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Hunters and anglers in Illinois are reminded they need to get a 2020 hunting or fishing license

SPRINGFIELD – A 2013 state law allowing utilities to tack natural gas surcharges onto consumer bills for the purpose of funding infrastructure improvements is under scrutiny at the Capitol. At a Statehouse news conference Tuesday, lawmakers and consumer advocates called for ending that state law on Jan. 1, 2021, three years earlier than its Dec. 31, 2023, statutory sunset date. They claim allowing the surcharges “helps major utilities sidestep the regulatory process, automatically raise heating bills, and force many customers into financial crisis to cover billions of dollars in reckless utility spending.”

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois House Republicans called on the Democratic majority Tuesday to hold fair hearings on measures to reduce property taxes in Illinois, which has the second-highest property taxes in the nation. State Rep. Deanne Mozzachi, of Elmhurst, said since the Property Tax Relief Task Force was created in the fall and wrapped up their work in late December without producing a final report, property taxes across the state continue to increase. Republicans on Tuesday used a statehouse news conference to call the Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force a “sham,” a “failure,” a “facade” and an effort to push for increased sales and income taxes rather than property tax relief. They say Democrats need to act.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Farm Bureau is joining the Illinois Associated Builders and Contractors in opposing a measure to require prevailing wage for entry-level laborers working in refineries. Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert said at Tuesday’s Ag Breakfast in Springfield that for agriculture to thrive in Illinois, it needs four things: “Great trade agreements” and exports, growth in the livestock industry, and “a renewable fuel industry that works well.” He urged the room full of farmers to oppose Senate Bill 1407. He said it would limit future markets for corn and soybeans.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Britain's position on ag trade comes as no surprise to USDA officials, who are planning an agricultural trade mission there later this year.  Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Hunters and anglers in Illinois are reminded they need to get a 2020 hunting or fishing license. Licenses for the 2020 season began March 1st and is valid through March 31, 2021. 2019 licenses are still good through the end of the month.

 

 

(Buckley-cf)-- The 2nd Annual Girls Day Out will be taking place Sunday at the 103 East in Buckley. Event Organizer Missy Smith talks about the massive turnout last year, with over 20 vendors, and the amount of ladies that participated…. 

 

 

Organizer of the Girls Day Out Event, Missy Smith. 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul residents who on their storm drainage bill have just a few days left in the villages amnesty program. The village is offering to waive interest and late fees if your bill is paid by March 11th. The village says lien charges will not be waived and this is the only time the village will offer this program. More information is available by calling the village at 892-6800.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker gave his recent budget address to the Illinois General Assembly. In his address the Governor said his budget will save taxpayers money…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. 

 

 

SPRINGFIELD – A local government advocacy group laid out its legislative agenda and called on lawmakers to fully fund a program that shares state income tax revenue with local municipalities. The Illinois Municipal League’s “Moving Cities Forward” agenda also includes efforts to: protect local governments from lawsuits resulting from data breaches; give non-home rule communities greater authority to tax and greater access to financially-distressed cities assistance; and remove unfunded mandates on municipalities.

 

 SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ top health official Tuesday elaborated on the Department of Public Health’s efforts to contain the coronavirus, one day after a fourth person in the state tested positive for the illness. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the department, updated members of the Senate Public Health Committee on state and local efforts to prevent, contain and treat COVID-19, as well as the toll it has taken on state resources. 

 

 

SPRINGFIELD – A board that oversees the discipline of attorneys in Illinois recommended Tuesday that former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich be disbarred from the practice of law. The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, or ARDC, said in an order that Blagojevich “has not acknowledged that his conduct was wrongful or expressed any remorse” and that “his failure to appear for his disciplinary hearing demonstrates a lack of respect for the disciplinary process and the legal profession.” An ARDC spokesman said in an email that Blagojevich has 21 days to appeal the finding. If he does, the case would go to a review board. If he does not appeal, however, the report will be sent to the Illinois Supreme Court, which has the final say in whether to revoke his law license.

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois’ automatic voter registration system, now the subject of a federal lawsuit, isn’t likely to be fully operational before the November election, advocates involved in the litigation said. Several advocacy groups filed suit over the implementation of the state's automatic voter registration program by Secretary of State Jesse White’s office. The program was supposed to be implemented by July 2018, according to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court’s northern district.

 

 

(Springfield-cf)-- Governor JB Pritzker just unveiled his proposed budget for the 2020 Fiscal Year. State Sen. Jason Barickman of Bloomington says where it needs serious help is in the notation in which the governor has tied funding to his own  political agenda to a controversial tax hike this past november….

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Fair is announcing Rapper LL Cool J’s performance at the fair in August has been canceled. The fair announced the rapper and tv star is no longer able to perform. A replacement act will be named in the coming weeks.

 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Ford County Sheriff’s police have released February enforcement numbers. Deputies responded to nine traffic accidents last month and issued 25 traffic citations including 16 for speeding. Deputies also handled 35 house checks, 15 cars in ditch, 13 reports of suspicious activity and 2 each of theft, burglary and domestic troubles.


 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker gave his recent budget address to the Illinois General Assembly. The Governor says his budget includes the creation of a rainy day fund…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.

 

 

SPRINGFIELD – Several statewide law enforcement organizations said they will strongly oppose efforts to eliminate cash bail in Illinois, one of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s top priorities. Illinois enacted significant bail reform in 2017. Under the new system, people charged with most nonviolent crimes do not have to post a cash bond to get out of jail, but they may be subjected to other limitations such as house arrest or wearing some kind of electronic monitoring device. Advocates for eliminating cash bail say the system is unfair to poor people who cannot afford their bail and it forces many of them to plead guilty simply so they can get out of jail.

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