(Springfield-jm) -- It’ll cost about a nickel or a dime more when filling up with gas in Illinois starting today when the state’s gas tax increases seven-tenths of a penny, a year after state lawmakers doubled the gas tax and tied annual increases to the rate of inflation. Last year lawmakers passed a doubling of the state’s gas tax from 19 cents a gallon to 38 cents a gallon. And the tax receipts show it. From July 2019 to May 2020, Illinois drivers paid $1.24 billion more than the same time the year before. The same law also pegged future increases to the consumer price index. The annual increase tied to the Consumer Price Index raises the gas tax today from 38 cents to 38.7 cents a gallon.
(Springfield-jm) -- There’s still no certainty regarding how Illinois will cover $6.3 billion of its upcoming pandemic-era spending plan that starts today. Despite projected revenues being down by billions of dollars because of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the $42.9 billion spending plan that begins July 1 is the largest in state history. $6.3 billion of the planned spending in the fiscal year 2021 budget has not yet materialized. One line item is $5 billion in borrowing from the federal government to pay off a $5 billion loan from a federal reserve program. Around $1.3 billion of the state’s planned spending is based on a tax increase from the progressive income tax on the ballot for Illinois voters to decide this November.
(Springfield-jm) -- Farmers in Illinois and across the country planted more corn and soybeans this year. 10 point 4 million acres of soybeans have been planted, that’s an increase of five percent over last year, says State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Looking at corn…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Nationally, corn acreage is up by three percent and soybean acreage is up by 10 percent compared to last year.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 724 new cases of COVID-19 and 23 additional deaths Tuesday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 143,185 and deaths to 6,923. Locally, McLean County reported 2 new cases bringing their total number to 260. Vermilion County also reported 2 new cases bringing their total to 64. Kankakee County reported 8 new cases bringing their total number to 1,358. Champaign County reported 12 new cases bringing their total number to 866. Ford, Iroquois and Livingston Counties all reported no new cases leaving their totals at 32, 157 and 45 respectively.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health along with area health departments are reporting cases in area communities. 189 cases are in Rantoul, 52 in Clifton, 48 in Mahomet, 37 in Pontiac, 18 in Watseka, 15 in Chebanse, 11 in Ashkum, 10 each in Onarga and Paxton, 9 in St. Joseph, 7 each in Gilman, Crescent City and Hoopeston, 6 each in Danforth, Gibson City, Ludlow and Fairbury, 3 each in Fisher and Thomasboro and 1 each in Gifford, Penfield, Saybrook and Colfax.
(Gibson City-jm) -- The 4th of July holiday is this weekend and many are stressing safety. One of those includes 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Champaign-jm) -- No injuries were reported after a semi rolled over near Champaign Tuesday afternoon. Illinois State Police say the semi was getting off I-57 onto the westbound I-72 ramp when his load shifted causing the vehicle to overturn.
(Urbana-cf)-- Playgrounds are now open statewide in Phase 4. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde says it will be on the parents or caretaker of the child to make sure that their hands are clean when children are done playing on the equipment to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus…
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde
(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul police are investigating after a teen was shot with a paintball over the weekend. Police say the teen was walking in the 1100 block of Fairlawn drive just before 5pm Sunday evening. The teen told police a passenger in a vehicle rolled down a window and fired several shots striking the teen 3 times. Police say 4 black males were in the vehicle at the time. Anyone with information is asked to call Rantoul police.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Those wanting to golf and support a great cause can do so in Rantoul. The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their golf outing in September says Director Amanda Vickery…
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery.
