(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing the first case of person-to-person transmission of the Coronavirus in the U-S. There are now two people confirmed to have the Coronavirus in Illinois. The newest patient is the spouse of the initial case. Public Health Director Doctor Ngozi Ezike says the virus is most likely spread through close personal contact, so this is not unexpected. Still, they are being cautious…
Illinois Public Health Director Doctor Ngozi Ezike. If you have recently traveled to China or come in contact with someone who has and then develop symptoms like fever, cough and shortness of breath, see your doctor.
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois joined a multi-state lawsuit over proposed Trump administration rules on food stamps that could cause hundreds of thousands of Americans to lose benefits, Attorney General Kwame Raoul confirmed Thursday. The rule, expected to go into effect in April, limits states from exempting work-eligible adults from having to maintain steady employment in order to receive benefits. The rule is among three targeting the Supplemental Nutrition Program, known as SNAP. Illinois could be hit hard. There are over 140,000 residents in the affected category; they’re able-bodied without dependents, according to state officials.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois State Police officials said the agency has made progress to reduce the backlog of DNA evidence that needs to be tested in criminal cases across the state and said lawmakers can help speed up the process. During a hearing this week in a state Senate committee, state Sen. Patricia Van Pelt, D-Chicago, said the delay in processing DNA evidence hurts everyone. Carrie Ward, with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, told the committee that delays in processing DNA evidence delay justice, and justice delayed is justice denied.
(Springfield-jm) -- The unemployment rate was down in all 14 of the state’s metro are as last month. The figures, comparing December of 2018 to December of 2019, are pretty positive says Illinois Department of Employment Security Spokesperson Rebecca Cisco…
Illinois Department of Employment Security Spokesperson Rebecca Cisco. Jobs were up in 10 metro areas with Chicago and the suburbs, Champaign-Urbana and East St. Louis seeing the highest over the year gains. Locally, in Ford County the unemployment rate fell from 5.6 percent to 4.3 percent. In Champaign County the unemployment rate fell from 4.5 percent to 3.3 percent. In Iroquois County the unemployment rate fell from 5.6 percent to 4.7 percent. In Vermilion County, the unemployment rate fell from 6.7 percent to 5.3 percent.
(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from the Rantoul VFW. 75-year-old Brenda Wise turned herself into Rantoul Police Thursday. They say she allegedly stole between $6,000 and $8,000 from the group over a period of 3 to 4 years. Wise is due in court February 28th.
WATSEKA, Ill. (AP) _ IF Bancorp Inc. on Thursday reported net income of $964,000 in its fiscal second quarter. The bank, based in Watseka, Illinois, said it had earnings of 31 cents per share. The savings and loan holding company posted revenue of $8 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $5.6 million, which beat Street forecasts. IF Bancorp shares have increased 2% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Thursday, shares hit $23.50, an increase of 18% in the last 12 months.
(Paxton-cf)- The coronavirus has now been declared as a global health emergency by the World Health Organization NPR reports. Ford County Public Health Department Educator Danielle Walls has information on how you can keep yourself safe, as well as notable symptoms with the virus.
Ford County Public Health Department Educator Danielle Walls .If you have come into contact with someone that has been out of the country and you develop any upper respiratory symptoms, fever, or any other symptom associated with the coronavirus please contact your healthcare provider.
(Springfield-jm) -- Attorney General Kwame Raoul is filing a lawsuit to ensure the equal rights amendment is recognized as the 28th amendment to the U-S Constitution. Attorney General Raoul is joining his counterparts in Nevada and Virginia in the suit, as the number of states to ratify the amendment finally hits 38. Raoul says that’s the required number, but timing may be an issue…
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The equal rights act guarantees equal rights for women.
(Springfield-jm) -- An Illinois bill would allow drivers with certain medical conditions to tint all of their vehicle's window surfaces. Under existing law, it’s illegal to apply window tint to the driver side window or entire front windshield unless the primary operator of the vehicle has a condition such as albinism that makes sun exposure damaging to the skin. The law specifically prohibits issuing full surface window tint for “any condition, such as light sensitivity, for which protection from the direct rays of the sun can be adequately obtained by the use of sunglasses or other eye protective devices.” State Rep. Maurice West’s legislation would allow for all window surfaces to be tinted if a driver has a medical condition, such light sensitivity due to brain trauma, that results in photophobia.
(Springfield-jm) -- A former state lawmaker who pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting $250,000 in bribes in exchange for using his legislative weight to unilaterally stop bills from advancing often assigned measures to a subcommittee that had no members, essentially ensuring those measures wouldn't advance. As the chairman of the Illinois Senate’s Transportation Committee, Martin Sandoval had the authority to protect the red-light camera industry. The chairman of a state legislative committee is able to decide if bills are called or not. They also reserve the right to delegate legislation to a subcommittee. One of the Transportation Committee’s subdivisions is the Subcommittee on Special Issues. While a number of bills that passed through Sandoval’s legislative docket might belong in that position, being a sponsor of a bill sent there was an indication that it was dead for one simple reason: The subcommittee has no members.
(Springfield-jm) -- Super Bowl Sunday has become a major day for partying. The Illinois Department of Transportation has some tips for doing it safely. If you're hosting a Super Bowl party, you need to be responsible says I-DOT’s Shannon Alderman. That may include not serving alcohol after a certain point in the game, as well as…
IDOT’s Shannon Alderman. If you’re attending a Super Bowl party, Alderman recommends planning on how you’re going to get home ahead of time, and not drinking and driving.
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(Onarga--jc ) Firefighters were called to a home in Onarga on Thursday afternoon. The fire happened at the home at 206 East Grant Street. No damage estimates were available.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) _ HBT Financial Inc. on Thursday reported net income of $16.1 million in its fourth quarter. The bank, based in Bloomington, Illinois, said it had earnings of 61 cents per share. The bank holding company posted revenue of $44.9 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $42.6 million, topping Street forecasts. For the year, the company reported a profit of $66.9 million, or $3.43 per share. Revenue was reported as $166.6 million.
(Paxton-cf)- The Paxton Buckley Loda Education Foundation was given a $250,000 dollar donation to the Endowment Fund. That Donation helped start the Pillar Campaign. P-B-L Education Foundation President Robin Niewold has more..
P-B-L Education Foundation President Robin Niewold.
The PBL FFA Farm Toys Show takes place tomorrow. Doors open at 9am. Breakfast and lunch will be served. There will be a kiddie tractor pull at noon.
Christ Lutheran High School will have it’s Taste of Italy Lunch on Sunday from 11am -1pm. On the Menu is Spaghetti with meat sauce, or regular sauce, salad, garlic bread, dessert and a drink. A freewill donation will be taken to benefit Christian education. Carry outs will be available.
