(Springfield-jm) – A bill banning indoor vaping continues to make progress in the Illinois General Assembly. The measure updates the Smoke Free Illinois Act to ban vapes and e-cigarettes in indoor public spaces like bars and restaurants. It's  strongly supported by the American Lung Association. The group’s Kristina Hamilton…

 

 

American Lung Association’s Kristina Hamilton. The bill has already passed the Senate and now awaits a vote in the House.

 

(Springfield-jm) – After dozens of states including Illinois voted to allow sports betting, it raises the question on the gambling industries' next step. Illinois has consistently been one of the top sports betting states in the country. This year, the state passed Pennsylvania for third place in lifetime sports betting handle with over $19 billion bet on sports. A measure has been introduced in Springfield that would legalize internet gaming. State Senator Cristina Castro filed Senate Bill 1656 which proposes the initial cost of an internet gaming license would be $250,000 with applications limited to Illinois casinos and racetracks. The bill remains in committee.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing 16 million dollars in funding for clean energy workforce programs. 10 million dollars is earmarked for the Climate Works Pre-Apprencticeship Program, which sets participants up for a career in the clean energy construction trades, says Jason Horwitz with the State Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity…

 

 

State Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities Jason Horwitz. The remaining six million will go towards the Barrier Reduction Program, which supports apprentices struggling to stay in the program because of things like lack of transportation and the cost of tools and books. Organizations interested in applying to offer this training can find more information online at: dceo dot illinois dot gov.

 

(Paxton-jm) – The first of four license plate readers are up in the City of Paxton. The first one was installed along Route 9 on the east side of town. The police department hopes to have them active by the middle of May.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Transportation is working to address littering. 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says everyone can do their part…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – Because of an Illinois State Board of Education error, more than 500 students in Vermilion County may lose their after school programs. But those in charge are asking lawmakers to step in before it’s too late.  Funding for Project Success programs at six of the 21 Vermilion County schools they serve will run out on August 31. Those schools are: Judith Giacoma Elementary, Pine Crest Elementary, Mary Miller Junior High School, Oakwood Grade School, Oakwood Junior High School and Oakwood High School.

 

 

(Washington-jm) – Production and price forecasts for dairy this month reflect mostly trends moving up, yet there are exceptions. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Urbana–jc It was Spring jam at the University of Illinois on Sunday. American-Jamaican Rapper Sean Kingston provided the music. Hundreds of students attended the event on the U of I Main Quad yesterday.

 

(Paxton–jc)  Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Paxton Hardware and Rental. It’s Springtime and it’s time for grass seed, equipment rentals to garden needs. All can be found at Paxton Hardware and Rental says store owner Scott Allen…

 

 

With the Springtime weather starting to warm up, it’s time to look at your lawnmower, to lawn care, paint and more. Paxton Hardware and Rental Store Owner Scott Allen says they can help with fertilizer care for your lawn to help with your garden…

 

 

Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen

Paxton Hardware and Rental is open 7 days a week. Allen says talking to the experts at Paxton Hardware and Rental is a good way to have a healthy lawn and prosperous garden. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Commerce Commission is hi-liting the importance of calling Julie before you dig. Julie is a free service, and calling 8-1-1 at least two days before you begin a yard or excavation project is required by law, says the I-C-C’s Matt Smith…

 

 

Illinois Commerce Commission’s Matt Smith. Once you call, Julie will notify the respective utilities which will come out and flag potentially affected lines. Smith says if you hit an underground power line you could be injured or cause a neighborhood outage. Governor J-B Pritzker has declared April Illinois Safe Digging Month.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee is evaluating a proposed measure giving $25 million in tax credits for research and development projects. House Bill 1578 would offer a credit on qualifying quantum information science expenditures related to research and development that takes place in Illinois. House Bill 1578 does three things, extends the Illinois research and development tax credit from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2037. It doubles from 6.5% to 13% the amount of the RND credit specifically for expenditures and investments made in quantum and information science. Lastly, modeled off of recent changes to the edge tax credit program, the bill makes the RND credit applicable against a startup company that is withholding taxes.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator is offering some advice for selecting the best mulch for your garden. Mulch can help moderate soil temperatures, reduce weeds and looks nice overall. The Extension’s Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle (kim-er-lee) says there are four types: living, synthetic, organic and inorganic…

 

 

U of I Extension Horticulture Educator Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle. Stones are costlier up front but last longer and do not increase soil temps in the summer. Flowers-Kimmerle says synthetic mulch like landscape fabric is fine for the short term, but the best overall mulch choice for expense and effectiveness is wood chips.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for hitting a woman with a car. Nathaniel Lemons received the sentence after pleading guilty to aggravated battery in connection to the January 7th incident in Champaign. In exchange for his guilty plea an additional charge of aggravated battery plus charges of aggravated domestic battery and criminal damage to property were dismissed.

 

(Springfield-jm) – 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington is offering a summer internship program. Representative Bunting shares what’s involved and how a student can apply…

 

 

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Parkland College Horticulture staff and students is inviting the community to its annual plant sale in the greenhouse May 1-5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The greenhouse is located next to the Tony Noel Agricultural Technology Applications Center on the west side of the college campus.

 

(Washington-jm) – What is behind lower cattle and calves on feed in feedlots per USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report? Rod Bain reports…