(Springfield--ba)  -- People who have firearm owner identification cards may soon need to be fingerprinted under legislation passed this week in the Illinois House. Under legislation approved in the Illinois House  this week, fingerprints would be required for anyone who applies for or renews a Firearms Owners Identification Card.   The fingerprint data base would be available to the Illinois State Police investigating other cases. The measure passed 62 to 52 and now goes to the Senate. 106th district State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson voted against the bill and spoke against it during floor debate.

 

 

State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City

 

 

State Representative Dan Caulkins of Decatur voted against the bill and spoke against it during floor debate.

 

 

State Representative Dan Caulkins of Decatur

The issue is now in the Illinois Senate today

 

Springfield--jc)  -- Illinois is below the middle of the pack when it comes to best and worst states for jobs.Consumer finance website WalletHub ranked Illinois No. 31.Of the factors reviewed, Illinois had the 45th worst commute time, was 39th for unemployment rate, 38th for job satisfaction, 35th for job opportunity and 30th for employment growth.

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- The state of Illinois is looking to start putting away some money for kids to go to college.The Illinois Senate on Wednesday approved a plan that would set aside $50 for all kids born or adopted in the state after Jan. 1, 2021. State Senator Pat McGuire said the idea is to save something for college.State Senator Jacqueline Collins said $50 isn't much, but anything helps. The state is setting aside $10 million to start the saving accounts. The plan now goes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk.

 

 

(Washington--ba)-Severe weather events are bad enough, but when the bad weather keeps coming, it's really a problem. USDA’s Gary Crawford reports.

 

 

 

 

(Springfield--ba)-Governor J-B Pritzker has activated the Illinois National Guard to help with flooding along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.  Historic flooding is affecting many communities and the forecast continues to call for more rain. Governor Pritzker says this is a grave situation and that the state is here to help.

 

 

Governor J-B Pritzker

 

(Paxton--ba) --  A local mobile food pantry event is being held in Paxton next month. Paxton Mobile Food Pantry Spokesperson  Judy Popel says to sign up and make sure to bring boxes for the food...

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Paxton Mobile Food Pantry Spokesperson Judy Popel

 

(Gibson City--jc)  --One local church has made its last payment on the church property and they are celebrating on Sunday. The Gibson City Bible Church has been located along Route 47 since 2003. Church goers will take part in a lunch and free concert in the 26 thousand square foot facility on June 2nd.Church services begin at 10-30 on Sunday morning

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- On the menu at the Paxton IGA cookout on Saturday is pork chop sandwiches, chips and soda.The money raised goes to the Knights and Columbus. The cookout runs from 10am to 2pm.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Democrats who control the Illinois House on Thursday approved tiered income-tax rates that would take effect if voters opt for revamping state taxation to hit higher incomes harder, a plan they say is aimed at attacking the state's crippling debt. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

 

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Senate will take up expanded protections for abortion after committee endorsement. The Public Health Committee approved Grayslake Democratic Sen. Melinda Bush's measure Thursday. Abortion is legal in Illinois because decades-old statutes restricting it have been overruled by court rulings. But at least six Republican-leaning states have curbed abortion rights. Conservatives hope that legal challenges on the issue will persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to repeal legalized abortion.

 

(Springfield--ba)  --People who have firearm owner identification cards may soon need to be fingerprinted under legislation passed this week in the Illinois House. Under legislation,  fingerprints would be required for anyone who applies for or renews a Firearms Owners Identification Card.   The fingerprint data base would be available to the Illinois State Police investigating other cases. The measure passed 62 to 52.

 

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The man who became the first U.S. priest to be labeled sexually violent for crimes in Illinois has admitting abusing two boys in Missouri. Fred Lenczycki pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts for crimes that occurred in the early 1990s. He was serving at a parish in north St. Louis County at the time. The 74-year-old now lives in suburban Chicago. Church and court files say he has admitted abusing as many as 30 boys in Illinois, Missouri and California. He was removed from the ministry in 2002.

 

(Paxton--ba) --  The Grand Ole Flag project is proceeding with a June 14th launch date for fundraising. Paxton Fire Chief Denny Kingrien says the plan is to start the paver bricks fundraiser on flag day in June....

 

Paxton Fire Chief and Paxton Grand Ole Flag Spokesperson Denny Kingren

 

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Midwestern farmers are enduring a spring like no other. Most of the nation's corn and soybeans are grown in the Midwest, and farmers in the region have for years struggled with low prices that got even worse due to a trade dispute between the U.S. and China. Amid those problems, farmers haven't been able to plant because of seemingly endless storms. President Donald Trump promised $16 billion in aid but that led to confusion because details about the payments won't be released until later.

 

(Springfield--ba) Students in the top 10 percent of their graduating class will be automatically admitted to some state universities under a bill headed to the governor’s desk. The idea is to help keep students in Illinois and increase minority enrollment. Graduates in the top 10 percent who also meet a college’s S-A-T or A-C-T requirements will be accepted automatically. Representative Andre Thapedi of Chicago says it only applies to Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Illinois universities.

 

 

Representative Andre Thapedi of Chicago

 

(Melvin--)  --Appearing tomorrow at the Melvin Community Hall is Stillgrass. They provide a celebration of song with foot stompin’ fun, back porch harmonies and a harvest of tone. Doors open at 5:30pm. Show starts at 7pm. Adults $10 kids 10 and under are free. Food will be served by the melvin United Methodist Church.

 

(Potomac--jc)  --- The Potomac library will be closed starting Monday and running through Thursday next week. The reason is so Director Elizabeth Osborn can attend a workshop in the state capitol. Summer hours at the library starting the following week will be 10am to 3pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays/