SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker is proposing a 32-cents-per-pack hike in the state’s cigarette tax. The proposal is part of the Democrat’s $39 billion budget unveiled Wednesday. The state tax on cigarettes is currently $1.98 per pack. It was last raised by $1 in 2012. ...Read more
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — New Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed a budget Wednesday that relies partly on tax revenues from two industries that currently aren’t legal in the state, which is saddled with billions of dollars in pension obligations and other debts. Pritzker’s $39 ...Read more
MENDOTA- The new high school may be over fifteen years old, but the building is now in the free and clear after the last bond payment was made. The Mendota Township High School Board celebrated Tuesday night with a bond shredding party complete with cake. ...Read more
ROCHELLE- An Illinois State Trooper was injured in a multi-vehicle crash Monday night near Rochelle. According to the Illinois State Police around 6:45 p.m. a trooper was inside his car with lights activated while conducting a traffic stop when a tractor trailer allegedly overcorrected ...Read more
MENDOTA – Mendota Fire Chief Dennis Rutishauser commended departments for braving the ice and snow storms to serve residents, last week. On Tuesday of last week, North central Illinois was hit with an aggressive wintry mix of rain, snow and wind gusts that took out power lines throughout ...Read more
AURORA – In response to the devastating shooting at a manufacturing warehouse in Aurora, a GoFundme page has raised over $ 90,000 in just three days. The #Aurora Strong Community fund is administered by the city’s police and fire departments to relieve financial burdens of families ...Read more
OTTAWA – State Representative Lance Yednock is sponsoring legislation to push agencies in doing more to end the opioid crisis. House Resolution 58 encourages the Illinois Department of Public Health to adopt new guidelines around the distribution of painkillers, preventing ...Read more
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a measure gradually hiking the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025, the highest in the Midwest. It was one of the new Democratic governor’s top campaign promises. He signed the six-year plan Tuesday at the ...Read more
PERU – A Peru Police Officer was recognized for a heroic act at Monday nights city council meeting. Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei honored Officer Jeremiah Brown with a commendation for his actions in January assisting a motorist on Illinois Route 251. Officer Brown was standing on the ...Read more
MENDOTA – The city of Mendota elected to add e-cigarette devices to their list of tobacco products that is prohibited under the age of 18. In a city council meeting on Monday, Alderman Kyle Kim made the recommendation to amend a city ordinance regarding tobacco and tobacco products. ...Read more
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