(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 974 new cases of COVID-19 and 23 additional deaths bringing the total number to 121,234 cases and 5,412 deaths. Locally, Champaign County reported 14 new cases bringing their total number to 646. Vermilion County has 2 new cases bringing their total number to 42. McLean County has 2 new cases bringing their total number to 220. Kankakee County has 29 new cases bringing their total number to 1,186. Ford, Iroquois and Livingston Counties all reported no new cases. All community based testing sites including the one in Champaign is closed today.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments are reporting local cases. In Champaign County, 6 are in Ludlow, 156 in Rantoul, 2 in Thomasboro, 13 in Mahomet, 4 in St. Joseph and 1 each in Fisher, Penfield and Gifford. In Ford County, 7 are in Paxton and 6 in Cabery. In Iroquois County, 47 are in Clifton, 12 each in Watseka and Onarga, 11 in Chebanse, 9 in Ashkum, 7 in Crescent City and 6 each in Gilman, Danforth and Beaverville.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is launching a new campaign to help protect kids during the Coronavirus pandemic. Calls to report suspected cases of abuse or neglect are down by 57 percent right now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean its happening less often says DCFS Spokesperson Deborah Lopez…

 

 

DCFS Spokesperson Deborah Lopez. The You are Not Alone Campaign stresses to kids that its never okay for anyone to hurt or neglect them, and urges them to call the state’s child abuse hotline at: 1-800-25-ABUSE if they are having problems at home.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) --  Illinois now has a ban in place on smoking in vehicles with children present. The measure, which takes effect June 1, prohibits lighting up with anyone under the age of 18 inside. Violating the ban will be punishable by fines of up to $100 for a first offense and up to $250 for subsequent violations. It’s not a primary offense, meaning drivers can’t be stopped simply for that reason. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Auto dealerships around Illinois are reporting a rebound in sales after a couple of difficult months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. AutoData, which tabulates monthly auto sales, said the pace of auto sales in April was the lowest monthly sales rate since the firm started calculating the data in 1980. Incentives from automakers, including 0% financing, have helped.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Corn planting in Illinois is starting to wrap up as we hear in the weekly crop report. 92 percent of corn has been planted and 76 percent has emerged. That’s well ahead of last year and about on par with the five year average. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 56 percent of corn is rated in good to excellent condition, about the same as last week…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 86 percent of winter wheat has headed and the first cutting of alfalfa is 29 percent complete. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated as three percent short, 70 percent adequate and 27 percent surplus.

 

(Crescent City-jm) -- Add the Iroquois County Fair to the list of summer events and activities that have been canceled. The fair announced last night that this year’s fair is canceled. They join the Ford County Fair and Vermilion County Fair in canceling.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- An arson investigator with the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office was in Paxton Monday investigating the fire at the Paxton city storage building behind the police department. Firefighters from Paxton, Loda and Buckley were called to the fire around 11:40 Sunday night. A cause and damage estimate has not yet been determined.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce along with the Frederick Community Bank and Hudson Drug and Hallmark are creating a gift card program. Frederick Community Bank President Justin Swan talks about the program…

 

 

Frederick Community Bank President Justin Swan. The program officially kicks off tomorrow.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- 21st Circuit Judge Michael Kramer has announced the resumption of more traditional court services. The resumption began June 1st with some stipulations including a mask or facial covering being required, jury trials will begin with more spacing between jurors and the courts may rely on more virtual and remote hearings. The 21st Circuit covers Kankakee and Iroquois Counties.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Coronavirus has not only put a halt on dine in eating and canceled some summer plans, it’s also affected the City of Paxton’s streetscape project. Mayor Bill Ingold provides an update on where things stand with the project…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The unemployment rate rose in all 14 of the states metro areas in April as COVID-19 impacted the entire state. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s unemployment rate rose to 16 point 9 percent in April, a record high. The national unemployment rate forse to 14 point 4 percent, also a record high. Locally, in Champaign County, the unemployment rate rose 7 point 6 percent from 3 point 3 percent to 10 point 9 percent. In Ford County, the unemployment rate rose 8 point 1 percent from 3 point 7 percent to 11 point 8 percent. In Vermilion County, the unemployment rate rose 12 point 9 percent from 4 point 3 percent to  17 point 2 percent. In Iroquois County, the unemployment rate rose 7 point 4 percent from 3 point 6 percent to 11 percent.

