News Progress

Driver’s licenses and ID card expirations will be extended •November 18, 2020• Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is reminding the public that Driver Services facilities statewide will be closed for in-person transactions effective Tuesday, Nov. 17, and will reopen on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. White is encouraging the public to take advantage of online services. In an effort to reduce facility visits for in-person service, White has expanded online renewals for driver’s licenses and ID cards. Not everyone qualifies, particularly those who are required to pass a written or road test. For qualifying … Read More

New temporary license plates provide more information •November 18, 2020• Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that his office has upgraded temporary license plates (also known as TRPs or temporary registration permits), making them more durable and providing more information to law enforcement in an effort to continue to combat fraud and criminal activity. “This newly designed temporary license plate continues to give law enforcement the tools to quickly and accurately identify the owner of a vehicle,” said White. “Illinois was the first state in the nation to connect temporary license plates with LEADS (Law Enforcement Agency Data System), … Read More

25 Years Ago This Week About $18,000 worth of damage was sustained at the Bethany home of Richard Kenneller. The fire was attributed to a malfunction in an attic furnace, Bethany Fire Chief Jerry Ward said. Increased assessed valuation on local property will boost the Lovington school district’s tax levy to more than 105 percent, school board members learned in last week’s meeting. That means that a truth-in-taxation hearing must be held on the tax levy for taxes payable in 1996. Dianne Reedy, board secretary canvassed the election results and declared the following elected to the new Board of Education: … Read More

November is Winter Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois •November 18, 2020• While the official start of winter is not for several weeks, those in Illinois know that winter weather is inevitable. Knowing what to do before a winter storm strikes can provide peace of mind and ultimately impact how well we respond and recover from any winter storm. To help Illinois residents be prepared for winter weather, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and National Weather Service (NWS) developed a Winter Weather Preparedness Guide to help families prepare for extreme cold, snow and ice. “Being unprepared for winter weather is … Read More