Loves Park Students Make Ornaments For National Christmas Tree LOVES PARK – Harlem Middle School art students in Loves Park were chosen to make ornaments representing Illinois for the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting celebration. Teacher Ruth Meissen said the 24 students spent hours handcrafting every piece of the 24 ornaments for the last several…
About 100,000 Illinoisans will lose food stamps under a rule change finalized by the Trump administration this week. The rule change to the SNAP program, as food stamps are now called, takes effect in April. It will make it harder for states to waive work and time limit requirements for able-bodied adults to receive assistance….
University Of Illinois Will Change When It Asks About Student Criminal Histories URBANA – The University of Illinois system will no longer ask prospective undergrads about their criminal histories as part of the application process. But the university’s three campuses will still ask provisionally admitted students about their records. The policy change comes in response…
Shooting Wounds 10-Year-Old Boy In Champaign CHAMPAIGN – The investigation continues into a Sunday night shooting in Champaign’s Garden Hills neighborhood, which critically wounded a ten-year-old boy. Champaign Police said the boy was struck by two shots that were apparently fired from outside into a house on Williamsburg Drive where he was located. News reports…
Champaign Charity For Hungry, Homeless Faces Deficit CHAMPAIGN — A Champaign charity that aids the hungry and homeless is more than $270,000 in the hole as it enters the holiday season. The News-Gazette reported that Restoration Urban Ministries budgets $650,000 for housing, food and clothing. It offers church services, substance-abuse recovery programs, and self-sufficiency education….
State Crop Sustainability Goal Is Centuries Away PEORIA – Illinois is still two centuries away from hitting towards its goal of planting enough cover crops to make a significant dent in nutrient pollution in waterways. That’s according to a coalition of environmental groups responding to the state’s recently-released biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy report. Nutrient…
Pritzker Vetoes Tax Break For Private Jet Manufacturers SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker has vetoed a plan to forgive $50 million in past-due taxes from private jet manufacturers. Pritzker vetoed the legislation Monday. It would also extend the breaks through 2024. The Democrat says it “is not the right fiscal decision.” Lawmakers approved the tax…
DOT Grant Gives MTD $17 Million For Terminal Expansion CHAMPAIGN – The largest piece of the funding pie is now in place for the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District’s Illinois Terminal expansion. That’s after the US Department of Transportation awarded the MTD a grant of more than $17-million for the project. The Illinois Terminal expansion…
Quad Cities Waiting For FEMA Checks After Flooding EAST MOLINE – Most local governments in the Quad Cities are waiting for checks from FEMA to help pay for flood expenses. Davenport, Iowa asked for $3.5 million. In Illinois, Rock Island County asked for $884,000; East Moline and Rock Island each submitted around $540,000 in eligible…
Nearly 2,500 Drivers Caught Speeding At 100 MPH In 2019 SPRINGFIELD – In a tweet, the Illinois State Police said troopers have handed out 2,492 tickets since January for driving 100 miles per hour or faster on Illinois roadways. Spokeswoman Mindy Carroll said that’s actually down slightly from last year. She also said state police…
Urbana Board Votes To Increase Police Presence In Schools The Urbana District 116 Board of Education voted 4 to 3 Tuesday night to quadruple police presence in the district’s middle and high schools. The measure comes after a fight in February at the high school that resulted in multiple arrests and injuries. Since 1993, the district…
Illinois Faces Regional Propane Shortage Illinois is one of seven states with a much greater demand for propane than is available. An early snowfall and wet weather has led to greater consumption of the gas, especially in rural areas. Farmers in particular use it to both heat their homes and to reduce the moisture…
Here are headlines for Friday, November 15, 2019: House OKs Easier Access To Lobbyist Information The Illinois House has overwhelmingly approved a measure ease access to disclosure requirements for lobbyists who try to influence the General Assembly. Debate lasted more than an hour before the 109-5 vote. It would create a searchable database that allows…