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Governor Bruce Rauner's Team Will Help Make it a Smooth Transition for Governor Elect J.B. Pritzker

(Springfield--ab) Governor Bruce Rauner says his office is working to make it a smooth transition for the new administration for governor-elect J-B Pritzker. Pritzker will be sworn into office on january 14th, and until then the governor says his team will help guide the newcomers..

Governor Rauner says he also wants to make sure there is no clemency petition backlog when he leaves office and says he will not be issuing a bunch of executive orders or appointments during his final days.

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Investment Policy Board is scheduled to meet for the first time since Gov. Bruce Rauner called for an investigation into Airbnb's lodging-listings policy toward the occupied West Bank. The policy board meets Wednesday in Chicago. The Republican governor requested the Airbnb review last month because the online private-lodging marketplace de-listed 200 participating properties in Israeli settlements in the disputed West Bank.

 

(Washington--jc)  -- What are some of the notable aspects found in the final version of the 2018 Farm Bill reported to, and under consideration by, Congress this week? Rod Bain has the answer…

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- Several suburban mayors joined Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to ask Illinois lawmakers to raise the state's gas tax by 20 to 30 cents a gallon, a proposal that could make Illinois' motor fuel tax the highest in the nation. The request would also ensure that per gallon taxes increase yearly with the rate of inflation. Outgoing mayor Emanuel joined other mayors from suburban Chicago this week to push the General Assembly should pass a gas tax hike in January. The money would be used for roads and bridges in the state.. A 30-cent hike would make Illinois’ total gas taxes the highest in the nation. Illinois’ total average tax burden on a gallon of fuel is just over 37 cents per gallon now.e. At the proposed 67.32 cents per gallon, Illinois' taxes would be higher than Pennsylvania’s average of 58.7 cents per gallon, the highest rate in the nation.

 

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- Attorney General Lisa Madigan, along with a coalition of 11 attorneys general, opposed a rule change proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor that would allow young people to operate power-driven patient lifts without training or supervision. This change would endanger the health and safety of young workers and residents in health care facilities that rely on these lifts. Madigan and the other attorneys general contend that the proposed change to Hazardous Occupation Order 7 is based on an unscientific online survey with only 22 respondents, instead of being based on reliable science. The U.S. Department of Labor currently allows 16- and 17-year-old workers to operate power-driven patient lifts, but only after they have been trained and only under the supervision of an adult caregiver. These lifts are used in nursing homes, residential facilities, and hospitals to lift and move patients who are unable get up without assis

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- A new Illinois Governor’s Mansion curriculum guide contains scores of suggestions for activities, online resource links and ways to engage today’s students in yesterday’s lessons for a better tomorrow. The 44-page guide, released Wednesday, provides a variety of learning activities connecting K-12 math, science, art, music, reading and writing lessons with the rich history surrounding some of the movers and shakers who occupied the Governor’s Mansion dating back to the Civil War and through the early 1900s. First Lady Diana Rauner wrote the prefacing letter stating that the Rauners want  everyone in Illinois to visit the People’s House, a site of history, culture and civic pride

 

 

(Buckley--jc)  -- The Buckley American Legion Post #432 will be participating in a nation-wide ceremony on Saturday by laying wreaths in honor of America’s veterans. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. There will be a brief ceremony at the Buckley American Legion hut at 11am. Then on to the Buckley cemetery where the public is invited to assist in laying the wreaths on graves of veterans.

 

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

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  --The state's pension system is unsustainable and lawmakers in Springfield need to amend the state's constitution to cut out a clause that protects pensions, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday. Emanuel, who leaves office in the spring, criticized Illinois’ retiree benefits in a speech Wednesday in front of the Chicago City Council. He said the automatic 3 percent annual pay bumps given to retirees are “raises” rather than cost-of-living adjustments. Emanuel echoed Gov. Bruce Rauner’s call to amend the state constitution to eliminate the pension protection clause. Under the terms of many of the state’s public pension agreements, retirees receive a three percent annual compounded increase. Emanuel said the annual pay increases were designed to help pensions keep pace with inflation. Emanuel says automatic raises for retirees don't make sense when city workers have to take furlough days because of tight budgets.

