(Springfield-jm) -- There are new uncertainties about when Illinois will be able to draw new political boundaries. U.S. Census officials announced a six-month delay in releasing reapportionment data, pushing the date to September 30. That’s a month into when candidates begin gathering petitions for the March 2022 primary, leaving uncertainty for where political boundaries would lie for statehouse and congressional races.
(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State Jesse White’s Office is urging motorists to obey Illinois’ Move Over law. Since the beginning of the year, 10 Illinois State Police squad cars have been hit by those failing to move over, injuring troopers in half of the crashes. Spokesperson Henry Haupt says that’s why Secretary White is issuing a call to action to drivers…
Illinois Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt. Fines for violating the Move Over Law range from 250 to 10 thousand dollars.
(Springfield-jm) -- Associations representing an array of businesses in Illinois are opposing the governor’s move to end nearly a billion dollars of business tax incentives. The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association said the move to end nine programs the governor called “corporate loopholes” is the wrong direction. The Illinois Retail Merchants’ Association said ending the programs compounds costs of three minimum wage increases during the pandemic. Any changes to the tax code require legislative approval.
(Springfield-jm) -- As natural gas prices spike, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is offering some tips to winterize your home and save energy. There are some steps you can take to help extend your field supply and protect your house from the bitter cold says IEMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark...
IEMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark. To conserve energy, Clark suggests turning your thermostat and water heater down a couple of degrees, set your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise which will push warm air down and avoid using large appliances like dishwashers, washers and dryers as much as possible.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois now has 1,174,409 cases of Coronavirus and 20,269 deaths. The seven day positivity rate is 3.1 percent. 2,151,952 vaccines have been administered in Illinois. On Friday, Champaign County reported 132 new cases and 3 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 17,804 and deaths to 126. Ford County reported 8 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 1,539 and deaths to 42. Iroquois County reported 3 new cases bringing their total to 2,764. Vermilion County reported 34 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 8,325 and deaths to 102.
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton city crews have been busy over the past week with the recent snows. Mayor Bill Ingold talks about how the city handles snow events…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.
(Hoopeston-jm) -- The estate of a Hoopeston man is suing Vermilion County in federal court. The family of Thomas Dalton says officials at the county’s jail ignored repeated medical requests for 8 days before he died February 16, 2020.
Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country.
Felicity Schaffer from Fisher High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is happening on Monday.
Fisher FFA President Felicity Schaffer
We were also able to talk with Rantoul FFA member Madison McGinn
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois experienced an increase in the number of new unemployment filings last week than the week before. The U.S. Department of Labor reports nearly 68,000 new claims were filed last week, 33,500 more than the week before. There were also more than 14,800 new independent contractors filing for unemployment. The total number of insured unemployed and continued pandemic unemployment assistance claims is 477,500.
(Springfield-jm) -- 1099-G tax forms are now available for claimants who received unemployment insurance benefits in 2020, the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced. Claimants who collected unemployment insurance benefits last year need the 1099-G tax form to complete state and federal tax returns. The form is necessary for individuals who received state or federal unemployment insurance benefits. This includes claimants who received regular unemployment insurance benefits and/or benefits under the new federal pandemic relief programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance , Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Lost Wages Assistance, and state Extended Benefits.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Office of the State Fire Marshal is urging older Illinoisans to practice fire safety. Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz says in 2019, nearly 48 percent of all fire deaths in Illinois were people over 60. That’s why they want to focus on seniors and make sure they are safe…
State Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz. Additionally, the Illinois Department on Aging offers an emergency home response service for qualifying seniors. It’s a 24 hour two way communication system where once you push a button, help will be on its way in any home emergency.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois now has 1,174,409 cases of Coronavirus and 20,269 deaths. The seven day positivity rate is 3.1 percent. 2,151,952 vaccines have been administered in Illinois. As for local active and recovered cases Friday. Champaign County reported 16,996 have recovered, 682 are in isolation and 15 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,678 have been released from isolation, 28 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 269 active cases and 11 hospitalized.
(Washington-jm) -- Republicans and Democrats across the state are asking the Biden Administration to not seek the resignation of the U-S Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch. Lausch has been behind the Commonwealth Edison bribery scheme that implicated former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. Congressman Adam Kinzinger says he hopes the Administration will withdraw the resignation request…
Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.
(Champaign-jm) -- Market Place Mall and Champaign police responded to a fight at the mall on Saturday. Champaign Police Department assisted mall security in breaking up a fight among a large group of juveniles. No one was arrested.
Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Tanner Garrison from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
We were also able to talk with PBL FFA treasurer Maci Kingren
