Energy costs bring State Rep. Chris Miller and IL Freedom Caucus together for town hall
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Energy costs bring State Rep. Chris Miller and IL Freedom Caucus together for town hall

ByHarrison Malkin

EFFINGHAM — The cost of living isn’t cheap in Illinois. For many, energy costs are a particular concern this summer with hot weather and high inflation. Some constituents are looking for answers. “I had a disabled veteran call me the other day…and he said his electric bill from Ameren went from in round numbers…$200 a…

10-day sales tax reduction on clothing, school supplies begins Friday
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10-day sales tax reduction on clothing, school supplies begins Friday

ByCapitol News Illinois

Tax on eligible items will decrease to 1.25% from 6.25% from Aug. 5-14 SPRINGFIELD – Beginning Friday and lasting through Aug. 14, the state will reduce its sales tax rate from 6.25 percent to 1.25 percent for certain clothing items costing less than $125 and school supplies. The “tax holiday” was included in Gov. JB…

Willard Airport receives $850,000 grant from Department of Transportation
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Willard Airport receives $850,000 grant from Department of Transportation

ByHarrison Malkin

The Small Community Air Service Development Program— a federal initiative designed to improve underserved airports — recently awarded nearly $17 million to 25 airports across the country. The University of Illinois-owned Willard Airport in Champaign County was the only one selected in the state. They took home $850,000 in grant money from the Department of…

Thompson Center sale finalized with Google to be building’s lone occupant

Thompson Center sale finalized with Google to be building’s lone occupant

ByCapitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – After years of failed efforts that spanned multiple administrations, the state has finalized the sale of the controversial James R. Thompson Center in Chicago to a company that will make it the new Chicago home of tech giant Google. Gov. JB Pritzker made the announcement during a news conference at the building, along…

Congressman Rodney Davis pushes for bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act
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Congressman Rodney Davis pushes for bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act

ByHarrison Malkin

WASHINGTON — When Congressman Rodney Davis took office in 2013, he introduced the Social Security Fairness Act. It’s a bill with broad bipartisan support that would expand Social Security benefits for many Americans. Before his time in office ends in January, the Taylorville Republican said he’s keen on passing the Social Security Fairness Act. The…

Illinois jobless rate falls to lowest point since start of pandemic

Illinois jobless rate falls to lowest point since start of pandemic

ByCapitol News Illinois

4.5% remains higher than surrounding states, national average SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois economy added 18,800 jobs during June as the unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent, the lowest it has been since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. That is down one-tenth of a percentage point from May, and down two full percentage points from…

A close-up image of an elbow with a bandage wrapped around it.
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Urbana City Council worries whether plasma businesses are predatory. Transfusion physician and local plasma donors do not

ByEmily Hays

URBANA — Cars whoosh past the KEDPLASMA center on Lincoln Avenue. Brandon Olison has spent hours in the building, donating his plasma in exchange for a card pre-loaded with cash. Olison hasn’t had any side effects in the two months since he started donating. “I’ve never had a side effect or anything. No bad experiences….

State general revenues top $50 billion for first time in FY 2022

State general revenues top $50 billion for first time in FY 2022

ByCapitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – State tax revenues grew by $5.5 billion in the fiscal year that concluded on June 30, exceeding $50 billion for the first time in Illinois’ history, according to a new report from a state budgeting agency. The 12 percent base revenue growth in Fiscal Year 2022 gave lawmakers near-unprecedented flexibility in the current budget year….

Economist weighs in on Gov. Pritzker’s plan to address high inflation
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Economist weighs in on Gov. Pritzker’s plan to address high inflation

ByHarrison Malkin

On July 1, Governor J.B. Pritzker froze a proposed gas tax hike, while suspending the grocery tax on certain items. These were two of many initiatives meant to quell rising inflation. Dean Baker, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, described inflation as a time when “most prices are rising,” as…

Rivian’s EV production in Normal jumped sharply from March to June

Rivian’s EV production in Normal jumped sharply from March to June

ByIllinois Public Radio

The electric automaker Rivian has been working to ramp up production on three vehicles in Normal in the face of global supply-chain problems that have disrupted many automakers. Those supply-chain issues have contributed to delivery delays and led Rivian to set a production target of 25,000 vehicles in 2022 — a number that’s half what…

Champaign Unit 4 school bus monitors, cafeteria workers now make at least $15 an hour
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Champaign Unit 4 school bus monitors, cafeteria workers now make at least $15 an hour

ByEmily Hays

CHAMPAIGN — Custodians, assistant teachers and other support staff in the Champaign Unit 4 School District are all making at least $15 an hour, as of July 1. Both the school board and members of the Champaign Educational Support Professionals union approved a new, four-year contract last week. “Knowing what we proposed in the very…

Temporary tax relief measures to begin Friday in Illinois
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Temporary tax relief measures to begin Friday in Illinois

ByCapitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans will receive some modest tax relief starting Friday when the state’s new fiscal year begins. That includes some income tax rebates, property tax rebates, a suspension of the state’s 1 percent tax on groceries, and a six-month pause on the scheduled inflationary increase in the state’s motor fuel tax. Gov. JB Pritzker…

State audit finds billions in unemployment fraud

State audit finds billions in unemployment fraud

ByCapitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – A state audit released Thursday found nearly $2 billion in federal money intended to help unemployed Illinoisans during the pandemic was lost to fraudulent claims in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Employment Security blamed “insufficient and flawed federal guidance” and a lack of controls on a hastily constructed program put together by the…

Bike shortage takes on new form because of price hikes and supply-chain issues
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Bike shortage takes on new form because of price hikes and supply-chain issues

BySydney Wood

CHAMPAIGN – As Champaign Cycle slowly returns to its normal inventory, it’s experiencing price increases in bikes and bike parts that are indicative of the ongoing national bicycle shortage, which began after the sudden increase in sales at the beginning of the pandemic. As of May 13, a report from Statista found that Americans spent…

Champaign County survey is the first step in filling rural internet gaps
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Champaign County survey is the first step in filling rural internet gaps

ByEmily Hays

URBANA — Surveyors will start knocking on doors in rural Champaign County this weekend to ask residents if they are happy with their internet service. Champaign County officials commissioned the survey to find the most efficient way to close internet gaps with $3 million in COVID-19 relief. “There might be a way that we can…