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 974 new cases of COVID-19 and 23 additional deaths bringing the total number to 121,234 cases and 5,412 deaths. Local active and recovered cases rose Monday. In Ford County, 20 have recovered. In Champaign County 521 have recovered, 118 are active with 6 hospitalized. In Vermilion County 25 have been removed from isolation, 15 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. In McLean County 181have recovered with 22 in isolation with 4 hospitalized. In Livingston County, 28 have recovered with 5 active. In Kankakee County, 460 have recovered, 668 are active with 4 hospitalized. All community based testing sites including the one in Champaign is closed today.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Kankakee County Public Health Department is reporting 3 new COVID-19 deaths bringing their total number to 58. McLean County has 13, Champaign County has 7, Iroquois County has 4, Livingston County has 2 and Ford and Vermilion have 1 each.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is issuing a disaster proclamation for nine Illinois counties to help keep people safe. The proclamation gets state resources to communities struggling with violence and property damage quicker. Counties included are Champaign, Cook DuPage, Kane, Kendal, Macon, Madison, Sangamon and Will. The Governor is also activating more Illinois National Guard soldiers…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Illinois State Police is also committing 300 troopers to help municipalities. 

 

(Champaign--jc)  Another day and another day of protests, locally. Monday’s protest was held in Champaign and Urbana. Hundreds participated in the walk that went from the Champaign Courthouse and traveled through areas of Champaign and Urbana.  The Champaign and Urbana Wal Mart Stores did close by 5 pm on Monday. 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J.B. Pritzker has said it before: state government has been hollowed out. But the state keeps spending more and more every year with next fiscal year's budget supported by billions of dollars in borrowing. The budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 spends about what the soon-to-end budget spent, $40 billion in state funds. That’s the highest spending for the state after years of spending increases. The budget lawmakers passed onto the governor is based on borrowing from the Federal Reserve to cover billions in state spending despite a crater in tax revenue from the government-imposed COVID-19 shutdown.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Restaurants in Illinois are now able to offer outdoor dining, but some may find it difficult to coax wait staff back to work. The New York Times estimates workers in more than half the states will receive more in unemployment benefits that they did from their normal salaries. With restaurant workers receiving state benefits, a $600 weekly boost from the federal government, and assistance from sources like the Restaurant Employees Relief Fund, many are in no hurry to return.

 

 

(Ludlow-jm) -- The village of Ludlow has a new member. Tom Fultz was appointed to replace Nancy Cox who recently resigned. Fultz is a member of the Ludlow Grade School board and a firefighter on the Ludlow Fire Department.

 

 

(Roberts-jm) -- The Village of Roberts is under a boil water order until further notice. A chlorine switch went bad late last week and has been delayed due to protests and riots around the country.

 

 

(Danville-jm) -- The Vermilion County Board meets tonight. WPXN’s Jason Madden has the details…

 

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- 52nd District State Senator Scott Bennett of Champaign and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity are announcing new funding for small business development centers to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $7.3 million comes from the Small Business Administration to the Illinois Small Business Developmental Center, to provide additional resources for education, training and professional business advising.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Ford County Public Health Department is collecting dead birds to test for the West Nile Virus. The birds must be dead for no more than 48 hours and show no obvious signs of death or decay. Christy Wallace with the Ford County Public Health Department talks about what types of birds can and can’t be tested…

 

 

Christy Wallace with the Ford County Public Health Department. If you suspect you have a dead bird that could be used for testing, call the health department at 217-379-9281.

 

 

(Ford County-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Revenue has announced Ford County’s multiplier as 1.000. The property assessment equalization factor or multiplier method is used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties. Assessments in Ford County are at 32 point 55 percent of market value based on properties sold between 2016 and 2018.