(Springfield-jm) – Illinois drivers will see increased gasoline taxes next month, with another increase six months after that. Motor fuel prices in Illinois are down nearly 70 cents a gallon since this time last month. However, the state is set to increase the fuel tax January 1 by 3.1 cents a gallon, for a total of 42.3 cents per gallon, second highest in the U.S. Another increase will occur in the summer on July 1. In Governor J.B. Pritzker's first year as governor, he signed legislation doubling the per-gallon tax from 19 cents to 38 cents with annual increases every summer tied to inflation. Since then, the state has seen some of the highest fuel prices in the nation due to inflation and other factors. As of Monday, Illinois fuel prices average $3.45 per gallon, which is 20 cents higher than the national average of $3.26 per gallon. In the spring, legislators approved a budget that included various tax rebates and freezes. The grocery tax was suspended for 12 months. The gas tax increase set for July 1, 2022, was delayed to January 1, 2023. Pritzker and Democrats said the move was an effort to bring tax relief to Illinois families. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Updates to a law regulating a worker’s meal and rest breaks take effect January 1st. A few changes are coming to the One Day Rest in Seven Act, says Illinois Department of Labor’s Marina Faz-Huppert (fas-hoopert), meant to clarify the rules for workers with schedules that don’t follow the traditional Sunday through Saturday week…

 

 

Illinois Department of Labor’s Marina Faz-Huppert. Businesses must post a sign alerting workers of the updates. The department will have samples on its website available for download.

 

(Paxton-jm) – All six Paxton aldermen whose seats are up for election next April filed paperwork Monday to run as candidates, along with a couple of newcomers. Filing their nominating petitions at City Hall as of late afternoon Monday were incumbents Deane Geiken for a four-year term in Ward 1, Paul Crutcher for a two-year term in Ward 2, Justin Withers for a four-year term in Ward 2, Rob Pacey for a four-year term in Ward 3, Mike Wilson for a four-year term in Ward 4 and Jonas Hoedebecke for a two-year term in Ward 4. Joining them were newcomers Joe Reinhart for a two-year term in Ward 2 and Kristen Larson for a two-year term in Ward 4. Candidates for the elected positions must file the required paperwork by 5 p.m. Monday, December 19, for their names to appear on the ballot.

 

(Paxton–jc)  License plate readers and working with the state police and local authorities is set to be a topic for the Paxton city Council when they meet tonight. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the readers do not take pictures of the drivers, they are used when a vehicle is involved in a crime…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. The Paxton City Council meets tonight at 7 on the second floor of city hall. 

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign woman who purposely lied to police to protect a male friend has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. Angel Freeman pleaded guilty in November to obstructing justice, admitting she lied to police about a loaded 9 mm gun that had been modified to make it fully automatic was hers. Police say the gun actually belonged to Rockeith Brown, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for unlawful use of weapons. 

 

(Urbana–jc)  A Building at the Own Your Own Storage business along Route 45 in Urbana is a complete loss. Firefighters from several districts were called to the area on Monday morning. No damage estimates were provided as an investigation into the cause of the blaze, continues. 

(Rantoul–jc)  The Holiday Bureau is a program that is run by the Community Service Center in Rantoul. The event helps place toys in the hands of kids and also provides a free grocery outlet for families in the Rantoul area. Community Service Center Executive Director Cindy Crawford says the Holiday Bureau is set for later this week…

 

 

Community Service Center of RantouL Executive Director Cindy Crawford.

Over 400 kids will receive Christmas gifts with this year’s version of the Holiday Bureau in Rantoul. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – A new survey shows there has been a sharp increase in the number of Illinois small businesses implementing hiring freezes or laying off workers. Alignable’s December Hiring report reveals that 82% of small businesses in Illinois won’t be adding staff, the highest percentage in the country.  Nationwide, an average of 74% of small business employers have instituted hiring freezes until at least the spring of 2023, up 12 percentage points from November. The reasons include they can’t afford to hire full-time permanent employees because of inflation, reduced revenues, high labor costs and fears of recession. Agriculture, real estate and finance were the top three industries implementing hiring freezes.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The first of several hearings on the proposed ban on assault weapons was held Monday. House lawmakers heard from several supporters of the ban, including the mayor of Highland Park, where the deadly 4th of July shooting occurred. Parade-goer Lauren Bennett also testified. She was shot multiple times that day…

 

 

Highland Park Parade-goer Lauren Bennett. The legislation also bans high-capacity magazines and raises the age to get a FOID card from 18 to 21. Lawmakers supporting the bill say it needs to be passed now but stressed that more will need to be done to combat gun violence. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

 

(Buckley-jm) – A Buckley home was damaged by fire Monday. Crews from Buckley, Loda, Paxton, Cissna Park, Onarga and Gilman responded to the fire on South Oak Street. Crews battled the fire for several hours. There’s no word on the cause of the fire or how much damage was done.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Businesses in the city of Paxton are seeing more shopping traffic, both from local citizens and those from area towns and surrounding countryside. Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Dawn Stack says events like the Wine and Chocolate Walk, to the Swine and Dine and other shop local events continue to bring shoppers to the city…

 

 

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Dawn Stack.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Services have been announced for Senator Scott Bennett. A celebration of life will take place on Monday, December 19th at 10 am at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Senator Bennett died Friday from complications of a brain tumor. Flags around the state have been ordered at half staff.

 

(Washington-jm) – How long will the current U.S. avian influenza outbreak last? Gary Crawford reports…