(Springfield-jm) -- Of all states, a national review ranked Illinois the 13th best state for drivers, but some measures, such as the cost of gas, held the state back. WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzalez said most drivers across the country may think the roads in their state are the worst, but Illinois scored well in terms of safety and access to vehicle maintenance. Looking at individual indicators, Illinois was fourth for repair shops per capita and seventh for dealers per capita.

 

 

PONTIAC, Ill. (AP) — A suspended state corrections officer pleaded not guilty Thursday in the Christmas Day shootings of his wife, adult son and another man in a small eastern Illinois community. Clifford Brewer, 53, of Cullom is charged with six counts of first-degree murder and remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bond. He is accused of shooting his wife, Shirley, 48; his son, Christian, 27; and neighbor Norman Walker, 51. They were all found in Brewer’s home with single gunshot wounds to their heads. If convicted, Brewer could face life in prison.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- You can start filing your state and federal tax returns next week. Monday is the first day for tax filing and Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Sam Salustro has this advice…

 

 

Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Sam Salustro. Salustro says the quickest way to get your refund is to file electronically and request direct deposit. Last year, about 88 percent of Illinois taxpayers opted to e-file.

(Rantoul-jm) -- Crews tearing down a building damaged by fire ran into issues this week. While demolition crews tearing down the building in the 100 block of South Tanner, a power pole was snapped causing a power outage in the downtown area. Crews also struck a water line causing a downtown business to lose water. The demotion of the structure continues

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police have released their recent activity. On January 21st, Wilbur Wright was arrested for misdemeanor battery, misdemeanor theft and probation violation following an incident at the south Casey’s in Paxton. On January 19th, Tyler Campe of Paxton was arrested for criminal trespass to a motor vehicle and violation of bond following a domestic dispute on East Pells St. On January 17th, Kirk Marvel of Ludlow was arrested for manufacturing meth, possession of meth with intent to deliver, possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and ticketed for driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- During the first year of the Trump administration's new tax law, 91 Fortune 500 companies didn't pay a dime in federal income tax, according to a new study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Mary Scheurmann reports…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Marijuana could be risky for patients on heart medications according to a new report from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The report says it could interact with common heart medications and could change how it works in the body.

 

The Loda American Legion will hold their fish and chicken fry tonight from 4:30-7:30 pm.

 

The Elliott Amvets will hold their all you can eat mountain oyster fry on Saturday, from 12-4 pm.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- An Illinois lawmaker wants to realign Illinois’ tax on inheritance to federal thresholds, something long sought by family farmers.  Currently, Illinois imposes an estate tax, sometimes called a “death tax,” of up to 16 percent. Combined with a top federal rate of 40 percent, some heirs face a tax of up to 56 percent, but the federal estate tax kicks in at just under $12 million while Illinois’ estate tax applies to any inherited value above $4 million.  That’s why state Rep. Mike Murphy said he wants to bring Illinois back to using the same estate value threshold as the federal government. Illinois and eleven other states and the District of Columbia levy an estate tax. Six states have an inheritance tax. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office collected $315 million in estate tax revenues in 2018.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A programming error in the state's automatic voter registration system could result in immigrants in the country legally facing deportation.  When 16 of the more than 500 people who received voter registration cards by mistake because of an error in Illinois’ automatic voter registration program, they may have committed a felony. The issue was limited to keypads at Illinois Secretary of State facilities. When customers indicated that they weren’t a citizen, the system should have stopped the registration process. Instead, the machines forwarded information for 574 people who said they were not U.S. citizens to the Illinois State Board of Elections to be registered to vote.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Police is warning the public about a new phone scam. People have been reporting calls that seemingly come from state police district offices, with the caller asking for personal information. It’s probably bogus says Sergeant Joey Watson.  Watson says the caller often has a foreign accent. He says the best way to protect yourself is to start asking questions like the supposed trooper’s name and telling them you will call them back. Legit district information is available on the Illinois State Police website.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 30 months probation after he was found with a loaded gun. 19 year old Tre White pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 21. Police found White in possession of a gun last January as they were arresting him for allegedly sending threatening messages through Facebook. White was also sentenced to 180 days in jail but given credit for 106 days already served.

 

 

(Watseka-jm) -- Iroquois County mobile home taxpayers will receive their tax bills in March. County Treasurer Kurt Albers announced the bills will be sent out the first week of March. Those needing to change their address or their mobile home was moved or destroyed need to contact his office with the change. If the mobile home was purchased or sold the owner or previous owner must show a copy of the title to the treasurer’s office.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Applications for more licenses in the Illinois cannabis industry are now available. State Department of Agriculture Bureau Chief of Medicinal Plants Jeff Cox says the license apps are for marijuana transporters, infusers and craft growers…

 

 

State Department of Agriculture Bureau Chief of Medicinal Plants Jeff Cox. Those interested can submit an application between February 14th and March 16th. Visit agriculture dot illinois dot gov for all the details. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Waist size may be more important than weight when it comes to heart attacks. Researchers studied 22,000 Swiss patients who were considered obese. 78 percent of men and 90 percent of women were considered abdominal obese in the survey. The survey found men were at a higher risk of having a heart attack.

 

The Saybrook American Legion will hold a chicken and fish fry tonight from 4:30-6:30 pm.

 

The Hoopeston Area FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction will take place on Saturday at the Hoopeston American Legion. Silent auction begins at 4, dinner at 4:30 with the live auction starting at 6.