(Washington, D.C.) -- There are a lot of happy people in Mattoon Illinois this weekend. The city in eastern Illinois is thrilled about the news that the U.S. Department of Energy is going to pump one billion dollars back into the FutureGen project. FutureGen was set to be the first of its kind clean coal plant, and was supposed to bring thousands of jobs and a billion dollars in tax money to Mattoon. But the Bush administration scuttled the plan because of politics and cost projects. Now, the Obama administration says it will spend one-point-one-billion dollars to revive the project. FutureGen is expected to cost at least one-point-five-billion dollars, but some of that extra money could come from private investors in the project. Nothing is final, FutureGen could still be too expensive. But the FutureGen Alliance says it will take a couple months to study the clean coal plant and make a decision early next year whether to move forward.

FutureGen is expected to be able to make use of Illinois abundant, but high in sulfur coal deposits. Illinois has more energy under its borders than Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, but it is coal not oil. It's expected to take a year to build the FutureGen plant, which would not only be a working power production facility, but would serve as an international research hub as well.

(Mackinaw, IL) -- The first day of school at the new Dee-Mack high school addition may be a little later than first planned. School officials in Mackinaw say someone, or a group of people, went on a spray paint and destruction spree. Principal Bill Lamb says nearly every room, including seven new classrooms in the five-million dollar addition were damaged. Lamb says it'll take time and money to clean and repair the damage. he says everyone in Mackinaw is disappointed about the damage. Police are offering a cash reward for tips to brig the vandals to justice. lamb says he just wants to get back on track so he can have students in the new addition when school begins next August.

Consumer advocates are hailing an energy package passed by Illinois lawmakers.

The measure requires utilities to work with low income families in setting up year round payment plans so the cycle of getting disconnected and then reconnected is broken. Representative Dave Winters of Rockford says there is also a provision to help households purchase energy efficient appliances.

Click here for audio

The legislation also makes several ethics reforms at the Illinois Commerce Commission, to make the process by which utility rates are set more open to the public.

(Taylorville) Tri-County Equipment, a farm equipment dealer in Taylorville recently completed a deal to buy Kuhn’s Equipment Taylorville location. Tri- County Equipment owner Mike Lanham says the Kuhn’s location on Routes 29 and 48 is currently closed as remodeling and upgrades take place. Once their ready, Tri-County will move from their current location on west Route 104 and begin operating out of the former Kuhn’s shop.

Click here for audio

Details of the deal were not disclosed, as Lanham told Regional Radio quote “it’s a long story.” Once Tri-County moves into the new location, it will close their current one but keep the Tri-County name.

Christian county Real Estate tax statements are being mailed out and the first installment are due Friday July 17th, with the second installment coming due September 17th. Christian County Treasurer Colleen Hadley says when you receive your statement; you should make sure that all of the information is correct.

Click here for audio

Hadley explains that penalties will go into effect the first business day following the due date.

Click here for audio

Two internet options are now being accepted and one phone payment system. If you experience any problems with receiving an incorrect statement or if you don’t receive one contact the Treasurer’s office immediately at 824-4889.

(Christian County) Area residents will have an opportunity to check out the new Christian County Animal Control Shelter this weekend during a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at the facility. County Animal Control Warden Joelynda Conrad explains the 285 thousand dollar expansion of the facility was made possible though a trust fund left by the deceased Annis ‘Bertha’ Willey.

Click here for audio

Conrad says there will be plenty of fun activities and prizes available during the event for kids and adults.

Click here for audio

The ribbon cutting and dedication begins at 1:00pm Saturday and will remain opened until 3:00 for and open house. A artist’s sketch of Mrs. Willey will be unveiled during the event as well. The Animal Control Faciliy is located at 300 Baughman Drive in Taylorville.

The Christian County Farm Service Agency is searching for people involved in the farming community to serve on the FSA committee. Nominations will be accepted until early August for people to serve a three-year term on the committee. This year, the local administrative area number three is up for election, which includes Buckhart, Stonington Mosquito and Mt. Auburn townships. FSA Administrative Program Tech. Pam Mitchell explains some of the duties of the FSA committee.

