(Undated--jc)  --A proposal that would give teachers still in college an additional year of state aid in exchange for committing to teach in Illinois for three years is scheduled for what could be a contentious hearing. State Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 1809. If enacted, the measure would extend Monetary Award Program grant funding to the extra schooling teachers must get before being certified with the state, but only if they agree to work at an Illinois school for at least three of their next five years.Illinois’ Monetary Award Program grants low-income college students tuition assistance. It’s a finite pool of money that’s awarded by the Illinois Study.

 

 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Officials at the University of Illinois have named a new vice chancellor for research and innovation. Susan Martinis has been serving in the role on an interim basis since September 2017 and was named a permanent replacement earlier this month, pending a vote by the Board of Trustees. Martinis oversaw several initiatives, including university-wide research centers while she held the job on an interim basis. She’s also credited with strengthening the business infrastructure around university research.

 

Houston Plumbing Heating and Cooling is the WPXN Business of the Day today. Business manager Lisa Pearman talks about being a Carrier dealer.

 

 

Houston Plumbing Heating & Cooling Business manager Lisa Pearman

 

URBANA, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs has served on a jury in central Illinois. The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports Frerichs served Monday and Tuesday in Champaign County for a case involving retail theft. He says the verdict was guilty. County officials say prospective jurors are selected from a database that comes from several records including driver’s licenses, registered voters, people who have applied for unemployment.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is urging the public to prepare for winter weather. Winter hasn’t officially started yet, but many areas of Illinois have already seen snow with more expected today. I-EMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark says it’s good to be ready for whatever mother nature throws our way…

 

Illinois Emergency Management Agency Spokesperson Rebecca Clark. Those kits should include water, blankets, flashlights, extra batteries and first aid supplies. Officials say this is also a good time to throw an ice scraper in the car, winterize your home and change your furnace filter. 

 

 

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is giving an Illinois legal aid group $30,000 to educate farmworkers about and to do research on pesticides. The EPA said in a recent statement that the money going to Legal Aid Chicago will, among other things, help it survey corn-detasseling workers and fruit harvesters in Illinois on their knowledge of pesticide use. It says the goal is to improve the health of migrant farmworkers.Legal Aid Chicago says Illinois’ Department of Agriculture has received a record number of nearly 1,000 complaints in 2019 on alleged misuse of pesticides. It says that’s ten times recent averages and illustrates the need for better education.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA has made very few changes to its previous corn production estimate. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul Fire Department is looking to continue updating their fleet. The department purchased a new rescue pumper for $564,000 and a new tanker for $300,000 a few years ago. Now the department is looking to upgrade their ladder truck. The current ladder truck is from 1985 and isn’t able to fully meet the departments needs. A new ladder truck is estimated to cost about one point two million dollars.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Texas Roadhouse is once again offering veterans a free lunch for Veterans Day. The lunch is for active and retired service members when they show their military or VA card. Local locations participating include the Texas Roadhouse in Champaign and Bradley.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- The Gibson City city council will consider a Class A liquor license for a business at tonight’s council meeting. Niemann Foods, the parent company of County Market is requesting the license. Council members will also consider a farm lease. The Gibson City city council meeting gets underway at 7pm.

 

(Undated--jc) —  With U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a presidential candidate, proposing legislation that would target private equity firms' operations, the investment industry is going on the offensive with a campaign in Illinois and other states reminding Congress about the taxes it pays and the businesses it helps. Calling the industry “legalized looting” and writing in a Medium post that “private equity firms are like vampires – bleeding the company dry and walking away enriched even as the company succumbs,” Warren and other senators in July introduced the “Stop Wall Street Looting Act

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Calling “backward” the United States treatment of juveniles, Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli said she plans to ask the Illinois Supreme Court to reverse an Illinois Appellate Court decision last week that permits holding preteenagers in custody. Campanelli’s office represented a 12-year-old boy who was ordered confined in September 2018 by a Cook County judge, despite an ordinance passed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that barred the custodial detention of preteenagers. The appellate court, in a 2-1 decision handed down last week, upheld the circuit court ruling that the county board ordinance conflicted with state law and was not enforceable.

 

 

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Records and correspondence spanning the political career of retiring U.S. Rep. John Shimkus are headed to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The (Edwardsville) Intelligencer reports the Republican’s correspondence, photos and official papers will be housed at the Elijah P. Lovejoy Library. The 61-year-old announced earlier this year that he won’t seek re-election after more than 20 years in Congress. His sprawling district includes parts of central and southern Illinois.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is urging the public to prepare for winter weather. As the temperature begins to drop, it’s time to assess whether your family is prepared for winter. In Illinois that can mean freezing temperatures, ice storms, heavy snowfall and even tornadoes says I-EMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark…

 

 

I-EMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark. I-EMA reminds not to forget the special needs of pets, young children and the elderly when putting together an emergency supply kit. 

 

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Illinois state Sen. Chuck Weaver has applied to become the next president of Bradley University. The Republican is also up for 2020 re-election and says he’ll file petitions for another term. He says he’s let party leaders know his plans. They’ll take steps to choose a replacement candidate if Weaver’s chosen to lead the private university in Peoria and there isn’t another GOP candidate in the primary. Bradley University President Gary Roberts retires at the end of May 2020. Roughly 80 people have applied for the job.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- What did USDA have to say about soybeans in its new assessment? Gary Crawford has the details…

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Veterans Day services are being held around the area today. A service will be held at Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School this morning at 10:30 with a breakfast for veterans beforehand at 9:30. St. John’s Lutheran School in Buckley will hold a veterans service at 10 am. In Gifford, a breakfast at Gifford Grade School will begin at 8 with a service to follow at 8:30. In Gibson City, a service will be held at 9 am at GCMS High School, coffee and donuts will be available for veterans starting at 8:30 am.

 

Houston Plumbing Heating and Cooling is the WPXN Business of the Day today. Winter predictions show several below freezing temperatures in the near future. You’ll want to make sure your furnace is working properly. You can also take advantage of Cool Cash Savings. Business manager Lisa Pearman gives the number to call if you need service.

 

 

Houston Plumbing Heating & Cooling Business manager Lisa Pearman

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A public hearing on phase one of the Paxton streetscape project will be held in November. The city is looking to apply to use $1.14 million in revolving loan funds for the project which includes resurfacing Market Street from Orleans to Holmes Streets, new sidewalks in the 100 block of North Market and new pedestrian lighting. The public hearing will take place at 6:30 pm tomorrow night.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul Township High School school board members are expected to approve their tax levy at tonight’s meeting. In addition, members will discuss property tax relief. The Rantoul Township High School school board meeting gets underway at 7pm.