(Undated-jm) -- Champaign County is reporting 19 new cases of COVID-19 bringing their total to 236 cases. Iroquois County is reporting 6 new cases bringing their total number to 84. Kankakee County is reporting 36 new cases bringing their total to 543 cases. McLean County is reporting 2 new cases bringing their total to 110 cases. As a reminder, Governor J-B Pritzker will be holding his daily briefing this afternoon at 2:30, we will have the latest on our news at 4 and 5.
(Champaign County-jm) -- As mentioned above, Champaign County is reporting 236 cases of the Coronavirus. Of those, 54 of those cases are in Rantoul. The health department is reporting 2 additional cases at Rantoul Foods, bringing the total number at the facility up to 52. According to the Champaign Urbana Public Health Department, Ludlow has 2 cases as does Thomasboro, St. Joseph has 4 and Mahomet has 11.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Employment Security has processed one million unemployment claims since the beginning of the pandemic. That’s nearly 12 times the number of claims processed over the same period last year. Governor J-B Pritzker says they are constantly working to improve the application process…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says the IDES website loads more quickly now and that there’s a chat option and voice agent to provide additional help.
(Undated-jm) -- Local governments in Illinois can expect to see up to 30 percent declines in shared revenue from the state because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Municipal League analysis of the impacts on local governments estimated between 15 and 30 percent less for local governments from the state from the various shared revenues. That could lead to local cuts.
(Undated-jm) -- With some states beginning to open up for business and relaxing restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, a new study on these efforts found Illinois' stay-at-home order was one of the most restrictive in the nation. The personal finance website WalletHub analyzed nine metrics to evaluate states, including the reopening of non-essential businesses, large gathering restrictions, and the requirement to wear a face-covering in public. Illinois ranked 48th in the country, making it among the most strict in the nation, according to the report. The study shows Illinois has been slow to lift limitations.
(Cissna Park-cf)-- The deadline to file your taxes has been moved back a few months due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The deadline is now July 15 for your taxes to be completed however, you can file your taxes now and if you owe, you can pay up until the July 15th deadline says Russel Leigh of Russel Leigh and Associates in Cissna Park…
Russell Leigh of Russel Leigh and Associates in Cissna Park and Gibson City.
(Urbana-jm) -- Two area hospitals will begin scheduling surgeries and non emergent services soon. Starting Monday, OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana and OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville will begin phasing in the scheduling of surgeries and non emergent services through the end of the month. Those with appointments will have to be screened 72 hours prior to their appointment.
(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College is receiving $3.2 million from the federal CARES Act. The Champaign based community college says $1.669 million has been specifically designated for direct payments to eligible students while the remainder will go to help cover the college’s financial losses. Eligible students will receive an email notifying them they are eligible for the direct payments.
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police will be getting a new addition to their fleet. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the city will sell an old squad…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.
(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton business is moving to a new location. Animal House announced they are moving from their South Market Street location to the old American Legion on East Pells.
(Washington-jm) -- What did USDA's re-survey of late harvested 2019 corn and soybeans turn up? What are the production and price prospects for 2020 crops? We'll know the answers soon. Gary Crawford reports…
The Loda American Legion is holding their fish and chicken fry tonight from 4-7 pm. Carryouts only.
The Onarga Theatre is opening their concession stand for walk up and curbside orders from 6-8 tonight.
(Undated-jm) -- As there was a jump in the number of cases of Coronavirus yesterday locally, so was an increase in the number of recoveries and active cases. McLean County is reporting 87 of their cases have recovered, 2 are hospitalized and 18 are in home isolation. Ford County is reporting 7 have been released from isolation and 4 remain in isolation. Vermilion County is reporting 9 have been released from isolation. Champaign County is reporting 107 active cases with 6 hospitalizations and 123 recoveries. Iroquois County is reporting 6 hospitalizations and 22 recoveries. Kankakee County is reporting 122 recoveries. Livingston County is reporting 20 have been released from isolation.
(Undated-jm) -- Four of the seven counties in the WPXN listening area reported new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. They include Iroquois, Champaign, Kankakee and McLean Counties. Ford, Vermilion and Livingston County all reported they had no new cases.
(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State’s Jesse White’s Office says the fee for paying with e-checks is being waived. The 75 cent fee for using an e-check online to pay for vehicle registration or a duplicate or new driver’s license will not be assessed through August 2nd. Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt says the public should visit: cyber drive illinois dot com to begin the process. At the end, they will be directed to the payment system…
Illinois Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt. There is still a small fee for using a debit or credit card. Again, the website is: cyber drive illinois dot com.
(Undated-jm) -- Some of Illinois’s smallest businesses and sole proprietors missed the federal government’s first round of emergency funding through its Paycheck Protection Program. The $349 billion in emergency stimulus money from the first round of PPP disbursements disappeared within 13 days. Second-round funding will run out even faster, he said, because lenders have an application backlog. Congress agreed on April 21 to add $310 billion to the PPP. The new round of funding will also add $60 billion to a separate emergency loan program for small businesses, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which the U.S. Small Business Administrations manages.
(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton intersection will not see a stop sign added. Mayor Bill Ingold says the city looked at putting one at the intersection of Winter and Orleans…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.
(Bloomington-jm) -- McLean County property owners listen up. Property tax bills will go out Monday. The first installment is due June 17th with the second installment due September 17th. The installments can be paid online, by mail, at most McLean County banks and in person at the Government Building lobby from 10-2 with the first hour each day for high risk residents.
(Washington-jm) -- Congressman Adam Kinzinger has been selected to serve on the China Task Force. The task force, made up of 15 Republicans, will address the threat by China. Darin LaHood of Peoria joins Kinzinger on the committee.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Local communities are beginning to prepare for the potential impacts of the Coronavirus. The village of Rantoul is preparing for the potential economic impact the virus could have on the village says Administrator Scott Eisenhower…
Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhower.
(Urbana-jm) -- Those who have to pay court fines in Champaign County will have additional time to pay them. The deadline to pay fines have been extended for those with due dates between March 16th and May 31st for offenses such as traffic offenses, DUI, criminal felonies, criminal misdemeanors and juvenile delinquency cases. You won’t be penalized, face interest or late charges.
(Washington-jm) -- Cattle producers and livestock analysts are having an equally hard time trying to forecast which way the markets will go. Gary Crawford reports…
Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley will hold their drive thru pork chop dinner on Sunday from 10:30-12:30. The meal consists of pork chop, cheesy potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, applesauce, dinner roll and cherry pie.