Click here for audio

Mitchell explains once the nominations are submitted, ballots will be sent to eligible voters with the winner to be declared later this year.

Click here for audio

Committee members are compensated for time and travel, and minority and female farmers are encouraged to take part in the nomination process. For more information, contact the Christian County FSA office on West Spresser Street in Taylorville.

The US Army Corps of Engineers and local businesses have joined together this summer to help collect life jackets. The life jackets will be inspected and made available around
Lake Shelbyville for people who need a life jacket while enjoying the lake. Lake Shelbyville Interperative Services Officer Annie Hickman explains you can drop your life jacket at one of several locations around Lake Shelbyville.

Click here for audio

Hickman says it is important for all people to wear life jackets while on the water, even if they are a capable swimmer.

Click here for audio

Life jackets are being accepted from now until June 30th.
For more information about the life jacket loan program contact the Lake
Shelbyville Interpretive Office at 217-774-3313.

The Illinois Department of Dmployment Security is making it easier than ever to collect unemployment benefits.

The department’s Greg Rivara says after you apply for unemployment, you then have to certify every two weeks that you are still looking for a job and are eligible to collect an unemployment check. Previously, that was done over the phone.

Click here for audio

The website to certify is ides.state.il.us. More than 432 thousand people are collecting unemployment benefits in Illinois.

A new website run by the University of Illinois Extension helps spread manure around the state. The U of I Extension’s Randy Fonner says the Illinois manure share system aims to match livestock producers with too much poop, and gardeners and landscapers who want it for fertilizer.

Click here for audio

The website is: manureshare.Illinois.edu

Some of the area’s finest barking quadrupeds will put their talents on display this weekend during the annual ‘Dog Daze of Summer’ event, going on this weekend during the Farmer’s Market on the Taylorville Square. The day’s events will include a dog show, tag your pet event, training workshops and more. Taylorville Main Street Executive Director Michelle Merker says all dogs are welcome.

Click here for audio

Registration begins at 10am for the dog show, which will start at 11 on the east side of the square.

After rising for 41 consecutive days, gas prices finally saw a day this week where prices did not increase, but many still fear prices will hit the dangerously high territory that hampered many motorists last year. Illinois Petroleum Marketer’s Association Executive Vice President Bill Flieschli says that he does not expect gas to reach anywhere near the four dollar plus mark of 2008, he does expect prices to continue rising for a while.

Click here for audio

Flieschli says he believes one of the reasons for the recent increases in collusion from Middle Eastern Oil producers aiming to keep oil prices high

Click here for audio

Gas in Taylorville is currently hovering around 2.73 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

Near normal rainfall and below average temperatures allowed about 4 day of fieldwork for Illinois farmers last week. As USDA chief crop statistician Brad Schwab tells us in this week’s crop report, farmers finally have just about all of this season’s corn in the ground.

Click here for audio

Brad Schwab reporting. Tune in for weekly crop reports from the Illinois field office during Regional Radio Newscasts through harvest in early November.

This is “no child left inside” month in Illinois.
Chris McCloud with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources says they want to encourage kids to rediscover nature this summer. He hopes through several activities being offered, children will better appreciate the outdoors.

Click here for audio

For other ideas, visit the D-N-R website.

Governor Pat Quinn is putting together a special commission to look into claims that the University of Illinois has admitted some students because of their political connections.
The allegations were made in a Chicago Tribune story which reported the U of I maintains a clout list of applicants who are well connected. Governor Quinn wants the group to see if that’s true, and find out what can be done about it.

Click here for audio

The seven member commission has 60 days to complete its work.

About 57 million people in the U.S. have pre-diabetes – a type of high blood sugar that puts them at high risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Dr. Romesh Khardori, professor and chief of endocrinology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says that many people have pre-diabetes and do not know it. He explains the condition.

Click here for audio

Dr. Khardori says people who have pre-diabetes may already be experiencing adverse health effects of diabetes. The condition can cause long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system. He explains risk factors for the disease.

Click here for audio

Dr. Khardori urges middle-age individuals to see their primary care physician and be tested for pre-diabetes. He says those with pre-diabetes can lower their blood sugar by losing weight through exercise and eating a healthier diet that has more fruits and vegetables.

