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New legislation proposed would ensure the families of fallen first responders receive the appropriate benefits

(Springfield-jm) – New legislation proposed by Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza would ensure the families of fallen first responders receive the appropriate benefits. Families are entitled to the benefits under the Line of Duty Compensation Act, but funding sometimes runs out before the end of the fiscal year. This causes delays in the money to be paid out says Comptroller Mendoza…

 

 

State Comptroller Susana Mendoza. The measure just filed would make these payments a continuing appropriation, so that funding for benefits is always there.

 

(Springfield-jm) – President Joe Biden is expected to sign the Inflation Reduction Act passed by the U.S. Congress last week. The impact on Illinois taxpayers depends on who you ask. The measure increases taxes on people and businesses making $400,000 or more per year as part of spending more than $730 billion on various programs, including so-called renewable energy programs. Monday, Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker said the tax increases won’t impact “the middle class.” Republicans however disagreed arguing it is filled with tax hikes that will hurt middle class families, manufacturers and small businesses.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state is launching a new program for elderly Illinoisans. The initiative is dubbed “PACE,” the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. The goal is to coordinate medical care and health services, so that seniors can remain in their homes instead of moving into a nursing home facility, says Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton…

 

 

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. The new PACE program will initially be available in West Chicago, South Chicago, Southern Cook County, Peoria and East St Louis.

 

(Undated-jm) – The school bus driver shortage that was prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting some Illinois school districts with higher costs covered by taxpayers. In some school districts, alternative transportation options are provided, or even parents are being reimbursed for driving their kids to class, like in DeKalb. Chicago schools are offering families a monthly stipend to cover transportation costs. Locally, districts like Mahomet Seymour are reducing routes because of the shortage.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Crop conditions deteriorated just a bit over the past week in Illinois. In the latest weekly crop report, soybeans are blooming on 93 percent of acres, says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 70 percent of corn is in the dough stage and 12 percent is in the dent stage. 73 percent of the corn crop is rated in good to excellent condition, a drop of two points from the previous week. Average statewide topsoil moisture came in at 7 percent very short, 16 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers needs help finding a man who walked into a store and started punching an employee because they refused to sell him alcohol. Green Street Pantry employees say he appeared to be intoxicated when he walked into the store. They say he got upset when workers told him they weren’t selling him any alcohol. Witnesses say he was with a woman. Authorities believe he’s approximately 6’0” tall and 200 pounds, with tattoos on his right arm. The woman has blonde hair and a tattoo on her back. Authorities are trying to find both of them.

 

(Paxton-jm) – The Paxton Masonic Lodge is hosting their Get Out of Dodge raffle on Saturday, September 17th. Spokesperson Jim Sherl talks about the grand prize…

 

 

Paxton Masonic Lodge Spokesperson Jim Sherl.

 

(Watseka-jm) – Iroquois Memorial Hospice has been awarded the Strategic Healthcare Program. Top 20% best Hospice Caregiver Satisfaction Award for achieving an overall score that ranked in the SHP national hospice benchmark score among 7,000 healthcare providers nationwide. IMH was one of four hospice

organizations awarded top honors in the state of Illinois.

 

(Washington-jm) – Increased forecasts for soybean production in two countries are contributing to similar changes in the world soybean market situation. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state is awarding 106 million dollars in grants to 50 communities across the state. The money comes from the Rebuild Illinois downtowns and main streets capital program and is the largest investment in community revitalization, says Governor J-B Pritzker…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Federal matching grants bring total funding to more than 200 million dollars. Locally, Champaign is receiving $3 million for multi-use redevelopment of historic downtown buildings. Rantoul is also receiving $3 million for the downtown Master Plan implementation and overall Downtown revitalization including infrastructure improvements.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution that some argue contradicts federal law governing labor relations could raise taxes on small businesses, opponents of the amendment say. Amendment 1 is on the November ballot in Illinois. It reads: "Employees shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work." Critics of the proposal say the measure will unconstitutionally enshrine union powers in the Illinois Constitution, making it impossible for lawmakers to curb union powers and giving union contracts more weight than state law. Supporters of the amendment say it is in support of workers to secure certain collective bargaining rights. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Looking for some fun, free activities for the kids at the Illinois State Fair? Check out Conservation World. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources wants fairgoers to embrace their love for the outdoors when they visit Conservation World. Director Colleen Callahan says it’s a great environment for families with plenty to do…

 

 

Department of Natural Resources Director Colleen Callahan. Conservation World also has a lumberjack show, live music, a youth bb gun range and a rock climbing wall.

 

(Kankakee-jm) – The Kankakee County Public Health Department is reporting their first case of Monkeypox. The health department says they are working with the state department of public health and the CDC for contact tracing.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Crop conditions deteriorated just a bit over the past week in Illinois. 93 percent of soybeans are blooming and 73 percent are setting pods. The condition of the soybean crop dropped one point and is now 69 percent in good to excellent condition. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener looks at corn…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated 7 percent very short, 16 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. The third cutting of alfalfa hay is now 47 percent complete.

 

(Thomasboro-jm) – Firefighters from more than 10 fire protection districts were called to Thomasboro early Sunday morning to battle a large farm shed fire. The building was a total loss with a large loss of equipment inside, but firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to an even larger building that contained bulk liquid propane tanks. Firefighters from the Thomasboro, Carroll, St. Joseph-Stanton, Ogden-Royal, Rantoul, Gifford, Paxton, Eastern Prairie, Bondville, Cornbelt and Edge Scott Fire Protection Districts responded to the fire.

 

(Gibson City–jc)  –  The 20-22 Gibson Area Hospital-Summer Bash- is set for this coming Saturday. Gibson Area Hospital Spokesperson Bill Kirby says the national act “Night Ranger” will perform on Saturday night.Kirby says food trucks will arrive at 5pm on Saturday in the downtown area and a “fun” race event for the Gibson City Fire Department is set for 3-30 Saturday afternoon…

 

 

Gibson Area Hospital Spokesperson Bill Kirby.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Republicans are hoping for strong results in the November election. Inflation and the high cost of gas among other things will be a major issue affecting the election results. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says Republicans have plans to provide relief to taxpayers…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

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