(Undated-jm) -- Two area attractions at the Champaign County Forest Preserve will be reopening in July. The forest preserve announced the Museum of the Grand Prairie in Mahomet and the Homer Lake Interpretive Center between St. Joseph and Homer will be opening July 8th on a limited basis and with restrictions in place. The Homer Lake Interpretive Center will be open from 1-5 pm Wednesday through Friday with a limit of 10 people at a time. The Museum of the Grand Prairie will be open from 1-5 pm Wednesday through Friday but you must sign up for a 1 hour time slot on their website ccfpd dot org. There will also be a limit of 10 at a time and the 1st hour every Wednesday will be for those 65 and over and vulnerable groups. Masks and social distancing will be required at both locations.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is announcing $250 million in additional relief to assist communities respond to COVID-19. The money is through the Federal CARES act.
(Undated-jm) -- A Clay County couple is suing the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education over the school reopening guidelines. The lawsuit was brought by James and Kali Mainer, the parents of three young children. The Mainers claim the guidelines are "unlawful as well as arbitrary and capricious." The Mainers take issue specifically with the face mask and temperature check requirements in the lawsuit. The couple is asking for a judge to determine the school reopening guidelines consisting of the face mask requirement, temperature checks, and the 50 person gathering limit is unlawful.
(Springfield-jm) -- Farmers in Illinois and across the country planted more corn and soybeans this year. Nationally, soybean acreage is up by 10 percent and corn acreage is up by three percent. In Illinois 10 point 9 million acres of corn were planted, an increase of four percent compared to last year. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener looks at soybeans…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. An estimated 490 thousand acres of hay will be harvested in Illinois this year, up 17 percent from 2019. The winter wheat harvest is expected to be down this year.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 724 new cases of COVID-19 and 23 additional deaths Tuesday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 143,185 and deaths to 6,923. As for local active and recovered cases...McLean County is reporting 237 have recovered and 10 are in isolation. Vermilion County is reporting 41 have been released from isolation, 20 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. In Iroquois County, 134 have recovered and 18 remain in isolation. In Kankakee County, 981 have recovered, 314 cases are active with 6 hospitalized. In Livingston County, 37 have been removed from isolation with 6 active cases. In Ford County, 25 have been released from isolation with 6 remaining in isolation. In Champaign County, 755 have recovered, while 99 cases remain active and 8 are hospitalized.
(Undated-jm) -- For the 6th straight day no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported in the WPXN listening area.
(St. Joe-cf)-- The Village of St. Joseph will be moving forward in a drainage project on 1st street. However, a majority of the standing water that occurs is located on Sherman Street. The Village has made minor fixes to the drains but it’s now time to for a new drainage system in the area says Mayor Tami Fruhling…
St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling
(Ludlow-jm) -- Ludlow residents will see a rise in their water bills. Residents inside village limits will see their rates increase $45 in July. Those outside of the village limits will see their rates go increase $67.50. An additional hike is expected in 2021. The increase is to pay off a loan for the new water main replacement project.
(Urbana-cf)-- The new format of the IHSA boys tournament starting in 2021 will all be completed in one weekend. There are also plans for other events to happen during that weekend in Champaign, and surrounding communities…
Visit Champaign President and CEO Jayne DeLuce.
(Danville-jm) -- Danville Area Community College is offering commercial refrigeration training this summer. The training will take place Wednesday and Thursday nights starting July 15th through September 17th from 6-9:15 at the DACC Technology Center. Cost is $750 plus books. For more information about the program or financial assistance call 217-554-1628.
(Paxton-jm) -- The Ford County Public Health Department is asking the public to once again collect dead birds for testing for the West Nile Virus. Every summer the health department collects dead birds to be sent off for testing for the virus. Christy Wallace with the Ford County Public Health Department says there are some criteria for collecting dead birds…
Christy Wallace with the Ford County Public Health Department. If you suspect you have a dead bird that could be used for testing, call the health department at 217-379-9281.
(Undated-jm) -- Nominations are being sought for the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame. Since 2002, the Illinois Conservation Foundation has been accepting nominations for the fame. Nominees should have shown improved conservation efforts or outdoor recreation opportunities in Illinois. Nominations are due by July 8th and can be found online at il conservation dot org slash who we are slash outdoor hall of fame.
