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Sales of adult-use cannabis increased last month over the month before

(Springfield-jm) -- A nonprofit organization and three retirees have filed a lawsuit challenging the wording of the progressive income tax amendment on election ballots ahead of the November 3rd vote. The suit challenges the claim on the ballot that the progressive tax amendment only grants lawmakers the power to impose higher income tax rates on higher income levels. The group “Vote Yes for Fairness” called the lawsuit a stunt.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Sales of adult-use cannabis increased last month over the month before. The state reports September sales totaled $67.6 million. That’s nearly $4 million more than August and $431 million in total sales since they began in January. The $53 million in cannabis taxes collected the first three months of this fiscal year have eclipsed all the cannabis revenue from the last fiscal year, which included the first six months of the legal program.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) --  Illinois would need $226 billion to pay all of its bills, including public employers’ pension benefits, according to a new ranking of the states’ fiscal health based on pre-pandemic data. Illinois ranked 49th among the 50 states on fiscal health, according to the analysis by Truth in Accounting, which is a Chicago-based nonprofit that reports on fiscal data from state and local governments. The amount of the state’s shortfall in funding to pay off its bills amounts to $52,000 per taxpayer, the study found. The TIA gave the state a financial grade of “F.”

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Requested a mail in ballot but now want to vote in person? Not a problem says the Illinois State Board of Elections. Mail-in voting is proving to be a popular option for the upcoming election, but Board Spokesperson Matt Dietrich says some are wondering if they can change their mind…

 

State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich. Additionally, Dietrich says if you did not receive the mail-in ballot, you can sign an affidavit at the polls and go ahead and vote in person. But, he urges those who requested to vote by mail to give it a little time for the ballot to arrive.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,617 new Coronavirus cases and 32 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 305,011 and deaths to 8,836. Locally, McLean County reported 43 new cases bringing their total to 3,467. Champaign County reported 35 new cases bringing their total to 5,038. Livingston County reported 7 new cases bringing their total to 464. Ford County reported 3 new cases bringing their total 172. Kankakee County reported 10 new cases bringing their total to 2,897. Iroquois County reported 2 new cases bringing their total to 414. Vermilion County reported 79 new cases bringing their total to 914.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- This week we’ve been hi-liting safety tips from the Paxton Fire Department as part of fire prevention week. Today, Paxton Firefighter Alan Meyer talks about the importance of having a fire extinguisher…

 

 

Paxton Firefighter Alan Meyer. Tomorrow we will cover why you should close your bedroom door when you go to sleep.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Several organizations and city leaders in Champaign County wrote and signed a letter addressed to Governor J-B Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health asking to make Champaign County its own region. If Region 6, the region Champaign County is currently in, reaches above 8% positivity rate three days in a row, mitigation efforts will be applied. Last week, Champaign County data started to be excluded from Region 6 data to give an accurate representation of what testing is being done without the influence of the University of Illinois's testing sites. 

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- A local state senator has received a high honor. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington has been named a Friend of Agriculture from the Illinois Farm Bureau.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Early voting is underway in Illinois. Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons talks about voter turnout and the safety measures they are taking…

 

 

Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police have released their recent activity report. On October 6th, police received a report of someone throwing a piece of asphalt through a window at 105 E. State Street apartment 3. On October 5th, Jesus Sabino-Alvino of Boswell, Indiana was arrested for driving on a suspended license. Also on October 5th, Elizabeth Mullutt was arrested for battery for allegedly battering a person at the Paxton Public House. On October 2nd, police responded to three reports of burglary to motor vehicles. The first report was in the 500 block of E. Ottawa where a purse containing a wallet, checkbook, drivers license and social security card were stolen. The second report was in the 800 block of S. Vermilion where a 9 mm pistol and phone charger was stolen. The third report was in the 400 block of E. Franklin where a purse with wallet, debit card, drivers license and $200 in cash were stolen. Police believe the crimes were committed by the same person or person responsible for stealing two vehicles in Thomasboro. Some of the items along with a vehicle were found near Paxton. On September 29th, no injuries were reported or tickets issued after Mason Ecker struuck an unoccupied vehicle near Dawn and Vermilion.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Walmart is recalling several of its pre-cut fruit containers due to possible Listeria. The Food and Drug Administration says the affected Country Fresh products are sliced apples, grapes, mangos, pineapple, and cantaloupe. The containers will have “best if used by” dates between October 3rd and October 11th. Consumers are being asked to throw away the product or return it to the store for a refund.

