JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — High damage costs from devastating floods are prompting more states to take a long-term look at ways to guard against future floods. An Associated Press analysis of preliminary assessments has identified about $1.2 billion of damage to roads, buildings and other infrastructure from storms and floods in the first half of 2019. Some states are studying ways to shore up their levee systems while also directing more money toward flood protection.

 

(Bloomington--jc) The second college admission scandal has elected state leaders wondering how to legislate the issue. A report by ProPublica highlighted a practice by which Illinois parents exploit a legal loophole, ceding guardianship of their children during high school, often to a friend or family member. Reaction from local State Representative Dan Brady of Bloomington…

 

 

State Representative Dan Brady of Bloomington

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- The high dive show is back at the Illinois State Fair this year. Updating our story from Saturday, the high divers have been gone for a few years. This year they are back in the middle of the fairgrounds says Watershow Production Director Dana Kunze…

 

 

Watershow Production Director Dana Kunze

The shows go on each four times between 1pm and 8pm The Illinois State Fair continues through August 18th.

 

(Springfield--jc)  -- The Illinois State Board of Education is offering free activity guides at the Illinois State Fair. The Lieutenant Governor’s tent on Main street has the free guides says I-S-B-E Spokesperson Angelique Hamilton…

 

 

I-S-B-E Spokesperson Angelique Hamilton

 

 

(Gibson City--jc)  -- A Gibson City man built it and a Paxton man helped seal it. A picnic table built by Wayne Link of Gibson City and finished by Larry Carter of Paxton is set to be delivered to the V-A in Danville. The table was part of a fundraiser for the 7th annual Mid-Summer Fun Run sponsored by the Ford County Old Times and Gibson City American Legion. The table also features signatures  from the group.

 

(Springfield--jc) The Grand Champion Poultry at this year’s Illinois State Fair is a project from rural Paxton. Faith Foster of Paxton  is the owner of the project that finished tops at the state fair. Congratulations to Faith Foster and the winning poultry project.

 

(Rankin--jc)  A public meeting on a proposed marijuana business near Rankin is set for tomorrow night in the Vermilion County town. The hearing takes place at 6-30 Tuesday night at the Rankin Lion’s Club building. Rankin resident,  Daiven Kayne Michael Emling, is considering locating his proposed cannabis cafe, bakery and dispensary. Emling plans to outlay plans for his operation on Tuesday night. Recreational marijuana becomes legal in Illinois on January First.

 

 

(Gibson City--jc)  -- Gibson City leaders are set to meet on tonight and considered several special licenses for the Fall Harvest Fest event. They include licenses for the American Legion, Burgers and Beer,  and Railside Golf course. Council members will also hear an insurance proposal from P-M-A District Manager Scott Knapp. A purchase of a new police vehicle is also on the agenda. The Gibson City Council meets at 7 tonight.

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CHICAGO (AP) — The University of Illinois has launched a two-year study and is offering free soil tests to home gardeners and urban farmers across the Chicago area.It's called the Chicago Safe Soils Initiative . Professor Andrew Margenot is the leader of the project and he says that cities can often be "hotspots" for heavy metals like lead.

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  Add the Paxton Evangelical Covenant Church to the list of  recipients for the Paxton I-G-A’s charitable rebate program. The local church received a 1 thousand dollar check on Friday. The local group presented the Paxton I-G-A with 200 thousand dollars in grocery receipts.

 

PRAIRIE DU ROCHER, Ill. (AP) — The fate of a Mississippi River levee that's awaiting a federal accreditation decision could put a southern Illinois village at risk of flooding. Village President Ray Cole says if the levee in Prairie du Rocher loses FEMA recognition, homeowners' flood insurance premiums could spike by double digits from about $400 a year. The Southern Illinoisan reports that a study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found the levee needs millions of dollars in upgrades to meet FEMA regulations on seepage.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — The Illinois Republican Party's chairman is urging President Donald Trump not to follow through on the idea he broached of freeing imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Tim Schneider said in a written statement Friday that officials found guilty should serve their full sentences, especially in a state where he says "corrupt, machine-style politics is still all too common." Trump said Wednesday he thought the seven years the Democrat Blagojevich has served so far for corruption was enough.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Health officials say at least six young people were recently hospitalized in Illinois after experiencing severe breathing problems possibly related to vaping. The Illinois Department of Public Health says the young people experienced symptoms that included chest pains, shortness of breath and vomiting. The Chicago Sun-Times reports those affected vaped days and weeks before their hospitalization.

 

(Bloomington--jc)  U-S Route 136 will be closed starting next Monday for about a week at a railroad crossing in McLean. The Union Pacific railroad is making improvements along the tracks. The work should take around 5 days to complete.

 

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  --Illinois is in the process of implementing the largest infrastructure plan in the state’s history.The specifics of the plan were left largely obscured until Governor J.B. Pritzker enacted it. Now that details have been released, infrastructure experts have pointed to areas where taxpayers should be aware of potential extra costs. The breakdown of costs released in June by the governor’s office showed three-quarters of the total funds, more than $33 billion, would go to “horizontal” infrastructure, mostly roads, bridges, mass transit, and similar projects. The rest is devoted to “vertical” infrastructure, a broader range of projects such as improvements to existing schools, government structures, and new projects. 

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  The Illinois State Fair Coliseum is now back in business. The 60 thousand square foot three story structure was built in 19-0h-1. The structure was repaired over the years, but was condemned in 20-16. Ag Deputy Director Warren Goesch says it is now the “Crown Jewel” of the fair…

 

 

Illinois Ag Deputy Director Warren Goesch

 

 

SAVOY, Ill. (AP) — The family of a Chinese scholar whose body was never recovered after her 2017 slaying gathered at a memorial service that included only her photograph and their own memories of her life. On Friday at a memorial service near the University of Illinois' Urbana-Champaign where Yingying Zhang attended school, her father spoke of a loving daughter who worked hard and would do anything to help her friends.

 

(Washington--jc)  -- Where are some of the global areas to be highlighted in USDA's latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Rod Bain reports…

 

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  One downtown Paxton business is set to close it’s brick-and-mortar store in the near future. The Central Lean store will close after 8 years in operation in the city. The announcement was made on the store’s facebook page.  No final date was provided. Company officials say the operation for product will continue with deliveries from the farm.

 

 

(Paxton--jc) the First Paxton Senior Fair was a success on Saturday. The event took place at Pells Park in Paxton. Around 25 vendors offered services, free giveaways to those attending the free event. More than 150 people came to the event at the pavilion on Saturday.