A drug bust that resulted in the discovery of approximately 135 cultivated Cannabis Plants occurred in Nokomis on Tuesday. The South Central Illinois Drug Task Force, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office, and the Hillsboro Police Department arrested 53-year-old Stephen B Rogers, of Desloge, Missouri, without incident for production of Cannabis Plants.

Authorities were called to investigate a suspicious vehicle. During the initial investigation, a Montgomery County officer located the presence of Cannabis in the abandoned vehicle. With the help of a Hillsboro K9 unit, Rogers was found soon after in a nearby cornfield. As the investigation continued, authorities uncovered numerous other cannabis plants in the cornfield. Rogers was transported to the Montgomery Count Jail, where he was held on a 50,000-dollar bond.

The second annual Brian McMillen Memorial 5K Run/Walk held last month in Springfield raised more than $12,000 to benefit the McMillen Veterans Scholarship at Lincoln Land Community College.

The Veterans Club established the Brian McMillen Veterans Scholarship to assist veterans attending LLCC. The $500 scholarship is awarded annually. McMillen, an LLCC alum and Pana native, was killed at age 24 in the line of duty with the Illinois State Police in October 2007. He had served in the Air National Guard and as a student worker in the LLCC Veterans Office. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois-Springfield and was pursuing a master’s degree at the time of his death.

Jennifer Gietl, who works in LLCC’s Veteran’s affairs office, found the scholarship in McMillen’s honor. She said she is pleased with how the annual 5k fundraiser is gaining popularity.

Click here for audio

Gietl explains the requirements for eligibility to receive the scholarship

Click here for audio

LLCC’s Veterans Club partnered with the Illinois Air National Guard 183rd Fighter Wing and the Illinois State Police to conduct the second annual event. The event drew 457 participants overall, of which 269 were runners. Jordan Patterson and Emily Zimmerman were the overall male and female winners.

Rodney Davis of Taylorville, a long-time aide to U-S Congressman John Shimkus, was Tuesday’s guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Taylorville Kiwanis Club at Taylorville Memorial Hospital Auditorium.

Davis talked about Congress being back in session, with his boss currently in Washington. Davis added the big debate right now is health care, and what to do with it. He said many in Congress favor the “single payer” system such as what Canada and England have, but Davis told Kiwanis members he and his boss are against such a plan because control of health care is in the hands of the government and not those being treated.

Click here for audio

Davis also chided the Illinois General Assembly and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, for lack of action on matching monies for transportation projects. Davis said it was thought the problem with getting Illinois to match federal transportation dollars, was former Governor Rod Blagojevich, but between Governor Pat Quinn not signing a 26-billion dollar construction bill that would access federal matching funds, and the inaction of the Illinois General Assembly to get a new state budget passed, Davis said it appears to be business as usual in Springfield with nothing getting done.

Click here for audio

Included in the construction bill sitting on Governor Quinn’s desk, is the 61-million dollars to complete the 4-lane Route 29 construction between Edinburg and Breckenridge.

(Christian County) Christian County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the "multiplier", is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state's 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties. Christian County Supervisor of Assessments Ron Finley explains that If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.

Click here for audio

Under a law passed in 1975, property in Illinois should be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently, with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures, but with farmland assessed at one-third of its agriculture economic value. Farmland is not subject to the state equalization factor.
Assessments in Christian County are at 33.73 percent of market value, based on sales of properties in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
The equalization factor currently being assigned is for 2008 taxes, payable in 2009. Last year's equalization factor for the county was 1.0000.
A change in the equalization factor does not mean total property tax bills will increase or decrease. Tax bills are determined by local taxing bodies when they request money each year to provide services to local citizens. If the amount requested by local taxing districts is not greater than the amount received in the previous year, then total property taxes will not increase even if assessments increase.

After being without service for several hours today due to a fiber optic cable cut this morning, New Wave Communication restored service to customers of internet and phone service in the Regional Radio listening area.

New Wave is the cable TV provider for many Regional Radio communities, including Taylorville, Pana, Shelbyville, Hillsboro and Litchfield.

