Republican Senators at the Illinois statehouse want to block any move to change the state’s constitution for a progressive income tax.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Illinois farmers are off to a late start. April is the month in Illinois for planting corn. But so far this month, it has been wet and cold.

Here’s a link at Illinois News Network.

Before her mother went to prison, Olivia Weeks was a competent student but certainly not an outstanding one — certainly not one on track for an Ivy League education.

Here’s the link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.

On April 14, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the 1000 block of East Webster Street in reference to a hit and run.  Upon investigating, police arrested Carl G. Gunter, age 41, of West Frankfort for leaving the scene of an accident. Gunter was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On April 15, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of North Maple Street in reference to a domestic disturbance.  Upon investigating, police arrested Zachary A. Wilson, age 25 and Dakota W. Wilson, age 19, both of Benton for domestic battery.  Both were charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

Nearly a decade after his predawn arrest on sweeping corruption charges, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is likely down to his last legal hope Monday as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce whether it will take up his appeal.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

Shortly after the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees voted down a proposal to shift $5.1 million in state appropriation funding from Carbondale to Edwardsville on Thursday, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook sent out a message to his campus community.

Here’s the link at the Southern Illinoisan.

A new plan at the Illinois Capitol could require local school districts to give some teachers a raise, but doesn’t provide any additional funding to do so. 

Here’s the link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Count Illinois National Guard troops in for guarding the nation’s southern border, if an official request is made by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump announced using guard troops to assist border patrol agents along the U.S.-Mexico border to stem the flow of illegal immigration.

Here’s a link to the story.

Request includes Iroquois, Kankakee and Vermilion Counties

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner today asked President Donald Trump to approve federal assistance to help people in Iroquois, Kankakee and Vermilion counties recover from severe storms and flooding in February. 

“Many people affected by this flood event face a difficult road to recovery,” Rauner said. “Federal assistance is needed to help them repair their homes and replace personal property that was destroyed.”

Rauner noted that for many residents of Watseka, the February flood marked the third significant flood event they’ve experienced in the last three years, and the fourth in the past 10 years.

Joint assessment teams from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reviewed damage in the three counties in March. Nearly 1,100 residences were impacted during this event, including 157 homes found to have sustained major damage and one home that was destroyed.

If Governor Rauner’s request for Individual Assistance is approved, people in the approved counties would be eligible to apply for grants and low-interest SBA loans. In addition, affected businesses would be able to apply for low-interest SBA loans.

A cuts budget, or a no-cuts budget? Either way, whatever Illinois lawmakers pass before the May 31 deadline is likely to include all of the $5 billion income tax increase passed over the governor’s veto last summer.

Here’s the link at Illinois News Network.