(Springfield-jm) -- It may not come as a surprise to residents that a new report again found Illinois’ property taxes were the second-highest in the nation, but the debate about how to address the problem continues, including among members of the Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force. Behind only New Jersey, Illinois had the second-highest property taxes in the U.S., according to the latest report from WalletHub. The consumer finance website found the average property taxes on a $205,000 home in Illinois were $4,700. The same $205,000 house in Kentucky or Indiana would come with a $1,760 property tax bill.
(Springfield-jm) -- In fiscal year 2018, Illinois didn’t have a budget due to the ongoing feud between former Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratically-controlled General Assembly. In the months before a tenuous general election, the two sides agreed on a 2019 budget that the nonprofit Volcker Alliance now says was, in some ways, just as bad as not having a budget at all. In three of Volcker’s five parameters – legacy costs, budgeting maneuvers, and reserve funds – Illinois got the lowest marks given to any state for its fiscal year 2019 budget.
(Washington-jm) -- If you're low income or disabled or have limited English skills, you may qualify for some free tax filing help right in your own community. Gary Crawford reports…
(Undated-jm) -- Chicago Cubs fans and Mediacom customers listen up. Now you can catch all the Cubs games on Mediacom. The company reached an agreement with Marquee Sports Network, the Home of Chicago Cubs Baseball, to carry the games. The new channel is 668 HD or channel number 51.
(Champaign-jm) -- A woman found dead in Champaign Sunday morning was not shot as originally reported. Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup says an autopsy performed Tuesday did not show Tenesha Jenkins had been shot. Northrup however did not provide a cause of death citing the ongoing investigation.
(Paxton-cf)-- The Spring Session for the Illinois General Assembly will start in a matter of days. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barrickman of Bloomington talks about the budget plan for FY21 that was announced by Governor JB Pritzker last week…
53rd District State Senator Jason Barrickman of Bloomington.
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. Kaitlyn Miles from Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
We were also able to talk with St. Joe Ogden FFA member Tessa Smith
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. Felicity Schaeffer from Fisher High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
(Champaign-jm) -- A Champaign County judge has cleared the way for work to start on the new I-57/I-74 interchange. There had been a hold up on the project between the state and the owners of two parcels of land. The hold up, was the price the state wanted to pay for the properties versus the amount the land owners wanted for it. Work on the $149 million project is expected to take 3 years to complete.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is addressing a wide range of topics in his second budget address. The Governor also touted the early success of the state’s recreational marijuana program…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.
(Springfield-jm) -- A group of Democratic lawmakers renewed their push Tuesday for a bill that would pave the way for price caps on many high-cost prescription drugs, a proposal that is likely to meet strong resistance from the pharmaceutical industry. House Bill 3493 would establish a five-member Prescription Drug Affordability Board that would have authority to conduct cost reviews and set “upper payment limits” for any brand name drug with a wholesale price of $30,000 or more for a one-year supply or a course of treatment, or for any drug for which the wholesale price jumps by $3,000 or more in a single year.
(Springfield-jm) -- Criminal justice reform advocates rallied Tuesday at the Statehouse in hopes of making Illinois one of only a handful of states to eliminate cash bail in all or most criminal cases. The idea of abolishing cash bonds has been gaining traction at the Statehouse, and this year Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker endorsed it during his State of the State speech in January as part of a broader criminal justice reform initiative.
(Washington-jm) -- Some ag-related aspects of the first phase of a U.S.-China trade agreement have been implemented and more are scheduled in the coming weeks. Rod Bain reports…
(Gilman-jm) -- A Gilman toddler is being internationally recognized. Wesley Ryatt Short was named an ambassador for Nothing Down, a Downs syndrome awareness organization. Short was one of 29 from around the world selected as an ambassador.
The Illinois Farm Bureau will hold a Farm Legacy Seminar tonight at the I Hotel in Champaign at 5pm.
(Washington-jm) -- Food shoppers have seen little to no food price inflation over the last few years, but what's on tap for this year? Gary Crawford has the details…
With FFA week being this week and we were 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.
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We were also able to talk with Cissna Park FFA member Kenadee Edelman
With FFA week being this week and we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Rachel Ash with Iroquois West High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
We were also able to talk with Armstrong FFA member Cheyenne Cade
(Champaign-jm) -- Champaign County Head Start is receiving several million in grant money. The group will receive seven million dollars from the U-S Department of Health and Human Services.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is addressing a wide range of topics in his second budget address. The Governor says he is working with lawmakers and the city of Chicago on getting a casino in the city…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.