The department of Public Health has given Taylorville Food Center the green light to re-open after an overnight fire damaged a portion of the store's roof. Currently, the east entrance of the store is open to customers, while the west entrance, where the damage from the fire was sustained, remains closed.
The owners of the Taylorville Food Center believe the fire was likely an act of arson. The blaze broke out just after 4:30 (Tuesday) morning at the northwest corner of the roof. Taylorville firefighters responded with the assistance of firefighters from Pana and Assumption, and controlled the fire within a half hour. There was no one inside the building at the time of the fire and no firefighters were injured battling the blaze. The office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate. Gary Rhymes and his sister Anita Hunt took over the store about two years ago after it had been in their family for more than 20 years. Rhymes says he doesn’t believe the suspicious fire was a targeted attack, but rather a random act.

Click here for audio

Taylorville firefighters estimate the blaze caused about 20 thousand dollars worth of damage, although no inventory was lost. The Taylorville food center has been at it’s West Market Street location for more than 50 years, operating under several different names including the Taylorville IGA.

Taylorville fire chief Jeff Hackney can’t say for sure if the suspected arson is connected to a string of arsons that stretching back to March of 2006, but Hackney did acknowledge the TFC is in the same ‘general area.’

During the superintendent’s report at the monthly Taylorville school board meeting Monday evening, Taylorville Superintendent Dr. Gregg Fuerstenau gave an update on the shifting of elementary schools. Fuerstenau says Monday was ‘day three’ of the big move, after Mt. Auburn and West Elementary closed at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. According to Fuerstenau, the first three days have gone smoothly.

Click here for audio

Fuerstenau added that items from Mt. Auburn and West are being transported inside trailers.

Click here for audio

Also Monday evening, the board approved an increase in student fees. The board agreed to increase textbook rental fees 5 dollars for junior high and elementary students, 10 dollars for students in grades 9 through 11, and 12 dollars for seniors. Athletic participation fees will be increased 10 dollars for junior high students, and 15 dollars for high school students. Parking fees will bump up 10 dollars as well.

A bevy of bids were approved Monday night. The low bid of just over 101,000 dollars from Gire was accepted for the South Elementary roof project. The bid of 7,796 dollars from Schemel-Tarillion, Inc. was accepted for the Stonington Elementary asbestos abatement project. Lastly, the bid of 3,069 dollars from DeMichiel Enterprises was accepted for the Stonington Elementary floor tile replacement.

Despite one ‘no’ vote from David Cowell, the board approved the implementation of a parent notification system for next school year. The system will feature the ‘School Messenger’ program along with the ‘Skyward Sky Alert’ program from a company called Skyward. These programs will cost the district approximately 2,940 dollars, with an annual service fee of approximately 9,400 dollars.

The next Taylorville school board meeting is scheduled for Monday July 13th.

Governor Pat Quinn is continuing to warn of major funding cuts to human service programs if lawmakers don’t soon send him a balanced budget.
The budget the legislature approved only funds state services and programs at 50 percent of what is needed. Quinn says those who depend on the state, such as the hungry, and the poor, will suffer the most if cuts have to be made.

Click here for audio

Quinn has repeatedly asked lawmakers to pass an income tax increase to help raise much needed revenue for the state. He’s scheduled to meet with legislative leaders again this week to see what can be worked out.

Several Illinois schools are participating in a program designed to get students to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Schools involved with the program are able to offer fresh fruits and veggies thanks to an over two million dollar federal grant. State board of education spokesperson Mary Fergus says they are hoping this will help kids develop lifelong healthy eating habits.

Click here for audio

One hundred forty one schools are involved in the program for the upcoming school year.

A Tractor Drive and Show takes place in Shelbyville this weekend in memory of Chris Barker, a popular member of the community who unexpectedly passed away last fall. The event kicks off at 9am on Sunday, and consists of a 23-mile route winding around Lake Shelbyville. As Don Jones of the tractor show committee explains, proceeds from the event go towards the Chris Barker Memorial Scholarship fund.

