For the first time in the decades-long history of the ILLINOISouth Tourism Bureau, the organization has been recognized as 'Best in Show' of all tourism bureaus in the state for its recent marketing efforts. ILLINOISouth promotes communities, attractions, businesses, and events in a 21-county region of Southern Illinois. Each year the Illinois Governor's Conference on Tourism celebrates the accomplishments of all 37 tourism bureaus in the state during the 'Excellence in Tourism' awards ceremony. There are eight categories, as well as a ninth award for 'Best in Show' – which goes to the bureau with the highest score across all categories. ILLINOISouth was entered in five of the eight categories which included Best Printed Collateral, Best Social Media Marketing, Best Cooperative Partnership, Best PR Campaign, and Best Event or Festival. By now, almost everyone in Illinois has heard that Jan. 1 will mark the beginning of a significant change in the state's criminal justice system – the elimination of cash bail. It essentially means that starting Jan. 1, the decision as to whether a criminal suspect should be held in jail while awaiting trial will be based on public safety and the likelihood the suspect will flee rather than their financial ability to post bond. For most people who work a minimum wage job, the new year will bring a pay raise to $13 per hour, a $1 increase over the current wage. That's the result of a law Gov. JB Pritzker signed in 2019, his first major legislative victory after being sworn into office a month earlier. The law will eventually raise the wage to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2025. The new $13 hourly rate does not apply to all minimum wage earners. People who receive tips at work will see their base wage rise to $7.80 an hour. And people younger than 18 who work fewer than 650 hours per year will see their wage go up to $10.50 an hour. The higher wage will probably come as welcome news for those who drive a car to and from work. That's because the new year will also bring higher motor fuel taxes. The same year Pritzker signed the minimum wage bill, he also signed a multi-year, $45 billion transportation and capital improvements bill known as "Rebuild Illinois," which is funded in part with higher motor fuel taxes that are scheduled to increase with inflation each year. The adjustment in the tax rate is supposed to take effect on July 1 of each year, the first day of the state's fiscal year. But last spring, in the face of rising inflation and healthy state revenues, lawmakers authorized a six-month delay in the scheduled increase, putting it off until Jan. 1. As a result, starting Jan. 1, the motor fuel tax people pay at the pump will go up 3.1 cents per gallon, and then it will increase again when the next regular adjustment date comes around on July 1, 2023