 

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Cissna Park American Legion today from noon to 6 pm.

 

 

(Washington-jm) --  By the end of this week we will have a much better idea of the production and marketing prospects for the crops now being harvested. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The next hearing into Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s involvement in a nearly decade-long bribery scheme utility ComEd admitted to will be after the election. But Democrats are asking for a data dump that Republicans say will stall accountability. Last week, amid Republican questioning, Exelon compliance officer David Glockner revealed an email a Madigan office manager sent related to a utility board post for a Madigan ally. State Representative Tom Demmer asked if there are other communications involving Madigan they can provide. Glockner said there was and a request for all communication was submitted. The next hearing will be November 5th.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor JB Pritzker proposed seven principles to help reform and modernize Illinois' criminal justice system. The seven principles include ending the use of cash bail system and limit pretrial detention to only those who pose a threat to public safety, modernize sentencing laws on theft and drug offenses and use a public health approach to address mental health and addiction, reduce excessive lengths of stay in prison by providing pathways for people to earn opportunities for rehab, prioritize rehabilitation and reduce the risk of recidivism by increasing access to housing and healthcare for returning residents, increase police accountability and transparency for police officers and police departments, update and strengthen statewide standards for use of force by police officers and improve interactions with police by decriminalizing minor non-violent offenses, improving police response to crowd control, and increasing language and disability access.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton announced the new "Healing Illinois" initiative in response to the racial disparities highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic. Illinois Department of Human Services and the Chicago Community Trust will distribute $4.5 million in grants to Illinois organizations to help facilitate racial healing activities.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- State and local public health officials are challenging everyone to roll their sleeves up and get a flu shot. The Illinois Department of Public Health is launching a new campaign: “hashtag sleeve up,” asking everyone who gets the vaccine to share it on social media. State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike says it’s important to be immunized since we are already fighting the Coronavirus…

 

 

Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike says it’s vital to keep flu cases and hospitalizations down to make sure there are enough medical resources for COVID patients.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois now has more than 305,000 Coronavirus cases and over 8,800 deaths. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County reported 3,241 have recovered, 192 are in isolation, 11 are hospitalized with 2 in the ICU. Champaign County reported 4,651 have recovered, 364 cases are active with 2 hospitalized. Livingston County reported 424 have been removed from isolation, 32 cases are active with 3 hospitalized. Ford County reported 143 have been released from isolation, 22 are in isolation with 2 hospitalized. Kankakee County reported 2,522 have recovered, 303 cases are active with 10 hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 380 have been released from isolation, 13 are in isolation and 2 are hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 681 have been released from isolation, 220 are in isolation and 8 are hospitalized.

 

 

(Watseka-jm) -- Those wanting to cast their vote for the November 3rd election have several ways to do so. Iroquois County Clerk Breein Suver has those options and the deadlines to do such voting…

 

 

Iroquois County Clerk Breein Suver.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Crime Stoppers and the Champaign County Sheriff's Office are teaming up for a new high tech way to boost crime-fighting efforts. A kiosk will be placed at the Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana that will aim to bring more awareness to unsolved Crime Stoppers cases and much more. Aside from the information on how to submit a tip, the Community Pro-Tektor Kiosk will display wanted subjects, Crime of the Week, public safety information, weather updates, amber alerts, and other announcements.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton firefighters responded to a combine fire Tuesday evening. Firefighters were called to the fire near the intersection of 500 N and 2000 E. No injuries were reported.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City leaders approved a facade grant at their recent meeting. Mayor Dan Dickey talks about the grant and the grant program…

 

 

Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey.

 

 

(Ford County-jm) -- The Ford County Sheriff’s office has released their September activity report. Deputies responded to 8 traffic accidents and issued 15 traffic citations including 6 for speeding, 2 each for DUI and driving with no headlights when required and 1 each for disobeying a stop sign, unlawful use of cannabis by a driver, driving on a revoked license, no seat belt and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Deputies also handled 9 reports each of suspicious activity and domestic issues, 6 each of suspicious persons and suspicious vehicles, 5 reports of theft, 3 each for burglary and suicide attempts, 2 each of fraud, trespassing and harassment and 1 each for missing person, custody dispute and hit and run.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A Penfield man has been sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison for domestic battery. Ian Keys received the sentence in Champaign County court. Keys was accused of abusing his girlfriend multiple times.

 

Danville Area Community College will host a drive thru job fair today from 9-11 am.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- It was good weather this past week for corn and soybean crop development. Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

 

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