(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing 330 new cases of Coronavirus and three more deaths.. The most recent cases bring the state’s total to over 18 hundred including 19 deaths. State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike says they’ve been getting a lot of questions about COVID-19 testing. She says if you feel ill, start by calling your doctor…

 

 

Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike says those sick should stay home for seven days or 72 hours after their fever and other symptoms are gone, whichever is longer. Locally, Champaign County is announcing four new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total to 8.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- About 39.7 percent of Illinois adults are considered at risk of coronavirus complications due to age or pre-existing medical conditions, the 36th highest share among the 50 states, according to a study released March 17 by the website 24/7 Wall St. The share of adults over age 60 out of the total at-risk adult population is 72.9 percent, the 24/7 Wall St. report said. The share of adults age 18 to 60 who are at risk is 15.1 percent.  The number of fatalities related to coronavirus in the United States could eventually be as high as 1.7 million, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although the vast majority of those infected will not endure serious ailments. About 105.5 million American adults age 18 and older, or 41 percent, face an elevated risk of serious illness if they contract the Covid-19 virus, Wall St. 24/7 reports. And among those at-risk adults, 5.7 million lack health insurance, according to the analysis.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing millions of dollars in emergency assistance for small businesses in Illinois. Governor Pritzker says he knows how hard it’s been the past several days, especially for businesses that have had to close their doors…

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. A couple of options are available. Small business owners should visit: dceo dot illinois dot gov for more information.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Food hoarding during the Coronavirus pandemic is having a huge impact on low-income Illinoisans who rely on the state for food assistance. The Women, Infants, and Children Program, commonly referred to as WIC, is a federal program that helps supplement low-income families with vouchers for food. With people hoarding food due to coronavirus it's become harder to fill the voucher. The vouchers expire at the end of the month.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Many USDA offices are temporarily doing business with producers only by phone or electronically. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is among the latest government agencies to set up a specific hotline for reports of potential violations of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s mandatory, Stay-At-Home executive order. To make sure nonessential businesses are complying, CUPHD announced Wednesday it will investigate complaints made to their hotline at 217-239-7877 or via email coronavirus@c-uphd.org.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- During the emergency meeting held by the Paxton City Council on Wednesday night, there was an ordinance passed that would allow you to order a beverage with your meal and bring it home. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold tells WPXN that an establishment that sells alcohol on premises can now sell you a beverage for your meal at home… 

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. The beverage must be in a sealed bottle, in its original packaging, in order for it to be transported home. 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul police are reporting a reduction in the number of calls and arrests. Since the start of the COVID-19 threat, police estimate the number of calls for service and arrests have dropped by 50 percent. The department says they are adjusting how they respond to calls. Low priority calls will be handled over the phone while high priority calls will still receive an officer response.

 

 

(Loda-cf)-- The Kitchen at Murdocks in Loda is still operating fully during the stay at home order. There is a limited menu while the pandemic has that order in place, and Facebook will soon be the place to check that menu out says owner Brent Sinn… 

 

 

Murdcocks owner Brent Sinn. While he is still working on the page, be sure to check out Murdocks Facebook Page for regular updates in the coming days. 

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A report from the state government’s forecasting group said determining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state’s tax revenues was “virtually impossible” for now, but the commission said it could result in a loss of more than $8 billion over several fiscal years. The new report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability included a projection of state revenues and expenditures for the next three years under different scenarios. One scenario assumes the state pays down its $8 billion worth of unpaid bills, another assumes flat spending and a third assumes spending growth of 2 percent. The report also highlighted threats to the state’s budget forecast, including it’s outstanding bill backlog of more than $8 billion as of March 25, the state’s unfunded pension liabilities of more than $137 billion, and the uncertainty around what it called the “COVID-19 Recession.”

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Sam's Club locations across the nation are working to help those who need extra support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is introducing two new initiatives to make shopping easier for some. Starting tomorrow, Sam's Club will offer early shopping hours for senior citizens and those with disabilities or weakened immune systems every Tuesday and Thursday. Those shoppers will have access to the entirety of Sam's Club, including the pharmacy and optical center, from 7-9 a.m. During the new special shopping hours, members can now shop at Sam's Club without needing to leave their car.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois taxpayers are getting more time to file their state taxes. Just like the federal government, Illinois is extending the deadline says Governor J-B Pritzker…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. To file your state income taxes and for more information, visit: tax dot illinois dot gov.

 

 

(Springfield-dg)-It’s National Ag Week and WPXN would like to salute the American Farmer. Illinois leads the pack in agribusiness and the state is a front-runner in industries such as soybean processing, meat packing, dairy manufacturing, service industries and foreign exports, which play a significant role in the Illinois economy. In 2014, Illinois exported $8.2 billion worth of agricultural commodities to other countries, and exports from Illinois account for 6 percent of all U.S. exports. In fact, the state is the nation’s second leading exporter of soybeans and feed grains, and approximately 44 percent of grain produced in the state is used for export.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton residents are urged to find alternative methods to pay their utility bill. With the COVID-19 outbreak ongoing, city hall is closed to public entry. The city reminds residents they can pay their bill online or drop it off in the dropbox. Those with questions are asked to call city hall at 379-2425.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois home sales and prices headed higher in February. WPXN’s Jason Madden has the details…

 

 

(Undated-cf)-- Today, Illinois Radio and television stations throughout Illinois are uniting in a statewide fundraising drive to combat hunger and food bank shortages due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In Partnership with Feeding Illinois, we encourage all listeners to make a monetary donation that will bolster dwindling food supplies at local food banks. Corporations and individuals looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of neighbors experiencing food hardship can contribute at: www.FeedingIllinois.org/unite and/or text to FEEDIL to 91999.