Click here for audio

Barker passed away last fall, after developing a blood clot following back surgery. Jones says Barker’s death left a big hole in the Shelbyville community.

Click here for audio

All makes of tractors are welcome to participate in the event, however they must be able to maintain a 10 mph speed limit. Jones says registration begins at 8 a.m. Sunday morning at Sloan Implement on Route 16.

Click here for audio

Jones says a ‘committee of several’ has been planning the event for nearly 4 months. Jones expects a big turnout. Following the drive, the tractor show is scheduled to take place at Sloan Implement until 3 pm.

Christian County State’s Attorney Tom Finks has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Circuit Judge of the 4th Judicial Circuit, to succeed retiring Judge John P. Coady.
Finks has served as an Illinois prosecutor in State's Attorney's offices for 15 of his 24 years as an attorney. He served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Effingham County from 2001 through 2007. He has also served as an Assistant State's Attorney and then elected State's Attorney in Shelby County.
In Christian County, Finks was appointed State's Attorney in August 2007 to complete the term of Brad Paisley, appointed as an Associate Circuit Judge of the 4th Judicial Circuit. Finks was then elected State's Attorney by the people of Christian County, which is the position he presently holds.

Click here for audio

Finks is a member of the Taylorville Evangelical Free Church and is on the Board of Directors of the Loving Arms Crisis Pregnancy Center in Taylorville. He is a volunteer with many youth sports organizations including Little League boy’s baseball and girl’s softball and YMCA basketball. He is also a member of the Illinois State Bar and Christian County Bar Associations.
The Primary election is February 2, 2010.

Christian County ‘YMCA’ executive director B.J. Wilken will leave his post later this month, to take a similar position at the ‘Y’ in Bloomington Illinois. Wilken, a St. Louis area native, has served in his current capacity since July of 2005. Wilken says he feels he has helped an already stellar organization make good progress over the past four years.

Click here for audio

Wilken says he is looking forward to his new challenge in Bloomington, which could include expanding their current ‘Y’ facilities.

BJClick here for audio

Wilken credits his colleagues and volunteers for helping to make the ‘Y,’ a continued success in Christian County, and a bedrock of the community. Wilken says the ‘Y’ will form a search committee in the coming weeks to hire the next Christian County YMCA executive director. Wilken's Last day is June 25th.

(Christian County) A Decatur man will likely face DUI Charges after he is released from the hospital, for allegedly crashing his motorcycle twice within a matter of minutes early Sunday Morning. According to the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, 22 year old Cody J. Plopper was found unconscious, trapped under his motorcycle near 2450 North 1300 East Roads in Christian County just after 5am Sunday. Plopper reportedly missed a curve on the road, went off the road and lost control in a grass field before dumping the bike. Plopper was taken to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield for treatment of serious injuries suffered in the crash. The report indicates Plopper’s blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit when he was admitted to the hospital. Rescue personnel on the scene told police they found a Plopper a short time early five miles south of the crash site, where he had also had an accident. They indicated Plopper told them he “could’nt get a DUI” and sped off on the motorcycle.

A Florida man, who had been under surveillance by a drug task force made up of Christian and Macon County authorities, is facing felony charges after he was arrested late last month for allegedly possessing 50 thousand dollars worth of marijuana. According to Christian County State’s Attorney Tom Finks, 52 year old Loren D. Heitz of Bradenton Florida was pulled over by Decatur Police on May 28th for a traffic stop, which led to the finding of a significant quantity of cannabis in the vehicle. Surveillance conducted by the Macon and Christian County authorities led to a search warrant being served at a rural Stonington residence where an even larger quantity of cannabis was found. Heitz was in the area visiting family. It is believed that he brought the cannabis in to Illinois from Florida. Finks filed charges last week against Heitz for possession of more than 2,000 grams but less than 5,000 grams of cannabis with the intent to deliver the cannabis. The possible penalties if convicted include 4-15 years in prison and a fine up to $150,000.

(Christian County) Circuit Court Judge John Coady of Taylorville has announced that he is retiring from the bench this October.

