(Springfield--jc)  Some major laws signed by Illinois’ governor will soon go through the rules process.The cartoon classic "Schoolhouse Rock" explained how a bill becomes a law in the U.S. Congress. The process is similar in the Illinois state legislature. But how laws are ultimately enacted in Illinois is another story.State Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, is on the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules, or JCAR. That’s a body with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans from both chambers who hammer out details on how some laws will be implemented by the various state agencies.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois will get over $7 million in Equifax's $700 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and others over a 2017 data breach that exposed private information of nearly 150 million people. The proposed settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will provide up to $425 million in monetary relief to consumers. Federal officials coordinated the investigation with attorneys general nationwide, including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois Republican group has apologized and removed from its Facebook page a post that showed images of four Democratic congresswomen who have been criticized by President Donald Trump and referred to them as the "Jihad Squad." The post appeared Friday night on the Republican County Chairman's Association page.

 

(Rantoul--dg)  --The Half Century of Progress vintage farm show is one month away. The 4 day event runs from August 22 through the 25th on the Former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul. With over 700 acres to work with, Half Century of Progress Spokesperson JC Reitmeir says it’s the largest show in the United States.

 

 

Half Century of Progress Spokesperson JC Reitmeir

 

(St Joseph--jc)  One Champaign County Community is set to hear a presentation from the Vermilion County Land bank when they meet tonight in monthly session. The St Joseph village board is also expected to discuss options for the village with the legalization of marijuana and what the village plans to offer or not offer in town. The St Joseph village board meets at 7 tonight. Hiring seasonal help and bike parking in the downtown area are also on tonight’s agenda. Monticello, Paxton and Gibson City are area towns considering action on the subject of legal marijuana use.

 

 

Big R Stores—the farm, home, and outdoor retailer founded in 1964—announced that it is changing its name to Stock & Field. The new name allows the brand to send a clear message about their offerings and commitment to providing every rural lifestyle enthusiast with a one-stop destination to gather all of the mission-critical products they need to pursue their work and hobbies. The retailer has operated under the Big R Stores name since 1964 when Bill and Pat Crabtree opened the first store in Watseka, Illinois. Since then, the company has grown to 25 locations across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan—including new stores opening soon in Portage, Wisconsin and Lansing, Michigan. The Stock & Field Lansing store will mark the Company’s first expansion into Michigan.

 

 

(Paxton--dg)  --The Knapp Miller Funeral Home in Paxton has new owners. Kendall Cox and K’lee McGeary have purchased the funeral home and the new name will be Cox Knapp Funeral Home. Owner Kendall Cox says he appreciates the opportunity the Knapp family has given him in being able to own a business in his home town.

 

 

Cox Knapp Funeral Home Owner Kendall Cox

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- It was a hot week for Illinois crops and winter wheat harvesting is almost complete as we hear in the weekly crop report. 94 percent of winter wheat is now out of the ground. Soybeans are blooming and 2 percent are setting pods says State Crop Statistician Brad Summa…

 

State Crop Statistician Brad Summa

 

 

(Urbana--jc)  -- Today is Senior Citizen Day at the Champaign County Fair. There is free gate admission for Seniors until 2pm. The gates open at 10. The Open Beef Show starts the day at 8-30 this morning. Marvin Lee and Friends performs at 10am. Activities for Seniors go from 10am until 2pm. The carnival opens at 5 with Harness Racing at 7. WPXN will be broadcasting live from 12-30 until 2. It’s summer fun tour stop 14.

 

(Springfield--jc)  --Participants in a roundtable discussion Monday in Springfield are seeking ways to combat a shortage of trained professionals in the healthcare industry. Among the issues raised by U.S. Representative Rodney Davis and Illinois health professionals were immigration and education. Davis,a Republican from Taylorville, said the demand for nurses, doctors and facilities is going to explode as the Baby Boomer generation will demand more healthcare resources. Davis says we do not  have enough physicians, we do not have enough nurses, and we do not have enough facilities in rural areas of this country,

 

 

(Undated--jc) --  A conservative former state lawmaker who resigned to nearly defeat incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner last year is entering the race for Congress but Rauner’s lieutenant governor stands in the way.Former state Rep Jeanne Ives formally announced Sunday that she would run for Illinois’ sixth Congressional seat.She positioned herself as a coalition builder who would restore civil discussions in Washington’s highly charged environment in her new campaign ad released  this week.

 

 

(Springfield--jc )  -- The weekly crop crop report shows 94 percent of the winter wheat crop harvest.  Also 36 percent of corn is silking and 1 percent is in the dough stage. State Crop Statistician Brad Summa says 96 percent of soybeans have now bloomed…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Brad Summa

Topsoil moisture is rated as 1 percent very short, 19 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.

(Ford County--jc)  A five mile stretch of Route 115 in Ford County remains closed today. I-Dot Officials say a box culvert repair project will keep the road closed for the remainder of this week.  Motorists should take other routes around the construction area. State Police continue to remind the motoring public to slow down, move over and drive extra careful in construction zone areas.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- The Illinois Department of Labor is reminding employers they need to have health and safety information posted in the workplace. The poster lists employee rights and employer  responsibilities says Illinois Occupation Safety and Health Administration Director Ben Noven…

 

 

Illinois Occupation, Safety and Health Administration Director Ben Noven

 

 

(Paxton--jc) Plans continue for the Swine and Dine Festival in Paxton. The Chamber and City say the day begins with the grilling competition. A bags tournament, food trucks, inflatables and music also hilite the one day event. This year’s event takes place on Saturday September 21st in downtown Paxton. A free concert featuring Johnny McGuire and Jerrod Neimann is set for the downtown area that night.

 

(Washington--jc)  -- Some more key numbers coming out with the latest U-S-D-A cattle inventory report. U-S-D-A Livestock Analyst Shayle Shagam has some numbers…

 

 

U-S-D-A Analyst Shayle Shagum

 

(Paxton--jc)  With the recent hot and humid weather, the city of Paxton Christmas Committee is announcing the theme for this year’s Christmas Parade. Its Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The parade steps off on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. The group will be standing along several street corners in downtown Paxton on July 27th for donations to help with expenses for this year’s parade.