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Illinois House Votes for $15 Minimum Wage

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A $15-an-hour minimum wage is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker after the House approved the six-year plan. Thursday's 69-41 vote in the House almost guarantees it will become law. State Representative Charlie Meier of Okawville fears this  will mean the loss of jobs in downtown state Illinois…

 

 

State Representative Charlie Meier of Okawville

Chicago area State Representative Celine Villuanueva says the measure will give some Illinoisans a livable wage…

 

 

State Representative Celine Villuaneva of Chicago

The governor  has pledged to sign it before Wednesday. That's when he unveils his first annual budget plan. The measure would increase the state's $8.25 minimum wage to $15 in 2025.

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- An investigation into the death of an Elliott man who was found deceased on May 8th of last year in a home fire, is now considered a homicide investigation.  Elliott resident Jeremy Turner was found deceased, by the local fire department at his home. A fire had destroyed the home. A Ford County coroners jury ruled the death was consistent with a homicide. The incident remains an open investigation for the Ford County Sheriff’s office and the Ford County Coroner’s office. WPXN news will continue to update this story as more official news becomes available.


 

CHICAGO (AP) — Odds still favor the eventual construction of Barack Obama's $500 million presidential museum and library in a park along Chicago's lakeshore. But it's no longer a sure thing in the face of a formidable legal challenge by a parks-advocacy group. A judge hears arguments Thursday on a city motion to toss the group's lawsuit that argues the project violates laws barring development in lakeside parks. A ruling for Protect Our Parks could signal the Obama Presidential Center is in real trouble.

 

DECATUR, Ill. (AP) — Millikin University's new $5 million baseball stadium in central Illinois won't be complete in time for the 2019 season due to weather delays.The Decatur university planned to open the stadium in time for this spring's season. But Millikin President Patrick White says a rainy November and the recent cold weather slowed stadium construction. It's now scheduled to be completed in August.

 

(Urbana--jc)  A Champaign County man is facing child pornograhpy charges. The News Gazette reports that   a former Monticello schools employee appeared in court on Thursday. The judge in the case ordered 39 year old William Bell of St Joseph,  to remain locked up until his early March trial.The case will be heard by U-S District Judge Sue Myerscough. The March 5th trial will take place in Springfield The charges say Bell used a home computer to device or send  visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct..

 

(Springfield--ba)-The Illinois department of human services says more than 10 thousand people have called the state’s opioid hotline…seeking help for addiction. The helpline launched in December of 2017…aiming to connect people struggling with opioids and other drugs to treatment options. D-H-S’ Dani Kirby says it’s been a useful resource for thousands of people.

 

 

D-H-S’ Dani Kirby

 

 

(Buckley--jc)  The 20-19 St John’s School of Buckley Carnival, Chicken Dinner and Auction is set for Sunday from 3-30 until 7pm. This is the main fundraiser for the school and spokesperson Kari Stachura says the dollars raised helps Christian education at St Johns-Buckley…

 

 

St John’s School of Buckley event spokesperson Kari Stachura.

 

(Urbana--jc)- A teen from Rantoul was sentenced to 7 years in juvenile prison for his role in a break in at the Rantoul  Rural King in November of last year. Judge Heidi Ladd sentenced the 14 year old on Thursday in Champaign County court. A second teen and  24 year old Henry Boykins of Rantoul also received a similar prison sentence.

 

 

CHAMPAIGN Ill. — Parkland College Industrial Technology's welding lab has been recognized as an Accredited Test Facility by the American Welding Society, one of only four community colleges in Illinois to hold the designation.   Through a rigorous documentation and site inspection process, the AWS provides ATF accreditation for facilities, personnel, and equipment to test and qualify welders. For more information, visit aws.org.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal jury has convicted a 36-year-old man who was linked to the theft of 27 handguns and six assault rifles from a train at a Norfolk Southern rail yard in Chicago. The U.S. attorney's office says in a Thursday statement that Cameron Battiste was found guilty on Wednesday of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He wasn't charged with the gun thefts, though prosecutors said there's evidence he was involved.

 

 

(Buckley---jc)  -- It’s the annual fundraiser for one service group today in Buckley. The Buckley Sportsmen’s Club has its annual fish fry later today at the Buckley

American Legion. Fish, cole slaw, & french fries.  Carryouts and all-you-can-eat dine in starts at 5 this afternoon. Money raised goes to community projects for the local club.

 

 

WASHINGTON — Local 15th district Congressman John Shimkus  voted Thursday in support of the final Fiscal Year 2019 spending agreement. Shimkus says  Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would give President Trump just $1 for the border wall. The deal provides 1 point 4 Billion dollars for the wall. Shimkus called the issue a huge win for border patrol agents. The measure is now in the hands of the president.

 

 

House lawmakers are discussing a shared parenting bill for cases of divorce. The legislation requires courts to presume that both mom and dad should have equal time with their children when they get divorced. If a judge deviates from a 50-50 split, they have to issue a written statement explaining why says Illinois Fathers for Equality president Chad Loudermilk.

 

 

The idea is to prevent a parent from being alienated from their child. The judge would consider other factors including where the kid goes to school, distance between parent’s homes and if there are any safety concerns like abuse.

 

 

(Chicago--jc)   While the chief sponsor of a resolution urging Congress to make Chicago the country’s 51st state doesn’t expect it to go very far, he does expect it to spur conversation. A Chicago state representative who’s also running to be Chicago mayor is willing to have that talk. State Representative Brad Halbrook, a Republican from Shelbyville, says his House Resolution 101 is getting a lot of attention. Halbrook adds that people from across Illinois are texting, emailing and on social media to comment on the issue

 

 

(Undated--jc)  Some more money will be coming to local cities and towns. WPXN’s Austin Burklund has the story…

 

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  Students wanting to learn about the high school experience have the opportunity next week. Pre-registration is set for February 20th at the Paxton Buckley Loda commons area between the high school and Junior high school. 8th grade students and their families are invited to attend. Course information, graduation requirements and college course information will be discussed. More information is found by contacting the school in Paxton at 217-379-4331

 

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