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Illinois Ends Fiscal Year With Nearly $5B Cash on Hand
Illinois entered a new fiscal year Monday with a bit of a financial cushion as the prior year’s revenues exceeded final projections by about $123 million. The state ended fiscal year 2024 with about $4.7 billion cash on hand, or about 9% of the allocated spending for fiscal year 2025, which began July 1. That included a record high $2.1 billion in the state’s budget stabilization, or “rainy day” fund, which has seen its balance grow steadily over the past five years.
Illinois quick hits: High-risk lead exposure ZIP codes added
High-risk lead exposure ZIP codes added The Illinois Department of Public Health has announced an expanded list of high-risk ZIP codes, increasing mandatory testing for lead exposure of children who live within those areas. Representing parts of 60 Illinois counties, 148 new zip codes have been added to the list this year, bringing the total of high-risk ZIP codes to almost 1,200. Under Illinois law, any child residing in a...
Speech Experts Really Don’t Like How You’re Saying ‘Illinois’
There are rebels in our midst that are saying what should be an obvious word incorrectly. It's such a problem that the speech experts have issued a warning to everyone that has managed to say "Illinois" incorrectly. I'm a live and let live kind of person. If you want to...
Community calendar: Week of 7/4/24
All Saints Orthodox Church, 211 Willow Ave., Olyphant, offers a frozen pierogi sale from 9 to 11 a.m. every Friday and 10:30 a.m. to noon every Sunday in the basement of the church. St. John’s Cathedral, Mayfield, is holding a shoe collection at the church center, 701 Hill St., Mayfield....
Undocumented Illinois residents can now get standard driver's licenses
Under provisions of a new law, undocumented residents in Illinois are now eligible to receive four-year driver’s licenses. According to HB 3882, which went into effect July 1, those residents can now receive standard licenses and identification cards instead of the previously issued Temporary Visitor’s Driver’s License.
Illinois Finally Signs Agreement to Build $1B Invasive Carp Barrier, Now That the State Isn’t on the Hook for Entire Lifelong Maintenance Tab
After months of negotiations, Illinois finally signed onto a project partnership agreement this week with the state of Michigan and the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with construction of what’s largely viewed as the last line of defense against invasive carp entering the Great Lakes. The best...
Itasca Prepares for Illinois’ Biggest July 4th Fireworks Show
The suburban village of Itasca in Chicago is all set up for an impressive Independence Day celebration with what’s been called the largest July 4th fireworks show in Illinois. Work crews started early this week to make sure everything is ready for the big show. Itasca Mayor Jeff Pruyn...
'Safer Kentucky Act' goes into effect July 15; potential impact still being debated
Among the legislation approved during this year's Kentucky General Assembly, many official agree the most significant and longest-lasting may be House Bill 5, termed the "Safer Kentucky Act" by those who proposed it. While officials on all sides of the issue agree that the legislation will have a significant impact,...
UPDATE: Elderly mid-Missouri woman still missing after being swept into floodwaters
An elderly woman is reportedly presumed dead after her vehicle was swept into the flooded Perche Creek west of Columbia this afternoon. Our news partner KMIZ reports the elderly woman was in a vehicle with a man near Gillespie Bridge and Coats lane, when they became trapped in floodwater. The station quotes Boone County Fire Protection District assistant chief Gale Blomenkamp. The woman’s body has not been recovered yet. Mr. Blomenkamp tells KMIZ that the couple had been driving home from Columbia. Rescuers reportedly saved two people from the vehicle. KMIZ reports one of the rescuers was a landscaping worker who entered the floodwaters.
Tennessee Ranks Among Top Ten Worst States to Work in America
A recent study analyzing data in three key areas has named among the top ten worst states to work in America. The study conducted by OxFamAmerica.org looked at three key areas of American work life: wages, worker protections, and rights to organize. The score in each area was weighted to calculate a final score for each of the 50 states, along with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Poplar Bluff Boy’s Golf places 20th at national tournament
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KFVS) - High school has been out of session for well over a month, but the Poplar Bluff Boy’s Golf team only just wrapped up their season Wednesday. The Mules were in Frisco, Texas for the 2024 PGA High School Golf National Invitational. The three-day tournament consisted of state champions from across the country.
Illinois Trying to Ban Gas-Powered Vehicles By 2035?
I don't want to be the old man on the porch constantly complaining about why things have to change and wishing we could go back 30 years to "the good times", but there's a new proposal in Illinois that wants to ban gas-powered vehicles by the year 2035 and I'm grumpy about it.
Officials urge public to leave fireworks to experts, citing risks and past injuries
Officials are reminding individuals to leave the fireworks to the experts this Independence Day. Officials said fireworks can be dangerous and cause fires and severe injuries. Last July, 108 injuries were reported to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. "You don't have to do fireworks. Don't do them, just...
This IL City Would Be Closed & Bankrupt If It Was A Business
What if the Illinois government actually operated like a real business?. Illinois Is One Of The Worst Run Cities In The United States. I've lived in Illinois my whole life. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. I believe the Land of Lincoln and the Windy City are amazing places. There's just one major problem. That's the government. Our state and that city have a horrible history of corruption. Those terrible leaders have put us in bad shape.
July 4th parades and fireworks 2024: How to watch live
Parades and fireworks are the highlight of the day today as Americans celebrate Independence Day, and you can watch it all right here. If You Have A Computer, This Adventure Game Is A Must-Play. Sunrise Village|. The festivities start at 11 a.m. ET with the Highland Park Parade in Illinois....
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