(Springfield-jm) -- Unemployment growth may be slowing down now that the state is starting to reopen, but the complete financial impact is still coming to light. The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported that $3.6 billion in unemployment benefits has been paid out since March 1, 2020. Last week, IDES processed 46,385 new initial claims. Between March 1 and May 30, a total of 1,361, 036 claims have been processed.
(Springfield-jm) -- A new study suggests COVID-19 restrictions could lead to an increase in childhood obesity. Nicer weather in Illinois typically means children home for the summer congregate in public parks and pools, but many remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. A new study predicts it could increase childhood obesity, a problem that could get more severe if schools don’t reopen in the fall. The study found marked increases in BMI as the ten-percent reduction in daily activity continued on into 2021.
(Springfield-jm) -- While all drivers services facilities across the state are now open, Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is reminding the public that a lot of things can still be taken care of online. Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt says they’ve already seen a heavy volume of customers in the facilities and notes services are limited for now…
Illinois Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt. Secretary White has extended current expiration dates for driver’s licenses, IDs and vehicle registration until October 1st. The Secretary of State’s website is: cyber drive illinois dot com.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 929 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday and 116 additional deaths bringing the states total number of cases to 124,759 and total number of deaths to 5,736. Champaign County reported 9 new cases bringing their total number to 671. Iroquois County reported 1 new case bringing their total number to 133.
(Rantoul-jm) -- The deadline to register for youth sports in Rantoul is today. The Recreation Department is taking sign ups for baseball and softball for kids up to the age of 14 and for kids anywhere in the area not just Rantoul. Rantoul Recreation Department Director Luke Humphries talks about how you can register your kid…
Rantoul Recreation Department Director Luke Humphries. Again the deadline to register is today. The rec department hopes to start practices later this month with potentially having games in July.
(Urbana-jm) -- More than 16 individuals were bailed out of jail after this past weekend's protests in Champaign County. The Champaign County Bailout Coalition paid more than $46,000 in bonds to secure their release. The funds came from community donations inspired by nationwide protests of police violence in the death of George Floyd.
(Bourbonnais-jm) -- National retailer JC Penney announced earlier this year they were closing 242 of their stores, now we know some of those locations. In a bankruptcy court filing Thursday, the company released the first 154 locations to close. Included in the first round of locations, the JC Penney at Northfield Square Mall in Bourbonnais. There’s no word on when the location will close.
(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is helping those in the area who have lost their job due to the Coronavirus. Marketing Director Lindsay Quick says they are hosting a series of webinars to help those looking for a job…
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director Lindsay Quick. The webinars will take place Thursday mornings 8:30-9:30 am through the end of June. For more information or to register visit the chambers website: champaign county dot org.
(Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul City School District could be out nearly $700,000 after a tax levy error. The school district says they were told by the county clerk’s office that the former TIF District 1 would be back on the tax rolls in 2021. They were later told, after it was too late, the former TIF District would be on tax rolls in 2020. The Rantoul Township High School district could also be affected although its unknown at this time how much. The Champaign County Clerk's office disputes the claim and says the districts are at fault.
(Washington-jm) -- In its new trade outlook for this fiscal year, USDA has made only modest changes to its previous forecast for corn exports. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) -- A new report found that Illinois needs more financial help than all but five other states because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial website WalletHub looked at 18 metrics to determine a state’s fiscal position during the pandemic, including a state's preparedness for a severe recession, the number of unemployment claims and unfunded pension liabilities. The metrics were separated into two main categories, state financial rank and health and employment landscape rank. Illinois ranked dead last in the nation in the financial category. According to a report by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, after April's dramatic $2.7 billion decline and May's lesser but sizable drop, base general funds revenues stand $1.3 billion below last year's levels. "Economic carnage" related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the tax day deadline changes significantly derailed the fiscal year revenue picture, according to the report.
(Springfield-jm) -- Summer schools can open with safety guidelines in place. Part of that reopening will include summer school for Pre-K to 12th grade students at public and non-public schools. Specific guidelines for reopening schools include limiting the number of people in one place to 10 or fewer, ensuring compliance with social distancing requirements and discouraging physical contact, ensuring appropriate hygiene practices such as washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes, and requiring the use of face coverings.
(Springfield-jm) -- GOP lawmakers are demanding an audit of the state’s Department of Employment Security after a data breach earlier this year. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says they have not received answers to some very important questions…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 929 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday and 116 additional deaths bringing the states total number of cases to 124,759 and total number of deaths to 5,736. As for active and recovered cases. In Ford County, 20 have been released from isolation. In Iroquois County, 101 have recovered, 25 remain in isolation and 3 are hospitalized. In McLean County, 189 have recovered, 18 remain in isolation and 3 are hospitalized. In Livingston County, 31 have been released from isolation and 4 are active. In Champaign County, 557 have recovered, 107 are active with 5 hospitalized. In Vermilion County, 37 have been released from isolation, 4 remain in isolation with 1 hospitalized. In Kankakee County, 567 have recovered, 577 remain active with 11 hospitalized.
(Paxton-jm) -- The Ford County Public Health Department is asking the public to once again collect dead birds for testing for the West Nile Virus. Every summer the health department collects dead birds to be sent off for testing for the virus. Christy Wallace with the Ford County Public Health Department says there are some criteria for collecting dead birds…
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.
(Hoopeston-jm) -- Thirteen nonprofits in Illinois will see a financial boost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofits that have been hard hit by the pandemic were awarded $26,000 from Landmarks Illinois through the Landmarks Illinois COVID-19 Organization Relief Grant Program. Each organization will receive $2,000 that will go toward essential expenses. One of the recipients is the Save the Lorraine Foundation in Hoopeston.
(Urbana-jm) -- The Business Journals ranked the University of Illinois as one of the top 15 public colleges in the United States. The list places the U of I at No. 11. The school is sandwiched between the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Wisconsin. Illinois State University was placed at No. 128 and Eastern Illinois University ranked No. 151.
(Watseka-jm) -- Iroquois Memorial Hospital in Watseka will be hosting their Know Your Numbers Lab Fair. Outreach Director MaryKay Lavicka talks about the lab fair…
Iroquois Memorial Hospital Outreach Director MaryKay Lavicka.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Construction of a new Taco Bell in Rantoul is underway. Crews began groundwork at the new location where the former J&D Auto-Truck Sales was located on the village’s west side.
(Washington-jm) -- The USDA has revised its previous forecast for Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products during this 2020 fiscal year. Gary Crawford has the details…
