(Springfield-jm) – Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin announced on Monday he is running for Governor of Illinois. The former prosecutor has also chosen State Representative Avery Bourne of Morrisonville to serve as Lt. Governor should he win the election.
(Springfield-jm) – House Bill 2778 required districts to provide COVID-19 administrative days to any school or college employee for absences related to the virus-like quarantining, illness, or testing. In a letter to the Illinois Education Association, Governor JB Pritzker says he plans on vetoing the bill. The bill also would allow hourly employees to get paid if their school went remote due to an outbreak. The Illinois Education Association is working with the Governor to come to a resolution.
(Washington-jm) – Several nations in the IndoPacific region have a growing middle class - an opportunity for our nation to increase agricultural exports in that part of the world. Rod Bain reports…
(Hoopeston-jm) – The City of Hoopeston announced that starting today, City Hall will be closed to the public for at least two weeks. City officials said the closure is necessary to keep city workers healthy amidst increasing case numbers of COVID-19. City Hall is tentatively scheduled to reopen on January 31.
(Springfield-jm) – There was a mixed report released last week when it comes to the state’s finances. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about the report…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Paxton-jm) – There will be a new Sheriff for Ford County come November. Incumbent Mark Doran announced he will not seek re-election. Paxton Police Captain Chad Johnson announced he will run for the position. Treasurer Krisha Shoemaker and Clerk and Recorder Amy Frederick are both seeking re-election. There will also be new four-year terms on the line for all 12 members of the Ford County Board. Four seats in each of the three county board districts will be up for election, including those held by District 1’s Debbie Smith of Paxton, Gene May of Paxton, Jason Johnson of rural Paxton and Tom McQuinn of rural Paxton; District 2’s Cindy Ihrke of rural Roberts, Ann Ihrke of rural Buckley, Lesley King of Piper City and Tim Nuss of Roberts; and District 3’s Chase McCall, Chuck Aubry, Dr. Bernadette Ray and Randy Ferguson, all of Gibson City.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois will receive $1.4 billion to help upgrade its deteriorating bridges under the federal infrastructure law approved in November. The state’s Democratic congressional delegation said Friday that the funding over five years will include $274.8 million in Fiscal Year 2022. Illinois’ allotment is part of a $27 billion program to repair and upgrade roughly 15,000 highway bridges nationwide that President Joe Biden was announcing Friday.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois unemployment insurance trust fund is about $4.5 billion in the red because of the large number of people who filed for unemployment during the pandemic of the past two years. The state still has billions in American Rescue Plan Act money to spend. One of the permitted uses is paying back debt. Every week the debt grows by $2 million because of interest on the money. Thus far state Democrats have been unwilling to use federal dollars to pay back federal debt saying they are holding out hope that the federal government will offer help or forgiveness for some of this debt.
(Washington-jm) – The year that just ended is the 4th warmest on record -- or, in other words, since 1895. Stephanie Ho reports…
(Kankakee-jm) – Authorities in northeastern Illinois are investigating seven fentanyl overdose cases over 24 hours that left two people dead. The Kankakee Police Department and Kankakee County Coroner's Office say the two victims who died were a 20-year-old female and a 37-year-old male, both of Kankakee. The Kankakee Daily Journal reports that authorities did not have the conditions of the other five. Coroner Bob Gessner says it's the first time there have been so many cases in a short period of time. Police say it appeared the individuals had been together Thursday and was followed by several calls to authorities on Friday.
(Ford-Iroquois-tr) – The past two years have proved difficult for the agriculture economy. Ford/Iroquois County Farm Bureau Manager David Treece says there is a lot of talk about supply chain issues and availability of inputs for next year's crop….
Ford-Iroquois Counties Farm Bureau Manager David Treece.
(Fithian-jm) – State Representative Mike Marron has announced he will seek a third term in office. The Republican from Fithian represents voters in the 104th District of the Illinois House. Marron cited his current and past support from both business and labor interests as a factor in his decision to run again. He says the state needs more consensus builders in a time where our country is facing unprecedented division.
