(Springfield-jm) --  Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Secretary of State Jesse White are warning Illinois residents to be on alert for text message scams related to upcoming federal Real ID requirements. Scammers are sending unsolicited text messages claiming to be from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The text message urges the recipient to click on a link to update their driver’s license or state ID to comport with upcoming federal Real ID requirements. Attorney General Raoul said the text is a scam, and recipients should not click on the link or provide any information.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois has the tenth most restrictive COVID-19 mitigations of all states, including its neighbors. Consumer finance website WalletHub reviewed all 50 states’ economic restrictions and found Illinois was ranked No. 49 for reopening restaurants and 34th in reopening nonessential businesses. While Illinois overall ranked No. 42, Kentucky ranked No. 26, Indiana No. 20, Wisconsin No. 8, Missouri ranked No. 6 and Iowa No. at No. 3.

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The Rantoul Sports Complex has 28 weekends booked with different events throughout the year. Director of the Sports Complex Ryan Reid highlights the big events…

 

 

In addition to the baseball and softball tournaments, there will also be a football tournament, says Reid… 

 

 

Rantoul Sports Complex Director Ryan Reid.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- A Springfield man has been sentenced to life in prison for sex trafficking for trafficking young women from around central Illinois. Franshon Stapleton ran his prostitution ring out of a Champaign motel and recruited women from Champaign, Sangamon and Peoria Counties. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- One issue not tackled during the lame duck session was addressing the impacts of the pandemic. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman says this was a missed opportunity to help residents…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

 

(Mattoon-jm) -- First Mid Illinois reported 4th quarter net income of $13.6 million. The Mattoon based bank with locations around the area including Rantoul said it had earnings of 81 cents per share which exceeded Wall Street expectations of 70 cents per share.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Country music superstar Kane Brown has been added to the state fair grandstand concert lineup. Brown will take the stage on Friday, August 13th. Other acts include comedian Gabriel Iglesias on August 14th, Toby Keith with Craig Morgan on August 15th, a Neil Diamond tribute band on August 16th, Chris Young on August 17th, I love the 90s Tour on August 18th, Bad Flower on August 19th, Kelsea Ballerini on August 20th and George Thorogood with 38 special to wrap up the state fair on August 22nd.

(Springfield-jm) -- A new report shows the state and local sales tax rate in Illinois is among the highest in the country. According to the research conducted by the Tax Foundation, an independent tax policy nonprofit, the average combined sales tax rate in Illinois is around 8.8 percent. The statewide sales tax rate of 6.25 percent is the thirteenth-highest in the country, while the population-weighted average local tax rate of 2.57 percent ranked seventh. All of Illinois’ bordering states have sales tax rates that are lower overall than in Illinois.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- From mid-March of 2020 through the first full week of 2021, Illinois reported a spike in its weekly unemployment claims of 710.11 percent, compared to the same period a year earlier, according to a new analysis from the WalletHub website. Using that metric, Illinois had the 30th highest number of jobless claims among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the WalletHub analysis found.  Using another metric, however, the state ranked fifth highest based on a recent number of weekly unemployment claims. That metric combines comparisons of the jobless claims during the week of January 4 of this year with the first week of 2019 and the first week of 2020, the study states.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Planning is underway for the 2021 Paxton Community Sale. Paxton Park District Director Cody Evans talks about this year’s event…

 

 

Paxton Park District Director Cody Evans.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Teachers and day care providers in Rantoul will be able to get their COVID vaccine this week. The vaccinations will take place at the Rantoul Youth Center. WPXN will be there and will talk with providers about the vaccine.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- 2020 was one of the most abnormal years in history, having to order carry out, not being able to gather with friends, and losing loved ones. However, with the uncertainty that loomed in 2020 the vaccine is starting to anwer one big question, when will we be able to return back to normal? Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson says that we could start seeing some normality this late summer or fall with the more people that get the vaccine… 

 

 

Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Housing Authority of Champaign County has announced a new Interim Executive Director. Lily L. Walton will take on the new role starting today. Walton has been with the Authority for three years, filling various roles such as the Interim Deputy Director of Enrichment Operations and the Director of YouthBuild.

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The Rantoul Rush are hosting a fundraiser for their travel softball and baseball league this summer. The Rush will be playing in tournaments around the area, which the money raised will help them play in, says spokesperson Ryan Birch… 

 

 

Rantoul Rush Spokesperson Ryan Birch. Tickets are $50 dollars for various cash prizes. If you would like to purchase a ticket you can contact Rantoul Rush on Facebook.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois plans to let high school students know if they were accepted on Friday, February 19. Normally, the U of I releases decisions twice: once in mid-December and then later in February. This year, because of the pandemic, they wanted to give students more time to take tests if they choose to do the SAT or ACT.

 

 

(Kankakee-jm) -- The Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley is announcing 2021 Community Works grants are available. $80 thousand in grants are available for non profits in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. A mandatory information session will be held on February 3rd. Reservations are required for the session and can be made by emailing info at cfkrv dot org. The deadline to apply is March 5th.