(Springfield-jm) -- 47 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Illinois since Friday and the number of counties affected has also risen. 93 cases have been reported in 13 counties across the state, including one in Champaign County. The Champaign County case is a female in her 50s and is in home isolation and recovering. The Champaign County Public Health Department says they are still waiting on results of another 50 tests.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is closing all bars and restaurants in Illinois to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus. The closure goes into effect at the close of business tonight and runs through March 30th. Restaurants will still be able to offer delivery, drive thru and curbside pick up. Governor Pritzker says these decisions were not easy to make…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker is asking the public to stay home if possible and to not hoard food. Monicals Pizza in Paxton announced on their facebook page they will remain open and fully staffed and will offer delivery all day. Mareci’s Bakery and Paxton Dairy Queen also announced they will remain open.
(Undated-jm) -- Area hospitals are implementing visitor restrictions over COVID-19 concerns. Carle Foundation Hospital announced starting today patients will only be able to enter the hospital at three locations: Emergency Department, Orchard Street Lobby and the South Clinic Cancer Center and visitors are not allowed at any Carle locations.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is ordering all schools in Illinois to close for the next two weeks in hopes of curbing the spread of the Coronavirus. The closures begin Tuesday and include public and private schools, grades kindergarten through 12th, across Illinois. Students would return to class on March 30th says Governor Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Students receiving free and reduced price breakfast and lunches will be able to receive grab and go meals each day. Some districts may offer delivery while others will have parents pick up the food. The Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District sent out a message to parents Sunday stating classes are scheduled to be in session today however, if a student misses it will be counted as excused and teachers will work with parents to pick up educational packets.
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Gaming Board has ordered all 10 casinos in the state to suspend operations for 14 days starting Monday, citing public health concerns over the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. “The public health of patrons, casino employees, IGB staff, and others is of paramount importance,” the board said in a statement late Friday. “The board is continuously monitoring developments and will update licensees and the public as frequently as possible.”
(Springfield-jm) -- Here’s what to do if you think you have the Coronavirus. The first thing to do is to call a healthcare provider, don’t just show up at your local urgent care or ER says Governor J-B Pritzker. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and if you have recently traveled…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says from there, you will be isolated for further assessment and if you meet certain criteria, a test for COVID-19 will be administered. Right now, they are prioritizing those at higher risk for complications from the Coronavirus.
(Springfield-jm) -- As Illinois colleges and universities extend spring break for students and move to online classrooms amid growing concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus, businesses in college towns are already feeling the pinch. The University of Illinois, Illinois State, Bradley University, and Northwestern are just some of the schools that have announced plans to move classes online after spring break.
(Undated-jm) -- Ameren Illinois announced it's plan to help customers who may experience hardship due to COVID-19. In response to the economic hardships that residential and business customers may experience, starting Saturday, Ameren Illinois will suspend service disconnections and forgive late payment fees through at least May 1.
(Gibson City-cf)-- The process is in place. Should there be a COVID-19 case come to a local hospital, they are ready. Gibson Area Hospital CEO Rob Schmidt says information will be provided through the proper channels including the Ford County Public Health Department and Iroquois County Public Health Department...
Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services CEO Rob Schmidt
(Urbana-jm) -- A Rantoul man and a Gifford woman have been charged with multiple crimes. Police arrested 25 year old Jalen Dixon of Rantoul and 19-year-old MacKenzie Flahaut of Gifford following a traffic stop in Champaign. A run of the plate found the car was reported stolen out of Houston. A search of a bag in Dixon’s possession uncovered a gun reported stolen out of Orlando, Florida and eight debit cards with other people’s names on them. In the trunk, police found a card chip reader, a card reader, other credit and debit cards, two Florida driver’s licenses with Dixon’s picture but different names on them and items commonly used in the production of methamphetamine, including cold medication and watch batteries. In Flahaut’s purse, police found three books of personal checks, two of which had other people’s names on them, and six cellphones. Dixon was charged with possession of a stolen firearm and a stolen vehicle, both Class 2 felonies, and aggravated unlawful use of weapons and unlawful possession of a credit or debit card, Class 4 felonies. Flahaut, who has no prior convictions, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and two counts of identity theft.
