(Springfield-jm) -- As unemployment claims in Illinois reach historic numbers during the COVID-19 outbreak, some households are working to manage debts. More than 600,000 Illinoisans have filed for unemployment since early March. That's about 5 times more unemployment claims than during the first 6 weeks of the Great Recession. Nathan Grant, senior credit industry analyst with the website Credit Card Insider, said the first step for those in debt should be to reach out to lenders, credit cards and banks. Grant said it would be financially smart to use some of the money people aren’t spending at bars and restaurants to pay down high-interest loans. Grant suggested using any federal stimulus money for the same purpose.
(Springfield-jm) -- With more than 33 thousand confirmed cases of COVID-19, Governor J-B Pritzker says Illinois may not see the peak until mid-May. The numbers continue to rise, including 119 additional deaths. The current stay at home order ends April 30th, and the Governor says they are looking at ways to tweak it moving forward…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says he has ruled out opening everything back up on May 1st, since there still isn’t enough testing and tracking available. The virus has now been confirmed in all but six Illinois counties. Locally, Champaign County is reporting their 96th confirmed case, Livingston County is reporting their 18th confirmed case and Kankakee County is reporting 10 new cases and one additional death. Governor Pritzker will give his daily briefing at 2:30 this afternoon. We will have the latest numbers tonight on our news at 4 and 5.
(Undated-jm) -- Area counties are reporting COVID-19 recoveries and releases from isolation. Vermilion County is reporting six of their cases are released from isolation while Livingston County is reporting 16 released from isolation. Champaign County is reporting 79 of their cases have recovered while McLean County is reporting 73 recoveries and Kankakee County is reporting 65 recoveries.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says the state is offering more help for student loan borrowers and low income families struggling during the pandemic. The Governor says the state has secured relief options with 20 student loan providers…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Additionally, households receiving SNAP benefits will get a boost automatically added to their link cards. Families not receiving SNAP, but whose kids receive free or reduced meals at school will be able to apply for benefits at: abe dot illinois dot gov as early as next week.
(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 senior citizens…
(Champaign-jm) -- Planting season is underway in Illinois. After a low crop season last year and trade wars with China causing market uncertainty, what will central Illinois farmers plant? Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken provides some possible insight…
Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken.
(Fisher-jm) -- The Village of Fisher will spend just over $81,400 on road projects this year. In a 6-0 vote, the village set aside over $46,400 for seal coating and $29,450 for miscellaneous road repair projects.
(Springfield-jm) -- A state lawmaker wants the U.S. Congress to allow the people of Illinois to sue China for damages from the COVID-19 pandemic. State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, earlier this month introduced two resolutions that he said would compel the People's Republic of China to pay the state of Illinois for damages caused by the virus by urging Congress to lift the sovereign immunity clause. Some have said that allowing people in the U.S. to sue China could open the U.S. up to legal actions from other countries.
(Ford County-jm) -- Some area counties reported no new cases Tuesday. Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion Counties all reported no new cases. The Ford County Public Health did announce that one of their previously reported cases was at a congregate living facility.
(Springfield-jm) -- As families spend more time together, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is reminding parents about the A-B-C’s of safe sleep. It all comes down to a few basics says DCFS Spokesperson Deborah Lopez…
DCFS Spokesperson Deborah Lopez. Lopez says the baby’s crib should have a firm mattress with tightly-fitted sheets and no pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or bumper pads. Unsafe sleep practices are the leading cause of death for children one year old and younger.
(Gifford-jm) -- One area business affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is Gordyville. Spokesperson Jody Quiram says they’ve canceled all events in April but are looking at future events on a week by week basis…
Gordyville Spokesperson Jody Quiram.
(Undated-jm) -- Last week was a cold and wet week. How does the outlook for the remainder of April and beyond look? State Climatologist Trent Ford has the details…
State Climatologist Trent Ford.
(Ludlow-jm) -- The Ludlow village board has given the green light to issue revenue bonds for the new water system project. At their monthly meeting, the village board approved the bonds not to exceed $940,000 to pay for their share of the new system. The project is estimated to cost $2.85 million.
(Springfield-jm) -- This is Work Zone Awareness Week and the Illinois Department of Transportation asks drivers to be careful and pay attention. There are less drivers on the roads these days, but that’s meant more speeders, says IDOT Spokesperson Maria Castaneda…
IDOT Spokesperson Maria Castaneda. The fine for speeding in a work zone is at least 250 dollars. Hit a worker and you face a fine of up to 25 thousand dollars and jail time.
