(Springfield--ba) State representatives from different ends of Illinois disagree on whether Chicago politicians are pushing Windy City policies onto the rest of the state. There's been lots of debate on the topic over the years, but one often-cited study based on a snapshot of the state found that downstate communities received more money from the state government than they contributed in taxes. Others note that Chicago takes from the rest of the state, pointing to the hundreds of millions of dollars the state sends to Chicago Public Schools. Sponsors of HR101 also say Chicago politicians are pushing Windy City policies on the rest of the state with no regard for rural concerns.
(Champaign--jc) -- How did the first full week of March do in the weather category. Illinois Water Survey of Champaign Spokesperson Brian Kerschner says cold and snowy…
Illinois Water Survey of Champaign Spokesperson Brian Kerschner
CHICAGO (AP) — One of the people injured in a deadly warehouse shooting last month is suing Illinois State Police, saying authorities wrongly let the gunman purchase the weapon used in the attack. Henry Pratt Co. employee Timothy Williams on Friday filed the lawsuit. It says he was shot three times after colleague Gary Martin opened fire, killing five other co-workers. Illinois State Police declined comment, saying they don't discuss pending litigation.
(Rantoul--jc) -- A leaky roof during high winds and a huge rain on Saturday, closed the Rantoul Public Library. The roof has been as issue for the local Library for some time and now library officials are looking for ways to make repairs. Staff members used plastic coverings to protect the books. The estimate to replace the roof is 17 thousand dollars.
(Undated--jc) As lawmakers prepare to mirror a Chicago tax on shopping bags, a state Representative from the Windy City said it will hit the most vulnerable the hardest. State Senator Terry Link, Democrat from Indian Creek, sponsored Senate Bill 12-40, which would add a 7-cent tax to all single-use bags, paper and plastic. That’s similar to what Chicago already has in place. State Representative. Michael McAuliffe Republican from Chicago, says he has seen the bag tax in action in his jurisdiction and it hits the poor and the elderly the hardest.McAuliffe also said lawmakers should expect a strong reaction from taxpayers if the bag tax goes statewide. Some are expecting the same reaction as the soda tax in Chicago in 2017 that was repealed after just two months.
(Bloomington--jc) -- Local State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City continues to recover at a Bloomington hospital. He was involved in a serious accident Thursday night. Bennett suffered multiple broken ribs. Bennett represents the 106th district. He was expected to remain at the St Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington through the weekend.
(Paxton--ba)-This Monday the Paxton Buckley Loda Panther Regiment will once again travel to the city of New Orleans. Students will visit the French quarter, take a swamp tour, visit the WWII museum, as well as many other activities. This will be Band Director Tim Hess’s last trip. The trip begins today.
(Urbana-jc--) The vote for the “alma ottter” at the University of Illinois did not pass a non-binding referendum this week. U of I students voted down the proposal with 3807 against the otter and 3510 for the mascot.
(Springfield--jc) -- Tickets to concerts like Dan and Shay, Pentatonix, Old Dominion and Snoop Dog will be available at the ticketmaster-dot-com on April 20th. The Illinois State Fair Box office opens on April 22nd says State Fair Spokesperson Morgan Booth…
State Fair SPokesperson Morgan Booth
CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Southern Illinois University in Carbondale is starting to make strides toward improving retention through a program that offers freshmen a special orientation aimed at getting them acquainted with college life. The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reports that the Saluki Success Program covers study habits, mental health awareness, sexual consent and cultural sensitivity. The class started in 2015 and has four dedicated instructors. The school says early data show the program is making a positive impact on student retention and success
JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — The family of a World War II veteran who died when his plane was shot down over France in 1944 is to receive his lost medals. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs' office says he will return 1st Lt Walter B. Ingledew Jr.'s medals to his family Monday at the Stone City VFW Post in Joliet. The treasurer's office found the medals in a safe deposit box that was turned over to the state. The medals include a Purple Heart, two Campaign Stars and two Air medals with four oak leaf clusters that are received for meritorious achievement in aerial flight. Ingledew served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces.
(AP) — A sheriff in Illinois is warning people about a sophisticated phone scam.
In a news release, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart says residents are reporting that they are receiving an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be a representative of Apple Inc. warning them that their device or iCloud account has been compromised. The caller then asks for personal information such as passwords or usernames.The calls that come from numbers including (800) 275-2273 and (703) 336-8450 appear legitimate because the residents' caller identification shows the calls are coming from Apple Customer Service or Apple Inc. But Dart says that Apple — which is aware of the scam — says that its service representatives never ask customers for such personal information over the phone.
(Rantoul--jc) A candidates forum is set for Thursday in Rantoul. The venue is the Rantoul Municipal Building on Tanner Street starting at 6pm on Thursday. Candidates to speak include those running for Rantoul Village Board, Rantoul Township High School board, local library. All candidates will be given a two minute opening remark period. Then questions will be asked from the audience through a moderator. The Spring election is set for Tuesday April Second. The forum is sponsored by The League of Women Voters, Rantoul Residents for Representation and the Rantoul Press
(Paxton--jc) Paxton City leaders will look to make donations to the Pheasants Forever group, and a donation to the Show bus when they meet in monthly session tomorrow night. Other agenda items include signing a contract with Credit Collection Partners, repairs along Holmes Street and approve a request by American Legion Riders to collect donations at the intersections in the downtown area Saturday April 27th from 8 am to Noon. The Paxton City Council meets Tuesday night at 7 on the second floor of city hall.
(Washington--jc) What does the farm income forecast look like for 20-19. U-S-D-A Deputy Chief Economist Warren Preston has the numbers…
U-S-D-A Deputy Chief Economist Warren Preston
(Rantoul-jc) --Rantoul Village leaders will look to amend an agreement with a California investor. John Van Der Velde has asked the village for another term for him to buy four hangers and the A-T-and-T Call Center near the local airport. The original purchase price of 5 point-45-Million would remain the same. The proposed amendment would lengthen the lease agreement paid by the village to the Van Der Welde group for 10 years instead of 5. The Rantoul Village board meets at 6-15 Tuesday night at the municipal building on Tanner Street.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois man faces federal murder charges in the shooting death of a sheriff's deputy that led to an hourslong standoff with police along an interstate. Floyd E. Brown is scheduled to appear in court Monday in Rockford, where prosecutors say he shot and killed a deputy working with a U.S. Marshal's Service fugitive task force serving Brown an arrest warrant.
(Undated--jc) --University of Chicago was ranked the most exclusive school in Illinois, according to a new study by the website 24-7 Wall Street, that examines acceptance rates and characteristics of university students nationwide. University of Chicago has an acceptance rate of 8.7 percent, and 75 percent of its students have SAT scores above 1480. The yearly net cost to attend the campus is nearly 35 thousand dollars.To determine the most selective universities in each state, 24/7 Wall St. examined the National Center for Education Statistics’ data on four-year schools, as well as other sources. Notre Dame was top on the list in Indiana and Washington University in St Louis was the top exclusive school in Missouri.
(Roberts--jc) Village of Roberts leaders have set a day in May for an open house and liquidation day for its library. The village has been in the process of closing the local library and distributing books. The day for the event is Saturday May 18th.
