(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 Gov. 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 roads and bridges. The rest is devoted to “vertical” infrastructure, a broader range of projects such as improvements to schools and local government structures. Some of the vertical projects have been criticized as unnecessary. Critics have said the state’s fiscal condition should be addressed before building pickleball courts.
(Paxton--jc) -- Fundraising for the Paxton Grand Ole Flag project is progressing nicely. Spokesperson Denny Kingren says fundraising started two months ago and the group is about half way to the goal…
Paxton Grand Ole Flag Spokesperson Denny Kingren of Paxton. The group has a target date of 20-20 Flag Day June 14th to have the 30 by 60 foot flag up on a 150 foot pole on Paxton’s west side near Interstate 57.
(St. Joseph--ba) Approving the 20-20 tentative budget is one topic for discussion for the St. Joseph Community School District tonight. The school board is expected to move a permanent transfer of $728,000 from the education fund to the working cash fund. The meeting comes to order in the grade school conference room at 6-30 tonight.
(Gifford--jc) -- St Paul’s Church of Gifford is sponsor a food distribution event on Saturday in Rantoul. The site is the Community Service Center in the village. The food will be handed out starting at 9 Saturday morning. Low-income residents of Champaign County are eligible to participate.
(Springfield--ba) -- Veterans were honored at the state fair with special ceremonies and with a parade. Illinois Emergency Management Agency Acting Director and retired Brigadier General Alicia Tate Nadeau spoke to the crowd and looked to the future.
I-EMA Acting Director Brigadier General Alicia Tate Nadeau
(Paxton--jc) -- Some building maintenance to the E-M-S building in downtown Paxton is a topic for local leaders when they meet tonight in monthly session. Paxton City council members are also expected to approve closing portions of streets around the Eastland School property as that property will be torn down this month. A discussion and look at an ordinance for the selling of recreational marijuana is also set for tonight. The Paxton City Council meets at 7 tonight on the second floor of city hall
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A newly released study says if Asian carp reach Lake Michigan, they probably would find enough food to spread farther. The invasive fish have infested the Mississippi River and dozens of tributaries. Some experts have questioned whether there's enough plankton in Lake Michigan to sustain the fish away from the shoreline. The lake has seen a drop-off in plankton. But a report released Monday by University of Michigan scientists says the carp could feed on other organic material.
(Springfield--ba) -- They were hog-callers and husband callers at the state fair. There were also two repeat winners. The first is Petersburg resident Shirley Flickinger…
Shirley Flickinger of Petersburg
Vermilion County resident Andrew Metheny of Georgetown also had the winning call…
Georgetown’s Andrew Metheny
The Illinois state fair runs through Sunday in Springfield
(Undated--jc) -- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is pushing to abolish the federal death penalty after President Donald Trump’s administration announced it will be resuming executions again for the first time since 2003. Durbin’s bill would “prohibit the imposition of the death penalty for any violation of Federal law, and for other purposes.Illinois eliminated the death penalty eight years ago.
(Undated--jc) Several area communities continue to look at the idea of a marijuana business operating locally. They include, Paxton, Gibson City, Rantoul St. Joseph and Monticello. Two communities have said no to the idea in their communities. The Pantagraph says El Paso and Morton have voted not to pursue marijuana sales. The recreational use of marijuana becomes legal on January First.
(Washington--ba) How does USDA's August crop production forecast - including recent survey data from corn and soybean growers compare to what trade analysts were expecting from this month's reports Rod Bain reports...
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Forecasters are warning of dangerously hot weather across a wide stretch of the U.S. South and Midwest. The National Weather Service says parts of 13 states are under heat advisories, from Texas, Louisiana and Florida in the South to Missouri and Illinois in the Midwest. Monday temperatures in the 90s combined with humidity made it feel like 110 degrees across much of the region, and the heat index could reach 115 degrees in parts of the Deep South.
(Rantoul--ba) The annual Luke Remington Cancer Walk is set for September at Rantoul Township High School Event Spokesperson Sue Sawyer says the event provides fun and fellowship for those participating....
Luke Remington Cancer Walk Spokesperson Sue Sawyer
(Springfield--jc) 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City is set to serve on an Illinois House committee to look at property tax issues in Illinois. Bennett says finding solutions to high property taxes is a key for growth in the state…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City
(Springfield--jc) -- There was plenty of time for fieldwork as we hear in the weekly crop report. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 93 percent of corn is now silking…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener
80 percent of soybeans are blooming and 49 percent are setting pods.
(St Joseph--jc) -- St Joseph village leaders are looking into an Oslad grant for use by the village when they meet tonight. Council members will discuss audit services and are looking to hire Hap Industries for Christmas decoration. The St Joseph monthly meeting comes to order at 7 tonight.
(Gibson City--jc) A railroad crossing project in Gibson City will take about a week to complete. The Northfolk Southern Railroad crossing at the intersections of Illinois 9, Illinois 47 and Illinois 54 will close for a week beginning next monday. The crossing is set to be rebuilt. Motorists can expect delays during the reconstruction project. In updating our story from yesterday, the railroad is set to do a similar project starting next Monday in McLean.
