(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is stressing the importance of the state’s school mask mandate. A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a downstate Clinton County parent over the mandate, which requires all students and school staff to wear a mask indoors whether or not they’ve been vaccinated. Governor Pritzker responds…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor points out that a school mask mandate has been in place before in Illinois. When asked by reporters about enforcing the rule, he said schools have had dress codes for years and this should be no different.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 2,950 new Coronavirus cases and 10 additional deaths. The 7 day positivity rate is up to 5.7 percent. Champaign County reported 54 new cases. Vermilion County reported 146 new cases and 1 additional death, a woman in her 80s. Ford and Iroquois Counties did not have a report.
(Springfield-jm) -- A new state law makes it easier for educational support staff to take time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Governor J-B Pritzker signed the legislation, lowering the threshold of hours worked that must be met to be eligible for the FMLA from 12 hundred 50 to one thousand over the past year…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The law takes effect January 1st and applies to staff ranging from secretaries and teacher’s aides to maintenance and cafeteria workers at Illinois K-through-12 schools, community colleges and universities.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois state leaders are hoping to revitalize the hard-hit tourist industry by using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for a new $10 million grants program aimed at bringing back new and returning tourism attractions and festivals to the state. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are depleted with awards made quarterly and the department will have the ability to fund applications most closely aligned to eligibility criteria approved for immediate funding.
(Farmer City-jm) -- Back the Badge Fest will get underway this Saturday in Farmer City. The festival is put on by Back the Blue of Champaign County and will feature live music from Mitch Rossell (Rose-sell) with special guest Alexis Wilkins. Other bands performing will be 3 Gun Whiskey, the Thomas Tillman Band and Matt Poss Band. Organizer Matt Stuckey talks about how you can get your tickets…
Back the Badge Fest Organizer Matt Stuckey.
(Champaign County-jm) -- Champaign County Sheriff’s deputies have made five firearms-related arrests and seized six illegally possessed firearms over the weekend. On Saturday, August 7, Deputies were called to the 100 block of Fountain Valley Rantoul Township around 4:30 a.m. for a report of armed suspects inside of a home. Then later on Saturday night around 11:24, sheriff's deputies stopped a vehicle at the intersection of Country Fair Drive and University Avenue in Champaign, where they spotted open alcohol. After searching the vehicle, officers discovered a pistol. The driver was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon. The next day, on Sunday, August 8 at 1:51 a.m., officers responded to a report of a fight in the area of Crispus Drive and Bradley Avenue in Champaign. While investigating the fight, deputies encountered Ramesh Hill, who was later identified as the suspect in Urbana Police Department’s shooting that had just occurred in the 1300-block of Romine. Sheriff’s deputies also identified an unoccupied vehicle possibly associated with the suspects involved in the fight. Deputies seized two firearms from the vehicle that were in plain view.
(Wisconsin-jm) -- A St Joseph man is dead following a crash in Wisconsin. Authorities say 87-year-old Frederick Schultz, of Columbus died at the scene of the crash on Highway 151 in the Dodge County town of Beaver Saturday afternoon. The initial investigation shows Schultz was driving a van northbound in the southbound lanes and collided with a car head-on. The 68-year-old driver of that car, Richard Wagner, of Saint Joseph, Illinois and a 53-year-old passenger, Melissa Rees, of Terre Haute, Indiana were taken to University Hospital in Madison. Rees died while being transported. Wagner died later.
(Springfield-jm) -- Last week Governor J-B Pritzker announced a mask mandate for all k through 12 students in the state. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City discusses the Governor’s mandate…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Those looking for a job can attend a job fair this Thursday. The job fair is being put on by the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce at the new Rantoul Family Sports Complex from 9 to 1.
(Washington-jm) -- The U.S. is importing more food and agricultural products than ever. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) -- Participants of a special House hearing on COVID-19 discussed how misinformation is a leading cause of vaccine hesitancy. There are some people who just aren’t going to get vaccinated, while others are still on the fence, concerned about things they have heard about the shot, says Chicago Representative Mary Flowers…
State Representative Mary Flowers of Chicago. State and local public health officials testifying at the hearing urged those with concerns to talk to their primary care doctor. They say some common misnomers about the vaccine are that it may cause infertility and that it should not be given to those with underlying conditions like cancer or HIV. Health experts say neither are true.
(Gibson City-jm) -- A fundraiser for a little boy with leukemia will be held this weekend in Gibson City. Just an Angel, an area non-profit is helping with the fundraiser. Spokesperson Dale Puls talks about the event…
Just an Angel Spokesperson Dale Puls.
(Urbana-jm) -- Starting August 16, eligible families can get help with their energy bills in Champaign County. Officials with the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission said people can make appointments to apply for LIHEAP. This year, not only can you make your appointment at the organization’s main office in Urbana, but also their new location at 2009 Round Barn Road in Champaign.
(Champaign-jm) -- Just in time for this heat wave, C-U at Home reopened some services on Tuesday. The Phoenix Daytime Drop-In Center is back to normal hours. Overnight shelter services will re-open on Monday, August 16 at the C-U Men’s Shelter and C-U at Austin’s Place Women’s Shelter.
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton Buckley Loda students and staff can get their COVID vaccine this week. It’s being put on by the Ford County Public Health Department…
Ford County Public Health Community Educator Megan Reutter.
(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City police have released their recent activity report. On August 2nd James Kennedy of Gibson City was arrested for aggravated assault. On August 4th Josh Roush of Bloomington was arrested for possession of over 100 grams of cannabis, possession with intent to deliver cannabis and driving on a revoked license.
(Washington-jm) -- We are just hours away from getting a much better idea of the size of this year's major row crops and what kind of demand there will be for those crops. Gary Crawford reports…
