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Identity Thieves Smarter About Accessing Information and Using it to Steal Tax Rebates

(Springfield--jc)  -- Government officials are warning tax filers that identity thieves are getting smarter about accessing information and using it to steal tax rebates.An investigator with the Internal Revenue Service joined officials from the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois and the Illinois Department of Revenue to speak out about the growing dangers of identity theft in a month where this type of criminal activity are known to spike.The number of fraudulent tax claims has dropped slightly since 2016, largely thanks to new systems in place to recognize when a scammer is trying to illegally get someone’s tax return, said Gabriel Grchan, special agent in charge with the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office.

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- From gambling expansion to a tax based on how many miles you drive, Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker has said he’s open to all ideas to find revenue to pay for infrastructure projects.Outgoing Gov. Bruce Rauner said last month that he's heard talk that an infrastructure bill could come up during lame duck session in January. Governor Rauner says he has been recommending an infrastructure bill – a big one – for four years  Rauner adds the infrastructure bill is long overdue and with this measure, we do not need new taxes to pay for it.

 

 

(Illinois--ba)   --If you haven’t picked out your Christmas tree yet, one expert has some tips. University of Illinois Extension Horticulture expert Richard Hentschel says use your eyes and senses... 

 

 

U of I Extension Horticulture Expert Richard Hentschel


 

(Illinois--ba)  -- The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs hosted the 77th pearl harbor remembrance ceremony Friday. The event in Springfield paid tribute to Pearl Harbor survivors and the more than 24-hundred americans who lost their lives that day. U-S army chief warrant officer Bobby Edwards has been deployed overseas over 20 times and was the guest speaker. He spoke about the need for stronger patriotism these days….

 

 

U-S Army Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Edwards

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- A ribbon cutting ceremony for a business in downtown Paxton was held on Friday afternoon. The Mom and Pops Kettle Stop is located at 119 South Market in downtown Paxton. The business is owned by the Alan Meyer Family of Paxton. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold and several representatives of the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce were in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday afternoon. Mom and Pops Kettle Stop  features popcorn, kettle corn, caramel corn, cheese corn along with gifts and tins. Catering is also available.

 

(Rantoul--ab) Recently, two former and one current Rantoul Police Department Officers were recognized for their service and dedication to the METRO SWAT Team. The officers receiving recognition were: Retired Lieutenant Jeff Wooten was honored as the first “Career Award” for his twenty-one years of service to the METRO SWAT Team. Also, retired Officer Chuck Casagrande received a plaque recognizing his twelve years on the team. During that time Officer Casagrande served as an Operator from 2003-2008 and a Negotiator from 2010-2018. Sergeant Will Stuckemeyer received a plaque and leadership award recognizing his ten years on the team. During his time, Will served as an Operator, CART Operator and Assistant Team Leader.

 

 

 

(Northern Illinois--jc)  --Amazon is set to expand its air cargo operation in Illinois.The e-commerce giant has been operating at the Chicago Rockford International Airport facility for about a year. Officials now say they’ll more than double the company’s footprint at RFD and plan to increase the number of cargo flights in and out of the facility.Amazon currently runs seven flights each day at the airport. Dunn expects that number to increase. A 120,000-square-foot addition is planned for the company’s existing 72,000-square-foot building.The Rockford airport already is UPS’s second-largest air hub in North America. Dunn said RFD is becoming a key player in the cargo industry.

 

(Gibson City--jc) A gift basket program needs names. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 62-89 in Gibson City continues to accept names of people in the community to receive a Christmas basket. Names will be accepted through Saturday. Those with names can call the V-F-W in Gibson City at 217-784-4210.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- Seniors that want to attend the Rantoul Recreation Department holiday luncheon have to sign up by today. The event is set for 11-30 Thursday morning at the Rantoul Youth Center.  Reservations are made by calling 893-5700.

