(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois General Assembly’s return to Springfield for two days this week cost the taxpayers more money for legislators' travel expenses. According to the Illinois Comptroller’s Office, this is not a special session, so legislators will not get paid extra for these two days, but they will get mileage reimbursement for their travels. For the House, that will be a maximum of $22,255.52, and for the Senate, a maximum of $11,525.36.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Senate is voting to correct errors in the state budget. The budget originally passed the Senate in the early morning hours of June 1st, but there were some mistakes in the legislation, says Senate President Don Harmon…

 

 

Senate President Don Harmon. The House must also agree to the fixes. The states’s new fiscal year begins July 1st.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College will return to in-person instruction for the fall semester and invites students and the community back to campus. Other modes of instruction, such as hybrid, flexible, and fully online, will still be available for those who prefer virtual learning.

 

 

(Bondville-jm) -- A St. Joseph man was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries following a rollover accident in Bondville. Police say the man was traveling south on Barker Road when he went off the road, struck a tree and rolled.

 

 

(Melvin-jm) -- Last night at the Ford County Fair was the Talent Show at 6:30. Ford County Fair President Kirk Miller talks about what is happening today at the fair…

 

 

Ford County Fair President Kirk Miller.

 

 

(Peoria-jm) --  OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois has been recognized as a Best Children’s Hospital for 2021-22 by U.S. News & World Report. OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois was recognized among the top three children’s hospitals in Illinois and among the top 25 in the Midwest region which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

 

 

(St Louis--jc)  Six Flags has settled a lawsuit claiming it violated an Illinois law when it collected the fingerprints of those attending the park with season passes.Law360 Illinois reports the amusement park has agreed to pay $36 million to end the class-action lawsuit accusing the company of collecting fingerprint data in violation of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act

 

 

(Melvin--jc)  Jolee Hastings of rural Loda continues her reign over the Ford County Fair in Melvin this week. Hastings was crowned the 20-21 Ford County Fair Queen on Monday night. Hastings was a guest on our live broadcast at the fair Tuesday over the noon hour. Hastings will be busy looking at projects, animals and other events at this week’s fair and says she remembers her projects at fair time…

 

20-21 Miss Ford County Fair Queen Jolee Hastings

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Capitol is preparing to reopen to the public. Both the Statehouse and Stratton Office Building will open on Monday, June 21. Starting then, those who have been fully vaccinated will not be required to wear masks or socially distance inside. Anyone who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 will still be asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Public tours will restart next Monday, and permits will also be issued for gatherings and demonstrations.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Negotiations on comprehensive clean energy legislation have stalled in the Illinois General Assembly. The Senate adjourned without passing a bill as planned. One major problem is different timelines for reducing carbon emissions and closing coal plants in downstate Marissa and Springfield have been proposed, says Senator Bill Cunningham…

 

 

State Senator Bill Cunningham. Another issue being debated is the prevailing wage for clean energy jobs.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A man accused of hitting a woman with his car was in court yesterday. Stephen Booker is charged with aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and resisting an officer. Police say Monday Booker ran a woman over, crashed his car, then started beating her up. The prosecuting attorney says Booker was dating the victim. She has a broken pelvis and sprained wrist. They also say Booker had a bag of heroin when police arrested him. Bond was set at $750,000.

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Champaign police and the family of fallen officer Chris Oberheim are looking for an anonymous donor. The department received a letter and $10. The author of the letter stated they had been living in their car for the past three years but wanted to help the Oberheim family. The Champaign Police Department asks anyone who knows the anonymous donor to privately message them on facebook.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Forum Fitness Center in Rantoul will be getting some major upgrades thanks in part to a state grant. Mayor Chuck Smith talks about the renovation and how it will help the community…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith.

 

(Peoria--jc)  --   The American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise – and deplete the nation’s blood inventory. Donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are urged to make an appointment to give as soon as possible to prevent further impact to patients.Right now, hospitals are responding to an atypically high number of traumas and emergency room visits, as well as overdoses and resulting transplants. In comparison to 2019, the Red Cross has seen demand from trauma centers climb by 10% in 2021− more than five times the growth of other facilities that provide blood transfusions.

(Chicago--jc)  --  A survey shows Illinois business owners were less optimistic in May for the near future because of the ongoing labor shortage.The National Federation of Independent Business index dipped in May after a record high 48% of owners reported unfilled job openings.Enhanced federal unemployment benefits have been blamed for keeping potential workers on the sidelines. Twenty-five states have ended the program, trying to encourage more people to reenter the workforce.Gov. J.B. Pritzker was asked  whether Illinois would be ending the benefits early, and he indicated not likely.

 

(Melvin--jc)  Two stops  to make at this year’s Ford County Fair are the concessions stands of Jay Beck. Beck and his crew have been providing delicious food for many years. Beck talks about elephant ears to taffy…

 

 

Beck’s Concessions Jay Beck.