Illinois

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $36 Million in Federal Funding to Bring High-Speed Internet Access to Communities Across Rural Illinois | U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois

Published

2 years ago

October 28, 2022

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Million in Federal Funding to Bring High-Speed Internet Access to Communities Across Rural Illinois | U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois

10.28.22

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) at present introduced $36,103,607 in federal funding via the U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) to convey high-speed web entry to folks dwelling and dealing throughout 13 counties in Illinois. At present’s investments embody funding from the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act (IIJA), which supplied a historic $65 billion to increase dependable, reasonably priced, high-speed web to all communities throughout the US.

“The pandemic emphasised that Illinoisans want entry to high-speed web to run their companies and farms, go to highschool, entry well being care, join with household and associates, and extra,” stated Durbin. “At present’s grant announcement for Hamilton County Phone Co-Op and Shelby Electrical Cooperative will assist make high-speed web entry a actuality for people throughout rural Illinois. I’ll proceed to work with Sen. Duckworth to convey this federal funding residence to Illinois.”

“Displaying up for rural communities means ensuring each single Illinoisan has entry to dependable electrical energy and broadband—regardless of their zip code,” Duckworth stated. “As we’ve seen all through the pandemic, we all know that web entry is essential for public well being, the success of small companies, educating our youngsters, enhancing high quality of life and a lot extra. I’m proud to hitch Senator Durbin in saying this important funding to convey broadband to extra communities in our state, and I’ll proceed to advocate for improved infrastructure for working households all throughout Illinois and our nation.”

At present’s announcement included federal funding for 2 Illinois Cooperatives:

Hamilton County Phone Co-Op: $12,413,362

This Rural Growth funding can be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises community to attach 3,202 folks, 248 farms, and 52 enterprise to high-speed web in Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Saline, Wayne, and White counties. Hamilton County Phone Co-Op will make high-speed web reasonably priced by collaborating within the FCC’s Reasonably priced Connectivity and Lifeline packages.

Shelby Electrical Cooperative Inc.: $23,690,245

This Rural Growth funding can be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises community to attach 4,057 folks, 511 farms, 61 companies, and two instructional amenities to high-speed web in Christian, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie, and Shelby counties. Shelby Electrical Cooperative will make high-speed web reasonably priced by collaborating within the FCC’s Reasonably priced Connectivity Program.

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Illinois

Police shooting leaves man dead in North Riverside, Illinois

Published

3 hours ago

January 13, 2025

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Police shooting leaves man dead in North Riverside, Illinois – CBS Chicago

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Police said an officer shot a man wielding two knives to protect another person in an incident on Cermak Road.

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Illinois

Some Illinois taxpayers will be able to file 2024 taxes for free with IRS program

Published

14 hours ago

January 12, 2025

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Some Illinois taxpayers will be able to file 2024 taxes for free with IRS program

Nearly 2 million eligible Illinois residents will be able to file their 2024 federal tax returns for free using a new IRS program.

State officials announced that Illinois will participate in the IRS Direct File service which begins on Jan. 27.

Direct File was first launched as a test program last year. This year, the program will become a permanent option with participation in 25 states.

A simplified process

The IRS estimates that more than 30 million people will be eligible to use the program during the 2025 tax filing season.

State officials said the IRS Direct File option will simplify the filing process for eligible taxpayers.

“We understand that a significant amount of time and money is spent every year to ensure personal income tax returns are filed accurately and on time,” said David Harris, the director of the Illinois Department of Revenue, in a statement. “This integration will help relieve stress and financial burden for taxpayers.”

Direct File is an online service that’s available on mobile phones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers.

The service provides a checklist and a guide to help navigate the process. Users will have access to a chatbot for guidance in both English and Spanish.

For more information on eligibility and how to use the service, visit irs.gov/filing/irs-direct-file-for-free.

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Illinois

Illinois State Police trooper hurt in multi-vehicle crash near Chicago

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2025

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Illinois State Police trooper hurt in multi-vehicle crash near Chicago

(25News Now) – An Illinois State Police trooper was hurt in a five-vehicle crash Saturday morning in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington, but there are conflicting reports about the severity of the trooper’s injuries.

State Police said the trooper was heading to an accident scene to help with traffic control at Illinois Route 59 and Higgins Road. Police said the trooper activated his emergency lights and sirens, but was struck by another vehicle at the intersection about 9:45 a.m.

The trooper suffered critical injuries, according to a release from the East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District, but State Police said the trooper’s injuries were not life-threatening.

The fire department said it took almost a half-hour to extricate the trooper from his heavily damaged vehicle.

Fire crews said it took almost a half-hour to extricate an Illinois State Police trooper from his heavily damaged squad car on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington.(East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District)

Authorities said two people from other vehicles were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

State Police are investigating.

Saturday’s accident happened less than a month after State Police Trooper Clay Carns was killed in a crash on I-55 in Will County.

The 35-year-old officer left his squad car to pick up debris from the roadway when he was struck by a passing pickup truck two days before Christmas. The truck’s 69-year-old driver was cited for not moving over to avoid hitting Trooper Carns.

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