(Undated-jm) -- The number of cases of coronavirus rose yesterday across the area. Ford County is reporting 1 new case bringing their total to 15 cases, Champaign County is reporting 14 new cases bringing their total to 322 cases. Iroquois County is reporting 6 new cases bringing their total to 107 cases. Kankakee County is reporting 26 new cases bringing their total to 835 cases. Vermilion, McLean and Livingston Counties all reported no new cases. Their case totals are 32, 127 and 25 respectively.

 

(Undated-jm) -- Some communities are reporting an increase in cases. In Champaign County, Rantoul is reporting 91 cases, Ludlow is reporting 3 cases, Thomasboro has 2 cases, Mahomet has 11 cases and St. Joseph has 4 cases. In Iroquois County, Clifton has 42 cases, Chebanse and Onarga have 10 cases each, Watseka has 9 cases and Ashkum, Beaverville and Crescent City all have 6 cases each.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- As the daily death count from COVID-19 hit a record high in Illinois Wednesday, Governor J-B Pritzker is issuing a warning to areas that defy the state’s stay at home order. 192 additional deaths were reported, raising the total to nearly 38 hundred. Several areas are considering opening the economy sooner than the Governor’s plan calls for, which is prompting this response…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Pritzker says businesses that open prematurely risk losing their license. Illinois now has more than 84 thousand COVID-19 cases, although many patients have recovered. As a reminder Governor Pritzker will hold his daily briefing at 2:30. We will have the latest tonight on our news at 4 and 5.

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois House will convene in Springfield for three days next week to take up it's spring session workload long delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. A letter from Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan to the House minority leader on Wednesday sets the session for May 20-22 with extraordinary measures.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois earned a grade of “D” for how its economic reopening is proceeding in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a ranking by groups that promote economic prosperity. The grade is based on the leadership of Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker, the analysis by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity and FreedomWorks reports. The report assessed the potential damage state actions are doing to the economic well-being of residents and in particular how late reopening dates may cause more severe economic downturns.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- What is behind USDA's adjustment down in both corn and soybean price estimates compared to the previous month? Rod Bain reports…

 

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A Champaign teen has been arrested for an April shooting of a teen in Rantoul. U-S Marshals arrested 17 year old Quentin Hymon in Champaign on charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Hymon allegedly shot an 18 year old in the back on April 10th in the 1000 block of Falcon Way after a drug deal gone bad. Hymon is being held at the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center on $500,000 bond. If convicted he faces 6 to 30 years in prison. Hymon is due back in court May 22nd.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- There will likely be a delay in the City of Paxton’s streetscape project. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused some hiccups in the early phases of the project says Mayor Bill Ingold…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. The streetscape project includes repaving Market Street from Orleans to Holmes Street, updating sidewalks in parts of the downtown area and replacing street lights.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- There will be no swimming at the Paxton pool this summer. Park District leaders voted Tuesday night to keep the pool closed. Many of the park district leaders wanted to open the pool but feared what the liability to the park district would be. They also voted to cancel the baseball and softball season this summer although they are looking at some form of skills competition possibly in August. A decision has not yet been made on other summer activities.

 

(Undated-jm) -- As the number of Coronavirus cases rose, so did the number of active and recovered cases. Vermilion County is reporting 17 have been released and 14 are in isolation. McLean County is reporting 101 have recovered, 17 are in isolation and 6 are hospitalized. Ford County is reporting 7 have been released and 7 are in isolation. Champaign County is reporting 168 have recovered, 147 are active with 3 hospitalized. Livingston County is reporting 22 have been released, 2 are in isolation. Iroquois County is reporting 33 have recovered, 67 are in isolation and 4 are hospitalized. Kankakee County is reporting 167 have recovered, 632 are active with 24 hospitalized.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Kankakee County was the only county reporting new deaths yesterday. They have 3 new deaths related to COVID-19 bringing their total to 36. McLean and Iroquois County have 3 deaths each. Champaign County has 7 deaths. Ford, Vermilion and Livingston Counties each have 1 death.

 

 

(Wisconsin-jm) -- Members of Wisconsin’s Republican legislature want the state’s congressional delegation to oppose using federal COVID-19 relief money to help bail out Illinois' pensions. A letter signed by 43 GOP lawmakers said that Illinois has for decades spent and borrowed recklessly. The letter also references Illinois’ $138 billion public employee pension debt, as well as a recent letter Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, sent to Illinois' congressional delegation seeking at least $41 billion in federal aid, including $10 billion to stabilize state-run pension funds.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The share of Illinois adults eligible to receive $1,200 or more from the coronavirus financial relief plan passed by Congress was 86.7 percent, representing 6,418,887 residents, according to an analysis by 24/7 Wall St. The $1,200 economic stimulus checks, which the U.S. Treasury Department began issuing on April 10, were sent to single adults making under $75,000 annually. And couples earning less than $150,000 each year received $2,400 checks, plus $500 for each of their dependent children. In Illinois, the average per-capita income is $35,801, with the poverty rate in the state estimated at 12.1 percent, according to 24/7 Wall St. 

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA has lowered its forecasts for corn and soybean prices.  Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- The drive thru Coronavirus testing site at the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington will remain open a little longer. The site was scheduled to close this week but has been extended through the 22nd. Hours for testing are 9-5 everyday or until a maximum of 250 tests is reached. 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- One area group is giving out grants to help small businesses. The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission received grant funding from the Department of Labor to help businesses retain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds can be used to help employees work from home or keep essential employees safe at work. Champaign County Regional Planning Commission Economic Development Specialist Kathy Larson has how employers can find out more information about the grant program or how to apply…

 

 

Champaign County Regional Planning Commission Economic Development Specialist Kathy Larson.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed two resident circuit judges to the sixth judicial circuit. Sam Limentato will fill the vacancy upon the retirement of Judge Heidi Ladd on July 1. Benjamin Dyer fills the seat of Judge Jeffrey Ford, who retired in March. Both Limentato and Dyer will be in the seats until the seats are up in the November 2022 election. The Sixth Judicial Circuit covers Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt Counties.