(Springfield-jm) -- The budget spends nearly $43 billion from state funds while only bringing in $36.4 billion from state revenue sources. It relies on borrowing from a federal reserve program and federal aid that Congress hasn’t approved to make up the rest. While aid packages have been approved for direct COVID-19 relief and to help businesses, the federal government hasn’t passed anything to cover lost revenue for states and local governments. A separate measure that lawmakers approved allows the state to borrow up to $5 billion from a new Federal Reserve program. But, even that is seen as a placeholder by a credit-rating agency. 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Despite calls to reopen, Governor J-B Pritzker says Illinois is not ready. Senate Republicans and some other local officials would like to see the state move to phase four now, saying businesses don’t understand why they can’t fully re-open when protests with hundreds and even thousands of people are being held. But Governor Pritzker says the pandemic isn’t anything states were expecting or knew how to deal with at first…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Under the Governor’s Restore Illinois Plan, the earliest the state could move to phase four is June 26th. All four designated regions of Illinois currently meet the metrics for that to happen.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Champaign County is reporting 5 new COVID cases bringing their total number to 708. McLean County is reporting 4 new cases bringing their total number to 236. Kankakee County is reporting 3 new cases and 1 new death bringing their total numbers to 1,223 cases and 61 deaths.

 

(Onarga-jm) -- Onarga’s pool will not open this summer. The village board looked at several options to determine whether or not to open but Village President Shane Cultra says there were several factors in deciding to keep it closed…

 

Onarga Village President Shane Cultra.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton-Buckley-Loda graduate Kirsten Jensen is the recipient of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association scholarship handed out by Ford County Sheriff Mark Doran. Jensen will attend the University of Illinois this fall majoring in English.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- A new list from Business Insider lists the top 30 cities in the United States to live in after the COVID-19 pandemic. Springfield, Illinois topped that list. It wasn't the only Illinois city to rank among the top 30 cities. Bloomington came in fourth. Champaign came in fifth. Peoria was 28th. Danville was ranked as number 30.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Orpheum Children’s Museum in Champaign will not reopen. The museum released a statement Thursday saying despite donations and support from organizations, the museum will not be able to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and will not reopen and the building will be up for sale.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois is awarding more than $15 million to libraries in the state including several in the area. Paxton Carnegie Library will receive $5,591 while the Rantoul Public Library will receive $16,176. Other libraries receiving funding include Cissna Park Library $2,282; Moyer District Library in Gibson City $6,752; Gilman-Danforth Library $3,790; Hoopeston Public Library $12,206; Loda Library $1,826; Mahomet Public Library $17,206; Melvin Library $760; Milford Library $3,065; Piper City Library $1,436; Potomac Library $1,738; St. Joseph Public Library $7,395; Onarga Library $2,565; Sheldon Library $2,300 and the Watseka Library $6,148. 

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA is just out with new production and price forecasts for wheat and corn. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

Gibson City will hold townwide garage sales today and tomorrow.

 

The Loda American Legion will be at Paxton IGA for a cookout tomorrow from 10-2 serving pork chop sandwiches.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Insurance provisions of Illinois’ reproductive health care law violates residents’ religious freedoms, a coalition of Baptist churches and two state businesses allege in a circuit court lawsuit filed this week. The Reproductive Health Act, signed into law by Governor J-B Pritzker almost one year ago, overhauled Illinois’ health care law. It enshrines access to pregnancy care, contraception, birth control, abortion procedures and other related benefits as a fundamental right, meaning no level of government in the state can infringe upon a person’s access to those services. In its lawsuit, the Thomas More Society, a Chicago law firm that focuses on defending religious rights, took issue with the statute’s insurance mandate — that private insurance companies regulated by Illinois must cover abortions if they also cover pregnancy-related benefits.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Labor is warning about heat hazards for those working outside this summer. The hot weather can be especially dangerous if you’re body isn’t acclimated to the heat yet. Department of Labor Spokesperson Mike Matulis says employers should make sure their workers are being safe…

 

 

Illinois Department of Labor Spokesperson Mike Matulis. Matulis says it’s important for employers to teach workers about the signs of heat stroke, which include confusion, temperature of 103 or higher, dizziness, headache and a fast pulse. If you suspect heat stroke, call 9-1-1, move the person to a shady area and try to lower their temperature with cool cloths.

 

(Undated-jm) -- Local active and recovered cases rose Thursday. 20 people have been released from isolation with 1 person in isolation in Ford County. In Iroquois County, 110 have recovered, 19 are in isolation with 2 hospitalized. In Vermilion County, 36 have been released from isolation, 3 are in isolation and 3 hospitalized. Livingston County, 34 released with 1 active. Kankakee County 728 released, 434 active with 7 hospitalized. McLean County, 205 have recovered and 18 in isolation. In Champaign County, 644 have recovered, 55 active with 8 hospitalized.

 

 

(Gilman-jm) -- Some roads in Gilman will receive some work this summer. Gilman Mayor Rick Theesfield says they approved a contract with Iroquois Paving at their June meeting…

 

 

Gilman Mayor Rick Theesfield.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Several organizations, including the Graduate Employees Organization, feel that holding in-person classes too soon at the University of Illinois will put lives at risk. The University of Illinois is still deciding if classes should resume in-person or online, but the Graduate Employees' Organization is urging the university to put people first. The Campus Faculty Association also disagrees with reopening the campus and is helping with that alternative budget. The U of I is planning on sharing its plans by the end of the month and have a lot to think about when it comes to that decision.

 

 

(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police will conduct Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols tonight and tomorrow in Ford, Iroquois and Kankakee Counties. Troopers will focus on the fatal four: DUI, safety belt use, speeding and distracted driving.

 

 

(Bondville-jm) -- The University of Illinois and Champaign County Sheriff’s police are investigating the theft of weather equipment stolen from a station near Bondville. The theft was reported last week after the station stopped reporting weather data. The equipment was worth about $5,000.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City provides an update on the latest with reopening and the state’s testing efforts…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton IGA is adjusting their curbside pickup hours. The new hours will be from 11-3. The store says as the demand drops so will the range of hours.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- After months of harvest delays, USDA now officially has the final production estimates for last year's corn and soybean crops. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

A blood drive will be held at OSF St. James-John Albrect Medical Center in Pontiac today from 10-4. You must schedule an appointment by calling 815-842-4935.