Coady, 56, was appointed as an associate judge of the 4th Circuit Court in 1987. The Illinois Supreme Court selected him as a Circuit Judge-at-Large in 1993 to finish the term of retiring Judge Rolland Tipsword. Coady was elected to that position in 1994 in a nine county election in Christian, Montgomery, Shelby, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Clay, Marion, and Clinton Counties.

Coady said that his tenure on the bench has been extraordinarily fulfilling. “I realize that the voters entrusted me with a position of deciding and presiding over some of the most important decisions of their lives. I tried to be attentive, courteous, fair, and apply the law as I understood it.”

When asked why he is leaving the bench at this time, Coady remarked, “At the time I leave the bench in October, I will be the senior judge in the circuit in terms of years of service of the 20 judges. 22 years of judging for me has been great, but it is also time for me to seek new challenges.”

Among other pursuits, Coady plans to continue teaching law related classes at the junior college level. “I particularly enjoy encouraging college students to consider the field of law. Law as a career has been rewarding for me, and I believe it can be so for many of them as well.”

Coady’s retirement means that his circuit court judge position will be on the 2010 February primary and the November general election ballots in the circuit. While lawyers from any of the 9 counties are eligible to run, Coady commented, “We have excellent attorneys in Christian County. It is my hope that my successor will continue the long tradition of a Christian County attorney serving in this judicial post.”

Coady currently serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, as Chairman of the Illinois Bar Association Law Related Education Committee, as a member of the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee, and as a new judge mentor. Coady said, “While I will miss my committee work, I will especially miss mentoring new judges. It was fun to share with them some of the insights to judging that I had picked up over the years.”

Coady began his legal career as a public defender in 1977 after his graduation from Ohio State Law School. He served as an assistant state’s attorney, wrote title insurance policies for Chicago Title Company, worked as an associate at what was then Fribley, Proffitt, & Consoer in Pana, and became a partner in what was then Meyer, Miley, Austin, Spears, & Coady, P.C., in Taylorville. In 1984, he was elected as Christian County State’s Attorney where he served until his appointment to the bench in 1987.

Coady paid tribute to those he worked with. “The clerks, court reporters, law enforcement officers, county offices, chief judge’s staff, lawyers and their staffs, and fellow judges have all been hardworking and dedicated people. I sincerely appreciate their work and their courtesy to me over the years.”

Coady’s wife Kathy is a Taylorville Elementary School Music Teacher. Their family includes 3 children, daughter Maureen, daughter Andrea Dutt and her husband Daniel, and son Craig and his wife Darcy, and their children Hudson, Grace, and Titus.

(Coles County) A weekend accident in Coles County has taken the life of a Shelbyville woman. According to Illinois State Police, 39 year old Angela C. Brachbill was driving west on Illinois Route 16 near Mattoon just after 11:30 Saturday morning when she attempted to pass a line of stopped vehicles, and crashed head on with a car traveling east on Route 16. Brachbill was taken to Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital in Mattoon, before being airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana where she later died. The driver of the other vehicle, 54 year old Daniel A. Flick of Windsor was taken to Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital for treatment of his injuries. There were no passengers in either vehicle. The accident remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police.

On Friday, Ameren Illinois Utilities made a request to the Illinois Commerce Commission to approve delivery service rate increases. If approved, the rate increases would not take effect until May of next year at the earliest. Leigh Morris, of Ameren Illinois Utilities, says the purpose of the proposed rate increase is to ensure reliable service to customers.

Click here for audio

Morris says the regulatory process Ameren faces when adjusting prices is something other businesses don’t go through.

Click here for audio

Throughout the process, Ameren is putting an emphasis on transparency with customers. Morris says customers will have the opportunity to see how the proposed rate increase would affect their bill, this August.

Click here for audio

Under the proposed rate plan, AmerenCIPS residential customers who use 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year will pay $59 more per year, and customers in the Metro East area will pay $65 more per year; AmerenCILCO customers will pay $64 more per year and AmerenIP customers will pay $97 more per year.

All AmerenCIPS residential customers who use 785 therms of natural gas annually will pay $60 more per year, AmerenCILCO customers will pay $38 more per year and AmerenIP customers will pay $55 more per year.

Ameren’s most recent rate increase was implemented in October of 2008.

