(Springfield-jm) – A measure that brings about various changes to areas of public health like nursing homes and hospitals is now law. House Bill 240 was signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker. While supporting various aspects of the measure, some worried the bill included last-minute changes impacting counties’ ability to hold the state accountable for transferring and treating criminal defendants deemed unfit for trial.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker continues to tout successes in Illinois at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Governor has been participating in various panels, speaking on the international stage about the state’s efforts to ban assault weapons, protect reproductive rights and transition to clean energy…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker also talked about the nation’s economy, saying it will likely be a very long time before inflation drops to the Federal Reserve’s goal of two percent.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois restaurants continue to tread lightly as adversity hits them from multiple directions. The combination of inflation, rising costs, staffing shortages and current and potential employees demanding higher pay can be a recipe for disaster, according to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. Prices have gone up for food and everyday items that a restaurant needs to operate. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the Illinois server minimum wage is $7.20 per hour in 2022.
(Springfield-jm) – Tax filing season kicks off Monday. The Illinois Department of Revenue will begin accepting state tax returns on January 23rd says Spokesperson Maura Kownacki (kuh-nacky)...
Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Maura Kownacki. Kownacki says if you file an error free return and choose direct deposit, you should get your refund in about four weeks. The website is: my tax dot illinois dot gov.
(Champaign County-jm) – A Champaign County judge is asking the county board to make a change. Ben Dyer wants jurors to get a raise. He’s asking to increase their pay from $10 to $40. In a letter to the board, Dyer said there hasn’t been a pay increase since 1965.
(Paxton–jc) City of Paxton leaders continue to work with local businesses and homeowners in the downtown area of the city on re-development agreements. The total nears 20 says Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Champaign-jm) – Police are investigating a report of suspicious activity reported at TownePlace Suites, in Champaign over the weekend. Hotel staff reported that a housekeeper had found a guest room containing various pieces of mail with the intended recipients’ personal and banking information and evidence of illegal drug use, according to University Police. The mail is suspected to have been stolen. The guests had checked out before the items were discovered.
(Champaign-jm) – A new abortion clinic is opening in Champaign. An Ohio based physician is opening the clinic in west Champaign next month. It will operate on West Park Court in the former Advanced Aesthetics surgery and laser center. The clinic will begin taking patients in early to mid February.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Parkland College Board of Trustees welcomed the college's new president, Dr. Pamela Lau, and named a room at the campus at the request of a generous donor. In her debut report to trustees at their regular meeting Wednesday, Lau congratulated Trustee Dr. Maureen Banks on her appointment to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). Banks will represent Illinois trustees; her term as an ICCB board member begins now and ends in 2029. Dr. Lau also reminded the board of their next budget workshop, scheduled for Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. before the board's regular 7 p.m. meeting.
(Springfield-jm) – Nearly a million and a half Illinoisans depend on small rural hospitals for care, but most under-25-bed hospitals are fighting to keep their doors open. Reimbursements that small rural hospitals receive from federal and state governments are inadequate and subject to across-the-board cuts every year. Meanwhile, the cost of remaining viable has doubled in the past two years, he said. When the federal government “sequestered” the budget two years ago, rural hospitals lost 2% of reimbursement revenue across the board. This January, unless Congress acts, a new federal program called Pay As You Go is set to cut another 2-4% percent. Illinois lawmakers recently approved a one-time payment of $460 million for hospitals across the state to help with nursing shortages and other issues.
(Springfield-jm) – Tax filing season kicks off Monday. The my tax Illinois website has been improved this year to make filing the IL 10-40 easier than ever says State Department of Revenue Spokesperson Maura Kownacki (kuh-nacky)...
Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Maura Kownacki. Last year, 90 percent of taxpayers filed electronically. To get started, visit: my tax dot illinois dot gov.
(Undated-jm) – Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker appeared on CNN Wednesday and shared his thoughts on the collections of classified materials found at the home and private office of Democratic President Joe Biden. The Democratic governor said an independent investigation is called for in the matter, but he said Biden's situation is different compared to the classified documents discovered after the raid of former Republican President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
(Springfield-jm) – More acres are now available for the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s cover crop program. 20 thousand additional acres have been added to the fall cover crop program. State Ag Director Jerry Costello says recipients will be chosen from the overwhelming number of initial applicants…
State Ag Director Jerry Costello. Eligible applicants receive a premium discount of five dollars per acre on their crop insurance. The new acreage comes thanks to state and federal funding.
(Urbana-jm) – Jeffrey A. Stein, an administrator for nearly two decades at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an alumnus with three degrees from UIUC, has been appointed secretary of the Board of Trustees and the University, President Tim Killeen. Stein, who currently serves as associate director for research at the Prairie Research Institute and as an assistant research scientist at the Illinois Natural History Survey, will succeed Gregory Knott, who will retire May 1 after 35 years of service to the University of Illinois System. Stein will begin his new duties January 23 in a designate capacity, working with Knott to provide a smooth transition. The appointment will go to the board for formal approval at its January 26 meeting in Chicago.
(Gibson City-jm) – One of the controversial pieces of legislation to pass in the waning hours of the lame duck session dealt with abortion access and gender affirming care. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City discusses the legislation…
53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Champaign-jm) – Two University of Illinois students filed a police report that their jewelry had been stolen between December 17, 2022, and January 7. The jewelry was swiped from their apartment, which is in the 1000 block of South Locust Street in Champaign, according to University Police. The students reported their door was locked when they left but unlocked when they returned. The pair said the estimated value of the jewelry is $760.
(Danville-jm) – Vermilion County Health Department’s former administrator Doug Toole is suing the Vermilion County Board of Health. He said he was forced to resign. The lawsuit accuses the County Board of violating the state’s Open Meetings Act at the November 10 meeting. Toole spent 34 years with the Health Department, six in the administrator position. Jana Messmore is serving as the administrator for now until the Board of Health fills the opening.
The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper tonight from 5-7 pm at their station located at 134 W. State Street. Cost is $10 for adults, $6 for kids 6-13. Deliveries are available in town by calling 217-202-6441.