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  --The Governor’s Health Care Fraud Elimination Task Force showed that it successfully avoided or recouped 218 million dollars in wasteful or fraudulent Medicaid spending. The effort resulted in 39 fraud convictions including $27.8 million in recoveries through criminal prosecutions, civil actions, and/or administrative referrals. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) saved or recouped an estimated $190 million in FY18.  The task force has saved the state more than $665 million since its inception in 2016. Governor Rauner made the announcement in Chicago this morning.

 

 

(Urbana--jc)  --The University of Illinois has taken out a $60 million insurance policy to protect against a sudden drop in enrollment from students from China.When Gies School of Business Dean Jeff Brown took his post in August 2015, his first faculty meeting addressed what he called a “serious risk” of having such a large portion of department tuition come from Chinese studentBy 2017, they’d found a willing underwriter to insure their potential loss for a competitive price. Since July of that year, the school has paid $424,333 annually for a three-year specialty contract with Lloyd’s of London, insuring the Chinese contingent of the business and engineering schools’ student population for $60 million, the amount Brown said would cover potential losses in the two colleges. The final payment is due in May 2019. The policy expires in 2020. Should the revenue drop by any more than 20 percent for identifiable reasons outside of the school’s control, Lloyd’s of London would have to pay out under terms of the policy.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker is starting to plan his inaugural festivities. Pritzker and Lt. Gov.-elect Juliana Stratton announced Tuesday they've formed an inaugural committee that will plan events surrounding their Jan. 14 swearing-in ceremony. Events will begin Jan. 12-13. The committee will be led by future Illinois first lady M.K. Pritzker and Bryan Echols, who serves as senior adviser to the Illinois treasurer.

 

 

(Watseka--jc)  It was a night of shopping for some Watseka area kids last night. Members of the Watseka Police Department went on a “Shop with a Cop” detail at the Watseka Walmart. The local police officials helped some area kids get some gifts for Christmas.

 

 

(Joliet--jc)  One plant in Joliet is set to close by mid 20-19. The Herald Review reports that  Caterpillar may close its Joliet plant by June. The company’s latest layoff notice with the state reports that 285 workers at the factory will lose their jobs starting in early January.Caterpillar would not confirm when the plant is closing. A Caterpillar spokeswoman would not specify when the company plans to close the plant or how many people still work there.

 

 

U by Kotex tampons are being recalled because there is a chance they could unravel or fall apart. Kimberly-Clark is recalling some lots of the tampons made before Oct. 16 of this year.  In some cases, pieces of the tampon left in the body have caused customers to seek medical attention. The tampons were sold broadly across the U.S. and Canada by many retailers.Call Kimberly-Clark at 1-888-255-3499 for more information.

 

 

(McLean County--jc)  -- A Phone Scam.....McLean County law enforcement officials say they  had a report of yet another telephone scam. This time it is an automated call from the Social Security Administration advising the recipient that there is going to be "Some Legal Enforcement Actions" filed on your social security number. The message goes on to threaten to suspend your SSN. It leaves a number to call back as 760 230-5498. After listening to the message, its obvious that it is a computer generate voice and the grammar on the recording is not very good. Remember the Social Security administration will never call you or leave a message such as this. Be smart, Don't be a victim of identity theft.

 

(Loda--jc)  -- A benefit is set for Sunday. A concert  for Gabe Fairchild, will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Loda United Methodist Church. The benefit concert will feature performances by Bluegrass Demolition, Andy Kaufmann and Mickey Matthews. A free-will offering will be collected to help with medical expenses for Gabe Fairchild, a local musician and member of the Prairie City band. Refreshments will be served after the concert.

 

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