(Champaign-jm) -- After the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention broadened the parameters for what qualifies as a “person under investigation,” or PUI, over the weekend, one person in the Champaign-Urbana area is suspected of having the respiratory virus. The Champaign County resident is a child, said Dr. Robert Parker, director of the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign campus.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Recreational marijuana sales topped 39 million dollars last month in Illinois. Adult use cannabis became legal in Illinois on January 1st, with long lines and shortages at many dispensaries. The Governor’s Senior Advisor for Cannabis Control Toi Hutchinson says, more than eight million of the 39 million total sales came from people living out of state…

 

 

Governor’s Senior Advisor for Cannabis Control Toi Hutchinson. In all, about 972 thousand cannabis items were sold last month. A quarter of all proceeds will be reinvested in communities hardest hit by the war on drugs.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- With the debacle of the Iowa caucuses fresh in the minds of Illinois politicians, there’s bipartisan support to make the Land of Lincoln the first-in-the-nation primary. But that’s still just an idea at this point. Iowa Democratic Party officials say the delay in getting results from the first-in-the-nation caucuses Monday was because of a computer error. The state moved the primary up to the first Tuesday of February in 2008 when Barack Obama was running in the Democratic primary. He was an Illinois U.S. senator and a former Illinois state senator. But Illinois moved the primary back to March in 2012.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- 2020 got off to a warm and wet start in Illinois. January’s average temperature was 31 point four degrees, making last month the 17th warmest January on record in Illinois says State Climatologist Trent Ford…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. January was also the ninth wettest on record, with an average of four point four inches of precipitation statewide. Ford says most of that came over just a few days.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- An area paramedic is accused of sexually assaulting a patient on their way to the hospital. Jeffrey Sanford jr of Gifford is charged with two counts of criminal sexual assault. Police say the incident occurred on July 22nd after a 48 year old Rantoul woman was being taken to the hospital. If convicted he faces a mandatory prison sentence of 4 to 15 years in prison.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Ford County Sheriff’s office has released their recent activity report. During the month of January, deputies responded to four traffic accidents and issued 30 citations including 23 for speeding. Deputies also handled two reports each of burglary, theft and missing persons and one each of harassment and vandalism.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)- The PBL Education Foundation was given a $250,000 dollar donation to the Endowment Fund. That Donation helped start the Pillar Campaign. PBL Education Foundation President Robin Niewold has more.. 

 

 

PBL Education Foundation President Robin Niewold.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- State officials said thousands of people fail to file for state tax refunds when they could get more money back.  Friday was the Internal Revenue Service’s 14th annual Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day and the Illinois Department of Revenue said taxpayers who file for the federal credit sometimes leave a state tax credit on the table. A couple filing jointly with three or more children could make about $56,000 and still qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. For the 2019 tax year, credits can reach up to $6,557 for a couple filing jointly that earns less than $55,952. A single filer with no children making less than $15,570 would be entitled to a $529 return. IDOR said nearly 20,000 Illinoisans claimed a federal EITC credit without also claiming the state EIC, leaving more than $5 million dollars unclaimed. 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval and SafeSpeed LLC, the red light camera company at the center of federal corruption charges against him, are now the targets of a racketeering lawsuit that seeks to void tens of thousands of traffic citations issued through the company’s devices. Lawrence Gress, a Downers Grove resident and lead plaintiff in the case, filed the suit under the federal Racketeering, Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act a law most often used to prosecute organized crime syndicates also allows for private civil suits for actions that are part of a criminal enterprise. The lawsuit alleges SafeSpeed, its officers and employees, paid bribes to Sandoval and several other local government officials to gain approval for placing its red light cameras at various intersections in Chicago-area suburbs.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Early voting begins this week in Illinois. The primary isn’t until March 17th, but you can go ahead and cast your ballot starting Thursday says State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich…

 

 

State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich. Mail-in ballots will be sent out beginning Thursday. To find your local polling place or to register to vote, visit: elections dot il dot gov.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Close to $2 million in grants will be available to increase tourism in the state. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development and State Office of Tourism is putting $1.9 million in grants to help increase tourism across all parts of the state. The state had a record number of tourists in 2018 with 117 million visitors bringing in $42 billion.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- This is Earthquake Preparedness Month and the State Emergency Management Agency reminds that the possibility is very real in Illinois. Records indicate that Illinois has experienced some of the largest earthquakes ever measured in North America and the state is home to both the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones. I-EMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark says that’s why it’s important you know what to do if the ground starts shaking…

 

 

I-EMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark. I-EMA urges families, businesses and schools to register for the National annual earthquake drill, the great American shakeout. It will be held October 15th. Sign up at shakeout dot org.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul restaurant is now open. Yellow Ducky Express opened in the former Taco Bell location on the villages west side. The restaurant is open 10:30 am to 9 pm.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The village of Rantoul is offering a one time only storm drainage amnesty program. All interest and late fees will be removed if the balance is paid in full by March 11th. The village says previous lien charges will not be waived. For more information about the program, call the Rantoul village building at 892-6800.

 

(Paxton-cf)- Feb. 7 is national Go Red For Women Day promoting Health. Be sure to wear red that day in support. Also when you're in red, be sure to share on social media and use the hashtag #FordCountyGoRed. When you use that hashtag, tag @1049WPXN on Twitter for a retweet! Danielle Walls has more information.. 

 

 

Ford County Public Health Department Educator Danielle Walls

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- High school students in Illinois will have more opportunities to vote during the school day after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1970  that allows schools to excuse adult students for 2 hours to go to the polls on election day. Pritzker signed.