(Springfield--jc) --Hundreds of new laws go into effect Jan. 1, but the one that will save you time at the Secretary of State's Office isn't among them.Governor Bruce Rauner signed legislation in the fall that will allow vehicle registration to be paid for two years at a time. It won’t save vehicle owners money on the $101 annual cost. but it would save time. Drivers would pay $202 for the two-year registration. Trailer owners would be able to register for up to five years at once.State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorne Woods, said his father inspired the bill.
(Washington--ba) U-S-D-A will be proposing regulatory reforms to tighten the ability of states to grant work waivers to SNAP recipients. USDA’s Stephanie Ho reports.
CHICAGO (AP) — An Australian commodities trader pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Chicago to manipulating market prices by placing orders in the millions of dollars, then canceling them within milliseconds so that he could sell smaller orders at a profit. Jiongsheng "Jim" Zhao pleaded guilty to one count of spoofing in a deal with prosecutors, who say that from 2012 to 2016, the 31-year-old executed trades on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange online from Sydney.Spoofing carries a maximum 10-year prison term,
(Springfield--ba)-Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is reminding the public about two new laws for 2019.The first law requires children under two years old to be secured in rear-facing car seats says Secretary of State spokesperson Dave Druker.
Secretary of State spokesperson Dave Druker.
(Washington--ba) At the Farm Bill signing ceremony, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said USDA provided to lawmakers as much requested input as it could, as Congress worked to draft the legislation.
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue
(Buckley--ba) -- An E-M-T basic initial education class will be held at Christ Lutheran High School Tuesday and Thursday nights January 15th to May 7th. The cost is $700 per person with a $350 deposit due at registration. However, if you live within 10 miles of Buckley and can help out, Buckley Ambulance Service will pay 100% of all your education costs. For more details, contact Ron Lenington at 217-394-2335.
(Farmer City--jc) -- One area city is looking for a new police chief. Officials at Farmer City say current Farmer City Police Chief David Betz has resigned from the position. Farmer City City Manager Sue McLaughlin says her office has started the process to hire a new police chief for Farmer City. Her phone number is 309-928-3412.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is offering grants to public wastewater treatment plants to improve energy efficiency. The agency has announced $3 million in grant funding. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $1.5 million will reduce energy consumption at treatment plants. EPA Director Alec Messina says the department has worked with 15 Illinois municipalities for no-cost efficiency assessments. The grant program uses U.S. Department of Energy funds to upgrade plants where the most cost savings will be. Applications for the grant are available online from the EPA . Applications are due by Feb. 12, 2019.The applications will be ranked according to energy savings per dollar invested, energy rate paid by the facility and the energy cost to treat one million gallons of water at the plant.
(Undated--jc)-- Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s Bicentennial minute…
(Washington---jc) Issues that have an impact on ag in East Central Illinois will be discussed on a national stage in early 20-19 World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Seth Meyer talks about the upcoming Ag Outlook Forum in February in Arlington Virginia….
World Ag Outlook Board Chairman Seth Meyer.
CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. District Court in Chicago is among the federal courts nationwide suspending civil cases where one party is the federal government. Chief U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo issued a Wednesday order suspending all such civil litigation for two weeks because of the government shutdown that began last week.Among the suspended cases are ones where people are suing the U.S. government to get Social Security money they say they are owed. Asylum and some extradition cases also fall under the order.
(Paxton--jc) Ford County Board officials cancelled a meeting one week ago with the subject of wind farms. Several wind projects have popped up over the last several years. Setbacks, positive economic development and jobs to tax help for local schools. Flicker and height remain issues for project managers. Ford County officials say a new meeting on wind farms could take place sometime in January.
(Washington--ba) How will 2018 end up for food shoppers? USDA’s Gary Crawford Reports.
(Rantoul--jc) -- A new fitness center is coming to the downtown area of Rantoul Koru Fitness is expected to open to the public next Wednesday. The business will be located inside the Lindsey Lane Bridal business in downtown Rantoul. Koru Fitness uses dance as a motivational factor. A similar business called CURVEs is leaving the downtown area of Rantoul
(Bloomington--jc) -- Country Financial and the Illinois Farm Bureau are teaming up to host a series of winter crop meetings for local farmers across Illinois. Farmers and landowners across the state have attended similar meetings in the state. Officials with the two companies say topics include updates on the new Farm Bill will be provided. One area meeting coming up is on January 10th at 11-30am at the Fairbury Golf Course. More meetings are planned over the next two months across Illinois. Each of these events are free and open to all farmers and landowners.
(Champaign County--jc) -- State police were called to a property damage crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate 57 on Wednesday afternoon. The crash occurred just before 2pm yesterday. The left lane was closed for several hours. State Police say no one was injured in the mishap and traffic was back to normal after a 2 hour clean up period.
