Listeners Club

Forgot Password

Not a Member? Sign up here!

WPXN Blog

Illinois suffers its highest daily toll in the battle against the Coronavirus

(Springfield-jm) -- Fewer Illinoisans filed for unemployment last week, but the new numbers give additional insight into how the spread of COVID-19 is affecting the state's economy. According to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Labor, 141,000 people filed for unemployment benefits last week in Illinois. That is nearly 60,000 fewer than the week before. Nationwide, workers filed 5.2 million initial unemployment insurance claims in the week ending April 11. Americans have filed a total of 22 million claims over the past four weeks, a rate of job loss never before seen in American history.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois suffers its highest daily toll in the battle against the Coronavirus. 125 more lives have been lost to COVID-19. That brings the total number of deaths to one thousand 72. State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike says they learn more about the virus each day…

 

 

Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. There are now more than 25 thousand confirmed cases of Coronavirus in 90 Illinois counties. Governor Pritzker will hold his daily briefing at 2:30 this afternoon. We will have the latest numbers on our news at 4 and 5 tonight.

 

Locally Iroquois County reported their 12th case of COVID 19. Ford County remains at four confirmed cases with one death, Champaign County reported their 91st confirmed case and four deaths one of which Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith confirmed was a resident of his community. McLean County reported their third COVID-19 death. They reported no new cases Thursday leaving their total at 82. Livingston County also reported no new cases. Kankakee County is reporting 21 new cases bringing their total to 265. 13 people have died from COVID-19 in Kankakee County.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Parents of children in foster have turned to technology to stay in touch with their children after DCFS suspended some in-person visits to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Gladys Boyd, president of the nationally-recognized Illinois Foster Adoptive Parent Association, said it’s sad that parents can’t hug their children and pick them up and be with them in person. Boyd said that when a child sees that the foster parent and the biological parents are getting along, it seems to make things work more smoothly. As the statewide stay-at-home order continues, social workers said they are concerned about how the lack of in-person visits could affect parent-child bonds. When they decide if a child can be returned to the biological parent, the strength of that bond is the main factor in that decision.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois and a handful of other midwestern states are coordinating efforts to reopen the regional economy. Governor J-B Pritzker says he’s talking with leaders in states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana, exchanging ideas about what it will take to start getting back to normal…

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says that should include sustained control of the rate of new infections and hospitalizations and best practices for social distancing in the workplace. A small group gathered at the state capitol Thursday demanding the Governor reopen the state and get people back to work.

 

 

(Rural Elliott-jm) -- Elliott firefighters were called to a 2 vehicle accident Thursday afternoon. Firefighters were called to the accident at 200 N 1000 E around 3:30 pm. No word on if there were any injuries.

 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) -- Three people have been arrested following an armed robbery in Iroquois County this week. Police say the suspects lured the man to a place in Sheldon and robbed him of $500 in items and cash at gunpoint. 20 year old Daelin Hoffman-Williams, 19 year old Jayce Bowen and a juvenile female were arrested on charges of armed robbery, armed violence, possession of a stolen firearm and theft.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Spring is here and that means warmer weather and more farmers hitting the roads and fields. WPXN’s Jason Madden reports…

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The American Soybean Association is sending a letter to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue. The group is requesting soybean specific assistance as the USDA develops Ag assistance packages for 2020. The American Soybean Association says COVID-19 has compounded the already down soybean market because of the U-S China trade war. Among the requests the group is asking for payment based on the lack of price recovery from the pandemic and trade war and the ability for growers to access and qualify for loans and programs.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois House Republicans are demanding action after thousands of residents are having issues filing for unemployment with the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Since the Coronavirus outbreak began and Governor J-B Pritzker ordered all non-essential businesses to close, the number of people seeking unemployment has skyrocketed. Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin says something has to be done…

 

 

Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton firefighters were called to a bus fire late Thursday morning. The fire occurred in the 600 block of E. Pells around 10:30. No word on the cause of the fire. Firefighters were on scene for over an hour and a half.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- An Illinois lawmaker and a county sheriff are raising fresh concerns about Governor J.B. Pritzker’s decision to release inmates as the spread of COVID-19 continues in the state’s prisons, including questions about transparency.  Illinois Department of Corrections officials confirmed the release of some inmates on a list released by State Rep. John Cabello. However, officials said the list included people who were released for reasons unrelated to the governor’s executive order and the transmission of COVID-19. The spreadsheet, titled “COVID FINAL list of early exits” listed the names of 761 inmates. The charges included murder, forcible sexual assault, armed robbery, making heroin, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated vehicular hijacking of a handicapped person and other violent crimes. The data was provided by Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey, who said his office found it on the Illinois Department of Corrections website after an exhaustive search. Subsequent searches turned up no such document.

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says Illinois is expanding testing efforts and loosening restrictions on who can get the test. The Governor says they have increased capabilities to run the tests and the equipment needed to do so. That means more people can be tested…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says they recommend that sites test anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms like cough, fever and shortness of breath. He urges people with only mild symptoms to check with their doctor first. Testing sites will be posted at: coronavirus dot illinois dot gov.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Traffic on I-57 southbound had to be diverted through Paxton Thursday afternoon. An oversized load couldn’t make it through the bridge construction zone south of Paxton and had to back up to the Paxton exit. State Police say this is the third time that traffic had to be re-routed on the interstate while construction is ongoing because oversized load drivers are disobeying the IDOT routes that send them on Route 45 between Paxton and Rantoul. The drivers who disobey the routes are fined.

 

 

(Gilman-jm) -- Two Gilman men have been arrested for possessing a stolen vehicle. Police say 19 year old Dylan Blair and 24 year old Daniel Blair were spotted in a vehicle reported stolen. Dylan Blair faces additional charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, speeding, disobeying a stop sign and no valid drivers license.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- The Agriculture Secretary says there's no shortage of food in this country. It's just taking the food system a little time to adjust to the new demand situation.  Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois said it's been preparing for the best- and worst-case scenarios since January when it comes to COVID-19, but never thought they might serve as a possible overflow hospital. Just a few weeks ago, the Activities and Recreation Center was filled with students. Now, the vacant facility could be turned into a potential overflow hospital for Carle Hospital patients. In addition, U of I may house medical staff in their residence halls.

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- The Coronavirus has caused several state agencies to adjust guidelines and due dates. One of those affected is FOID card and Concealed Carry licenses, says 106th State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City…

 

 

106th State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

Get our App

Facebook

On Air Now

Regular Programming
6:00pm - 11:59pm
Regular Programming

Listen on Alexa

Weather

Share This Website