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Illinois has more than 15 hundred new cases and 82 additional deaths due to COVID-19

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois is seeing its largest jump in COVID-19 numbers. Troubling figures are being announced, more than 15 hundred new cases and 82 additional deaths. But State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike says there is a glimmer of hope…

 

 

Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Still, Dr Ezike says people must be very vigilant, staying home if at all possible, washing hands and social distancing from others. More than 15 thousand people in Illinois have now tested positive for the Coronavirus.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund announced they have awarded the first grants since the fund's launch. More than $5.5 million has been awarded to 30 nonprofit organizations across the state. The grants range from $25,000 to $250,000. Local recipients include the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, United Way of Central Illinois, United Way of Champaign County and United Way of McLean County.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Revenue is offering help to distilleries joining the fight against COVID-19. During the pandemic, distilleries will be able to purchase alcohol to make hand sanitizer tax free says Department of Revenue Spokesperson Sam Salustro…

 

 

Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Sam Salustro. Normally, distilleries pay taxes based on the amount and strength of alcohol used to make their products. Salustro says the state has sent producers instructions on how to claim a tax deduction for their efforts in making hand sanitizer.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Presidents of several of Illinois' public universities are coming together to ask for help from the federal government. A letter was sent to the state's congressional delegation on Tuesday asking for relief from the increasing costs of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The most significant financial impacts came from refunding room and board, costs of transitioning to online education and telework, lost revenue from canceled programs and events, and more. In the letter, the presidents of the universities say the expenses and revenue losses to date total to around $224 million collectively.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Agriculture is releasing harvest totals from the state’s inaugural hemp growing season. The state issued 651 hemp growers licenses last year. All but 137 of those growers planted at least an acre. In all, the hemp yield was more than two million pounds says Bureau Chief of Medicinal Plants Jeff Cox…

 

 

Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau Chief of Medicinal Plants Jeff Cox. Cox says the majority of hemp farmers in Illinois are growing for the production of CBD oils.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced Wednesday a proposal for new and expanded hunting and fishing opportunities across the country. This proposed rule would be the largest expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in history. It would create nearly 900 distinct new hunting and fishing opportunities. The proposal would bring the total expansion to 4 million acres nationwide. The Department intends to finalize the proposed changes in time for the upcoming 2020-2021 hunting seasons.

 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) -- The Iroquois County Emergency Management is promoting resources available during the COVID-19 pandemic. WPXN’s Cale Fleming has the details…

 

 

 

(Fisher-jm) -- Fisher village board members are expected to approve two budget appropriations at tonight's village board meeting. Village trustees will be asked to approve the village’s annual budget which begins May 1st. They will also be asked to approve the motor fuel tax budget. In addition, trustees will be asked to approve the purchase of a mower for $13,000. The meeting gets underway at 6pm.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Fireworks will not be going off in one area community this summer. The Champaign County Freedom Celebration is canceled this summer over concerns of COVID-19. That means no parade, fireworks or 5k. The events were expected to take place on July 4th in Champaign-Urbana.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA's report on farmers' planting intentions can be right on target with actual plantings or very much different. Gary Crawford has the details…

 

 

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(Chicago--jc)  -- Illinoisans aren’t really interested in getting loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumer finance website WalletHub says of all states, Illinois ranked No. 40 for interest in loans.Among the metrics reviewed, Illinois was 36th for change in average inquiries from this month to January, and 41st for home equity loan searches.Illinoisans are looking for payday loans, as the state ranked No. 10 in that category.

 

SPRINGFIELD — Although the COVID-19 outbreak in Illinois so far has been mainly concentrated around the Chicago area, public health officials are bracing for a surge of cases in rural areas of downstate Illinois, including areas that already have shortages of hospital beds, health care providers and equipment. According to IDPH, each of those 11 regions has one main hospital designated as the coordinating center. For example, the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana serves as the coordinating center in the Champaign region, which covers 18 counties in east-central Illinois.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Cities across Illinois are looking to stack civil penalties on top of criminal penalties for people who violate the stay-at-home order that lasts through April 30. Public health officials say the order is meant to curb the spread of COVID-19. Governor J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday said local authorities were responsible for enforcement of his stay-at-home order. However, he said he didn't encourage arrests. Similar civil charges like obstruction or other ordinance violations cities may have could also be applied to stay-at-home violations.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Emergency shelter availability in Champaign County will now be extended through at least April 30. This comes thanks to additional funding, the Emergency Lodging Fund, authorized by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Both seasonal emergency shelters, The Men’s Emergency Shelter and Austin’s Place Women’s Emergency Shelter, are extending their availability during the Stay At Home order. If the Stay At Home order is extended beyond April 30, the Champaign County Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless says it will work to see what it can do for the homeless in Champaign County.

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County’s Food Pantry is still open and operating during the pandemic with a change in how people receive their food, says director Andy Kulcziki… 

 

 

 Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County Andy Kulcziki

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- High winds from storms caused issues across the area. Traffic had to be re-routed onto Route 45 after a semi blew over on I-57 between Ashkum and Gilman. Kempton-Cabery and Roberts-Melvin firefighters were also called for several trees and power lines down. 

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- With the global pandemic that is taking place, it has caused one area  business and all others to halt all in person conferences and interviews, meetings etc. Shaffer Tax and Accounting in Paxton did so on Monday March 23rd. You can still fax, email, or drop off all of your tax documents says owner Jeff Shaffer… 

 

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Shaffer Tax and Accounting owner Jeff Shaffer. 

 

 

(Watseka-jm) -- 21st Circuit court services will continue to be reduced. Chief Judge Michael Kramer extended the order limiting services until May 18th. The 21st circuit order affects the Kankakee and Iroquois County circuit courts. Courthouses will still be able to handle emergency issues.

 

 

(Gibson City--jc)--  Continue to practice social distancing and stay at home, those are the words from one local legislator. 106th District  State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says the orders remain in effect until at least the end of the month…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett, Republican from Gibson City

 

 

(Undated--jc)  -- Cities across the state may be looking at leveling local civil penalties on top of any possible criminal penalties for people found violating the state’s stay-at-home order.Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order limits groups of ten in public or private. Normal’s mayor issued an order Saturday that gives local police the authority to issue citations.Springfield’s mayor is expected to issue an order Wednesday to level civil penalties on top of criminal charges for violating the order.

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