(Springfield-jm) – The state’s tax holiday on school supplies begins today. The 10 day holiday covers many items including folders, pens and notebooks as well as clothing and shoes that are under $125 a piece. Governor J-B Pritzker says this also applies to teachers spending their own money to purchase classroom supplies…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The holiday only applies to the state sales tax, not any local sales taxes. It runs through August 14th.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The U.S. Department of Labor wants to know how much money was misspent by the state of Illinois, but the Illinois Department of Employment Security hasn’t shared that information. Now, IDES has once again been called out by the federal government in a scathing report released. The report by the Inspector General criticizes Illinois and other states for failing to submit required information on the taxpayer dollars spent on federal programs created during the pandemic.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Another Illinois State Police squad car has been struck, marking the 14th Scott’s Law related crash this year. A Chicago area trooper was sitting in his car with the lights activated when he was hit by a drunk driver. The trooper suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but this is happening way too often says State Police Master Sergeant Joey Watson…

 

 

State Police Master Sergeant Joey Watson. Watson says bottom line, anytime you see any vehicle pulled over with the lights flashing or hazards on, passing motorists must slow down and change lanes if possible.

 

(Urbana-jm) – OSF HealthCare Home Care in Urbana has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall caregiver and family satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20% of all eligible SHP clients for the 2021 calendar year. OSF Home Care and Hospice in Urbana covers Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Ford, Edgar, Iroquois, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Vermilion counties.

 

(Savoy-jm) – The Village of Savoy is asking community businesses for feedback on how the village supports them and what the village can do further for them. The village released a survey on its website to learn what makes Savoy a great place to do business and how the village can better support its business community. The survey is intended to inform future village business support programs and economic development policies and incentives.

 

(Springfield-jm) – With the November general election about 4 months away, area lawmakers are talking about the political agenda heading into the election. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman says sometimes those agenda’s have negative consequences…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in a street shooting over drugs. Gregory Sappington pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm in the November 2019 incident. Police say three men attempted to sell drugs to Sappington, who intended to rob them. The three men were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds. A second persons case related to the incident remains unresolved.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Medicaid reimbursement rates for abortion service providers are going up next month. Governor J-B Pritzker says Illinois will remain a sanctuary for women to make their own reproductive choices, and that providers need more support to handle the influx of patients…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Illinois is one of only 16 states that allow Medicaid coverage of abortions. The Governor is also announcing an additional two million dollars for family planning services.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois attorney general has announced the formation of a nationwide robocall litigation task force. Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that Illinois is joining the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force made up of 50 state attorneys general to investigate and take legal action against the telecommunications companies responsible for bringing a majority of foreign robocalls into the country. According to the National Consumer Law Center, over 33 million scam robocalls are made to Americans every day. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Fair kicks off next week, with new attractions and no admission price increases. Unlike everything else, the cost to get into the fair is not going up this year, says State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark…

 

 

State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. Clark says new features include the giant dinosaurs exhibit with over 20 huge robotic creatures, character brunches and the bass mobile. The Illinois State Fair runs August 11th through the 21st in Springfield.

 

(Danville-jm) – The Vermilion County Health Department was recently honored with an award for its fight against COVID-19. The VCHD received the 2022 Bronze Innovative Practice Award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials at a conference in July. Awarded to ten health departments, the award celebrates local health departments for developing innovative programs to meet the needs of their communities.

 

(Undated-jm) – Multiple reports of funnel clouds were reported Thursday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a statement saying these funnels formed along a weak boundary extending from far Southeast McLean county towards the Dewitt/Piatt County border, through Central Macon county and into Northwest Christian county. Atmospheric conditions were favorable to form some of these funnels, which resemble cold air funnels or landspouts along the boundary. The boundary continued to slowly move southeast and produce occasional funnel clouds. 

 

(Fisher-jm) – The 5th annual Fisher Lucky Foot Festival is this Saturday. Spokesperson Joe Wier talks about what’s happening at the festival…

 

 

Fisher Lucky Foot Festival Spokesperson Joe Wier.

 

The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus will be coming to Durham Park in Onarga today with showtimes at 5 and 7:30 pm. 

 

Paxton IGA will hold their cookout benefiting the Class of 2024 on Saturday from 10-2.

 

The 5th annual Fisher Lucky Foot Festival will take place on Saturday. Activities include car show 10-3, youth run at 11:30, kids activities 12-3, bags tournament and paint party 1-4 and live music from 2-10.

 

Battle Creek Country will perform at the Melvin Community Hall on Saturday at 7 pm. Cost is $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are free.