THUMBS UP! To a legislative fix. Under the plan, Illinois police and fire officials will implement the state's long-neglected arsonist registry. Similar to the long-established sex offender registry, the database is supposed to include information about convicted arsonists along with those found not guilty of the offense because of insanity. Audit findings and reporting by Lee Enterprises statehouse reporter Brenden Moore brought attention to the registry being empty since it was signed into law in 2004.
THUMBS DOWN! To passing the buck. Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposal to eliminate the state's grocery tax sounds like a relief. But a report released by the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs said the move would likely result in only "very modest savings" to individual households and cause a "consequential" loss of revenue for local governments. Pritzker's fiscal 2025 budget proposal includes permanently eliminating the tax effective July 1. Doing so would mean the loss of roughly $325 million for municipal governments statewide, according to estimates from the Illinois Municipal League.
THUMBS UP! To a glimpse of the future. Biotechnology company Innovafeed welcomed visitors for a tour of its new multi-million dollar North American Insect Innovation Center in Decatur. The center is expected to produce around 60,000 tons of bug-derived protein and nutritional products a year. Guests at the event included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Clement Calais, the deputy consul general of France.
THUMBS UP! To an agricultural equipment bill of rights. For more than a decade, farmers haven't been able to fix their high-tech equipment. Until recently, manufacturer restrictions meant only company-authorized representatives could own and use diagnostic tools, and make fixes when needed. Advocates for repair legislation are unhappy with present solutions. An Illinois bill would ensure cooperation from manufacturers. The bill, unfortunately, has no chance to pass this year according to a spokesperson from the Illinois Corn Growers Association.
THUMBS UP! To Bloomington's new city manager. Deputy City Manager Jeff Jurgens will replace Tim Gleason, who's returning to Decatur. Jurgens, appointed as deputy city manager last year, is expected to step into the role on May 6. He was Bloomington's corporation counsel for 10 years.
Roughly three weeks after Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason announced he will be stepping down from his position, city officials have annou…
North American general manager Maye Walraven shows a tour group black soldier fly neonates at the Innovafeed Innovation and Research Center during a building dedication ceremony in Decatur on Thursday.