(Springfield-jm) – Illinois lawmakers could pass a plan this spring to ensure school vendors and learning partners follow the state's new comprehensive literacy plan. House Democrats want vendors responsible for English language arts improvement plans to abide by the historic Literacy and Justice For All Act. The Illinois State Board of Education introduced the framework for the literacy plan in January. However, this bill could ensure schools are not limited by their vendors. However, some Republicans argued that vendors will already follow the new literacy standards and a new law isn't necessary.

 

(Springfield-jm) – County clerks shared their concerns with an Illinois task force looking into the possibility of changing how elections are conducted. Ranked-choice voting allows people to rank the candidates, with "one" being their favorite. The votes are tallied in rounds. If no candidate wins a majority of voters' first-choices, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, according to information from FairVote, an organization that advocates for ranked-choice voting. Some states have banned the process like Idaho, Tennessee, Montana and Florida. In Illinois, a task force is looking at implementing the idea. The Illinois Ranked-Choice Voting and Election Systems Task Force continues to meet to get feedback about possibly launching such a system in 2028.

 

(Washington-jm) – U.S. corn is coming under more downward price pressure. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for possessing cocaine. Thaimon Crawford pleaded guilty to possessing 17.5 grams of cocaine, just 2.5 grams more than minimum quantity that required him to be charged with a Class X felony.

 

(Oakwood-jm) – An Illinois man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including for assaulting law enforcement during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Lance Michael Ligocki, 34, of Oakwood is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.  Ligocki is also charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct and acts of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.

 

(Urbana–jc)  Medications and pregnancy. Tips from O-S-F;s Tim Ditman has more…

 

 

(Ford County-jm) – Ford County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties. State law requires property in Illinois to be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures. Farmland and farm buildings are assessed according to standards based on productivity. Assessments in Ford County are at 32.90% of market value, based on sales of properties in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The equalization factor currently being assigned is for taxes, 2023 payable in 2024. Last year’s equalization factor for the county was 1.0000.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Preparations are underway to host thousands of visitors in Illinois for the April 8 total solar eclipse that will pass over much of the southern third of the state. Officials from multiple state agencies, including the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois State Police, and the Illinois Office of Tourism have worked together for more than a year to ensure a safe and successful experience for the influx of eclipse watchers. Southern Illinois is in the path of totality for the second time since Aug. 21, 2017. Carbondale will see 4 minutes and 9 seconds of totality, nearly double what was seen in 2017.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A new survey released by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce indicates that most independent contractors in the state are satisfied with their current employment arrangement. Impact Research surveyed 600 Illinois residents and found that 63% of independent contractors in the state would oppose being reclassified as employees. The survey showed that full-time employees are less likely to be extremely satisfied with their jobs than independent contractors are. The U.S. Department of Labor has enacted a new Independent Contractor Rule that went into effect Monday. The new rule will begin using a six-factor test to determine independent workers' legal protections and compensation.

 

(Washington-jm) – U.S. wheat exports this year may sink to their lowest levels in almost fifty years. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Urbana-jm) – One person was taken to the hospital following a car vs motorcycle accident on a busy stretch of Urbana road. It happened at the intersection of University and Fourth Streets. The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The City of Champaign is switching to a new cybersecurity provider later this month, thanks to a measure approved by the Champaign City Council. The city council approved of a three-year agreement with the cybersecurity company Field Effect at its meeting. The city will pay $64,278 annually each year for the contract. The cybersecurity firm will provide the city with tools to prevent malicious hacks like firewalls, anti-virus protection, network access security software, and cloud back-up. In a city memo, officials said the city has been a daily target of phishing and malware attempts. The city has also faced a phishing scam in 2018, an international hack in 2019 and several international log-in attempts from compromised credentials.

 

(Buckley–jc)  The Federal Crop Insurance deadline is Friday. Edge Insurance Agency owner Dylan Reetz says its a reminder to get with your insurance agent by that date…

 

 

Edge Insurance Agency of Buckley Owner Dylan Reetz.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Over a dozen polling locations across Champaign County will be closed this Election Day due to a significant shortage of election judges. The following locations will be CLOSED: Bible Baptist Church in Champaign, Bresnan Meeting Center Champaign, Curtis Road Church of Christ Champaign, Douglass Center Annex Champaign, East Bend Township Building Dewey, Florida Ave Residence Hall Urbana, Hessel Park Christian Reformed Church Champaign, Illini Hillel Champaign, Illinois Street Residence Hall Urbana,  Ivesdale Fire Station, Pesotum Community Building, Philo Town Hall, Plumbers' and Pipefitters' Local 149 Savoy, River Valley Church of Christ Fisher, and Stanton Township Building & Town Hall St. Joseph.