(Springfield-jm) -- The Democrat-controlled General Assembly voted to override Gov. J.B. Pritzker's veto of a sales tax exemption. House Bill 3902 reinstates a previous sales tax exemption on materials, parts, equipment, components and furnishings used on planes in 14 facilities in the state. The tax exemption was allowed to sunset along with others during the budget impasse, but state officials were largely unaware, not collecting what industry advocates estimated to be $50 million in taxes.
(Springfield-jm) -- An Illinois lawmaker is proposing to change the Illinois Constitution to protect Firearm Owners Identification card fee revenue from being swept into the state’s general fund. The proposal filed would require that proceeds from the issuance and renewal of the Firearm Owners Identification card and concealed carry permits go solely toward facilitating the program or other firearm-related activities, akin to the 2016 “lockbox amendment” that altered the state’s guiding charter to protect road funds from being used for other purposes.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Legislative Inspector General says her office needs more autonomy to investigate allegations of misconduct in the House and Senate. Current Inspector General Carol Pope says she has to get approval from the Legislative Ethics Commission to proceed with cases, noting her office is supposed to be independent…
Illinois Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope. Pope also says she shouldn’t have to get approval from the Legislative Ethics Commission to issue subpoenas. Her comments were made during this week’s hearing of a Commission on Government Ethics Reform.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Pumpkins will not be flying through the sky over Rantoul this year. The World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association announced the group voted to not return to Rantoul after their inaugural trip last year. The group cited a lack of competitors due to the distance from where the competition originated as part of the reason for not returning.
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police have released their recent activity report. On January 20th, Josh Hardin of Ludlow was arrested for possession of meth and aggravated domestic battery. On January 28th, no injuries were reported no tickets issued following a two vehicle accident at Ottawa and John. On January 31st, police are investigating four burglaries that occurred at Prairieland Insurance, Cristals Creative Expressions, Pacey and Pacey law office and Pueblo Lindo. On February 2nd, James Hall of Morocco, Indiana was arrested for driving on a suspended license and ticketed for no functional taillight. Also on February 2nd, no injuries were reported no tickets issued after a one vehicle rollover in the 600 block of East Pells. On February 4th, no tickets issued no injuries reported in a two vehicle accident at Taft and Orleans.
(Springfield-jm) -- The state is launching 50 million dollars in grants to help improve access to high speed internet across Illinois. The idea is to help fund efforts by internet providers, local governments and rural cooperatives to bring better service to all corners of the state says Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton…
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. Up to five million dollars per project will be available during the first round, with more grant money being released over the next several years.
(Springfield-jm) -- An estimated 2,500 children and young adults in Illinois who had been in the custody of the state’s foster care system within the last year abruptly lost their health coverage on Feb. 1. That was just one of many problems that occurred over the weekend when the state shifted some 19,000 former foster children into its privatized “managed care” health coverage system. Children’s advocacy groups warned that more problems may lie ahead as the state works to move approximately 17,000 current foster children into that same system.
The Elliott Amvets will hold Family Night meals tonight. The meal includes fish and chicken plus two sides for $10. Also available for purchase are $1 sodas, $2 beers and $4.50 mixed drinks.
The Foosland Sportsman’s Club will hold their splatterobard shoot on Sunday. Breakfast begins at 6 with the shoot starting at 8.
(Springfield-jm) -- The head of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce warned that shifting Cook County's property tax burden to businesses could shock the entire state of Illinois into an economic downturn. From 2018 to 2019, the Cook County Assessor’s office said the northern third of the county’s businesses would see their share of the total property tax burden go from 34 percent to 44 percent. That represents a sizable shift in property taxes to businesses, which Jack Lavin, CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, said will mean an estimated $1 billion more in property taxes for those businesses compared to what they had been paying. In the economic sense, a 2011 study found that states can enter and exit recessions independent of others, but didn’t remark on business climate, rather major industries such as oil and agriculture were the catalyst for economic downturns.
(Springfield-jm) -- Senate Democrats are putting together a special committee to look at ways to improve public safety in Illinois. Members, like Senator Celina Villanueva of Chicago say for starters, they want to address disparities within the criminal justice system…
State Senator Celina Villanueva of Chicago. The committee also wants to look at more job training for inmates, mental health services and making sure kids have a chance to visit their parents who are in prison.
(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police troopers issued 29 traffic tickets, including 21 for failure to wear a seat belt and two for child-restraint violations, to go along with nine written warnings during Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols conducted in Ford, Iroquois and Kankakee counties on Friday, Jan. 31. The special patrols focused on making sure all vehicle occupants were wearing seat belts as required by Illinois law.
(Crescent City-cf)- The Iroquois Country Fair Association is seeking sponsors for this year's upcoming fair. There are multiple ways to purchase sponsorships says Iroquois County Fair Spokesperson Debbie Krones....
Iroquois County Fair Association spokesperson Debbie Krones
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois State Board of Education says it’s seeking extra sponsors to ensure area counties have a chance to participate in a summer meals program. Last year, more than 5.2 million meals were served across the state — except for 35 counties who didn’t have “sponsors,” or local organizations running a summer meal program. Ford County is one of the counties excluded from the program.
(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State Jesse White says Illinois’ automatic voter registration system is still a good program, despite a few recent glitches. Secretary White says problems with the system that led to more than 500 non-citizens being added to the Illinois voter rolls have been fixed. Representative Tim Butler of Springfield thanked White for his office’s quick action but says this needs to be carefully watched since every vote counts…
State Representative Tim Butler of Springfield. Some lawmakers are pushing to suspend automatic voter registration until it can be assured mistakes won’t happen again.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois House overwhelmingly voted this week to override the governor’s veto of legislation restoring and retroactively applying a tax break for aircraft parts. Democratic Rep. Monica Bristow, of Godfrey, said it would protect more than 3,700 jobs at 14 aviation facilities in 12 communities across the state. She added 36 other states have similar laws on the books.The tax exemption was in place since 2010, but it expired without regulatory or other official bodies taking note, Bristow said. Aviation repair companies consequently did not collect the tax from jet owners during that period. Without the new law, those companies would need to repay $50 million in taxes to the state.
The Saybrook Sons of the American Legion will hold their spaghetti supper tonight from 5-7 pm.
