(Springfield-jm) – After tomorrow’s Democrat and Republican primary elections, Illinois legislators return to Springfield to continue crafting a plan to spend tens of billions of tax dollars. The total budget could be $123.2 billion with most coming from federal taxpayer funds. Gov. J.B. Pritzker looks to spend $52.7 billion of state taxpayer money for the next fiscal year. Officials from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget met with legislators recently and fielded questions about a billion dollars in proposed tax increases. The proposed changes range from increased sports betting fees that’s projected to raise $200 million, $101 million in reductions of the discount retailers get for collecting sales taxes, and even changes to how much corporate losses can be credited with an estimated increase in taxes of $526 million. That’s with the expectation for lower corporate tax receipts in the coming fiscal year. Pritzker officials said personal income taxes are the bulk of income and that remains strong. There was also discussion of the $175 million shift from statewide road funds to Chicago-area transit. Officials said it’s allowable with the state’s transportation fund lockbox amendment voters approved years ago. Legislators return Wednesday. The next budget year begins July 1.

 

(Paxton-jm) – Paxton will be getting a new old water tower but it won’t hold water. A wood tank will be added to the pump house in downtown Paxton. It is a renovation project with the Paxton Foundation. Paxton Businessman Stan Foster is building the tank. He talks about his inspiration for the project…

 

 

Stan Foster of rural Paxton. The base will be 22 feet with the tank being 16 feet tall. Foster said the whole tank and base will be assembled on the ground before being lifted into place with a crane. The Paxton Foundation is accepting donations to help fund the project. Donations are being accepted at The Frederick Community Bank.

(Gibson City-jm) – Gibson City firefighters were called to a kitchen fire Sunday evening. Crews were called to the 300 block of East 8th Street just before 8:30. No injuries were reported.

 

(Gilman–dm)--The city of Gilman has several projects going on.  With the downtown renovation complete, a drainage and street renovation project is about 95% complete.  Gilman Mayor Rick Theesefield explains.

 

 

Gilman Mayor Rick Theesfield

 

(Champaign County-jm) – Seventeen Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grants totaling more than $55,200 have been awarded for habitat development at schools and other public places, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation announced today. St. Thomas More in Champaign is getting $850 for a pollinator garden while Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana is getting $1,000 to plant native trees.

 

(Washington-jm) – After several months of declines, retail egg prices are climbing again. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Monical’s Pizza of Paxton. The Monical’s brand has been in operation since 1959. In Paxton, Monicals offers daily lunch specials, that include pizza, sandwiches, pastas, and monkeybread. Monical’s Pizza of Paxton Manager Jason Mills says one local favorite is the Panther special…

Mills says the French dressing and salads are a big part of Monical’s pizza

Monical’s Pizza of Paxton Manager Jason Mills. 

Today and all Monday’s Monical's Pizza has a special. Any 4 topping or specialty pizza for only 14 dollars.  The special runs from 4pm to close on Monday.s Monical’s Pizza is the WPXN Business of the Day, today. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Behind-the-wheel road tests may be abolished for senior citizens looking to renew their license under legislation proposed this year. State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, introduced House Bill 4431 at the start of the 2024 legislative session, attacking what he said is an “onerous hurdle” the road test mandate presents for drivers ages 75 and older. Keicher told The Center Square that National Safety Council statistics don’t support the need for a road test for seniors. When it comes to the raw count of fatal incidents, seniors are involved in the fewest crashes, as they tend to avoid long-distance driving, limiting their runs to essentials like the grocery store and doctor’s visits. Other demographics alter the picture a bit, as Keicher explains,

 

(Springfield-jm) – Senate Republicans are calling for transparency when it comes to the financial costs the state has paid for the migrant crisis. State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Undated-jm) – Four Republicans are vying to replace State Senator Tom Bennett in the 53rd Illinois Senate race. The district includes 13 counties in Central Illinois stretching north to Channahon, west to parts of Peoria, south to Gibson City, and east to the Illinois-Indiana border. The four candidates are teacher and farmer Jesse Faber from Pontiac, Grundy County Board chair Chris Balkema from Channahon, farmer and veteran Mike Kirkton from Gridley, and former Iroquois County Board member Susan Wynn Bence from Watseka.

 

(Gibson City–jc)  It’s Show number 4 for Gibson Area Hospital and its Summer Bash. This year the show will feature Bret Michaels and also Jefferson Starship. Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee-and Community Events Bill Kirby says the live shows began during the covid pandemic…

 

 

Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee-and Community Events Bill Kirby 

The show is free to attend, but special pit pass tickets went on sale Friday for the August 17th event. 

 

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign County Sheriff’s Department has released their annual report highlighting trends and department changes in Champaign County. According to the report, calls for service, arrests, and jail intakes saw an increase last year in Champaign County from 2022. However, things such as traffic crashes and shootings saw a decrease. In 2023, the Champaign County Sheriff’s department saw nearly 14,600 calls for service, about 120 calls more than in 2022. They also saw an increase of arrests at 576 – as well as about 300 more jail intakes at just over 4,500. In 2023, the Champaign County Sheriff’s Department saw nearly 100 fewer traffic crashes than in 2022. They also investigated 13 shooting incidents, down 3 from the year before.

 

(Washington-jm) – Will margins this year for milk producers be any better than last year? Gary Crawford reports…