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The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing more than 13 hundred new COVID-19 cases and 80 additional deaths

(Springfield-jm) -- An Illinois professor of economics said he expects it will take some time for the economy to get back to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic. Carl Campbell, professor of economics at Northern Illinois University, said even he was startled by the number of unemployment claims. Campbell says he thinks the expanded federal unemployment benefits will lessen the impact as long as people can apply. It is no secret Illinoisans have experienced issues with the IDES website and some are unable to get through to the call center. Campbell said he expected some businesses would begin to open up in May, but not at full capacity.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state’s retail association wants municipalities across the state to get on the same page when it comes to enforcing social distancing policies and the statewide stay-at-home order. Some cities and towns have enacted their own ordinances following Governor J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order to allow local police to enforce social distancing in retail stores deemed essential and open to the public. Illinois Retail Merchants Association Vice President Alec Laird said the lack of uniformity across the state puts businesses in a tough spot, especially if there are added economic sanctions. He also warned against having stores be the enforcers saying it puts employees at risk.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing more than 13 hundred new COVID-19 cases and 80 additional deaths. That brings the total number of cases to more than 24 thousand in 89 Illinois counties. 948 people have died. Governor J-B Pritzker has recommended people wear masks in public, but what about mandating them…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor reminds that even if you wear a mask, you should still maintain a safe distance from others. Iroquois County is reporting their 11th case of COVID. Vermilion County is reporting their 9th case. Champaign County is reporting two new COVID-19 deaths bringing their total to 4 and one new case bringing their total number of cases to 90.

 

(Rural Thomasboro-jm) -- Firefighters believe a short in a video game controller caused a fire in rural Thomasboro. Firefighters were called to the house northwest of Thomasboro after the homeowner came home, heard the smoke detector going off and found a mattress in a second floor bedroom on fire. There was no structural damage to the house and minimal smoke damage. Rantoul firefighters assisted on the call.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Will online grocery shopping devastate our local grocery stores? Gary Crawford has the details…

 

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City leaders are expected to discuss some relief for businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic in a special meeting tonight. Council members will be asked to delay liquor license renewal dates to July 31 and prorate fees for months the establishments are closed. Council members will also be asked to consider waiving CDAP interest and payments for businesses affected by COVID-19 and also creating a small business loan program to help businesses affected by COVID-19. In non-COVID-19 action, council members will be asked to approve the purchase of flowers and plants for two intersections in the downtown area. The Gibson City city council meeting gets underway at 7pm. 

 

 

(Fithian-jm) -- While the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Illinois, Governor J-B Pritzker is doing daily updates on the state’s response to both the crisis and the side effects including unemployment issues among other issues. The Governor has been holding his daily briefings in Chicago which local State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian says is rubbing some downstaters the wrong way since the majority of cases are in the Chicagoland area…

 

 

State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian.

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- Will there be a state fair this year? Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker says he’s hopeful the fair can happen as scheduled this summer but said it’s still unclear if concerns over spreading COVID-19 will subside by August. The governor said there’ll have to be a decision made soon before vendors for the fair look to finalize contracts. Closer to home local county fairs continue to be scheduled with the Ford County Fair in late June with the Champaign, Iroquois and Fisher Fair in July. WPXN News will continue to follow this issue.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Gov. J.B. Pritzker defended his decision Wednesday to arrange for two charter flights to transport millions of masks and gloves from China to Illinois to bolster the state's limited supply of personal protective equipment as it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. The flights, which cost about $1.7 million, were listed in a new state comptroller portal that tracks state spending on the public health crisis. Details of the flights are being kept secret out of fear President Donald Trump's administration might seize the cargo, Pritzker said. State officials arranged the flights to Shanghai with FedEx Trade Networks. Records show the state prepaid $888,275 for each flight, according to the comptroller's website.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Business closures and government stay-at-home orders have taken their toll on the American economy, but they have offered a silver-lining to some in Illinois: Fewer robocalls. To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the new coronavirus that’s killed hundreds in Illinois alone, state and local governments have restricted business operations to only essential businesses. YouMail estimated that robocalls nationwide declined in March to 4.1 billion calls from 4.8 billion in February.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Coronavirus pandemic is blowing a huge hole in the state budget. Governor J-B Pritzker says you don’t have to be an epidemiologist to see that the virus is going to hit our budget hard…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says that number will be even higher if voters don’t approve his graduated income tax plan in November. He urges Congress to pass another stimulus bill to help out struggling states.

 

(Vermilion County-jm) -- Officials are conducting an investigation after human remains were uncovered in Vermilion County. Vermilion County Coroner Jane McFadden announced the remains were discovered over the weekend. The Vermilion County Sheriff's Office, the Vermilion County Coroner's Office, and Illinois State Police are continuing the investigation.

 

 

(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police in Ashkum will be conducting Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement Patrols in April. WPXN’s Jason Madden has the details…

 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A new school board member is expected to be named at tonight’s Rantoul City School board meeting. School board members will also do a first reading of some board policies. The Rantoul City School board meeting gets underway at 6:30 pm.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- A move by Governor J-B Pritzker to furlough the sentences of some state prisoners has lawmakers raising some concerns. 106th State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City joined several lawmakers in raising those concerns…

 

 

106th State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

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