(Springfield-jm) – More Secretary of State facilities will switch to appointment only. It wouldn’t be for all services. People would need one to renew a license and an ID card, to get a REAL ID and for driving exams. People would still be able to walk in if they need to renew their license plate stickers or for any other vehicle-related transactions.
(Springfield-jm) – A new state program offers home improvement grants to low income households. More than 15 million dollars is available through the initiative says Illinois Housing Development Authority Spokesperson Andrew Field…
Illinois Housing Development Authority Spokesperson Andrew Field. The H-RAP Grants will be administered by 36 local government and non-profit organizations. Projects covered include making a home accessible and addressing safety concerns. More information is available online at: ihda dot org under “community.”
(Paxton–jc) Working with Champaign County on promoting events, bringing shoppers into the city and economic growth are the keys to a partnership between the city of Paxton and Visit Champaign County. The Champaign based group already has agreements with similar cities like Tuscola and Monticello in marketing efforts for tourism. Paxton can also be found as a partner in the efforts says Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
More is found on line at visit-champaign-county-dot-com
(Rantoul-jm) – Students at Broadmeadow Elementary School got the chance to see the Raminator Monster Truck on Tuesday. The students also had the chance to climb inside the Raminator.
(Paxton–jc) May is approaching and officials at the Paxton Park District are gearing up for park district baseball and softball in the city. Paxton Park District Director Cody Evans says the diamonds will be full of players when leagues start in mid-May…
Paxton Park District Director Cody Evans
(Undated-jm) – The Illinois State Board of Education is announcing the recipients of the School Meals Recipe Development Grant. 8 groups are receiving a combined $10,000 in grant funding. Locally, the Iroquois-Kankakee Regional Office of Education is a recipient.
(Washington-jm) – Soybean producers are planting that crop at a faster than normal pace. Gary Crawford reports…
(Paxton–jc) – Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is a one day shopping event set for May 13th in Paxton called, It’s A Spring Fling. The place is inside Picket Fence Florist in downtown Paxton. Event spokesperson Leslie Ingold says multiple home based and internet businesses will be available for Mother’s Day and Graduation style shopping…
Event spokesperson Leslie Ingold sasys a pletera of home based businesses will be there from 10am until 2-30p on May 13th…
It’s A Spring Thing Shopping Event Spokesperson Leslie Ingold
The date to remember is Saturday May 13th at A Picket Fence Florist in downtown Paxton.
(Charleston–jc) Staff at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston have a new contract. Rank and file voted to approve the new deal on Tuesday. Staff will receive a 5 percent raise in the first year of the contract and a 4 percent raise in year two.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois and other states have attached social equity goals to their marijuana legalization programs, but a new study says they are a failure. In 2019, Illinois lawmakers took great pride in their efforts to craft a legalization bill intended to achieve social equity goals. The Reason Foundation report notes that advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union hailed the social equity provisions in Illinois as a new model for the nation, but three-and-a-half years passed before the state issued a single license to a social equity applicant.
(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs is announcing another unclaimed property auction. The auction begins next week, running from May 1st through the 5th. Treasurer Frerichs says plenty of items will be up for bid…
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. To register as a bidder and preview the auction items, you can visit: i bid dot illinois dot gov. From there, select “storefronts” and then choose “Illinois Treasurer.” Frerichs says this will be the last auction until the event is held in person at the Illinois State Fair in August.
(Urbana-jm) – The City of Urbana is closing in on the hiring of a new police chief and city officials want the community to meet the finalist. The city will be hosting a town hall event on Thursday, May 4, featuring Larry Boone. Boone, the former Chief of Police in Norfolk, Virginia was announced as the sole finalist for the Urbana position earlier this month. The town hall event will be hosted at Vineyard Church, 1500 North Lincoln Avenue in Urbana, in two sessions: one from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and another from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Both sessions will be moderated and recorded.
(Rantoul–jc) An annual clean up day is now set for the village of Rantoul. The Village along with the local chamber helps with the event set for June 12th says Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery…
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery.
(Urbana-jm) – A criminal trend on the University of Illinois campus remains ongoing with four new instances being reported over the last few days, U of I Police reported. The trend involves people entering students’ apartments without permission, and almost every instance happens while the apartment doors are unlocked. Several instances have happened while the apartment occupants are home while others have resulted in stolen property.
(Washington-jm) – Corn planting nationally is running ahead of average. Gary Crawford reports…
The Ford-Iroquois Retired Teachers Association will have their first meeting of 2023 today at 11:30 am at the Cissna Park Family Restaurant.
