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A pandemic-era law to allow Illinois bars and restaurants to sell cocktails to-go may be extended

(Springfield-jm) – A pandemic-era law to allow Illinois bars and restaurants to sell cocktails to-go may be extended.  When Governor J.B. Pritzker ordered all bars and restaurants closed after the pandemic began, owners said they needed a way to survive, and selling and delivering cocktails was one way to do so. If signed by the governor, Senate Bill 89 would extend the cocktails to-go and delivery until August 1, 2028. Illinois’ current law expires June 1, 2024.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The $50.6 billion state spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st, passed the Illinois House early Saturday, with only the support of Democrats who drafted it. House Republicans chose not to vote for the budget bill for numerous reasons.  Including Democrats neglecting two House GOP priorities; giving families a break in the estate tax, and failing to fund the Invest in Kids program, which gives donors a tax credit for contributing to a state fund that pays for low-income scholarships for low-income students.  What the Democrats did choose to include was millions of dollars on healthcare for undocumented immigrants.  That program will cost the state over $1 billion in 2024. The budget also includes pay raises and cost of living increases for legislators to $89,675 base-level salaries per year. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington…

 

 

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting of Emington.

 

(Melvin-jm) – Roberts and Melvin emergency crews were called to an accident near Melvin Monday afternoon. The single vehicle accident happened around 1pm on Route 54 near 800 north. No injuries were reported.

 

(Danville-jm) – A Vermilion County inmate is in the hospital after police say he attempted to escape the Vermilion County Jail over the weekend. Authorities say the unidentified man used a bedsheet as a rope to escape through a 4th floor window. The man fell from the makeshift rope landing on the concrete below.

 

(Washington-jm) – There are several possible reasons why the USDA's Farm Service Agency is having trouble recruiting and retaining employees at local county offices. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – An audit of the $585 million Business Interruption Grant, the Illinois program using federal tax dollars to give to businesses for relief during COVID-19, reports checks on the spending “failed to work as advertised” with insufficient oversight. Among the findings, the audit says “DCEO could not provide documentation to show how or why it selected organizations to administer Round 1 of the BIG program.” The finding goes on to show administrators did not comply with conflict of interest policies. Other findings include the program being initiated without emergency administrative rules in place. 196 ineligible applicants received $3.42 million,” the audit said. “Additionally, the application system developed by a DCEO grant administrator that was supposed to not allow ineligible applicants to submit finalized applications failed to work as advertised.” Additionally, the audit found "DCEO became aware of notices of BIG Program violations from news stories, forwarded complaints, and internal agency reviews. Businesses most often having documented violations were restaurants failing to follow local mitigations and executive orders. DCEO was not prepared to handle such notices of violation, did not have complete information on all violators, and did not always enforce a return of funds when such violations were confirmed." The findings continued, showing the process failed to follow the directive of state statute, awarded funding in excess of program policy, failed to execute grant agreements, required funding applicants to submit multiple pieces of confidential information, failed to conduct routine monitoring of the funds provided, and did not claw back funds for noncompliance.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Legislation to help address the teacher shortage is receiving support in both the House and Senate. The legislation is sponsored by 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man is wanted for predatory criminal sexual assault and Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in finding him. Officials said the wanted subject is Nicholas Juan-Sebastian. He is described as being Hispanic, with black hair and brown eyes, measuring 5 feet 4 inches in height and weighing 167 pounds. He is wanted on a warrant that set bond at $100,000.

 

(Paxton-jm) – A Ford County man was found guilty, for the second time of one count of enticement of a minor. Robert Shawn Anderson of Paxton faces 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by 5 years to life of supervised release, and must register as a sex offender. The case was being tried for the second time after the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that in the initial trial, Anderson should have been able to argue that law enforcement had entrapped him into trying to have sex with a person he thought was a 15-year-old girl. Anderson arranged to meet an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old minor for sexual activity on the dating application MeetMe. The government also proved that law enforcement had not entrapped Anderson into his attempted sexual liaison with a child.

 

(Washington-jm) – Scores of small rural communities are getting an economic/jobs boost from a new USDA investment package. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Undated-jm) – The National Weather Service says the lack of rain over the past few weeks across Illinois will likely lead to a flash drought. A flash drought is the rapid onset of drought and is often preceded by abnormally high temperatures, high winds and changes in solar radiation. Rain is not likely anytime soon as a stretch of dry weather and 90-degree days is coming to Illinois this week.

 

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