News

Wilmington officials to public: Tell us your thoughts on dam removal

Published by admin on Tue, 05/19/2020 - 4:51pm

Elected officials in Wilmington are looking for some feedback from the public regarding the ongoing issues at the Kankakee River dam.

Alderman Ben Dietz made a presentation on the dam to the Buildings, Grounds, Parks, Health and Safety Committee May 13, providing to the committee information he gained after conversations with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Dietz has corresponded via phone and email over several weeks with Wes Cattoor, the acting section chief of engineering studies with the IDNR’s Office of Water Resources (OWR).

Sunday storm prompts road closures after flooding

Published by admin on Tue, 05/19/2020 - 4:47pm

Heavy rains drenched the area on Sunday, flooding roads as the National Weather Service reported a brief tornado touchdown just outside of Braidwood.

In Wilmington and surrounding areas, several roads had to be closed due to flooding, including the roadway through the South Island park, Kahler Road at Forked Creek, Ballou road at Route 102, Route 102 at
Rivals Road, Angle Road at Rivals Road, Route 102 through the town of Ritchey, and Boathouse Road at North River Road.

Wilmington budget process slowed by coronavirus pandemic

Published by admin on Tue, 05/19/2020 - 4:43pm

City leaders in Wilmington are starting to organize their budgets for the 2021 fiscal year (FY21), which officially began on May 1.

But, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, that has spawned a stay-at-home order and closures of non-essential businesses that will last at least through the end of this month, getting the numbers just right is a challenge.

On May 5, members of the Wilmington City Council began initial discussions on the FY21 budget.

Pritzker details contact tracing pilot effort, defends misdemeanor emergency rule

Published by admin on Mon, 05/18/2020 - 6:37pm

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced the launch of Illinois’ contact tracing program and defended an emergency rule filed Friday to allow for misdemeanor charges against businesses defying his stay-at-home order.
The contact-tracing effort for COVID-19 – one that is required to move the state along the governor’s “Restore Illinois” reopening plan – will begin in two pilot counties.

Pritzker announces new employment resources for job seekers

Published by admin on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 6:26pm

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday announced new resources to help the hundreds of thousands of people unemployed in Illinois, unveiling an online portal that will offer job training and connect job seekers with prospective employers.
Get Hired Illinois is a “one-stop shop” for job seekers of all levels and backgrounds to access career training programs, virtual job fairs and opportunities to connect with employers, the governor said.

State saw nearly 73,000 new unemployment claims in final week before gig worker portal went live

Published by admin on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 6:21pm

SPRINGFIELD — The U.S. saw nearly 3 million more unemployment claims the week ending May 9, including another 72,993 in Illinois, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
The 2.98 million claims nationwide in the week pushed the jobless claims in the first two months of the novel coronavirus pandemic to more than 36 million. The unprecedented number of claims made for a national unemployment rate of 15.7 percent the week ending May 2.

11-county group latest to push back on governor’s plan

Published by admin on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 3:17pm

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker’s regional plan to reopen Illinois does not play in Peoria.
Officials from Peoria County on Wednesday unveiled their own COVID-19 reopening plan that breaks up north-central Illinois into a sub-region of 11 counties, which officials say will allow the area to take a more localized approach that protects public and economic health better than the state’s plan.

Lawmakers to return to Springfield for session May 20-22

Published by admin on Wed, 05/13/2020 - 1:29pm

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers will return to Springfield next week for the first time in more than two months to take up a state budget and other critical matters while following strict social distancing and public safety guidelines.

During a teleconference caucus meeting Wednesday, House Democrats were told the special session will run from Wednesday, May 20, through Friday, May 22.

State fast-tracking $25 million for local government construction projects 

Published by admin on Wed, 05/13/2020 - 7:39am

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois department tasked with the state’s economic development launched a program Tuesday providing grant funding to local governments for capital projects. Its aim, said Michael Negron, assistant director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is to return skilled laborers to work on road improvements, building upgrades and other ventures that can begin quickly at a time when communities are facing COVID-19-related economic struggles.

Student fee increase on hold

Published by admin on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 5:08pm

The financial impact COVID-19 is having on local residents has the Unit 1 Board of Education rethinking its position on implementing an increase in student fees.
The Board of Education voted March 4 to implement a three-year student fee structure that gradually increases registration fees across all grade levels.
The committee took a look at district revenues, enrollment numbers and what other neighboring districts and those with nuclear generating facilities were collecting in student registration fees.