 

 

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

 

 

(Villa Grove--jc)  An accident east of Villa Grove that took the lives of two area people, has ties to the city of Paxton. Authorities say 2 two people have died in a traffic accident near Villa Grove just before 5pm on Friday night. The accident happened east of Villa Grove on a local county road. The two killed in the accident were 75 year old John Jones and 66 year old Kristine Trudeau.  The Heritage School district says Jones was a substitute teacher. Jones wife is originally from Paxton. Jones also has a twin brother, Tom, also from Paxton. Jones was highly regarded and respected in both communities. Heritage School officials say counselors will be at the high school today for students and staff.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  A fire caused significant damage to an apartment complex in Rantoul on Friday afternoon. Fire officials say a smoldering cigarette is likely the cause of the fire along Harmon Drive. Fire Chief Ken Waters says around 50 thousand dollars damage was done to the structure. With the fire, three families lost their apartments.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The next two Saturdays, Santa Claus will be meeting with area children in downtown Paxton. Pride in Paxton officials say the jolly old elf will be at the Santa Hut in downtown Paxton from Noon until 2pm on December 15th and December 22nd. Area merchants also invite you to shop Paxton this Christmas season.

 

 

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — A man driving a bus carrying a high school girls' basketball team that was struck head-on by a semitrailer traveling the wrong way in central Illinois this week remains in critical condition. O-S-F HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria has identified the bus driver as 64-year-old Mark Kuhn of Heyworth.

 

 

NEW YORK — A New York City man who served as an aircraft technician with the famed all-black Tuskegee Airmen died Saturday at age 100.   DeFour passed away at his Harlem apartment. A postal worker, after the war, DeFour was honored just last month at a ceremony to rename a Manhattan post office after the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen trained at Rantoul Chanute Air Force Base for a time in the 1940s.

 

 

(Bloomington--jc)  -- Rural landscapes have always captured the imagination of photographer Ronald Douglas Frazier of Bloomington, but says that once the photography got off the ground,  with a drone-based camera, his interest truly soared. Now, an exhibit of his photography from an aerial point of view, is on display at the Joe McCauley Gallery at Heartland Community College through Feb. 15. His drone photograph recently was shown at Joann Goetzinger's Studio and Gallery in downtown Bloomington.

 

 

(Washington--jc)   One federal officials says if you still have crops in the field, you need to contact your crop insurance agent.  U-S-D-A UnderSecretary Bill Northey says ask for an extension for the reporting deadline which officially ends today…

 

 

U-S-D-A Under Secretary  Bill Northey

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- An electrical problem on Sunday afternoon caused a Rantoul business to close for a short time.  Firefighters were called to the Rural King Store on the east side on Rantoul on Sunday just before 3pm. The Rantoul Press reports that an electrical system shorted out causing a transformer to blow. The store was filled with smoke. The store is expected to re open later today. No damage estimates were given to WPXN news.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois lawmakers have created the nation's toughest test for admitting testimony from jailhouse snitches into criminal trials. Inspired by reform of the state's notorious and now-discarded system of capital punishment, it requires judges to make pre-trial inquiries into the veracity of testimony by incarcerated informants before allowing or barring it. Testimony by snitches has helped convict 19 criminal defendants who were later exonerated during the past three decades in Illinois.

 

DECATUR, Ill. (AP) — The son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett says he remains committed to his central Illinois community after his unlikely term as sheriff. Howard Buffett was a longtime volunteer before being appointed Macon County sheriff late last year to fill the vacant post. His term ended Nov. 30, but he says he has no plans to leave Decatur. His foundation has donated about $100 million to local projects.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- One local high school has a group of students wanting to “get involved” with area communities. The  Paxton Buckley Loda High School group called “Get-Involved-Value-Everyone-Club is set to host a concert on Saturday. The event starts at 2pm on Saturday at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Roberts. The group is asking the public to bring a new toy the the concert and that toy will be donated to Ford County’s Toys for Tots program. Monetary donations will also be accepted.

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