(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 14 attorneys general, are opposing a gas supply company's request for a special permit to ship cryogenic liquefied ethane in rail tank cars from a facility in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, to undisclosed locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Ethane is a colorless, odorless and highly flammable hydrocarbon gas that is commonly used in the petrochemical industry.
(Springfield-jm) – A group of state legislators introduced a bill to phase out the use of styrofoam products in Illinois. The EPA estimates that Americans throw away almost 70 million plastic foam cups every day and 22 million pounds of plastic enter the great lakes each year. This legislation comes as part of Illinois' ongoing fight against climate change.
(Springfield-jm) – As tax filing season ramps up, one state Senator is hi-liting changes to the Illinois earned income tax credit. Lawmakers voted to expand the credit last year, says Chicago Senator Omar Aquino…
State Senator Omar Aquino. Taxpayers now eligible for the credit include those with an Illinois taxpayer identification number of “I-TIN”, rather than a social security number. Aquino says these are often undocumented workers who are paying state and local taxes.
(Champaign County-jm) – A Paxton man is facing drug charges. Benjamin Mason is charged with possession with intent to deliver cannabis following a traffic stop on Route 45 near Thomasboro. Police say Mason was a passenger in the vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Police say they found 581 grams of cannabis. Mason faces penalties ranging from probation to 3-7 years in prison.
(Urbana-jm) – University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen was happy when he heard Governor Pritzker’s budget proposal. During his budget address, Pritzker pitched a seven percent increase to university budgets and a 100 million dollar increase to the MAP Grant Program. Killeen says the university system asked for 10 percent. Killeen said he also wants more stability going forward. Instead of waiting year to year to find out what the University system will get from the state, Killeen wants a multi-year funding plan, with a set increase every year.
(Springfield–jc) – A gun ban lawsuit continues in the state of Illinois. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting says filings to overturn the new law remain in the courts…
106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emmington
(Champaign-jm) – In order to complete sidewalk installation for Central High School North Fields, Stark Excavating is closing one westbound lane of Church Street between New Street and Elm Street. The closure began on Tuesday, February 14, and will reopen on Friday, March 3, 2023, weather permitting. Westbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in the area.
(Washington-jm) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined for reporters Thursday the next steps in dealing with Mexico's proposed ban on GM corn and this country's reaction to it. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) – As Governor J.B. Pritzker tours the state touting his proposed early childhood investments, some Republican lawmakers say taxpayers are not getting a good return for their money. In his latest budget proposal, Pritzker wants to spend $250 million in early childhood education programs, and another $100 million on facilities. In the next school year, the program would add an additional 5,000 preschool spots across the state. He said a University of Chicago study shows it is a worthwhile investment saying we get $7 of savings for every one dollar that we invest in early childhood Republicans say in 2022, despite an increase in spending, students in Illinois reading at grade level was at 30%, and students doing math at grade level was at 26%. Illinois spends over $16,000 per student, far more than neighboring states. Illinois has 852 public school districts, the fifth-largest number in the country. Together they account for nearly two-thirds of the local property taxes that local governments across the state collect each year.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is joining the Reproductive Freedom Alliance. The Alliance includes Illinois and 19 other states, seeking to exchange ideas about how to better protect women’s health rights, says Governor Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says one area he would like to work on with his colleagues is protecting out of state women seeking an abortion when they go back home.
(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign County Association of REALTORS reported that home sales in the Champaign County area fell for the fourth consecutive month in January. The average home sale price for the Champaign County area was $187,415 in January 2023, down almost 10% from $207,628 in January of 2022. Champaign County area home sales totaled 127 units in January, down about 29% from 179 home sales in January of 2022.
(Urbana-jm) – New research into methamphetamine and opioid use recently discovered a “staggering increase” in the number of deaths tied to co-use of the two drugs. A recent study led by U of I professor Rachel Hoopsick found that the U.S. methamphetamine mortality rate skyrocketed fiftyfold between 1999 and 2021. 61% of these deaths involved co-use of meth with either heroin or fentanyl. Data from the CDC showed that 52,397 deaths were attributed to meth use in 2021, compared to just 608 in 1999. Much of the increase in meth-related mortality happened between 2010 and 2021, with no signs of it slowing down.
(Paxton–jc) The city of Paxton is partnering with the Visit Champaign County group to look at ways to bring visitors to Paxton and look at the travels of those visitors. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says Terri Riefsteck of Visit Champaign County met with the council…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. City leaders used 5 thousand dollars from the cities Motel-Hotel tax to fund the investment with the group.
(Mahomet-jm) – Big changes may be coming to Mahomet in the coming months. The Village of Mahomet said a $28 million non-binding bond referendum will be on the April 4 ballot. This would fund the construction of an indoor recreation facility and an outdoor pool. The proposed indoor recreation center is approximately 40,000 square feet. The center would include 2 multi-activity gymnasiums, an elevated track, a multipurpose room, and group exercise and fitness spaces. The outdoor pool would feature a zero-depth entry pool, slides, and lap lanes. A non-binding referendum is a question that is included on a ballot with the intent of taking the pulse of the community which may give direction for future steps. Mahomet voters will be asked whether they support a bond referendum for the proposed construction project, but the results are non-binding, or advisory only.
(Washington-jm) – Will farmers boost acreage of most crops this spring? USDA has just given its answer to that question. Gary Crawford reports…
With FFA week being this week, we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Carter Ferguson from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
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Cissna Park FFA Member Carter Ferguson
We were also able to talk with Owen Pree from Iroquois West’s FFA Chapter
Iroquois West FFA Member Owen Pree
Georgia Busboom from Rantoul High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
Rantoul FFA Member Georgia Busboom
Madison Freed from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today
PBL FFA Member Madison Freed
We were also able to talk with Cole Pruitt from St. Joe Ogden’s FFA Chapter
St. Joe Ogden FFA Member Cole Pruitt
Jenna Clemmons from Fisher High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
Fisher FFA Member Jenna Clemmons
WPXN Weekend News Notes…
The Parkland College Theatre will perform Blithe Spirit today through Sunday.
The Kempton Fire Department will hold their pancake and sausage breakfast on Saturday from 7-1 at the Kempton Legion Hall. Cost is $9 for adults and kids are $2.
First Lutheran Church of Paxton will hold a blood drive on Saturday from 10-2. Appointments are required by contacting Kevin Hanson at emtcoor at hotmail dot com.
The Iroquois West FFA Alumni Auction will take place on Saturday in the Iroquois West High School Gym. Dinner starts at 4 with the auction beginning at 5.
The Chatsworth Fire Department will host their annual pancake and sausage breakfast on Sunday from 7-1. Cost is a freewill donation.
The Gibson City Lions Club will host their annual pancake and sausage breakfast on Sunday from 8-12:30.
