(Springfield-jm) – After the November midterm general elections in Illinois, voters in local races will have their sights on April for the consolidated elections. People vying for seats on city councils, village boards, townships, school boards, park districts and other local offices will be up for election. Candidates seeking to run in such races are already beginning to circulate their petitions across the state.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The newest justice appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court says while justices are up for election by voters, they need to strive to be nonpartisan. Justice Lisa Holder White is a Republican but said justices have to remain neutral arbiters of the law. While she’s up for a full term in 2024, there are three justice positions on the seven person court that voters will be asked about in November.

 

(Chicago-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting the first human case and first death of 2022 from West Nile Virus. IDPH says the person was a Cook County resident who was in their late 70s who became ill in early August and passed away shortly after.

 

(Washington-jm) – The U.S. is about to wrap up what is projected to be a record agricultural export year. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Urbana-jm) – After months of negotiations and frustration, service workers at the University of Illinois have a new labor contract. Service Employees International Union Local 73 announced on Tuesday that its 800+ members “overwhelmingly voted” in the last week to ratify their new contracts, averting a strike the union had already filed notice for. The union’s bargaining committee and the university agreed to the contract just a few days before the previous contract expired. Because the contract had not been ratified when the previous one expired on August 22, the union filed a 15-day strike notice and could’ve gone on strike any time after September 5.

 

(Gibson City–jc)  –  The Labor Day holiday is coming this weekend, but road projects in area towns continue as we close out the month of August. In Gibson City, several projects are underway and with a “curb appeal” on the roads says Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey…

 

 

Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey.

 

(Undated-jm) – Ameren Illinois is warning customers about a phone scam going around. Customers are getting calls from someone claiming to be with Ameren Illinois. The caller demands immediate payment or says the customer's account will be disconnected in 30 minutes. If you get one of these calls, hang up and call 800-755-5000.

 

(Loda-jm) – The Team Hope Walk for Huntington’s Disease will take place Saturday, September 10th at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. Spokesperson Samantha Cox says there is still time to sign up…

 

 

Team Hope Walk for Huntington’s Disease Spokesperson Samantha Cox.

(Springfield-jm) – Republican state Senator Darren Bailey received a $1 million political donation from Richard Uihlein. Bailey faces incumbent Democrat J.B. Pritzker. That’s not the only big dollar donation as of late. Last week, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America donated $1 million to the group Vote Yes for Workers Rights in support of the labor amendment on the November ballot.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois has the 11th highest number of unionized workers in the country. Stacker.com reviewed all 50 states and found Illinois has nearly 14% of the state’s workers as members of unions. Nearby Michigan ranked 12th in the country. All other neighboring states were further down in the rankings with Missouri and Indiana tied at No. 25, Wisconsin at No. 28 and Kentucky at No. 30. Iowa ranked No. 32.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Organizations will soon be able to apply for an additional $100 million in grants to fund gun violence prevention programs in municipalities across Illinois. The funding, which is a part of the Reimagine Public Safety Act, is in support of nonprofit community-based organizations and local governments as they work to prevent and interrupt gun violence in their communities. The additional $100 million builds on top of an already $113 million in funding made available in May as well as $10 million in funding surged to Chicago and other areas of the state in advance of the summer.

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA is forecasting a lower level of agricultural exports for the 2023 fiscal year. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Champaign County-jm) – Champaign County health officials recommend residents wear a mask when indoors and in public spaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Champaign County community level transmission is high. The level of transmission is based on three indicators which include new case rate per 100,000 population, percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population.

 

(Paxton–jc)  –  The Paxton Park District has soccer games coming in September and also flag football this fall. Park District Director Cody Evans says the local park district is also looking into getting volleyball back…

 

 

Paxton Park District Director Cody Evans.

 

(Gibson City-jm) – An increase in property tax bills in Gibson City was an accident, according to Ford County Clerk and Recorder Amy Frederick. Frederick said her office sent the estimated assessed valuations to the city for approval, which inadvertently included approximately $232,714.00 that the City previously abated. Gibson City and Frederick's office are working to fix the issue.

 

(Paxton-jm) – The Paxton Masonic Lodge is holding their Get out of Dodge drawing September 17th. The grand prize is a trip to New York City. The group is looking for new members, says Spokesperson Jim Sherl…

 

 

Paxton Masonic Lodge Spokesperson Jim Sherl.

 

The National Sweetcorn Festival takes place Thursday through Monday at McFerren Park in Hoopeston.

 

The 74th annual Pontiac Threshermen's reunion takes place Thursday through Monday, 3 miles north of Pontiac.

 

Parkland College’s Staerkel Planetarium Kaler Lecture Series will be held Friday with U of I Physics Professor Nicolas Yunes talking about The Science of Einstein’s Gravity Playlist starting at 7 pm. Cost is $2.

 

Paxton IGA will hold their cookout benefiting Loda Lutheran Ladies on Saturday from 10-2.

 

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

 

The 2022 Arthur Cheese Festival will take place Saturday through Monday.