(Springfield-jm) -- Cannabis consumers who bought marijuana products at legal dispensaries in Illinois for the adult-use cannabis law that took effect Jan. 1 paid more than $10 million in taxes in January from nearly $40 million in total retail sales. The Illinois Department of Revenue announced from just the state excise taxes alone, cannabis buyers paid $7,332,058 in taxes in the month of January. The tax on cannabis products is based on potency and ranges between 10 percent to 25 percent. There’s an additional 7 percent wholesale tax tacked on before the sale. In addition to the $7.3 million in cannabis excise taxes that consumers paid, there’s the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax that’s also applied to the sales of adult-use cannabis. That generated an additional $3,147,928 in taxes.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would put mental health on a par with physical health in the state’s public schools. Steve Murray, director of counseling at Notre Dame Prep in Niles, said the bill was a step in the right direction. He said the bill was a good start toward recognizing the extent to which children can suffer from issues like anxiety and depression.
(Washington-jm) -- Farmers may see a slight increase in farm income this year. Gary Crawford reports…
(Paxton-jm) -- The City of Paxton will hold an adjourned city council meeting tonight. Council members will discuss purchasing a one ton truck with dump bed and plow, discuss replacing a salt bin and discuss the sale of the city’s airport. The Paxton city council meeting gets underway at 7pm.
(Paxton-jc) -- The First United Methodist Church of Paxton will be having a Prayer Seminar, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray” presented by a team from Aldersgate Renewal Ministries on March 13-14. The event begins at 7:00 P.M. on Friday evening and will continue from 9:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M. on Saturday. The cost is $15.00 for the workbook. Lunch will be provided on Saturday and child care is available if needed with prior notice. Team leaders will also be speaking at the church at the 8:00 and 10:30 A.M. Worship Services on Sunday, March 15. For more information or to register, please contact the church at fumcpaxton@gmail.com or 217-379-3817.
Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Lizzy Ruetter from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
We were also able to talk with Iroquois West FFA member Gracie Schleef
Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Brody Howard from Armstrong High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
We were also able to talk with Rantoul FFA member Madison McGinn
(Rantoul-cf)-- The annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake will be held on Feb 29 at Country Tyme Lanes in Rantoul. Director Kristian Hopkins says that there is still space left, but that space is limited…
Big Brothers Big Sisters Rantoul Director Krstian Hopkins. In order to be signed up for the event, you must raise $75 dollars for the event, which will be for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program. There is still time to raise the $75 dollars and claim your spot for the bowling night.
(Urbana--jc) Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup has identified the woman found dead in her Champaign home Sunday as 34 year old Tenesha Jenkins. An autopsy is scheduled for Today. Champaign County sheriff's investigators continue to investigate the death as a homicide.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Monday it will break ground on a new state-of-the-art indoor practice facility for the Fighting Illini softball program thanks to a $3 million lead naming gift from Rex Martin and his daughters, Ashley Martin and Alexis Martin-Klose. Their gift will honor their late wife and mother, Alice Martin. The facility, pending Board of Trustees approval, will be named the Rex and Alice A. Martin Softball Training Center. The new $6 million Rex and Alice A. Martin Softball Training Center will provide a premier indoor performance and development facility for Fighting Illini softball student-athletes. The structure, measuring approximately 13,000 square feet, will be constructed as an addition to the existing softball clubhouse and will include a full infield as well as hitting and pitching cages. Construction is expected to begin later this year.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is making education a high priority. During his second budget address, the Governor says he wants to make historic investments in k through 12 education…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.
(Bloomington-cf)-- Could the budget be one of danger for schools and more. One area of concern is the governor saying that school funding is tied to a progressive tax proposal. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barrickmen, Republican of Bloomington says the proposed budget by the governor could cost funding for local schools…
53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.
(Springfield-jm) -- A problem with Illinois’ automatic voter registration program that led to hundreds of people who said they weren't U.S. citizens being registered to vote took center stage at a listening session hosted by a central Illinois congressman in Springfield on Monday. The automatic voter registration law was enacted in Illinois with bipartisan support in 2018 and required certain state agencies such as the Illinois Secretary of State to automatically forward the information of a person anytime they interact with a state agency to the Illinois State Board of Elections and then to local elections authorities for voter registration.
(Springfield-jm) -- As Illinois lawmakers consider new measures in Springfield, a controversial tax on stock market trades has been put back in line to be considered. Supporters of the Financial Transactions Tax Act, dubbed the “LaSalle Street Tax” after the bustling Chicago street at the center of the business district, have hailed it as the solution to the state's fiscal problems. But, even some of the state’s most progressive politicians have balked at the premise. Some said they worried the reaction would be an exodus of financial activity. House Bill 23 was recently reassigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee. By levying a $1 tax on any financial transaction completed in the state, supporters have said it would bring in estimated $6 billion annually, not accounting for any behavioral backlash.
(Washington-jm) -- U.S. agricultural products should pull in more money this year from the export market. Gary Crawford has the latest…
(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson Area Hospital Auxiliary will be awarding eight scholarships this year. The scholarships are open to those in the Gibson Area Hospital Service Area. More information on the scholarships can be found gibson hospital dot org slash supporting hyphen gibson slash auxiliary. Applications are due back by March 9th.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Pork Producers Association is offering over $13,000 in scholarships this year. Information on the scholarships are available online at ilpork dot com. The deadline to submit your application is March 2nd.
(Paxton-cf)-- The Clara Pete Carnival is one of the first signs that spring ison its way. Clara Pete PIT Crew president, Julie Foster says the group was started to help raise additional dollars for the local school…
Julie Foster, Clara Pete PIT Crew President
(Vermilion County-jm) -- Vermilion County missed out on hundreds of millions of dollars due to a census error ten years ago. The county estimates nearly 40,000 people were miscounted during the 2010 census. That error cost the county $560 million over the 10 years. County officials say the county’s head start program as well as funding for road repairs were lost because of the error.
(Fisher-jm) -- Fisher is amending their gaming codes for raffles. The previous max retail value in a single raffle is $25,000 with a cap of $15,000 for an individual prize. Under the new rules, the max retail value in a single raffle is $250,000 with a cap of $200,000 for an individual prize. Raffles can also go longer. The new rule increases the length from 120 days to 180 days.
With FFA week being this week and we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Lacey Cotter from Fisher High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
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We were also able to talk with Cissna Park FFA member Rudy King
With FFA week being this week and we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Jack Place with St. Joe Ogden High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is making education a high priority. During his second budget address, the Governor says he wants to make historic investments in k through 12 education. The Governor also wants to increase MAP grant funding for college students…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.
