(The Center Square) - Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and state Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, scheduled a press conference in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon to urge support for a 3% income tax surcharge on millionaires. A ballot measure in Cook County asks if the state should enact the tax and provide 50% of the revenue generated for property tax relief and 50% for public education. Ford’s constitutional amendment resolution, HJRCA 21, failed to clear the General Assembly last spring but could still be passed in the coming months to place the millionaire’s tax amendment on the general election ballot in 2028. A press release from Quinn said Illinois has the highest property taxes on families and businesses in the nation.
(Springfield-jm) – Voters will be going to the polls soon to cast their ballot for the Governors race among other races in the state. Republican candidate Darren Bailey is proposing a one percent cap on property taxes. Bailey sat down with Capitol News Illinois and talked about that proposal…
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Darren Bailey.
(Champaign-jm) – A research project at the U of I aiming to prevent algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico while boosting farm economies has received nearly $1 million from the EPA. The Illinois Water Recycling for Gulf Nutrient Reduction Project is taking a local approach to the issue, before taking their data and scaling it to millions of acres of farmland. The project will collect data over the course of five years, beginning in the planting season of 2027.
(Paxton–jc) City of Paxton shops, restaurants and businesses are ready for the upcoming holiday shopping period. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold looks at several events that help bring people to the city, and bring shopping traffic to Paxton…
PaxtonMayor Bill Ingold
(Dewey–jc) A rural farm barn caught fire and was destroyed Tuesday morning in Champaign County. The fire occurred near County Road 800 and U S Route 136 near Dewey. Sangamon Valley Fire Department was called to the scene around 3-30 Tuesday morning. No damage estimates were provided. Rantoul, Gibson City, Cornbelt, Elliott and Thomasboro fire departments assisted with the fire.
(Springfield–jc) Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 20 attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission have sued the Dollar General Corporation for engaging in long-running pricing practices by routinely charging customers more at the register than the prices displayed on shelves. According to the complaint, Dollar General has, for years, repeatedly mislabeled prices, overcharged consumers and failed to correct the issue despite extensive corporate knowledge of the problem. Raoul and the coalition allege that Dollar General has received tens of thousands of complaints, but has failed to implement policies and practices to address the problem.
(The Center Square) – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois says it is prepared to enforce federal election laws along with federal law enforcement partners. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the office said it announced its plan in coordination with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to safeguard federal voting protections and receive complaints related to the voting process Tuesday. The agency said federal laws protect against such crimes as impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.
(Springfield-jm) – We are days away from the November election. One of the highly contested races is for Governor. J-B Pritzker is running for a third term while Republican challenger Darren Bailey is trying to unseat Pritzker. Governor J-B Pritzker recently spoke with Capitol News Illinois about his opponent in Darren Bailey and his stance on abortion…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.
(Roberts–jc) A Produce and Health Fair is set for this afternoon in Roberts. The local non-profit Jeremiah 33-6 is hosting the event from 3pm to 5pm today at the Roberts Gym. Jeremiah 33-6 Executive Director Valarie Wright says all are welcome…
Jeremiah 33-6 Executive Director Valarie Wright
(Rantoul–jc) Village of Rantoul voters will go to the polls on November 3rd to decide whether to change from district voting for village trustees to a village wide election. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says this issue has come up several times and voters will have their say on Tuesday…
Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third
(Urbana–jc) The Illinois Housing Development Authority joined the Carle Health, Champaign County Health Care Consumers, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, local officials, community members, and construction and labor representatives to celebrate the grand opening of Hope Village. Hope Village is a 9 point 6 Million dollar housing development bringing 24 scaled homes for Champaign County’s chronically unhoused and medically fragile. Constructed on previously vacant land, Hope Village offers more than a permanent place to live. The development pairs stable housing with direct access to healthcare and coordinated services designed to help residents maintain their health, regain stability, and build healthier lives.
(Chicago–jc) -– The Illinois Department of Human Rights announced this week it reached a $120,000 settlement with Coldwell Banker LLC to resolve eight charges of housing discrimination against the real estate brokerage company.
The charges alleged that Coldwell Banker discriminated against recipients of Housing Choice Vouchers, often called Section 8. The company agreed to pay the Housing Rights Initiative 105 thousand dollars to resolve the dispute.
(Gilman–jc) Today’s WPXN Business of the day is Prospect Bank-Gilman facility.
Since their founding, Prospect Bank has helped the communities and people in central Illinois, bank smarter. Prospect Bank-Gilman Spokesperson Anna Tammen says they offer a full line of banking and financial products and the best in customer service…
She says they offer a full line of banking and financial products and they have a special opportunity going on now with some loans …
Prospect Bank Gilman Facility Spokesperson Anna Tammen
Prospect Bank…the Opportunity Bank. With locations throughout central Illinois
Prospect Bank in Gilman is the WPXN Business of the Day, today
WPXN News notes…
The Paxton Park District will hold their trick or treat costume parade on Saturday, October 31st at 4pm starting at the library and going to the fire station.
The Iroquois Memorial Hospice annual brunch will take place on Sunday, November 1st from 8 to noon. Activities include brunch, silent auction and live music by A Natural High.
The Gibson Area Restoration Association will hold a Purses, Pastries and Preservation Fundraising Auction on Sunday, November 1st from 2-5 pm at the Kruse Event Center in Gibson City. Cost is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Tickets are available by calling 217-249-8103.
The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their 2026 Community and Business Awards Banquet on Friday, November 6th at Timberline Grove in Rantoul. Doors open at 5 with dinner at 6.
The Little Achievers Academy will hold their annual Holiday Shopping Bazaar on Saturday, November 7th from 9-2 at the American Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gibson City.
The 16th annual Iroquois West Music Boosters Craft and Vendor Show will take place on Saturday, November 7th from 9-2 at the Iroquois West High School Gym.
