(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says Illinois could be moving to the new “Bridge” phase in less than a week. Although more than 70 percent of seniors are now vaccinated, the state hasn’t been able to move out of phase four due to rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. That may be changing, says the Governor…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The latest daily total are more than 21 hundred new cases and over two thousand COVID patients in the hospital. The state Department of Public Health has confirmed in excess of 25 hundred cases of COVID variants in Illinois. Locally, Champaign County reported 86 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 20,068 and deaths to 144. Ford County reported 3 new cases bringing their total to 1,711. Iroquois County reported 7 new cases bringing their total to 2,934. Vermilion County reported 31 new cases bringing their total to 9,133.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says COVID-19 vaccine supply will soon outweigh demand. As more doses roll in, it’s becoming much easier to get an appointment for your shot. Governor Pritzker says they are trying to make sure that counties with plenty of doses don’t keep getting new shipments…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says he’d eventually like people to be able to get the shot at their regular doctor’s office. More than nine million doses have been administered so far in Illinois, with 37 percent of the population now fully vaccinated.
(Undated-jm) -- Planting season is underway around the area. Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece provides a local update on planting progress…
Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece. We also reached out to Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken about planting progress in his area…
Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken.
PBL Youth Football and Cheerleading are now accepting registration forms from 3rd through 8th grade. Forms were sent home from school, but extras are available on the PBL Youth Football/Cheer Facebook page or by contacting Matt Vaughan at 217-249-3722 or mavaughan76@hotmail.com. They need as many players as possible to rebuild the program after not being able to play last season.
(Undated-jm) -- March unemployment rates are up compared to one year ago. In Champaign County, the rate is up to 5 percent from 2.9 percent in March 2020. In Ford County the rate went from 3.7 percent in March 2020 to 4.8 percent last month. Iroquois County’s went from 4.3 percent to 5.6 percent. Vermilion County’s is up to 6.9 percent from 4.3 percent in March 2020.
(Springfield-jm) -- Temperatures were about 10 degrees below normal this past week but farmers still got some planting done as we hear in the weekly crop report. Nearly five days were suitable for fieldwork says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 19 percent of winter wheat has headed and the crop improved to 71 percent in good to excellent condition. Average statewide topsoil moisture stayed about the same and is rated as 11 percent short, 82 percent adequate and seven percent surplus.
(Springfield-jm) -- The state is launching a new program to help expand COVID-19 resources and access to the vaccine. The idea of the Pandemic Health Navigator Program is to reach out locally to those who need it says Governor J-B Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Pritzker says navigators are there to answer community questions about the virus and vaccine, to dispel myths, to direct people to vaccination sites and to make sure those in quarantine have access to things like groceries.
(Rantoul-cf)-- The Rantoul Chamber of Commerce will have their traditional parade for the 4th of July this year. Chamber Director Amanda Vickory has the details…
Rantoul Chamber of Commerce Director Amanda Vickory.
(Watseka-jm) -- Iroquois County Treasurer Kurt Albers is reminding mobile home residents their tax bills are due next week. Mobile Home Tax Privilege bills were sent out in early March. The due date to pay without penalty is May 3rd. You can pay in person at the administrative center or by mail.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul Township High School is preparing for the 2021-2022 school year. The district, like many others around the area, are unsure how the school year will look with the ongoing pandemic says Superintendent Scott Amerio…
Rantoul Township High School Superintendent Scott Amerio.
(Springfield-jm) -- Temperatures were about 10 degrees below normal this past week but farmers still got some planting done as we hear in the weekly crop report. 23 percent of corn has been planted, with two percent emerged. That’s behind last year’s pace and the five year average. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 18 percent of soybeans have been planted…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture came in at 11 percent short, 82 percent adequate and seven percent surplus, relatively unchanged from the previous week.