Illinoisans are gearing up for the State Fair, which is nearly two months away. Taylorville Pride Day will take place on the first Saturday of the fair, which is August 15th. Taylorville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Fred Ronnow says preliminary planning for the event has begun.

Click here for audio

The Illinois State Fair kicks off on Thursday August 13th, and runs ‘til Sunday the 23rd.

Meanwhile, on the Chamber’s short term radar is the next ‘Business After Hours’ networking program. Ronnow says the upcoming ‘Business After Hours’ will bring a taste of Vegas to Taylorville.

Click here for audio

Ronnow says the Chamber enjoyed another busy month in May, fielding 190 phone calls. For more information on ‘all things chamber’, call their office at 824-4919.

Governor Pat Quinn is trying to drum up support for his proposed income tax increase as the state grapples with a nearly 12 billion dollar budget deficit. In recent weeks, Quinn said layoffs and cuts in social services are among the many consequences of the current proposed budget cuts. Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington says Quinn needs to stop the scare tactics.

Click here for audio

Quinn believes increased revenue from a tax hike would help solve the state’s massive deficit. Brady says he’s wrong.

Click here for audio

A recently approved capital construction bill includes funding for the completion of the route 29 expansion. Brady believes the project is important, but sees a problem with its funding mechanisms.

Click here for audio

Brady recently announced his intentions to enter the 2010 republican race for governor. Meanwhile, the current governor says his latest meeting with legislative leaders was productive. They plan to meet again this week.

Father’s Day is under two weeks away, and the social security administration has a gift idea worth thousands of dollars. The administration is urging sons and daughters to look into whether or not their elders qualify for prescription drug financial assistance. Jack Meyers, of the social security administration office in Springfield, says on average people who take advantage of the assistance save upwards of 3900 dollars per year.

Click here for audio

Meyers says an individual’s income and resources play a crucial role when deciding whether or not they qualify.

Click here for audio

For more information on the financial assistance program, or to fill out an application, visit the website: Socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp.

Next Sunday, nineteen Christian County kids will say goodbye to their homes for nearly an entire week, when they head off to the annual 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello. The camp runs from Sunday until Thursday. 4-H Community Worker Jodi Heberling says usually Christian County only sends 10-15 kids.

Click here for audio

Attendees have the opportunity to engage in numerous activities, from canoeing and archery to rock climbing and leather tooling. Heberling characterizes the camp as a well-seasoned operation.

Click here for audio

Heberling also says the structure of the camp keeps homesickness at a minimum.

Click here for audio

The 4-H Memorial Camp began in the summer of 1947. For more information on the upcoming 4-H Memorial Camp, log onto: web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hmemorialcamp.

Governor Pat Quinn says proposed budget cuts may leave thousands of low-income Illinois families without childcare.

Quinn says without a new revenue stream, the state will be forced to make drastic budget cuts to social services like daycare and after school programs.

Click here for audio

Quinn is trying to drum up support for his proposed income tax increase as the state grapples with a nearly 12 billion-dollar budget deficit.

Several free clinics are being held around the state to expose children to fishing.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Chris McCloud says this is one of their most popular programs.

Click here for audio

In addition, DNR’s access to fishing initiative lets anglers of all ages borrow fishing gear from more than 165 locations. For more information and a list of sites offering these programs, visit the website: ifishillinois.org.

As the legislative leaders continue to meet on the state’s financial situation, cuts that need to be made, and a possible income tax hike, State Representative Bill Mitchell has a word of advice for republicans in the discussion: cut the spending the state does for health benefits for illegal aliens.

Click here for audio

Bill Mitchell represents the 87th district in Illinois.

The possibility of layoffs is now another concern in the struggle to pass a budget that fully funds state government.

Under the partial budget lawmakers passed, house speaker Mike Madigan says very significant layoffs of state employees will have to be made. Governor Quinn agrees that’s a possibility, but he remains hopeful lawmakers will pass a tax increase to help balance the budget.

Click here for audio

Quinn says his latest meeting with legislative leaders was productive, and they discussed several reforms including changes to the state pension system. They plan to meet again next week.