(Washington-jm) -- Illinois’ Congressional delegation appears to be split along party lines after the U.S. House announced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Majority Democrats in the U.S. House announced two articles of impeachment they plan to vote on before the Christmas break. While some Illinois representatives have already taken a position on the issues, Naperville Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster’s office said the Congressman will review the articles, but didn’t have an immediate response. U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria, said this close to the 2020 election, Congress should take a step back. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Gov. J.B. Pritkzer on Tuesday laid out some of his legislative priorities for next year, including tighter ethics rules for elected officials. After signing a bill on workforce diversity, Pritzker was asked his priorities for the 2020 legislative session that starts in late January. The governor said work was needed on pensions, expanding early childhood education, criminal justice reform, and reducing the price of healthcare, child care and education. The Illinois legislature has been marred by indictments of lawmakers, office raids by federal authorities, at least one wire-wearing state senator and other allegations of unethical behavior involving legislators and lobbyists. The governor said ethics reforms would be a legislative priority for next year.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a new law to help diversify the workforce tackling new capital projects in Illinois. The law includes a 25 million dollar investment in recruiting and training new apprentices to work on the construction projects. The goal is to reach populations underrepresented in the trades industry. Governor Pritzker says as Illinois rebuilds and repairs, people will be put to work…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The law also sets up a review panel to help ensure contractors are hiring a diverse workforce.

 

 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — University of Illinois athletic officials say football fans have been thirstier than expected. Memorial Stadium beer sales totaled roughly $488,000 at home games. When school officials announced plans earlier this year to sell beer, they predicted sales in the low six figures. Sales were strongest during three Big Ten football games: Nebraska, Michigan and Wisconsin. The lowest came during a sparsely attended loss to Northwestern two days after Thanksgiving. Campus police say fan arrest and ejection statistics have been consistent with previous years. Officials say revenue will be split between the university's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and Spectra, which provides concessions for athletic events.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- AG Secretary Sonny Perdue is welcoming a breakthrough on the USMCA deal with two of this country's most important agricultural markets. Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

The Illinois Manufacturer’s Association along with the American Soybean Association applauded the announcement. According to the American Soybean Association, Mexico is the number 2 market for whole beans, meal and oil. Canada is the number 4 buyer of meal and number 7 buyer of oil.

(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton-Buckley-Loda School Board is expected to approve their tax levy at tonight’s school board meeting. In addition, school board members will hear the latest on the demolition of Eastlawn Elementary and could consider an intergovernmental agreement with the Ford County Sheriff’s office. A tax levy hearing for the Paxton-Buckley-Loda School Board will take place at 6pm with the monthly meeting to follow.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Some Rantoul residents will soon receive a survey in the mail asking them about their gas service in the village. The villages gas division is evaluating the public awareness program aiming to share natural gas safety information with residents on the base. The surveys can be completed online or by mail.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Those looking to celebrate the Christmas holiday season can do so at the State Street Mall. The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce is holding their first Jingle and Mingle says Chamber President Alan Meyer…

 

 

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Alan Meyer.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Lawmakers diverted nearly $30 million over the past five years from Illinois State Police funds to cover other government spending, something a statewide gun-rights group said was unacceptable. About 2.3 million Illinoisans hold a Firearm Owners' Identification Card that allows them to buy and own firearms. The card costs $10 for 10 years with $6 going to the Wildlife and Fish Fund, $3 to the State Police Firearm Services Fund and $1 for the State Police Services Fund. Concealed carry licenses cost $150 for five years. Of that, $120 goes to the State Police Firearm Services Fund, $20 goes to the Mental Health Reporting Fund and $10 goes to the State Crime Laboratory. The State Police Firearm Services Fund is meant to administer the state’s Firearm Owner Identification Card law, conduct background checks for firearms-related services and concealed-carry licensing. A memo from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability sent to state Rep. Kieth Wheeler, R-Oswego, in September showed that in fiscal years 2015 through 2019 more than $13 million was swept from the State Police Firearm Services Fund for other purposes.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — State officials have approved two more cultivation centers to grow marijuana ahead of the start of legal recreational sales next year. The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced sites in Shelbyville and Albion on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cultivation centers to 16. Initially, only cultivation centers that have been licensed to grow medical marijuana can apply for recreational use. The other centers are in cities including Aurora, Dwight and Joliet. Sales start Jan. 1. Michigan also recently began legal sales of recreational marijuana after voters approved it last year.

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois State Board of Education has submitted its proposed rules for how schools can restrain students who exhibit dangerous behavior. The rules filed Tuesday seek to protect children and faculty from outbursts but ban the use of prone restraints except as a last resort and the practice of locking such students in timeout rooms all by themselves. The rules were drafted in response to a report last month by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica that found that public schools were misusing timeout rooms. They will be open to public comment until Feb. 4.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Fire Marshal’s Office is offering some tips to stay safe during this holiday season. Christmas lights, candles and dried out trees all pose a fire hazard says Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz. That’s why it’s important to keep your tree well watered and to make sure your lights are used only as intended. Additionally…

 

 

State Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz. According to the National Fire Protection Association, two out of every five home decoration fires occur because the decorations are too close to a heat source. More than a third are started by candles.

 

 

URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A former assistant pastor of an Illinois church has been accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in the congregation. The News-Gazette reports 48-year-old Roger VanRaden was arraigned Monday on sexual assault and abuse charges in a Champaign County courtroom. He was released from jail after posting bond and ordered back to court Jan. 21. The Associated Press left a message for a public defender assigned to his case. Prosecutors say the charges stem from contact he had with the girl from about 2015 to August of this year. Investigators say most of the incidents happened at Faith Baptist Church in Champaign.

 

 

(Fisher-jm) -- The Fisher school district is seeking a 15 percent balloon levy increase this year. The district is looking to capture all available tax money. The district however, is limited to just one point nine percent due to a tax cap in Champaign County. It’s estimated to bring in about $4 million.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- More than 17,000 high school students in Illinois are being recognized by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for outstanding academic achievement. WPXN’s Jason Madden has the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley  High School scholars…

 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Business after Hours this week. The event will take place at the Knights of Columbus on Thursday from 5:30-7:30 pm. The event will feature an ugly sweater contest and 50/50 raffle among other things.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- 2020 is an election year. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says that will impact issues being voted on at the state capitol when they return for the spring session in January…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- University of Illinois schools will no longer ask applicants about their criminal past until after they’re accepted into the university.  The U of I announced that it will no longer include a question on its application asking about criminal convictions. School officials could initiate a process to deliberate whether or not to rescind the invitation to attend after acceptance. Advocates like William Vavrin, a U of I alumni and founder of Yes Apply Illinois, said removing the question on the front end was a good first step, but asking about criminal history in the second part of acceptance shouldn’t be done.  Most applicants who have to admit to a criminal past don’t complete the application after seeing they must “check the box,” Vavrin said.