(Springfield-jm) – Projections show the amendment enshrining collective bargaining rights in the Illinois Constitution received 53% support of all votes cast in last week's election, exceeding the simple majority of all voters threshold needed to pass. Some are waiting to see the officially certified results. The measure known as Amendment 1 has its supporters saying it will codify workers' rights in Illinois. Opponents say it will lead to stiff property tax hikes. The election will be certified on December 9th.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  –  Business in one area town has been good for the current fiscal year. With the addition of several new businesses, the second year at the sports complex, the village of Rantoul has seen sales tax revenues jump by 30 percent. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says village leaders continue to look for more economic positives for Rantoul…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith

 

(Washington-jm) – The Biden-Harris administration announced a $75 million  investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create good-paying union jobs and catalyze economic opportunity by reclaiming abandoned mine lands in Illinois. Officials say millions of Americans nationwide live within just one mile of an abandoned coal mine or orphaned oil and gas well. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates a total of $11.3 billion in AML funding over 15 years. This year, $725 million will be distributed to 22 states and the Navajo Nation.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Senate Republicans are unveiling new legislation cracking down on Fentanyl dealers. Dealers selling pills with detectable amounts of Fentanyl would face 9 to 40 years in prison under the bill, says Senator Sue Rezin of Morris…

 

 

State Senator Sue Rezin of Morris. The measure also creates new penalties for selling Fentanyl-laced drugs online or over the phone. Supporters say more must be done to stop the increasing number of people dying from Fentanyl overdoses and hope to get the bill passed during the current veto session.

 

(Urbana-jm) – A University of Illinois student has been scammed out of $6,000. 

It happened last week. The University of Illinois Police Department says the student was seeking help for an upcoming exam, the student requested tutoring services through a website. An unknown person responded to her request and asked for personal information, including passwords to her university accounts and remote access to her computer. On the day of the computer-based exam, the scammer took control of the student’s computer and threatened to expose her for cheating if she did not send money. The student reported that she paid $6,189 and asked a friend to send additional money, making the total around $12,000.

 

(Undated-jm) – Illinois State Police will be conducting Distracted Driving Enforcement patrols ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. WPXN’s Jason Madden reports…

 

 

(Champaign-jm) – In order to perform work for a sewer lining project, Visu-Sewer Construction Inc. will temporarily close single lanes of Bradley Avenue between State Street and Randolph Street and also on Bradley Avenue between Mattis Avenue and McKinley Avenue. These single-lane closures will be of short length and time duration and will affect only one travel lane at any given time.  Work will occur from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday weather permitting.

 

(Washington-jm) – World corn production is projected down from last season, giving support to prices. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois has reached a settlement with Walmart to resolve allegations that the company contributed to the opioid addiction crisis by failing to oversee the dispensing of opioids at its stores. The settlement provides more than $3 billion nationally and requires improvements to how Walmart’s pharmacies handle opioids. The settlement will be divided by sign-on states, local governments and tribes, and will prioritize remediation of the opioid crisis.

 

(Paxton–jc)  – Gathering cost estimates for Phase Two of the City of Paxton Streetscape Program is the next stop for downtown Paxton upgrades. PCity of Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold has met with engineering officials to look at the investment into the 100 block of South Market…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

More in depth numbers are expected during December meetings with city leaders. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Senate is ready to pass an amendment to a House bill that would divest state tax dollars from companies that do business with Russia. The measure passed the House earlier this year. If an amendment is approved in the Senate, the House must confirm before it can be approved by the governor. Lawmakers return to session today.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield is offering free admission this Saturday in honor of the 159th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. The 272 word speech was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln back in 1863, and with no copy machines around, he got to work, says Museum Spokesperson Chris Wills…

 

 

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Spokesperson Chris Wills. The museum possesses one of those copies, which will be on display from November 18th through the 28th. Visitors get in free on Saturday the 19th.

 

(Watseka-jm) – Iroquois Memorial Hospital is partnering with The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation by placing toy collection boxes at the hospital’s main entrance, the Iroquois Regional Health Center, and the Watseka, Milford, and Gilman clinics. Last year’s campaign had over 2,800 toys distributed to children from newborn to age 11, all of which benefitted families in Iroquois County.

 

(Undated-jm) – Some area communities are receiving money from the state. WPXN’s Jason Madden has a look at communities in Ford County receiving funding…

 

 

 

Impact your Farm Legacy Now will hold a free event at The Barn at Double K Ranch this evening from 5:30-8 pm.

 

(Washington-jm) – For many farmers the harvest is wrapping up a little sooner than normal. Gary Crawford reports…