(Springfield-jm) -- Six more cases of COVID-19 are being announced in Illinois. The new cases range in age from 40’s to 80’s and all are in Chicago or Cook County except for one in Lake County. That brings the total now to 25. Governor J-B Pritzker urges the public to use caution and says the CDC is warning about events with crowds larger than 250 people…

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Illinois Legislature cancelled session for next week to help slow the spread of the virus.

 

(Undated--jc)  -- Watseka and Iroquois West High School officials have announced that the High School Indoor Track Meet scheduled at Purdue today has been cancelled  due to the corona virus. The meet will not be rescheduled for another time.

A couple from Bloomington is headed to either Georgia or Texas to be quarantined for the coronavirus. The pair were being held on Grand Princess Cruise ship harbored in Oakland.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College is moving as many courses online as possible starting after spring break out of an abundance of caution over COVID-19 fears. The school says the shift will begin March 23rd and is implemented through April 3rd. The situation will be re-evaluated to determine whether or not to continue the change. Lab and studio components of classes will still be required to meet on campus. The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign also made a similar announcement Wednesday. Those attending any gathering are prudent to find out what, if any, changes have been or are being made as concerns of the coronavirus continue WPXN news will continue to provide local information about the pandemic.

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons is announcing some changes for polling places for next week’s primary over COVID-19 concerns. Three nursing home facilities will no longer be used for voting. Those that normally vote at Clark Lindsey in Champaign will now vote at St. Matthews Church. Those that vote at The Glenwood in Mahomet will now vote at the Elks Pavillion at Lake of the Woods. Those that normally vote at Eagle View Retirement in Rantoul will now vote at The Gathering Place.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul City School district leaders are expected to give approval to begin preparing the next tentative budget at tonight's school board meeting. School board members will also be asked to approve job descriptions for a special education administrator position as well as an academic coordinator for the bilingual and esl program. The Rantoul City School board meeting gets underway at 6:30 pm.

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The Spring Fling and Meat Raffle for the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County will take place April 28 at the Rantoul VFW. There will be multiple events taking place such as bluegrass and country bands, as well as appetizers and a silent auction says Director Andy Kulczyzki(KUL-sicki)... 

 

Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County Director Andy Kulzycki(KUL-Sicki)

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul business is undergoing renovations. Workers are remodeling the south Caseys in the village. Work is expected to be completed in about two weeks.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- The Clara Peterson preschool screenings will start at 8:30am at the Evangelical Church in Paxton on Friday April 3rd. If parents do want to schedule a time, call Clara Peterson to set your time up, says Clara Peterson Asst. Principal Amanda Styck… 

 

Clara Peterson Asst. Principal Amanda Styck 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Gov. JB Pritzker and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity have announced another step that was made in the Rebuild Illinois plan. They announced that $80 million in Rebuild Illinois funds are now available to invest in public infrastructure and economic development. The money will support governments at a local level, as well as projects that will help create jobs and expand economic opportunities statewide.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA is seeing continued progress on implementation of China trade deal. Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at Iroquois West High School in Gilman today from 9-3.

 

State Senator Scott Bennett and State Representative Mike Marron will hold joint office hours today from 12-1 at the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce office.

(Savoy-jm) -- Willard Airport officials are taking precautions over the COVID-19 outbreak. Officials say they are following CDC guidelines and working with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department to protect passengers and employees.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- A lawmaker from Illinois is seeking clarification about airport screening procedures as they related to protecting people from COVID-19. In a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin voiced concerns about travelers from countries with high virus risk not being screened when they enter the United States.  Durbin pointed out two cases in which people coming from Italy moved through O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and were not screened, then later tested positive for COVID-19. Durbin also voiced concerns about discrepancies in travel advisories between the CDC and State Department. 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is barring large crowds from the Illinois State Capitol in hopes of slowing the spread of the Coronavirus. Group tours and big events will not be allowed at the building until further notice says Secretary of State Spokesperson Dave Druker…

 

 

Secretary of State Spokesperson Dave Druker. Druker assures the capitol is not closed and says that deep cleaning of the building is underway.

 

 

(Fisher-jm) -- An ordinance regulating manufactured homes in the village of Fisher could be amended at tonight’s village board meeting. In addition, village trustees will be asked to approve installing pathway lights at Heritage Pond. The Fisher village board meeting at 6pm.

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The 2nd Annual Rantoul Township High School 5k and 1k will be held on April 10th. Event organizer and RTHS track Coach Mitch Wilson gives us the course throughout the village of Rantoul runners will travel… 

 

Event organizer and RTHS track Coach Mitch Wilson 

 

 

(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police in Ashkum have released results of recent Nighttime Enforcement patrols. During the enforcement patrol, 2 people were arrested and charged with DUI, 3 were cited for occupant restraint violations, 4 for registration violations, 5 for drivers license violations and 3 for insurance violations.

 

(Gibson City-cf)-- The Ford County Public Health Department and Parkland Community College will be holding a Food Safety Certification Course. WPXN’s Cale Fleming has the details… 

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- While lawmakers are working on crafting a budget that’s due in May, a credit rating agency said the governor’s proposed spending plan won't reduce the state's pension liabilities, even if voters approve a progressive income tax plan in November. Fitch Ratings released its official assessment of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal, dicing up his decision to hold $1.4 billion in reserve should the progressive income tax amendment fail.  The rating agency said that, even if voters approve the proposed progressive income tax, the added revenue would not be enough to make a dent in Illinois pension debt. Illinois has, by Fitch’s estimation, $200 billion in long-term liabilities, pensions accounting for 80 percent of that. 

 

(Washington-jm) -- No real surprises were in USDA's is latest monthly forecasts for agricultural supply and demand. Gary Crawford has the details…

 

 

A health fair will be held this evening from 4-8 pm at the Forum Fitness Center in Rantoul.