(Undated-jm) -- Those traveling throughout the area this week will notice another season, road construction. Crews will be working on I-57 from Paxton to the Ford/Champaign County line starting today. Also starting today, for those that work in Urbana, construction will begin on University between Goodwin and Cunningham Avenue’s. That project is expected to wrap up in November 2021.
(Gilman-jm) -- Iroquois West school board members will discuss the next fiscal and school year at tonight’s school board meeting. School board members will be asked to begin preparing a tentative budget and discuss fees for the 2020-2021 school year. The Iroquois West school board meeting gets underway at 7pm
(Buckley-cf)-- Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley will be at the Thawville Community Sale on April 18. They will be at their usual spot across from the post office, and will have all kinds of food items to choose from says Executive Director Sandy Spitz…
Executive Director Sandy Spitz
(Rantoul-jm) -- Champaign County Area Rural Transit will be offering free rides to the polls next week. The group announced on facebook they will be offering free rides on Tuesday for the Illinois primary. Passengers must inform the bus operator they are going to a polling place.
(Undated-jm) -- Area nursing homes and senior facilities are implementing restrictions to keep their residents safe. Both Accolade facilities in Paxton have announced visitor restrictions as have Piper City Rehab, Gilman Healthcare, Country Healthcare and Rehab in Gifford, Brookstone Estates in Rantoul and the Villas of Holly Brook in Rantoul and Gibson City among others.
(Springfield-jm) -- Hundreds of thousands of church-goers in Illinois will be at home on Sundays after some of the state’s largest religious institutions closed their doors after the governor banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people. The Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, along with several other groups, canceled weekend services, opting to stream them online.
(Springfield-jm) -- While nearly everything else has been shut down over concerns of spreading COVID-19, Tuesday’s election is still on, and it will determine who Illinois delegates from each of the parties will support heading into the national conventions this summer. Those who pull a Republican ballot will see a statewide race with five different candidates vying to be the Republican nominee to take on U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, in November. People statewide will also have the chance to vote on which Democratic candidate will get delegates from Illinois. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Tusli Gabbard of Hawaii, are in the running and on Illinois’ ballot. But a lot of other Democratic candidates who filed to be on Illinois’ ballot are no longer in contention. Including Biden, Sanders and Gabbard, a total of 13 candidates will appear on the Democratic ballot for president. On the Republican ballot statewide, incumbent President Donald Trump faces two challengers, John Schiess of Wisconsin and and “Rocky” De La Fuente of California.
(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State Jesse White’s office says all but one driver services facility will remain open. The drivers services office in the James R Thompson Center in Chicago will be closed, but all others across the state are up and running. Secretary of State Spokesperson Dave Druker says they urge only those with immediate needs to come in, and reminds their website is also a good resource…
Secretary of State Spokesperson Dave Druker. The Secretary of State’s website is: cyber drive illinois dot com.
(Undated-jm) -- The village of Rantoul is closing the Forum Fitness Center and the Youth Center until further notice over COVID-19. The Rantoul Public Library will remain open however several programs have either been postponed or canceled. In Gibson City, the Moyer District Library will be closed until further notice starting tomorrow.
(Paxton-cf)-- The Ford County Public Health Department has given WPXN an update about the COVID-19 virus. Ford County Public Health Department Administrator Lana Sample provides the latest efforts…
Ford County Public Health Department Administrator Lana Sample. WPXN will continue to provide the latest information on the issue as more official news becomes available.
(Gibson City-jm) -- The Gibson Area Chamber of Commerce has named the winners of several awards. Hannah Hathaway and Hannah Cliff were named outstanding junior citizens of the year. Dan and Paula Dickey were named outstanding citizens of the year. Susie Tongate received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
(Ashkum-jm) -- Illinois State Police, District 21 in Ashkum will be conducting Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols in March. WPXN’s Jason Madden has the details…
(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school board will have a busy meeting tonight. School board members will be asked to approve a contract with Russell Leigh and Associates for audits, approve memberships with IHSA and IESA and approve the hiring of an architecture firm for improvements and additions. The GCMs school board meeting gets underway at 6:15 pm.
