(Springfield-jm) -- A new report shows Illinoisans are hurting financially more so than most of the country during the COVID-19 outbreak. The financial website SmartAsset compared the 50 states across six metrics, including recent measures of unemployment, housing insecurity and food insufficiency. Illinois ranked seventh in the nation for financial pain during the pandemic, according to the report. Illinois’ ranking was negatively affected by unemployment. The unemployment rate in April was 16.4%, 1.7 points higher than the national average and the seventh-highest of all 50 states.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- As new federal dollars are released to help businesses keep paying workers, Illinois’ Congressional delegation says they voted for federal payroll aid to help nonprofits like foster care providers keep people employed, not to supplement the state’s coffers. The federal government approved additional funds for the Payment Protection Program last week. it also relaxed the requirements for organizations hoping to have the loans forgiven.  In a letter to Governor J-B Pritzker, the GOP members of the U.S. House of Representatives said they have heard from providers that state agencies are asking for information on whether the organizations are having payroll loans forgiven and risk a reduction in state funds.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says he remains hopeful that students can return to school in the fall. It will all be up to the numbers, and the experts says Governor Pritzker…

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says they are also preparing schools for the possibility of more distance learning. The state is reporting 797 new COVID-19 cases and 95 additional deaths. That brings the state's total number of cases to 129,212 and 6,018 deaths.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- As for local cases...Vermilion County is reporting 3 new cases bringing their total number to 48. Kankakee County is reporting 1 new case bringing their total number to 1,217. McLean County is reporting 4 new cases bringing their total number to 232. Champaign County is reporting 10 new cases bringing their total number to 701. Ford, Iroquois and Livingston Counties all reported no new cases Tuesday.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments are reporting cases in area communities. 7 cases are reporting in Paxton. 170 in Rantoul, 18 in Mahomet, 5 in St. Joseph, 6 in Ludlow, 1 each in Gifford, Fisher and Penfield, 48 in Clifton, 12 in Chebanse, 13 each in Watseka and Onarga, 7 in Crescent City and 6 each in Danforth and Gilman. 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton-Buckley-Loda school board meets tonight. WPXN’s Jason Madden has the details…

 

 

 

(Onarga-jm) -- There’s no reports of damage after a tornado touched down west of Onarga yesterday evening around 6:30. Sightings of tornadoes were reported near Gilman and Danforth. 

 

(Gilman-jm) -- A semi struck an IDOT truck near Gilman Tuesday afternoon causing the interstate to be shut down for a portion of time. The IDOT truck was helping direct traffic from a previous incident in the northbound lanes when it was struck. No word on if there were any injuries.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- What news could there be for the corn market in this week's round of new USDA reports and forecasts? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Strong winds yesterday caused issues across the area. Numerous trees and powerlines came down as the remnants of what is now Tropical Depression Cristobal moved through the area. National Weather Service forecasters say the winds should start to subside today.

(Washington-jm) -- The Internal Revenue Service has issued a reminder that estimated tax payments for tax year 2020 are now due July 15, instead of the previous due dates of April 15 and June 15. The IRS and the Treasury Department are providing special tax filing and payment relief to individuals and businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This applies to federal income tax returns and tax payments, including tax on self-employment income, that would otherwise be due on April 15. This does not apply to state tax payments or deposits, or payments of any other type of federal tax. For more information or to receive tax assistance, visit irs dot gov.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- More than 2,000 at-risk youth in Illinois and more than 3,600 immigrant families will be getting some support. The Illinois Department of Human Services launched two COVID-19 response programs to help those Illinois residents with the Summer Youth Employment Project and the Immigrant Family Support Project.

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- As for local active and recovered cases. In Ford County, 20 have been released from isolation and 1 remains in isolation. In Vermilion County, 38 have been released, 6 are in isolation with 3 hospitalized. In Livingston County, 34 have been released with 1 active. In Kankakee County, 647 have recovered, 511 are active with 7 hospitalized. In McLean County, 203 have recovered and 16 in isolation. In Champaign County, 626 have recovered, 67 are active with 11 hospitalized.

 

(Paxton--jc)  -- Paxton Fire Department personnel were called to the Clara Petersen School last night nust after 10. An alarm was activated at the local school.  Local police and firemen were on the scene for about an hour. No details of the alarm activation were provided

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- An additional COVID-19 death was reported in Champaign County Tuesday. That brings their total number to 8. McLean County has 13, Iroquois County has 5, Livingston County has 2, Kankakee County has 59 and Ford and Vermilion Counties each have 1.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a webinar series for those looking for a job throughout the month of June. Marketing Director Lindsay Quick talks about how you can register…

 

 

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director Lindsay Quick. Quick says the webinars are open to anyone looking to improve their resumes and cover letters to finding what jobs are available in the area.

 

 

 

(Paxton--jc) -- Paxton police and emergency officials were called to a motorcycle accident in the city of Paxton late Tuesday Night. Officials say the accideent happened along Route 45 in the city around 11pm, no word of  any injuries was provided. Route 45 was closed around the accident area for about oen hour.

 

 

(Roberts-jm) -- The boil order for the village of Roberts could be coming to an end soon. The part to fix at the treatment facility finally arrived. Crews will be flushing hydrants today and taking samples that will be sent to the state EPA. Village officials hope everything will come back ok and they will be able to lift the order.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College announced measures it will take during the fall semester to ensure health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parkland College plans to have online and on-campus classes available, with on-campus classes delivered as hybrid courses. Students with on-campus courses will attend some meetings on campus, as well as complete some coursework online. If a class is listed as one that is offered on campus, there will be on-campus meetings at the time scheduled. Students may be divided into small groups for in-person classes in order to ensure social distancing is practiced. Staggered scheduling for on-campus meetings may be necessary for larger classes. Additionally, in order to minimize the number of in-person classes after Thanksgiving break, many of the college's transfer classes will end on-campus instruction by Nov. 20, with the online component continuing through the end of the semester. Career classes that require in-person labs may continue to meet on campus through the end of the semester. The college said its plan is contingent upon the region entering Phase 4 of Restore Illinois; as the result, it is subject to change.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA's latest trade update shows U.S. agricultural exports for the first seven months of Fiscal Year 2020 running just ahead of the same time frame a year ago. Gary Crawford has the details…

 

 

 

(Pontiac-jm) -- An Illinois county sheriff was a guest of President Donald Trump for a roundtable discussion about policing in America. Livingston County Sheriff Tony Childress said his policing ideology is to be a friend in the community, support the community with programs and to always be there with an open ear.