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Vote postponed on bill to raise Illinois minimum wage

A committee vote on a proposal to make the state’s minimum wage the highest in the nation is postponed until late May.

The Senate Executive Committee is considering a proposal that would boost Illinois’ minimum wage from $8.25 per hour to $10.03 per hour.

If the bill gets out of committee, it must then pass votes in the senate and house.  Passage would mean a big wage hike for more than a million workers who make minimum wage in Illinois right now.

The national minimum wage is the same as Iowa’s, $7.25 per hour.  

The last minimum wage increase in Illinois happened in July 2010.

The bill was scheduled for a third reading in a committee hearing May 16.  The new deadline for the third reading was set for May 25.

Utility companies warn of identity theft scams

Customers of MidAmerican Energy and Ameren beware – identity thieves might be after your personal information.

Both companies issued statements in recent days warning customers that scammers are making calls and even visiting customer homes in an effort to get credit card and Social Security numbers. 

The callers are reportedly identifying themselves as customer service associates or attorneys representing the utility.  They sometimes tell the customer their account is past due and that payment is needed immediately to avoid disconnection. 

In a separate scam, Ameren says scammers tell customers the president is applying credits of up to $1,500 to the customer’s utility bill.  The thief then gives the customer a phony bank routing number and asks the customer to add their Social Security number to receive the “credit”.  These scammers are contacting customers by phone, in person, posting fliers, using social media and even text messaging.

Craig shares mustache secrets

Craig talks ornamental grasses, ground hogs, and his top secret mustache tips.

Hike the Canal

Hike the Canal

COLONA, Ill – The Friends of the Canal are holding their monthly Hike the Canal outing on Sunday, June 10.  This month’s hike will be from Bridge 41 to Lock 29.  This hike is 3.7 miles in length and it has been named the “Woodchuck”.

Kewanee man charged with sexual assault, abuse

Kewanee man charged with sexual assault, abuse

CAMBRIDGE -- Yeashur Figgures, 42, of Kewanee has been charged in Henry County Circuit Court with Class 1 felony criminal sexual assault and Class 4 felony criminal sexual abuse.

He was in jail Tuesday afternoon on $75,000 bond. A... Read More

Babe needs a Fur-Ever home

Babe needs a Fur-Ever home

GENESEO, Ill -- Pit bulls have not always received the best press - the news often stems from dogs whose owners did not adequately train them, or even mistreated them.