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Minimum wage set to increase on January 1 2020

(Springfield-jm) -- In less than a month, employers with minimum-wage employees in Illinois will have to raise wages. The state’s minimum wage is on its way to $15 an hour by 2025. Beginning on New Year’s Day, the minimum wage goes up from $8.25 to $9.25 an hour. There will be a second increase to $10 an hour on July 1, 2020. Then $1 more per year until the minimum wage hits $15 an hour.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A decline in hunter participation could mean less conservation funding in Illinois. The decline is part of a nationwide trend and has been occurring for nearly half a century. Jared Duquette, who manages the Wildlife and Hunter Heritage Program for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said that hunting plays an important role in the economy and the environment. A survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2016 says that around 5 percent of Americans older than 16 hunt, which is about half of the number around 50 years ago with no signs of it trending upward. Last year, the state received $13.1 million from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- PRIDE in Paxton along with the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual Business Open House this weekend. Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Alan Meyer talks about the Business Open House…

 

 

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Alan Meyer. The parade that was originally scheduled for last Saturday will take place at 1:30 pm this Saturday. You can hear it here on 104.9 WPXN.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A new business in downtown Paxton is holding their grand opening this weekend. Junebug Crafty Gifts is opening at 165 S. Market Street in downtown Paxton. After this weekends grand opening, the store will be open regularly Wednesday through Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm.

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- Nearly 70 students across the 53rd State Senate District were in Bloomington recently as part of State Senator Jason Barickman’s Youth Advisory Council. Students learned about state government and discussed issues with Senator Barickman. The Youth Advisory Council is open to high school students in the 53rd District.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- The U.S. ag industry is looking forward to lower tariffs and improved market access to Japan after that nation's legislative body approved a mini-trade deal between the two countries. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Whether 2019 was a good year for Illinois taxpayers depends on who you ask. Lawmakers passed a series of major laws, including cannabis legalization, expanded gambling and a $45 billion multi-year infrastructure plan. That came with increased taxes and fees, which included doubling the state’s gas tax. State Rep. Carol Ammons of Urbana, said this year has been historic. State Sen. Robert Martwick,  of Chicago, said taxpayers should be pleased with the state budget, which he said was balanced. State Rep. Darren Bailey of Xenia, had a different take. He said taxpayers in his southern Illinois district are fired up.Taxpayers are on the hook for more than $134 billion in unfunded pension liabilities just for the state’s pension systems. Lawmakers left for the year after the fall session. They’re back in late January for the second year of the 101st General Assembly.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A group of Illinois Republicans asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker to call lawmakers back to Springfield this month to address corruption concerns amid federal probes into lawmakers and lobbyists. State Reps. Blaine Wilhour, Allen Skillicorn, Dan Caulkins, Brad Halbrook and Andrew Miller called for the governor to force lawmakers to return for a special session with the sole purpose of addressing political corruption. Pritzker Wednesday afternoon signed measures aimed at strengthening ethics laws in the General Assembly. One bill will require more detail about a lawmakers monetary interest disclosures when they begin a new term. Another creates the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform, a task force that will provide recommendations to the governor and General Assembly on how to further strengthen ethics laws by March 31st of 2020. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Nonprofit groups across Illinois used Giving Tuesday to highlight the work they do, including Honor Flight groups that fly military veterans to Washington D.C. for reflection and honor. Steven Wheeler, the veteran coordinator for Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, which covers more than 30 counties in central Illinois, said the three-day trips to D.C. the nonprofit organizes are free for the veterans. The group relies on donations to pay for the expenses. Land of Lincoln Honor Flight has facilitated trips for more than 4,000 veterans.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Santa will be making several stops in Paxton this holiday season. The jolly old man has when he will be in town…

 

 

Santa.


 

 

(Thomasboro-jm) -- The Thomasboro Grade School Board has new leadership. William Wilken and Dallas Johnson were voted to be the board’s President and Vice President respectively. Wilken, who previously served as the board vice president, takes over for Jane Sprandel who resigned recently.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Elevator repairs will likely be coming to the Ford County Courthouse. The county building commission discussed the repairs recently. It’s estimated to cost around $134,000 and could take up to 9 weeks to complete. Committee members expressed concern not only with the price tag but also the amount of time the elevator will be down. The engineering group hired to plan the project will look into ADA accommodations while the elevator is down. Work on the elevator in the jail is on hold. That project could cost upwards of $112,000.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- The Trump Administration announced Wednesday changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue talks about the changes…

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- When the state of Illinois cuts a check, its remitting payment in one of the most expensive and least secure methods possible. Adopting new ways to pay, according to a report from the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute, could not only protect against fraud, but save people who don't have a bank account money on check-cashing fees. The state pays people and businesses in several ways for several purposes, including direct deposit for child support disbursements, EBT cards for food assistance and cash for lottery winnings. In 2018, state agencies paid out more than $1.3 billion in paper checks, according to the report. With one in five Illinoisans lacking any type of bank account, this means extra costs and security issues.

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