverage for the ISP so officers can focus on saving lives by making sure occupants are buckled up.
(Springfield-jm) – There is a bipartisan move underway to clean up Illinois politics. Republican State Rep. Ryan Spain and former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn are joining forces to introduce a constitutional amendment aimed at overhauling the state’s ethics laws. The measure is House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 19. Quinn said the Illinois Ethics Initiative would change the state constitution to allow voters to go to the polls to determine ethics laws instead of public officials. According to a recent University of Illinois at Chicago study, Illinois stands as the third-most corrupt state in the country.
(Washington-jm) – USDA has announced the first of several new rules designed to enhance integrity, fairness and competition in livestock marketing. Gary Crawford reports…
(Undated-jm) – Governor JB Pritzker announced $28.8 million in grant funding to provide free locally-produced food to vulnerable communities. The grants are being awarded to organizations in Illinois in partnership with the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Department of Human Services. Officials say the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement will allow the State of Illinois to purchase food directly from socially disadvantaged farmers at fair market value. Food will then be distributed by providers, including food banks, farming collaboratives, and other non-profits, to communities in need at no cost. This includes schools, churches, and non-profit organizations. The funds originated through two cooperative agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture. The Eastern Illinois Foodbank is one of the recipients of the grant.
(Champaign-jm) – Two Republicans are squaring off in Illinois’ March 19 primary to take on the Democratic incumbent, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski. When they approved Illinois’ congressional maps with one fewer seat, statehouse Democrats crafted the 13th District to snake through Illinois from the southwest to include parts of the Metro East then north up to Springfield and east to parts of Decatur and Champaign. Budzinski, of Springfield, won the newly drawn district in 2022. Republicans Thomas Clatterbuck of Champaign and Joshua Loyd of Virden are looking to challenge Budzinski in November.
(Elliott–jc) The Elliott Amvets are hosting a fundraiser to help with the funeral expenses of one of their veterans who passed away in February. Elliott Amvets Spokesperson Karon Seib (‘s-eye’b) says a Spaghetti supper is set for Saturday March 16th…
Elliott Amvets Spokesperson Karon Seib.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Fair has announced that country music legend Keith Urban has been added to the Grandstand lineup for this year's fair. He will be performing on the Grandstand on Friday, August 9th. Tickets will go on sale Saturday, March 9th at 10 a.m.
(Danville-jm) – The Illinois State Police arrested five individuals during an anti-human trafficking operation in the Danville area. Beginning on February 28th, 2024, the ISP Division of Criminal Investigation Trafficking Enforcement Bureau conducted a two-day operation focused on identifying individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts. As a result of the operation, each of the following individuals were arrested and charged with Indecent Solicitation/Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse of a Child, Traveling to Meet a Child, and Solicitation to Meet a Child: Salem Khan of Cheektowaga, NY, Brett Wright of Danville, Eric Schmidt of Lisle, IL, Andrew Cravens of Danville and Bradley Wagoner of Westville.
