(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation is ready to tackle the roads as a winter storm moves into the state. While forecasted snowfall totals are expected at 2-5 inches, the roads will likely still be treacherous, says IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel…
IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel. To make matters worse, IDOT says when it gets so bitterly cold, salt and other road treatments don’t work. The transition from rain to snow is expected to occur around mid-day and rapidly deteriorate. Temperatures are expected to drop 15-20 degrees in a matter of an hour or two leading to flash freeze. Winds are expected to pick up leading to blizzard like conditions. Wind chill values of 25 to 35 below zero are expected. A winter storm warning is in effect starting at noon today and going through 6 am Saturday morning. Check getting around illinois dot com for the latest road conditions.
(Springfield-jm) – More than five million Illinoisans have now received their income and property tax rebates under Governor J-B Pritzker’s Family Relief Plan. 96 percent of rebates to qualifying taxpayers have been sent out, totaling over one billion dollars, says Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Maura Kownacki (kuh-nacky)...
Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Maura Kownacki. Less than four percent of taxpayers may still be awaiting their rebates. In most cases, this is because they either filed their state income tax returns later in the year or are responding to questions from the department.
(Rantoul-jm) – Rantoul Sports Complex is officially one of the best complexes in the country. The American Sports Builders Association named the facility this year’s most distinguished sports facility. The award recognizes complexes that display construction excellence. It is home to many fields for football, baseball, rugby and even quidditch. The facility hosted more than 350,000 people this year. It’s expected the complex will have more than one million people using the fields by the end of 2023.
(Urbana-jm) – A Potomac man has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for shooting at a Champaign County Sheriff’s deputy nearly two years ago. John Bennett pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm, a crime that carries a maximum of 45 years in prison. The charge and prosecution stems from an incident on February 21, 2021 in which Bennett was a passenger while his girlfriend was the driver during a traffic stop in Urbana; Bennett did not cooperate during the traffic stop and his girlfriend fled. After getting onto the highway, Bennett leaned out the window of his girlfriend’s car and fired at a deputies squad car. The chase involving Bennett ultimately led other deputies from Champaign County and Illinois State Troopers to become involved. Vermilion County Sheriff’s deputies also joined the pursuit when it entered that county. During the chase, 911 dispatchers received a call from Bennett’s girlfriend who said he was threatening to shoot her if she did not stop. The car was eventually brought to a stop on Illinois Route 49 after the tires were blown out using a spike strip. Bennett’s girlfriend got out of the car, but Bennett refused to get out of the car and threatened to kill himself, starting a three-hour standoff.
(Springfield-jm) – All year long we’ve seen the terrible pictures coming out of Ukraine following the Russian invasion of that country. A lot of people may be surprised to learn that Illinois taxpayers invest money in Russia that might be going to support their war effort. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about changes ahead…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Watseka-jm) – The Iroquois County Board voted to approve a tax levy that represents a 13.7% increase over last year. The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes levied are at $5,936,858. It's due to a rise in equalized assessed value and rising home values.The effects of the levy is way more than just the county government portion. School districts and other bodies of government make up 70% of the property tax bills. And the EAV poses the same concern for those units of government too.
(Rantoul–jc) – what is on the christmas wish list of local leaders. That question was asked of Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery. She wants to see member involvement and member growth…
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois State Police is urging the public to stay off the roads during the incoming winter storm. Combine snow and very cold temperatures and it’s going to be pretty ugly out there, says Trooper Haylie Polistina…
Illinois State Trooper Haylie Polistina. If you do slide off the road or get into an accident, Polistina says you should stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelt on and call 9-1-1. A winter storm warning goes into effect starting at noon today through 6 am Saturday morning. Winds of up to 50 mph will bring blizzard like conditions. 2-5 inches of snow is expected. The changeover from rain to snow is expected to occur around the mid day hours with conditions deteriorating rapidly. Temperatures are expected to drop 15-20 degrees in a matter of an hour or two. Wind chill values of 25 to 35 below are expected from tonight through the weekend. Check getting around illinois dot com for the latest road conditions.
(Springfield-jm) – Freshman enrollment is up at Illinois public universities. There’s been a five percent increase in the number of freshmen enrolled this school year. That compares to a decrease of more than two percent nationally says State Board of Higher Education Spokesperson Jose Garcia…
State Board of Higher Education Spokesperson Jose Garcia. Garcia says enrollment of Latino and African American students increased significantly this fall. Universities seeing the highest percentage of overall student growth: Governor’s State, Northeastern Illinois and Western Illinois.
(Paxton-jm) – Loda Immanuel Lutheran Church is the latest organization to receive a $1,000 check from Paxton IGA. It’s part of their charitable rebate program, which provides $1,000 to a nonprofit organization in return for the organization collecting $200,000 in IGA receipts. This represents the 58th organization that has qualified for a $1000 check since the program started in September 2009.
(Thawville-jm) – A Will County woman who was the founder of an animal sanctuary in Iroquois County was sentenced to probation for animal cruelty. 40-year-old Corrine DiLorenzo will serve a year and a-half probation, pay a $500 fine, and serve community service time. DiLorenzo was originally charged for Aggravated Animal Cruelty in 2019. She later chose to go with a lesser misdemeanor charge. DiLorenzo founded the animal sanctuary at Thawville where hundreds of animal carcasses were discovered in a shallow grave in 2019. DiLorenzo has remained free since posting a $10,000 bond. Earth Advocates – a non-profit animal sanctuary, set up shop in Thawville. Back in 2019, a grand jury indicted her after she allegedly caused the death of several animals.
(Paxton-jm) – A blood drive will be held on December 26th in Paxton. Coordinator Kevin Hanson says they have gifts for those who donate…
Local blood drive coordinator Kevin Hanson.
(Urbana-jm) – State Representative Carol Ammons of Urbana announced that she will be applying to fill the Senate seat previously held by Senator Scott Bennett. Bennett died unexpectedly on December 9 from a brain tumor. The decision over who replaces Bennett falls to the Democratic Party Chairs of Champaign and Vermilion County, but Champaign’s Democratic Party will ultimately have way more weight in the decision. The total number of votes is split based on the number of voters from each county in the most recent primary election.
(The Center Square) – Illinois' population has been shrinking for years as more people leave the state than arrive. Did the trend continue this past year? Residents will learn today when the latest U.S. Census data on population is released.Estimates over the past decade show about 400,000 fewer people in Illinois from eight consecutive years of decline. In the Decennial Census, Illinois lost around 18,000 people. The state lost a seat in the upcoming U.S. Congress because of the population decline. Months later, another survey suggested the Census undercounted Illinois by around 2 percent. This past summer, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said the state is growing.
