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Free tax preparation assistance is available throughout Illinois

(Springfield-jm) -- Free tax preparation assistance is available throughout Illinois. State Department of Revenue Spokesperson Terry Horstman says low to moderate income families and seniors needing help with their taxes can get answers to their questions through several programs…

 

 

State Department of Revenue Spokesperson Terry Horstman. The IRS also offers assistance virtually and the AARP has tax help available in several communities. Visit tax dot illinois dot gov for a list of locations.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois’ long-term debt has passed a grim milestone. Rating firm Moody’s Investors Service announced that Illinois’ adjusted net pension liabilities spiked 19% in 2020 to $317 billion. The figure was $261 billion in 2019. Distributed evenly across Illinois’ approximately 12 million residents, that amounts to roughly $25,000 per person. In addition to falling interest rates, Moody’s also blames lower returns on pension fund investments for the growing shortfall. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state is launching a campaign to get high schoolers to fill out the free federal application for student aid. “Rock the FAFSA Illinois” aims to increase awareness about potential financial aid and offers free assistance in filling out the forms. The State Student Assistance Commission’s Lynne Baker says completing the FAFSA can be very useful to families…

 

 

Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s Lynne Baker. High schools are encouraged to hold FAFSA workshops this month. Baker says a new state law requires all public school seniors to fill out the FAFSA or the alternative application for Illinois financial aid in order to graduate, although families can opt out by submitting a form.

 

 

(Watseka-jm) -- Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police have released their recent activity. On March 2nd, Vincent Perez of Onarga was arrested for domestic battery. On March 5th, Brandon Bennett of Onarga was charged on a warrant for failure to appear for driving under the influence of alcohol. Also on March 5th, Cheyenne Hollingsworth of Onarga was arrested on a warrant for battery.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Could summer activities happen in the City of Paxton. Mayor Bill Ingold says he hopes they will be able to have some of the normal activities this year…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Ford County Board and Gibson City city council both meet tonight at 7. In Paxton at the Ford County Jail, the county board is expected to approve bids for county township maintenance projects and approve law enforcement agreements with Piper City and Sibley. In Gibson City, council members will consider banners for light poles in honor of their sesquicentennial and hear a presentation on the upcoming HarvestFest. The Ford County Board and Gibson City city council meetings both get underway at 7.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- GOP lawmakers are saying a federal bailout is not the answer. Governor J-B Pritzker and General Assembly Democrats approved a budget last year that relied on federal money and the Governor’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year does the same. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says it doesn’t solve the state’s financial issues…

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- With the easing of some Coronavirus restrictions and the expectation that some summer events will take place, the Ford County Circuit Clerk’s office is considering upgrading a part time traffic clerk to full time. That’s because circuit clerk Kami Johnson Anderson expects an uptick in the number of traffic tickets. Last year, only 655 tickets were issued compared to 1,095 the year prior.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- According to preliminary data, last month was the 10th coldest February on record in Illinois. It’s probably no surprise but temperatures in February averaged just 20 degrees. That’s 11 degrees below normal says State Climatologist Trent Ford…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. Statewide precipitation averaged about two inches in February. Ford says the recent snow and rain has helped improve soil moisture conditions, although portions of Central and Eastern Illinois remain abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services is changing the way it charges interest on child support. Specifically, the department is ending the automatic 9% penalty for past due child support payments, in order to focus on racial and economic equity for the population they serve, including low-to-middle income families. Illinois is one of only 15 states that automatically charged interest on families served by the state.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Now that the FDA has approved the University of Illinois’ COVID-19 saliva test, other state colleges will be able to take advantage of the groundbreaking science. The low cost, easy and quick saliva test has made the Urbana campus one of the safest places to be says U of I President Tim Killeen, with a rate of infection there often below one percent. He says the so-called “Shield” Program has been a huge success and they are anxious to share it with other schools in Illinois…

 

 

University of Illinois President Tim Killeen. Even before FDA approval, the U of I has been sending the saliva test to clients all over the world including companies in the Silicon Valley, out of state universities as well as New Zealand and the Philippines.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A large police presence was seen at an Urbana apartment complex around 6 p.m. Sunday. Urbana Police say they received a report of shots fired near 1 Illinois North Student Apartments at the corner of Bradley and Lincoln. Champaign Police, Champaign County Sheriff's Office, Urbana Police, and the University of Illinois Police all responded to the scene.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- The COVID-19 vaccine will be available to independent pharmacies in phase two of the distribution process. Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson has the details of what the vaccine process will look like at his pharmacy… 

 

 

Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Two area school boards meet tonight. In Rantoul at 6, the Rantoul Township High School board will meet where they will hear a presentation on the Student Online Privacy Protection Act and a presentation on the student handbook changes. At 6:30 in St. Joseph, the St. Joseph Community School District will consider the 2021-2022 school calendar and fees and hear a 2nd reading of updated policies. The Rantoul Township High School board meeting gets underway at 6 with the St. Joseph Community school board meeting getting underway at 6:30.

 

 

(St. Joseph-jm) -- Work is continuing on the Kickapoo Rail Trail. The trail will run from Urbana to Kickapoo State Park near Danville. A portion of the trail is already completed with more to come. St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling says having the trail going through St. Joseph will help the community…

 

 

St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Sunflowers are making a comeback in Champaign County this summer. The Atkins Group is launching Clearview Farm. It will be 140 acres. 18 crops will be planted ranging from wheat to sweet corn and sunflowers. The farm will be near Mattis and Olympian.

 

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