(Springfield-jm) – Some Illinois lawmakers want to supersede the federal government when it comes to banning food additives. A measure moving through Springfield would ban several additives, including brominated vegetable oil and red dye number 3. California recently passed a similar ban, but if enacted, Illinois would have one of the strictest food additive bans in the country under Illinois Senate Bill 2637. In response to the state legislative proposals to ban certain FDA-approved food additives, the National Confectioners Association said states shouldn't get ahead of the federal government. The Illinois Manufacturers' Association has gone on record against the proposed measure, saying it would set a “dangerous precedent.”
(Rantoul–jc) Some buildings in the village of Rantoul continue to be in need of repair and village leaders are taking note of the situation. The village has helped with the demolition of one building in the downtown area and have addressed several others with building owners. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says its to keep owners accountable…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
(Springfield-jm) – A measure to modify Illinois’ health insurance regulations that is estimated to cost state taxpayers an extra $30 million a year and impact a small portion of state-regulated insurance plans is now heading to the Illinois Senate. The Illinois House passed House Bill 5395. The measure, known as the Healthcare Protection Act, does several things for state-regulated insurance, which include state employee health insurance plans that already are projected to increase taxpayer costs. The governor’s office had previously said the measure would ban step therapy, ban prior authorization for crisis mental health care, improve network adequacy and end unchecked rate increases for large group insurance companies.
(Springfield-jm) – State Representative Brandun Schweizer of Danville passed his first bill out of the Illinois House of Representatives Friday afternoon. House Bill 3504 was filed to prevent a problem between State insurance and Carle Clinic in the sponsor’s district. System members went to the hospital and were unaware that they were no longer covered in network. The bill provides that at least 60 days prior to the effective date of any changes to the coverage or benefit recipient cost share for TRS benefit recipients, the Department of Central Management Services shall post those changes on its website. Representative Schweizer believes the transparency afforded by this bill is necessary for members…
State Representative Brandun Schweizer of Danville. The bill passed unanimously on a vote of 106-0 and will now head to the Senate for their consideration.
(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois Police Department has concluded that the death of student Akul Dhawan was accidental and has worked to take remedial actions. Dhawan was found deceased in the 1200 block of West Nevada Street, Urbana, just after 11 a.m. on January 20. The Champaign County Coroner later ruled that the cause of death was hypothermia, with acute alcohol intoxication being a contributing factor. Dhawan had gotten separated from his friends the night before, when air temperatures were around zero degrees Fahrenheit with -15 degree wind chills.
(Paxton–dm) The Paxton Main Street organization has announced the 1st Friday concert series will take place this summer in Paxton. Executive Director of Paxton Main Street, Donna Pepper, tells us more about the concerts.
Executive Director of Paxton Main Street, Donna Pepper. The concerts will take place at Veterans Square in downtown Paxton.
(Watseka-jm) – Starting today, Union Pacific will close the crossing at Routes 24 and 1 in Watseka. The crossing will be closed for about a week while crews redo the crossing. Detour signs will be posted.
(Washington-jm) – The Environmental Protection Agency Friday granted a nationwide waiver allowing for sale of e15 fuels at the pumps this summer. Rod Bain reports…
(Paxton–jc) Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is “It’s A Spring Fling” pop up event that is set for a downtown Paxton Business on Saturday May 4th. Event Spokesperson Leslie Ingold says this is the second year they have planned this one day event at A Picket Fence Florist in downtown Paxton…
Ingold says a wide variety of businesses are participating….
It’s A Spring Fling, pop up event Spokesperson Leslie Ingold
The event runs from 10am until 2-30pm on Saturday May 4th inside A Picket Fence Florist in downtown Paxton.
(Undated–jc) The Illinois State Board of Elections’ certification of the results of the March 19 primary election is official. Voter turnout for the primary election was 19%. The official total showed just over 1.5 million of the state’s 7.9 million registered voters cast ballots in the primary. Officials said it was the lowest turnout in a presidential primary in several decades. The only statewide office on the primary ballot was for President of the United States. Incumbent President Joseph Biden won the Democratic primary with 91% of the vote while Donald Trump won the Republican primary with 80%.
(Chicago–jc) –Illinois now has a federally recognized Indian Nation within its borders. The U.S. Department of Interior has announced the government has returned portions of the Shab-eh-nay Reservation land into a trust for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. The tribe said the U.S. Government illegally auctioned 1,280 acres of their northern Illinois land 175 years ago.
(Springfield-jm) – A proposal to raise the tipped minimum wage in Illinois getting pushback across the state. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington says the proposal would hurt small businesses…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.
(Paxton-jm) – There was a house fire in Paxton Saturday but it was for a good cause. The fire department did a controlled burn training on a house behind the fire station. The training allowed firefighters to train on fire conditions and fire fighting techniques.
(Paxton–jc) – The Paxton Buckley Loda Band is again hosting a concert for veterans. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the details…;
(Paxton–jc) The Ford County Zoning Committee is set to meet on Tuesday in Paxton. The county board group is expected to hear from both sides concerning the zoning issues for a C-oh-2 Pipeline project that is being planned for Ford County. The Ford County Zoning Committee meeting is set to come to order at 6pm on Tuesday evening in the large courtroom at the Ford County Courthouse in Paxton.
(Washington-jm) – USDA recently announced the latest update of food offerings within its Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Rod Bain reports…
WPXN News Notes…
The City of Paxton will hold brush pickup starting today and going until all streets and alleys have been taken care of.
The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will have a food drive in northern Vermilion County today from 10-10:30 at the Gifford State Bank in Potomac, 11-11:30 at Andi Mae’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Bismarck, 12-12:45 at Christman Park in Rossville and Rankin Centennial Park from 1:45-2:15.
