(Undated--jc)  The ongoing trade battle between the U.S. and China has hit Illinois harder than the rest of the nation. The Trump Administration has been engaged in a months-long trade war with China that has included retaliatory tariffs slapped on exports to each country.  Senior vice president at the U.S. China Business Council Erin Ennis, says that U.S. exports to China declined by more than $10 billion compared with 2017. Ennis adds that Illinois saw the largest decline of any state. Illinois exported $5.6 billion worth of goods and in 2018, Illinois only exported 3.8 billion. The biggest sector hit was Illinois soybean and soybean byproduct industries. This is reflected in lower commodity prices for farmers selling their crop on the market.The Trump administration said the Chinese government has been manipulating trade and currency get a better deal with the U.S.

 

 

(Mahomet--jc)--  A closed door session will start the Mahomet Seymour School Board meeting tonight at 6. The board is then expected to hire Dustin Day as an assistant principal for the Middletown Prairie school, approve Marissa Hill as the Coordinator of Student Services and Chad Benedict as High School Principal. The board will also hear a medical cannabis update, approve the handbook and meal prices for the next school year. The meeting begins at 6 tonight

 

(Washington--ba) -- High water is continuing to be a problem for the Mississippi River. USDA’s Stephanie Ho reports.

 

 

(Gibson City--jc) When the Gibson City Pool Committee meets tonight. the main topic of discussion will be the process to hire an assistant manager for the local pool. The committee meeting comes to order at 6 tonight at city hall.

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- Poppy days in Paxton will be  Friday and Saturday at several downtown locations. Volunteers from the American Legion will also be at Paxton IGA. Paxton American Legion Poppy Sales Spokesperson Pat Milchuck says it’s a tradition  in the city…

 

 

Paxton American Legion Poppy Sales Spokesperson Pat Milchuck

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  -- Like to garden, like to volunteer, Then the Rantoul Youth Center needs you. Andy Graham with the Rantoul Recreation Department leads the way to provide fresh vegetables for local youth with the garden project. Those wanting to help are asked to call the Youth Center in the village.

 

 

(Gilman--jc) Just a few farmers are back in the fields today throughout the entire WPXN listening area. Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau manager David Treece says even a small shower continues to delay area farmers from planting corn and soybeans…

 

 

Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago health officials say they've confirmed a measles case and are working to contact those who may have been exposed to the infection. The Chicago Department of Public Health said Saturday they confirmed the case Friday and exposures may have occurred Thursday at O'Hare International Airport and in downtown Chicago and Friday at the University of Illinois-Chicago. This is at least the second confirmed case in Cook County since March. The confirmations come amid a measles outbreak in the U.S.

 

(Springfield--ba)-Some “SNAP” recipients may soon be able to use their benefits in restaurants.

Lawmakers passed a bill setting up a program where the elderly, homeless and disabled can use their benefits to get a good meal at a restaurant. It’s supported by Senator Dan Mcconchie of Hawthorn Woods who uses a wheelchair.

 

 

Illinois State Senator Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods

 

 

(Gibson City--jc)  A Coffee and Conversation event is set for Thursday in Gibson City. Curt Homan with the Gibson Area Hospital is the featured speaker. The event runs from 9 til 10am at the American Lutheran Church on Route 9 in Gibson City. Homan will talk about current expansion and future plans for Gibson Area Hospital.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois would pour $41.5 billion into state construction projects over six years to rebuild and maintain roads, mass transit, schools and affordable housing, raise recreation areas, expand broadband and more under a plan Gov. J.B. Pritzker sketched out Friday. It would mean a doubled motor fuel tax, to 38 cents per gallon at the pump, and registering a car less than three years old would cost $199 a year, up from $100.

 

(CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Southern Illinois University Arena has a new name, thanks to the largest corporate naming rights agreement in the history of the Carbondale campus. The Southern Illinoisan reports after 55 years, SIU Arena is now the Banterra Center. The basketball arena is now named for Banterra Bank, which has 40 branches across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri. The naming agreement guarantees $4 million to SIUC in the first 10 years.

 

(Springfield--jc) One Republican leader in Springfield says the state has the ability to get to a balanced budget without raising taxes. Republican House Leader Jim Durkin says the surplus from April is the proof…

 

 

Republican House Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- The brick fundraiser for the Paxton Grand Ole Flag project has started. The group is selling bricks of 4 by 8 for 100 dollars and 8 by 8 for 250 dollars. The bricks can be personalized. More information is found by contacting the Frederick Bank in Paxton or on line at thats-my-brick-dot-com-forward-slash-paxtonflag

These bricks will line the walkway to and the area surrounding a special flagpole behind the Paxton Jr. High/High School. All proceeds from these bricks will go towards the purchase of a flagpole that will measure 150 feet, and will be the tallest structure in the city of Paxton. The flag hanging from the pole will measure 30 by 60 feet.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Two generations of an Illinois family have worked to recreate grassland habitats in an effort to save the endangered prairie chicken. The Chicago Tribune reports that the birds once numbered in the millions across the state but there are now about 200 left. The United Nations' Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services published a pioneering scientific study this week on biodiversity. The study found that 1 million species, including the prairie chicken, remain imperiled.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A 31-foot tall statue of Abraham Lincoln will make its debut this week in Springfield after stops in Chicago and Peoria. The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports the 19-ton sculpture named "Return Visit" will be located in front of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum starting Wednesday. It is scheduled to stay there through September 2020. The statue depicts Lincoln standing with a modern-day man holding the Gettysburg Address.

 

(Rantoul--jc)  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Champaign and Ford Counties has several mentoring programs from school to community based mentoring. Big Brothers Big Sisters Director Kristian Hopkins says the group uses various ways to help area kids…

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Director Kristian Hopkins

(Paxton--jc) -- The Academic Awards program at Paxton Buckley Loda High School is set for tomorrow night at 7. The awards will be handed out  in the high school commons area. A reception begins at 6-15 on Tuesday night.