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The Internal Revenue Service deposited the first wave of stimulus payments on Saturday

(Undated-jm) -- The Internal Revenue Service deposited the first wave of stimulus payments on Saturday, the agency said. This is part of the $2 trillion bill passed by Congress to stimulate the economy after the decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The payment is based on federal tax returns for 2019 or 2018. Americans who made less than $75,000 in 2019 will be eligible for the full payment of $1,200. Couples who filed together and made less than $150,000 will get $2,400. For every child in the household, an additional $500 will be paid.  The payment will not be taxed.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Cases of Coronavirus now top 20 thousand in Illinois, but Governor J-B Pritzker says there are some signs the curve is stabilizing. The Governor is reporting  more than 16 hundred new cases and 43 additional deaths. That’s with an increase in testing to nearly eight thousand for the day…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Additionally, Governor Pritzker says the latest death toll is the lowest it’s been in six days.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Iroquois County is reporting their 9th confirmed case of COVID-19. The individual is a woman in her 40s. Champaign County has 85 confirmed cases and 2 deaths, Ford County 3 confirmed and 1 death, McLean County 77 confirmed cases and 2 deaths, Vermilion County 9 confirmed cases, Livingston County 16 confirmed cases and Kankakee County has 213 confirmed cases and 11 deaths.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- We aren’t out of the woods yet, but Governor J-B Pritkzer says his office is discussing what returning to normal would look like. The Governor says when will depend on the rate of Coronavirus infection and recovery, but the how will be a little trickier…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says they want to be very careful so as to not cause a resurgence of cases.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The coronavirus outbreak could put the brakes on the housing market in Illinois. In February, homes sales were up 5 percent and the median prices increased 7 percent compared to the previous year. Ed Neaves, president of Illinois Realtors, said its seller's market. Geoffrey Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois, said it is unclear how the pandemic will affect the housing market. In the past, consumers have become very risk-averse when faced with uncertainties about the economy,” Hewings said. “The difference with the current crisis is the limitations on interactions and fear of infection. This may prove to have a very significant impact on the housing market over the next two to three months.”

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state is launching a new mental health text line for those struggling during the pandemic. The initiative, “Call-for-Calm”, lets the public speak to a mental health expert for free says Governor J-B Pritzker…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Text “TALK” to 55-2020 and a counselor will call within 24 hours. You can also text key words like “unemployment” or “food” to receive more information on those topics. The number again is 55-2020.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The COVID-19 recession is already expected to be deeper than the Great Recession that ended in 2009, but the recovery could be quicker. University of Illinois Springfield Professor Kenneth Kriz said there are two possible economic recoveries once the state lifts the government-imposed economic shutdown that was implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19. A V-shaped recession would be an immediate bounce back, that’s what the National Association of Business Economists see. Some other forecasters have looked at a U-shape, which would be a slightly longer recovery period.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State Jesse White’s Office is further extending expiration dates for Illinois driver’s licenses. Once Illinois Driver Services Facilities reopen, you’ll have about an extra three months now to renew your license, I-D card or vehicle registration says Secretary of State Spokesperson Dave Druker…

 

 

Illinois Secretary of State Spokesperson Dave Druker. There are several things you can do online, like renewing your vehicle registration and your license if you qualify for the safe driver renewal program. Visit: cyber drive illinois dot com.

 

 

(Roberts-jm) -- Weather permitting the village of Roberts will be flushing hydrants starting today.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- One person was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries following a shooting in Rantoul Friday afternoon. Police were called to the 1100 block of Falcon Drive at the Falcon Way Apartments for a person who was shot around 2:40 pm. Police continue to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call Rantoul Police or Champaign County Crimestoppers.

 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) -- Paxton firefighters were called to assist firefighters in Iroquois County with a barn fire Saturday morning. Firefighters were called to the barn fire at 637 N 100 E around 11:45 Saturday morning. No word on the cause of the fire.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Ford County Board could declare a State of Emergency at tonight’s county board meeting. In addition, county board members are expected to approve a law enforcement contract with Melvin, approve a mutual aid agreement between Ford County EMA and Paxton EMA and award bids for roadwork in Dix Township and Pit Road. The Ford County Board meeting gets underway at 7pm. The public is invited to attend via phone 1(866)899-4679 AND THE ACCESS CODE IS 558-713-157#

 

 

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

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Central District of Illinois is helping the local healthcare community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The District donated nearly 500 masks, including 175 N95 respirator masks, previously stored at its various courthouses, to help combat the personal protective equipment shortage our nation is facing. The Urbana division donated to the Champaign Urbana Public Health Department.

