(Paxton--jc)  -- The debate continues on wind farms in Ford County. Local leaders met last night and heard from officials from wind farm operations, local citizens and business people. At stake are jobs and economic growth to quality of rural life. One suggestion is to leave the existing height of 500 feet on wind turbines and to put setbacks at 2 thousand 250 feet from property lines. The increase in setbacks would hamper several wind farm operations, according to some of the wind farm operators that are wanting to come to the local area. County leaders could decide on the issue in the near future.

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- Illinois is now officially 200 years old. Illinois Governor elect J B Pritzker says the states history is one of many accomplishments, but the best is ahead for the Land of Lincoln.

 

 

Illinois Governor elect J B Pritzker

 

(Vermilion County--jc)  Foul play is not suspected in the death of a man in Vermilion County. Police say the man was found deceased inside a truck south of Rossville. The vehicle was partially submerged. Police continue to investigate the incident.

 

(Springfield--ab) Attorney General Lisa Madigan Tuesday announced a $17.25 million settlement with Wells Fargo as a result of the bank’s misconduct in its marketing and sale of risky residential mortgage-backed securities  leading up to the 2008 economic collapse. Under the settlement, Wells Fargo will pay $17.25 million to the state that will be distributed among the Teachers Retirement System of the State of Illinois, the State Universities Retirement System of Illinois, and the Illinois State Board of Investment, which oversees the State Employees’ Retirement System.The settlement is the ninth settlement addressing the sale of mortgage-backed securities during the lead up to the economic collapse. Attorney General Madigan has led the country in taking legal action against banks, lenders and other financial institutions for unlawful financial misconduct that contributed to the country’s economic collapse.

 

 

(Undated--jc)  -- A former Rantoul High School student had the honor to guard the casket of George H W Bush earlier this week. Family and friends of Chris Deaville caught a view of him on several media outlets late Monday. The 24 year is part the of United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard.

 

(Washington--ab)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that the biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels volumes will be increased above previous year levels, which is good news for the soybean industry. The increase, however, is mitigated by the absence of reallocation of the significant gallons that were waived under exemptions issued previously by EPA to refineries. The final rule sets the 2020 requirement for biomass-based biodiesel (BBD) volumes at 2.43 billion gallons, a 330-million-gallon increase over the 2018 and 2019 levels. Total advanced biofuel volumes, which are largely filled by biodiesel, are increased to 4.92 billion gallons.

 

(Springfield--ab) Thousands of Illinoisans will soon be getting checks in the mail thanks to round two of treasurer Mike Frerichs’ money match program. Money match uses technology to cross-reference information and find people who have long forgotten funds in the treasurer’s i-cash database says Frerichs.

 

 

63 thousand people will be getting checks for anywhere between five and 50 dollars as part of the latest money match effort. You can search to see if you have any unclaimed money or property online at: illinois treasurer dot gov.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The local chapter of The Satanic Temple has been allowed to place a statue in the Illinois Capitol alongside holiday displays of a Nativity scene and a menorah. The State Journal-Register reports the sculpture depicts the forearm of a woman who is holding an apple. The statue is called "Knowledge is the Greatest Gift." In its application for the display, Satanic Temple-Chicago calls itself a nontheistic organization that aims to "encourage benevolence and empathy among all people."

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois officials have allocated the first grants to buy cleaner-burning engines from an emissions lawsuit settlement Volkswagen reached with federal officials. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday that $19 million will finance cleaner-burning public-transit trains and buses. Illinois is receiving $108 million from Volkswagen's multibillion-dollar settlement after allegations that the automaker sold 60,000 vehicles with software designed to cheat air-quality tests.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- Some in state government are looking into why the backlog of D-N-A samples have yet to be processed. The samples are from crimes committed in the state over the past several years. Colonel Sean Cormier (‘Core-meer) with the Illinois State Police Forensic Sciences Command  says its a staffing and funding issue…

 

 

State Police Colonel Sean Cormier.

 

Parkland College invites the public to its fall Greenhouse Plant Sale, Dec 5–7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.This annual event will include poinsettias, succulents, and house plants and kalanchoes. Plants can make great holiday gifts or make a home more inviting.Parkland College's greenhouse is located on the west side of the Tony Noel Agricultural Technology Applications Center, on the west side of campus.

 

(Undated--jc) Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s Bicentennial minute…

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- With 5 cases of hepatitis A recently diagnosed in Illinois, The state Department of Public Health is urging people to make sure they are vaccinated. Hepatitis A is an infection that can damage their liver and is easily passed from one person to another through food, water, drug use and sex says Illinois Public Health Director Doctor Nirav Shah…

 

 

Illinois Public Health Director Doctor Nirav Shah.

There have been 69 cases of Hepatitis A in Illinois so far this year, including 5 most recent in East Central Illinois, locally.

 

(Washington--jc)  -- Where in the country are the soy and corn crops still not fully harvested yet?Stephanie Ho has the story…

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- Attorney General Lisa Madigan Tuesday announced a $6 million settlement that resolves an investigation she led with 41 states and the District of Columbia into one of the nation’s largest debt buyers, Encore Capital Group Inc., and its subsidiaries, Midland Credit Management Inc. and Midland Funding LLC. Madigan led an investigation into Midland’s debt collection and litigation practices and its pattern of signing and filing affidavits in state courts against consumers in large volumes without verifying the information. The practice of debt buying involves buying and selling overdue debts from creditors and other account owners

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- A senior lunch event is coming to one local village. Those in the Rantoul area are reminded that the  Annual Senior Holiday Luncheon will take place December 13th starting at  11:30 at the Rantoul Youth Center. Reservations must be made by Monday. Call the Youth Center for more information

 

 

(Kankakee--jc) A crash along Interstate 57 near Kankakee slowed traffic for several hours on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say a crash in the southbound lanes and clean-up were the reasons for delays in the southbound lanes of I-57. Traffic was delayed for several hours.

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- A financial adviser says some residents preparing to retire are eyeing moving out of the state entirely, and it’s not just for better weather. Although Illinois doesn't tax retirement income, that doesn't mean it's the best place for all retirees according to Buffalo Grove-based financial planner John Bever He adds that Illinois property taxes are extremely high, the 2nd highest in the nation. That is another reason to go elsewhere.

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker this week announced his Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee, which features members of the labor and business communities.  One member, the president of an Illinois business group, is asking state policymakers to consider the full effects of a proposed raise to the state's minimum wage. Pritzker says increasing the minimum wage in Illinois is important to him, but didn't say how high he thinks it should be raised. He said he’d like to get something done within the first six months of his term.Illinois Retail Merchants Association President and CEO Rob Karr, who’s on Pritzker’s Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee, said he didn’t want to speculate about what Pritzker’s minimum wage would be, but said it will likely affect two-thirds of the state’s consumers.