(Springfield-jm) -- There are now more than 11 thousand confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Illinois and 274 deaths. The latest report shows 899 cases and 31 more deaths on Sunday. Saturday more than 1400 cases were reported. State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike continues to urge the public to wash their hands, wear a mask when out, and not grocery shop as a family. She also urges religious leaders to host services online…

 

 

Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Officials also say that kids that can stay home, should do so. That means no play dates or hanging out with friends. There are now seven confirmed cases in Iroquois County

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state's March employment report listed more than 14,700 layoffs in Illinois, an indication of how companies in a variety of industries are struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 14,702 layoffs reported to the state in the March report, 8,970 were listed as permanent and 5,592 were listed as temporary. Another 140 were listed as a mix of temporary and permanent.

 

(Watseka--jc)  -- The cases of Covid-19 are rising in Iroquois County. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- As cases of Coronavirus continue to rise, Governor J-B Pritzker is recommending the public wear a mask when they are out in public. While your best bet is to stay home, if you have to venture out, the Governor says it’s a good idea to wear a mask or any fabric covering your mouth and nose…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) --  Illinois ranked near the top in a new study of state economies most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal finance website WalletHub said some states are better positioned economically to deal with the pandemic than others, and ranked Illinois the 10th most vulnerable. Illinois right now has one of the lowest shares of workers with access to paid sick leave. Illinois also ranked second to last behind Connecticut for worst fiscal condition index.

 

 

(Chicago-jm) -- The first 500 beds are set up at McCormick Place in Chicago to handle the growing number of Coronavirus patients. The state is preparing for a rapid increase in hospitalizations. Governor J-B Pritzker says the state’s first alternate care facility in McCormick Place will be used for COVID-19 patients who need care, but are not sick enough to be in the ICU…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says they are working to set up more care centers in Elgin, Blue Island, Melrose Park and Springfield.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul factory is closed after one of their employees has a presumptive positive for COVID-19. Vista Outdoors says one of their employees is under quarantine for symptoms and a presumptive positive test. The factory is closed until a professional cleaning service performs a deep clean and full sanitization of the entire facility.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul police are investigating the theft of electronic equipment from a construction site. Police say sometime between April 1st and 2nd someone stole between $45,000 and $60,000 worth of electronic equipment from two trailers at the construction site of the Rantoul Sports Complex.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- March weather was warm and wet in Illinois.The average statewide temperature for March was 43 point five degrees says State Climatologist Trent Ford. That’s more than two degrees above normal. Precipitation was also above normal…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The unemployment rate was down in all 14 of the states metro areas in February. According to numbers from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the unemployment rate in Ford County dropped from 5 point 5 percent to 3 point 5 percent. In Iroquois County, the unemployment rate dropped from 5 point 6 percent to 4 point 2 percent, Champaign County fell from 4 point 3 percent to 2 point 6 percent, Vermilion County 5 point 9 percent to 4 point 1 percent and McLean County 4 point 4 percent to 2 point 8 percent. The Illinois Department of Employment Security warns though these numbers do not take into account the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Home sales in Champaign County were down in February but not all the news is bad. According to the Champaign County Association of Realtors, sales were down 4 point 3 percent from February of 2019 with 134 homes sold. The good news is 230 sales are pending. That is up 31 percent.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- The deadline for both state and Federal Taxes has been pushed back until July 15. That will help immensely for individuals who need to file still, but are using caution going outside for non-essential travel says Jeff Shaffer of Shaffer Tax and Accounting… 

 

 

Shaffer Tax and Accounting owner Jeff Shaffer. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois broke the record among all states for firearm background checks in March. The FBI reported over 645,000 background checks in March alone. Last year, the number was nearly half that.

 

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois needs thousands more ventilators than the federal government plans to send and the state is desperately searching for more before its expected peak in coronavirus cases later this month, the governor said Sunday, hours before officials announced the number of people to test positive in the state more than doubled in a week. Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday morning, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he requested 4,000 ventilators from the federal government last Tuesday and has received 450, far short of even the 1,400 ventilators that Vice President Mike Pence said the state needs.

 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) -- All committee meetings for the Iroquois County board have been canceled for April. Also for the county board meeting, only the county clerk, deputy clerk, board chairman, finance manager and EMA director will be allowed in the board room. The county board members and visitors will be asked to call in.

 

 

URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A teacher who also coaches cross country at an Urbana high school has been arrested on child pornography charges. Doug Mynatt appeared in federal court by video and remains in custody. He works at University of Illinois Laboratory High School, also known as Uni High. Investigators say Mynatt admitted receiving and distributing images of young girls, and thousands were found on his phone. Uni High's website says Mynatt teaches sports, fitness, and strength training and coaches the track and cross country teams.

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County is still operational for now during the pandemic. There has not been a surge of people at the Food Pantry yet, but that might happen when the order is lifted says Direcotr Andy Kulsyicki… 

 

 

 Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County Director Andy Kulsyicki. 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul business is under new ownership. Beltone Hearing purchased Auditory Care Center. A grand opening will be held once restrictions have been lifted.

 

 

(Kankakee-jm) -- An area organization is raising funds to help families in need. The United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois County has created a COVID-19 Community Response Fund. The fund will be distributed to families who need assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. More details are available on the groups facebook page.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state is expanding services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. More than a million dollars will go towards helping survivors. Illinois Department of Human Services Spokesperson Patti Thompson says that includes a streamlined way to connect people with safe housing…

 

 

Illinois Department of Human Services Spokesperson Patti Thompson. The money will also go towards rape crisis centers statewide. Governor J-B Pritkzer says while there is a stay at home order in place due to the Coronavirus, not everyone has a safe home to go to. The domestic violence helpline number is: 1-877-to-end-dv.