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1,173 new cases of Coronavirus are being announced and 74 additional deaths

(Springfield-jm) -- Coronavirus deaths in Illinois are close to 800. 1,173 new cases are being announced and 74 additional deaths. That brings the total number of confirmed infections to more than 22 thousand. 794 have now died. State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike…

 

 

Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. COVID-19 patients have ranged in age from younger than one to over 100. 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Ford County is reporting their 4th confirmed case of COVID-19. The individual is a woman in her 40s. Champaign County is reporting 2 new cases bringing their total number of cases to 87. Kankakee County is reporting 7 new cases bringing their total number of cases to 220. Livingston County is also reporting an additional case bringing their total number to 17. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says the state is working to meet unprecedented demand for unemployment benefits. The Illinois Department of Employment Security received more than half a million unemployment claims from March 1st through April 4th. To handle the influx, the Governor says the state has brought in recently retired employees and expanded daily call center hours…

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says they have also eased eligibility requirements and waived the week people usually have to wait to get benefits. House Republicans say their offices have been inundated with complaints about the claim filing process. State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian provides his thoughts on the issue…

 

 

Local State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A new bill would require the June property tax bill to be pushed back 90 days and comes as several Illinois counties look at ways to give taxpayers additional time.  Property tax bills are due in June and September in Illinois. Seeing the economic fallout from business shutdowns and layoffs from COVID-19 measures, there’s a new push to waive any penalties for taxpayers not paying their summer property tax bills as long as the payments are made before the September bill comes due. While state law allows counties to delay payment, East Dundee Republican Rep. Allen Skillicorn has filed legislation that would make it explicit. The bill also puts a blanket 90-day delay of the June 1 tax bill. It wouldn’t affect those who pay property taxes in escrow or those who have prepaid. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Many frontline employees will be able to get worker’s compensation if they contract the Coronavirus under a new emergency rule. The rule assumes that police, firefighters, healthcare workers and grocery store employees who contract COVID-19, got it on the job and are therefore eligible for worker’s comp. Alice Johnson with the Illinois Nurses Association says the change is appreciated and necessary…

 

 

Illinois Nurses Association’s Alice Johnson. This covers several other industries including laundry service, restaurants offering drive thru and delivery and more. Business groups oppose the new rule, saying employers are already struggling to get by.

 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Normally tonight the city of Paxton would meet for their monthly meeting. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they will not meet tonight. The meeting will take place on April 28th at 7pm.

 

 

(Champaign County-jm) -- United Way and the Community Foundation are moving quickly to get help where it's needed most. Thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, the Fund is able to release the largest and broadest wave of funds to date. Wave 3 of Relief Funds includes $234,000 to support food, housing, and financial assistance. $126,000 to 14 programs to provide food for families, homebound seniors, and food pantries. $36,000 to 4 organizations to provide emergency shelter and mortgage assistance. $22,000 to five organizations to provide one-time emergency financial aid to families. To donate to the fund, visit www dot uwayhelps dot org slash COVID19

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- A COVID-19 resource guide to federal programs for rural communities, organizations and individual use is available. The USDA stated the COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide is a resource for rural leaders to find information about federal funding and partnership opportunities during the pandemic. For more information on the actions the USDA has taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit usda dot gov slash coronavirus.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Corn planting has started as we hear in the weekly crop report. There were nearly five days suitable for fieldwork this past week, letting farmers continue tilling and spraying and begin planting says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 61 percent of the winter wheat crop is rated in good to excellent condition, which is about the same as last week. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated as six percent short, 79 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Coronavirus’ impact could be felt for months and maybe years to come for some communities. One community that could feel that impact is Rantoul. Work on the site of the new $20 million sports complex continues however business development around the complex could be hampered. The complex is expected to draw hotels, retail establishments and restaurants. Village leaders say with the current restrictions in place, they can’t do site visits with potential developers.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- April started out warm but has since cooled down to below average. So how does the rest of the month look? State Climatologist Trent Ford has the details…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford.

 

(Champaign County-jm) -- Hospitality workers will be getting some financial help from the Visit Champaign County Foundation. The foundation and with the Visit Champaign County Board have created a Hospitality Relief Fund to provide direct financial support for individuals who have immediately formerly worked in the greater Champaign County area as housekeepers, caterers, cooks, front desk staff or anywhere in our hotel partner operations. A $250 cash award will go to staff members at each of the foundation's 24 hotel partners. 

 

(WPXN-cf)- There is a fun and creative way to get your kids outside while the weather is getting warmer! WPXN’s Cale Fleming has the details 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Court-ordered fines that were due to the Champaign County court system between March 16 and April 30 have received a nearly six-month extension. Champaign County Judge Tom Difinas signed a court administrative order on the matter Monday. The order extends the payment due date for assessments, fines, fees, costs and restitution in traffic, DUI, criminal felony, criminal misdemeanor and juvenile delinquency to 180 days past their original date.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul village board members will discuss a handful of items at tonight’s village board meeting. Village leaders will discuss redistricting, discuss and potentially vote on the fiscal year 2020-21 budget, approve a construction contract for Rudzinski Park redevelopment and approve switch cabinets for the new sports complex. The Rantoul village board meeting gets underway at 6pm. Those who wish to participate can call 892-6810.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  A fire to a Rantoul business property caused 250 thousand dollars in damages. Rantoul firefighters were called to a property at 124 North Garrard around 12-30 Monday morning. The fire caused an additional 250 thousand dollars to the contents inside the building. The building at 126 North Garrard was also damaged by the blaze. An estimation on damage to that building was placed at 150 thousand dollars. No injuries were reported, but the family living on the second floor of the address were displaced by the incident. The State Fire Marshal’s office is on the scene trying to find out what started the fire. Gifford and Thomasboro fire departments assisted Rantoul Firefighters. They were on the scene for over 6 hours. 

 

 

 

 

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