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says the minimum wage increase scheduled for July 1st should go on as planned. The state minimum wage will rise from the current $9.25 an hour to $10 an hour this summer. Some business groups, lawmakers and other elected officials are calling for the increase to be delayed since many small businesses are really struggling during the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

(Rantoul--jc) Firefighters from Rantoul and several other departments were called to a building fire earlier this morning in the village. Firefighters were called to a building in the 100 block of Garrard Street in the downtown area of the village around 12-30 this morning. Firefighters remained on the scene as of the 6am hour. The building had housed a Mexican restaurant. No word on cause or damage estimates were available. Gifford and Thomasboro firefighters assisted Rantoul firefighters. WPXN will update this story as more information becomes available. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department on Aging is distributing $7 million across the state to meet the growing demand for meal assistance by older Illinoisans impacted by the coronavirus public health emergency. Illinois Department of Aging distributed the funds, provided through Emergency Assistance Services grants, to the state’s 46 Care Coordination Units to support meals programming for older Illinoisans at the highest risk for malnutrition and hunger. If you or an older family member, friend, or neighbor are in need of any kind of assistance contact the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 (hearing impaired call 888-206-1327).

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois' Attorney General is warning residents to stay vigilant and report scams involving planned federal economic stimulus payments. As part of the $2.2 trillion federal CARES Act, people who earn up to $75,000 a year and married couples who earn up to $150,000 a year will get one-time direct payments of up to $1,200 for individuals who pay taxes and $2,400 for married couples, plus $500 per child, according to a news release from the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Attorney General Kwame Raoul urged people to not respond to email messages, text messages, letters or phone calls regarding the CARES Act stimulus package that request personal information or ask recipients to click on a link. Such messages likely are sent by scammers to steal personal information.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- As planting season begins, the Illinois Department of Labor is urging both drivers and farmers to practice safety. You’re probably starting to see more farmers out on the roads and that can slow you down. But Department of Labor Spokesperson Mike Matulis urges motorists to approach cautiously...

 

 

Illinois Department of Labor Spokesperson Mike Matulis. Matulis says drivers also need to remember farm vehicle operators have limited rear visibility. Farmers should make sure they are well rested, buckled in properly and have the proper lighting on their equipment.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Local mothers in need of milk won't have to travel far to find it. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is now the home of central Illinois' first human milk dispensary. It will offer donor milk to families at home when mothers have a low milk supply, are sick, on certain medications, or in cases where a baby is adopted or there's a surrogate mom.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The Champaign County Coroner’s office is releasing the name of a teen killed in Urbana over the weekend. Coroner Duane Northrup says 15 year old Tearius Pettis died at Carle Foundation Hospital Saturday night after a shooting that afternoon on Philo Road in Urbana. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

 

 

(Gilman-jm) -- The Gilman city council is expected to discuss a trio of topics at tonight’s city council meeting. Council members are expected to set their motor fuel tax resolution, set city wide clean up days for May 13-15 and discuss renewing video gaming licenses for establishments. The Gilman city council meeting gets underway at 7pm.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul Township High School school board will meet for their monthly meeting tonight. School board members will be asked to designate Chromebooks as surplus equipment and approve bid specs for the foods room remodel, west wing chiller replacement and interior door replacement projects. The meeting gets underway at 7pm and will be live streamed on principal Todd Wilsons facebook page.

 

 

(Springfield-jc) -- 105th  District State Representative Dan Brady (R-Normal) on Tuesday night at 6pm  will host a public conference call outlining vital information to help local small businesses and workers impacted by the coronavirus crisis navigate unemployment procedures and programs available to help. Brady says this is one way to help…

 

 

105th District State Representative Dan Brady of Normal

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul police are investigating a report of shots fired. Police say they received a call of shots fired around 9 pm on April 5th in the area of Sangamon Avenue and Ludlow Street. Detectives found two shell casings. No suspects or victims were located. Anyone with information is asked to call Rantoul police.

 

 

(Cissna Park-cf)-- The deadline to file your taxes has been moved back a few months due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The deadline is now July 15 for your taxes to be completed however, you can file your taxes now and if you owe, you can pay up until the July 15th deadline says Russel Leigh of Russel Leigh and Associates in Cissna Park… 

 

 

Russell Leigh  of Russel Leigh and Associates in Cissna Park and Gibson City. 

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