(Springfield--jc) Illinois state lawmakers are still off for spring break, but when they return next week, majority Democrats will be looking for more than $1 billion in new revenue Gov. J.B. Pritzker is looking to spend in the coming budget.The new revenue would be from legalized sports betting and recreational cannabis licenses, and proposed taxes on plastic bags, increased cigarette and e-cigarette taxes, and more.
(Undated--jc) Wet conditions kept most farmers out of the fields as we hear in the weekly crop report. The state’s average topsoil moisture is rated at 45 percent adequate,and 54 percent surplus says State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener.
Just one percent of corn has been planted in the state. 55 percent of winter wheat is rated in good to excellent condition.
(Vermilion County--jc) There is still no word on any movement with the chief executive officer from the East Central Illinois Community Action Agency. Illinois officials have threatened to pull funding after alleged mismanagement of funds by a local official. CEO Angele Thibodeaux Burns has not given any indications she will step down. The East Central Illinois Action agency has several locations from Danville and Paxton.
(Springfield--jc) --With both federal and state government mulling gas tax hikes, Illinois residents could potentially see higher prices at the pump.A report from Americans for Prosperity measured the cost of a proposed federal tax increase on motor fuel by state. If the federal increase were approved, Illinoisans would pay an additional $240 a year for gas on average. However, state lawmakers are also looking to fund infrastructure spending with a 19-cent per gallon state gas tax increase. AFP Illinois director Andrew Nelms said the two potential increases would be a significant hike for Illinois drivers to absorb.
NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Illinois State University faculty and students are hoping to help the environment by creating more sustainable construction materials.The project uses recycled glass to make a concrete-based building material more eco-friendly. They have received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their work. The team is testing more than a dozen combinations of cement, fly ash and glass to see which will be best. The final product is called "flowable fill" and is used to fill trenches and stabilize soil.
(Rantoul--jc) -- To shop local and to make the businesses a destination, continues to be the goal of the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Belynda Allen says the shop Rantoul program, Interstate 57 billboards, to Spring and Summer activities are just a start of destination Rantoul…
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Belynda Allen
(Loda--jc) A new restaurant is opening today in the Loda area. The Tin Cup Restaurant is part of the clubhouse complex on Lakeview Golf Course in Loda. The new restaurant manager is Peggy Burton. Burton says they are ready to open today for lunch and for dinners Thursdays through Saturdays…
Lakeview Golf Course Tin Cup Restaurant Manager Peggy Burton.
(Springfield--jc) -- A state representative and Chicago Community Activists say the bes way to tackle violence in Illinois is to treat it like a disease. State Representative La Shawn Ford of Chicago says there is a lot of talk about ending violence, but not enough about why it’s happening in the first place…
State Representative La Shawn Ford of Chicago
Ford has plans to introduce a resolution in the house calling for violence to be addressed by focusing on mental health issues, substance abuse and lack of education.
(Springfield--jc) -- Monday was Innovation and Technology Day in Illinois. Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker spoke at a roundtable discussion in Chicago with the subject of making Illinois a tech industry leader…
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
(Thawville--jc) The village of Thawville is under a boil order. That boil order is until further notice.
CHICAGO (AP) — An air traffic control tower at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has been awarded gold status by a group that monitors standards for eco-friendly buildings. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Green Building Council announced the gold certification Monday for the south air traffic control tower at O'Hare. City officials say it's the first gold-certified air traffic control tower in the U.S. The tower is one of three that the FAA operates at O'Hare.
(Springfield--jc) -- A new report says Illinoisans should expect to see nearly $500 a year extra in gas taxes if both the federal and state governments increase their motor fuel surcharges.Americans for Prosperity said drivers filling up in Illinois would see a $240 a year increase from just the proposed federal increase.Add a proposed 19-cent per gallon state gas tax increase floated at the Illinois statehouse and the total average increase a year would be $480.
(Undated--jc) There are more Illinois cities in the bottom 100 than in the top of a list for best and worst cities to start a small business.Of more than 1,260 cities nationwide reviewed by consumer finance website WalletHub, Carbondale and North Chicago were No. 12 and No. 76 respectively.But there were six Illinois cities are among the worst 100 cities in the country to start a small business with Wilmette being the fifth worst.
(Paxton--jc) The “Save the Pool” group met last night at the Cobblestone Hotel on Paxton’s west side. The purpose of the group is to help the Paxton Pool open for the summer. Paxton Park District board members voted to just open the pool for limited hours due to the annual cost of running the local facility. The Save the Pool group is looking to raise 25 thousand dollars to help the pool open later this Spring.
(Rantoul--jc) With several new businesses, a recent restaurant expansion and a potential agreement concerning an autonomous vehicles investment, the village of Rantoul continues to improve on the economic development front. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says it has been three years since the Holiday Inn started operations on the west side of the village…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith
Ashkum, IL. – Illinois State Police District 21 Commander, Captain Don Aaron Harsy, announced today activity and enforcement figures for March 2019. Illinois State Police District 21 Troopers issued 333 citations, 566 written warnings, including 5 DUIs, 7 seatbelt citations, 10 criminal arrests. Troopers also assisted 538 motorists, conducted 159 Motor Carrier Inspections, and investigated 129 traffic crashes. There were two fatal crashes investigated by District 21 in March. According to the National Safety Council the major contributing factors to motor-vehicle deaths in the United States are lack of occupant protection, alcohol, speeding, young drivers, distractions, and large trucks. In an effort to reduce fatalities, the Illinois State Police uses enforcement activities and educational programs to fight these major contributing factors.
(Paxton--jc) The Grand Ole Flag project in the city of Paxton continues to move forward. The Paxton Buckley Loda School Board gave its O-K for the area for the giant flag. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the cities part will now be to get approval from the state and Federal Aviation Administration…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Paxton--jc) -- Along with the Tin Cup Restaurant at the Lakeview Golf Course in Loda, another restaurant has made its debut this month. The Country House Restaurant is now open on Paxton’s west side. The restaurant is open from 6am to 8 pm Monday’s through Saturdays. Sundays hours are 7am to 8pm.
