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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Says He's Reached an Agreement on a Plan to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Starting Next Year

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he's reached an agreement with key lawmakers on a plan to legalize recreational marijuana in the state starting next year. Pritzker joined fellow Democrats Saturday to announce the legislation. It would allow adults 21 and older to legally buy cannabis for recreational use from licensed dispensaries. Illinois residents could possess up to about an ounce of marijuana. The legislation also would automatically expunge some marijuana convictions.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Former Illinois state Senate president and Democratic National Committee member Thomas Hynes has died. He was 80. Son-in-law Cheever Griffin confirmed that Thomas Hynes died Saturday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital from complications of Parkinson's Disease. Hynes was a powerhouse in Chicago politics for four decades.

 

(Gibson City--jc)  -- Legislators start the first full week of May with a lot of issues that range from canibus and sports gambling to a balanced budget. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says the agenda will be busy all month..

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City

 

(Paxton--jc)  Another new business is coming to the city of Paxton. Pizza Palace is set to open later this month in the former Pizza Hut location on the city’s west side.

Pizza Palace has two other locations, one in Gilman and one in Ashkum in Iroquois County. A May 14th opening date is planned.

 

There’s $300 million at the Illinois comptroller’s office in bond proceedings meant to fund optional pension buyouts.Of the five pension funds, the State Employees Retirement System said there was about 23 percent of eligible members who took one of the options with more than $30 million to be paid later this month.

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The City of Paxton Streetscape program continues to develop. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says bids for the project will be let in early 20-20 and the project completed by the end of next year…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- There are still no details on what kind of framework for legalizing cannabis that lawmakers expect to debate and vote on at the statehouse.Observers speculated a Senate bill would be amended this week to legalize, regulate and tax cannabis, but lawmakers will be back on Tuesday.Gov. J.B. Pritzker is banking on $170 million from cannabis licensing fees in the budget that starts July 1.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- The Illinois Lottery wants to know. And the holder of the ticket only has until May 9 to claim the ticket.Illinois Lottery officials say the Powerball Quick Pick ticket was sold at a convenience store in Chicago on Cermak Road.The numbers were 11-16-38-50-69.There are four seven-figure prizes unclaimed for a total of more than $4 million.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting another Business After Hours on Thursday. The event is set for 5pm to 7pm at Accolade Healthcare on Fulton Street in the city. The networking event will feature appetizers, open bar and a door prizes.

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will be open on a limited basis this week. The office will be staffed from 9am til 1pm through the week. Any questions or inquiries may be made on line at d-i-r-at-rantoul-chamber-dot-com.

 

(Champaign County--jc)  -- The Southbound lanes of Interstate 57 were closed for about 4 hours Sunday afternoon. A vehicle crash happened around noon on Sunday. The lanes were reopened around 4 on Sunday.

 

(Undated--jc)  -- Amid a nationwide measles outbreak, the Illinois Department of Public Health is taking steps to increase vaccination rates to prevent measles cases here.  I-D-P-H Director Jenny WInkler says the Illinois Department of Public Health is proactively working to increase vaccination rates and educate the public on the importance of vaccines to prevent the spread of measles.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 704 cases of measles in 22 states. Seven

measles cases have been identified in Illinois, including several in Champaign County locally. The Illinois Department of Public Health plans to increase access to vaccines by expanding outreach in communities with low vaccination rates and helping with community events. Health department officials say they also want to provide proper information about measles vaccinations.

 

(Paxton--jc)  Organizers with the annual Paxton town wide garage sales have set the dates this year for Friday June 7 and Saturday June 8th. Residents may sign up for to be included on  a map of the sales by calling Erica Grohler at 217-379-9174. The deadline to get on the map is May 25th. Garage sale goers from over 50 to 75 miles have come to the 100 plus sales in the city.

 

(Rantoul--jc)  Village of Rantoul leaders continue to look at an autonomous vehicle project to develop on the former Chanute Air Force Base area.  The project would be a major boost to local economic development. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says A-Trel is one potential company, another is the new car dealership building near Wal-Mart by Shields Auto Center…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

 

 

(Urbana--jc)  -- Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup is releasing the name of a Bement  woman who has died after being involved in a motor vehicle crash in Hickory Point Township on Friday. 77 year old Evelyn L. Dick,was pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital on Saturday. Ms. Dick was reportedly traveling on County Highway 20 when her vehicle collided with a second vehicle at the intersection of Greenswitch Road. Ms. Dick died from complications of injuries she received during the crash. No autopsy will be performed. An inquest may be held at a later date

 

(Rantoul--jc)  Making Rantoul a destination for transportation is the focus of local leaders. Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Belynda Allen says the possibilities are numerous…

 

 

Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Belynda Allen

 

 

(Urbana--jc) Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup is releasing the name of a male subject who has died from injuries he received during a shooting incident early Sunday morning in the 400 block of Edgebrook Drive in Champaign. Twenty-one-year-old Scot  Roth was pronounced dead early yesterday in the Carle Foundation Hospital Emergency Department. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.. An inquest may be held at a later date. This death remains under investigation .

 

 

(Cissna Park--jc)  -- Golf cart owners in one southern Iroquois County town need to get their cart stickers renewed. The local stickers in Cissna Park expired at the end of April. Golf Cart owners have until June 6th to get the renewal sticker.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  Route 136 east of Rantoul was blocked for several hours on Saturday due to a vehicle versus motorcycle accident. The driver of the motorcycle received non-life threatening injuries. The road was reopened after a couple of hours.

 

 

(Undated--jc)  --The latest Census count on units of government in each state shows Illinois still has hundreds more than any other despite being the sixth most populous state.The U.S. Census has released its biennial Census of Governments report, this year showing the count of state and local governments in 2017. Illinois dropped in its total units of government count, but at 6,919, it still has 1,575 more than Texas, the state with the second most.The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning said in its “On to 2050” report that the state needs to examine areas where consolidation and shared services can streamline government, but Senior Policy Analyst Lindsay Hollander said it can’t just be for the sake of lowering that number.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- Those interested have until May 23rd to apply for a Spring Community Foundation of Rantoul grant. Applications are available on the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce website. The address is rantoul-chamber-dot-com

 

 

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