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All but seven Illinois counties now have patients with confirmed Coronavirus infections

(Springfield-jm) -- Some state and federal lawmakers have questioned Illinois Senate Democrats' request for a $41 billion bailout from the federal government for state and local governments amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal lawmakers have approved and implemented several relief packages. One package included nearly $5 billion for Illinois to deal with the public health crisis. State Senate President Don Harmon’s request seeks $15 billion for the state, $10 billion for state pensions, $6 billion for unemployment, $1 billion for public health spending and $9.6 billion for municipalities. U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville said Illinois’ financial problems were around before the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

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(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois has lost 59 more people to the Coronavirus. That brings the total number of deaths to one thousand 349 and total cases now surpass 31 thousand. Governor J-B Pritzker says nearly 46 hundred of those patients are currently in the hospital…

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor cautions that it does not appear that Illinois has hit its peak yet. All but seven Illinois counties now have patients with confirmed Coronavirus infections. Ford County is reporting a new case of COVID 19, a male in his 80s. Vermilion County is also reporting a new case, a teenager. Kankakee County is reporting four new cases and one additional death.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The USDA has approved new benefits to feed kids in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Human Services announced that Illinois has been approved to provide approximately 316,000 Illinois households with additional SNAP benefits. The Pandemic EBT program will provide SNAP households in Illinois with roughly $112 million in additional benefits for their children.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Soybean planting has begun in Illinois. Farmers are getting some time in the fields, with about four days suitable for fieldwork last week says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Two percent of winter wheat has headed and 68 percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated as one percent very short. Five percent short, 84 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- IDOT is reminding drivers of the width restriction over a bridge on I-57 in Ford County. Because of the work on the I-57 bridge south of Paxton, the maximum width allowed is 10 feet 5 inches. Over the past few weeks, over width loads have attempted to drive through the zone and got stuck. All the loads were driving off their permitted route and disregarded the warning signs placed near Paxton and Rantoul. Each driver was issued citations.

 

 

(Fisher-jm) -- The Fisher School District is mourning the loss of a long time educator. The district announced the passing of Christine Jamison. Jamison was a special education teacher for the district for 13 years.

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- An area lawmaker is encouraging the Governor to look at all parts of the state when considering re-opening the state’s economy. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman says the Governor shouldn’t take a one size fits all approach to re-opening the state…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

 

(Rantoul--jc)  Rantoul police are seeking information on the whereabouts of a person who drove a car into a fire hydrant at the corner of Urbana Avenue and Eagle Drive early Monday morning.  The Dodge Durango S-U-V came to rest near a building. The vehicle was on fire as Rantoul Fire Department officials arrived on the scene. No injuries were reported. If you have any information on this incident you are asked to call Rantoul police or Champaign County Crimestoppers. 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Students around the state are adapting to changes following Governor J-B Pritzker’s order to close schools because of the Coronavirus. Rantoul Township High School Superintendent Scott Amerio talks about how his district is handling the crisis…

 

Rantoul Township High School Superintendent Scott Amerio.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Due to the stay at home order, the homeless population has slowly dwindled from once popular spots, such as the gas station or the downtown library. Local outreach programs for those without shelter, like Helping the Homeless, and social services, like United Way, continue to serve the homeless throughout the COVID-19 pandemic stay at home order. 

 

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Senate Republicans are calling for greater communication from the governor’s office when he commutes prison sentences, but Governor JB Pritzker has not indicated he will make any voluntary changes to the process, which is spelled out in state law and also goes through the state Prisoner Review Board. The Chicago Tribune reported Pritzker commuted 17 sentences between March 11 and April 9. Another two commutations were conducted on April 13, according to the Prisoner Review Board. The Pritzker administration also faced a lawsuit from civil rights activists seeking the release of thousands more prisoners due to health concerns earlier this month, but a judge denied the request to intervene. According to the IDOC website, as of Monday, 148 incarcerated individuals had tested positive for COVID-19 in Illinois prisons, 62 of whom have recovered, and 135 prison staff had tested positive for the virus, 35 of whom have recovered.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says the state is working to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus in Illinois nursing homes. Facilities have already limited or banned visitors and boosted sanitization efforts. Public Health Officials have been deployed to nursing homes with outbreaks of the virus. Now, Governor J-B Pritzker says the state is ramping up testing, even at facilities where there are currently no cases...

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Infection data for Illinois long term care facilities is available online at: dph dot illinois dot gov slash COVID19.


 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois soon could run out of state funds to pay jobless benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new study produced by the Tax Foundation has found the state to be one of the least prepared for an economic crisis like the one the country is experiencing. Illinois has enough to pay out about 11 weeks of benefits before borrowing. That places the state 40th in the country in terms of how many weeks a state’s trust fund can cover. The ranking is based on 2020 fund solvency levels and initial and continuing claims as of April 4.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Soybean planting has begun in Illinois. Two percent of soybeans and eight percent of corn has now been planted. That’s a little ahead of last year. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener turns to the winter wheat crop…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Rain was below normal last week and average statewide topsoil moisture is rated as one percent very short, five percent short, 84 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus.

 

 

 

(Savoy-jm) -- The University of Illinois Police Department reports damage was done at the U of I Willard Airport in Savoy. An employee said that on Thursday night, someone caused about $1,000 in damage to a chain-link gate that provides access to the tarmac. Security camera footage showed the suspect had tried, unsuccessfully, to ram the gate with his vehicle.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton business will be selling hand sanitizer from their parent company. Scott Allen, owner of Paxton Hardware and Rental says True Value has started their own brand…

 

 

Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- At least $36 million will be offered in new, targeted financial aid to help students within the U of I System. The Students FIRST : COVID-19 Emergency Fund will help defray tuition, housing and other costs for undergraduate and graduate students experiencing unexpected shortfalls. The U of I System says financial aid for students from Illinois will be a priority, including a guarantee to cover next year’s tuition increase for every new in-state undergraduate student.

 

 

(Ford County-jm) -- Ford County mobile home tax owners are being reminded their tax bills are due soon. Ford County Treasurer Krisha Shoemaker says the bills are due May 1st…

 

Ford County Treasurer Krisha Shoemaker. Shoemaker says right now the county does not have plans in place at this time to address if someone can’t pay their bill May 1st because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Taxes can be dropped in the box in front of the courthouse or postmarked by May 1st.

 

(Undated-jm) -- The annual Lyrid meteor shower will peak this week. The meteor shower, which is usually active in mid-April, will peak tonight into the early morning hours tomorrow, EarthSky reports. As many as 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour are expected to light up the night sky.

 

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