(Springfield-jm) – Annual road tests for senior citizens will now begin at the age of 79 rather than 75 under a measure Governor J.B. Pritzker signed. The measure also has the Illinois Secretary of State studying the safety of removing road test requirements for certain ages and allows for the issuance of specialty license plates for retired statewide officers.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is urging quick passage of the latest proposed ban on assault weapons. The measure bans assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and rapid-fire devices, and raises the age to get a FOID card from 18 to 21. The Governor wants lawmakers to get it done…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The bill’s sponsor is pushing to pass the ban when lawmakers return to Springfield the first week of January.

 

(Urbana-jm) – The long-standing tradition of Dial-a-Carol has returned to Snyder Hall. For the 62nd year, students have gathered at Snyder Hall on the University of Illinois' campus around tables, computers, and phones to sign Christmas carols and holiday classics to callers via their Dial-a-Carol line. Dial-a-Carol runs through December 14. People can call at all hours of the day and someone will be there to answer the phone to sing. To request a song, call (217) 332-1882.

 

(Paxton-jm) – The Johnson residence on Paxton’s west side is lit up again this year. After taking a couple year hiatus, Lighting Up Paxton is back. Victor Johnson talks about this year’s display…

 

 

Lighting Up Paxton Founder Victor Johnson. You can see the lights on West Patton Street every night starting at 5pm ending at 10 Sunday through Thursday and 11 on Friday and Saturday night.

 

(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Department of Employment Security has released October unemployment numbers. Champaign Counties fell from 3.8 percent to 3.7 percent and Vermilion Counties fell from 5.3 percent to 5.1 percent. Ford and Iroquois Counties both saw their unemployment rate rise slightly. For Ford County, their rate rose from 3.3 percent to 3.4 percent. Iroquois Counties rate increased from 3.6 percent to 3.8 percent.

 

(Washington-jm) – Farm households are seeing median Incomes rising this year, even as income from the household's farm operation is below a year ago. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois is the least tax-friendly state for middle-class families, according to a new report from Kiplinger. The annual state tax analysis reviews tax friendliness of all states and finds Illinois has the second-highest property taxes, and among the highest combined sales tax with above-average income taxes costing middle-class families more than any other state in the country.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The state is pumping more money into increasing shelter for the homeless this winter. The Illinois Department of Human Services is announcing an additional $5 million to expand access to emergency shelters says Spokesperson Marisa Kollias…

 

 

State Department of Human Services Spokesperson Marisa Kollias. Kollias says the need is especially great in the Chicago suburbs, where emergency shelters are full and over 700 people including domestic violence survivors are on waiting lists.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The city of Champaign is having a holiday tree collection. This free collection program is available to all residential properties within the City's corporate limits. The date has been set as Monday, January 9, 2023.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  –  The Community Service Center in Rantoul is hosting their annual Holiday Bureau to help get toys to families and food to their tables this holiday season. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford says they are reaching over 400 kids next week…

 

 

Community Service Center of Rantoul Executive Director Cindy Crawford.

 

(Ford County-jm) – The Ford County Sheriff’s Office has released their November activity report. During the month, deputies issued 8 citations for speeding and 1 each for disregarding a traffic device, driving on a suspended registration, driving on a revoked license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Deputies also handled 12 reports of a suspicious person, 10 domestic issues, 5 suspicious vehicles, 3 animal complaints, 2 each of abuse and theft and 1 each of trespassing, stolen vehicle, phone scam, harassment, fight in progress, criminal damage to property and burglary.

 

(Paxton-jm) – A blood drive will be held again in Paxton later this month. Local coordinator Kevin Hanson talks about the event…

 

 

Local blood drive coordinator Kevin Hanson.

 

The Parkland College Theatre will perform A Christmas Story today through Sunday.

 

Gifford's Lighted Christmas parade will be held on Sunday at 5 pm.