(Springfield-jm) -- There's a difference of opinion on what the role will be for the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission, created to help revive Illinois’ economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s leading business group is skeptical the group of lawmakers will meet its first deadline. The commission was created by the state Legislature in a truncated pandemic special session last month. The governor signed the measure Friday. Legislative leaders haven’t announced members yet for the 14 member commission. There’ll be eight Democrats split evenly from the House and Senate and six Republicans, three from each chamber. Reports are due every 30 days through the end of the year with the first report due to the entire General Assembly on July 1, 2020.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says more money is now available to low income households impacted by the pandemic. The Governor says 275 million dollars in emergency relief is available for things like food, rent, utilities, medicine and more. Additionally, more people will be eligible for assistance…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. To apply for the grant money, visit the website: help illinois families dot com.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- New research from the University of Illinois suggests workplace wellness programs could be essentially worthless. After a two-year study that included more than 4,800 university employees, researchers found that such programs have little impact on employee health, health beliefs and medical utilization.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Winter wheat harvesting is underway as we hear in the weekly crop report. 97 percent of wheat has headed and three percent has been harvested. That compares to 15 percent normally. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 96 percent of corn has emerged…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 94 percent of soybeans have been planted and 84 percent emerged. Conditions were drier this past week with average statewide topsoil moisture rated as three percent very short, 20 percent short, 74 percent adequate and three percent surplus.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- 473 new cases of COVID-19 were reported Monday in Illinois bringing the state’s total to 133,016. Locally, McLean County has 241 total cases, Ford County has 23, Livingston County has 37, Vermilion County has 45, Iroquois County has 139, Champaign County has 737 and Kankakee County has 1,228.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- With the Coronavirus pandemic, the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce and the business community has had to make changes and alter their plans. Executive Director Amanda Vickery talks about how they are helping businesses that are reopening…

 

 

Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A Rantoul man faces federal child porn charges. 25 year old William Armstrong was arrested after police and agents with the US Marshals executed a search warrant last week at Armstrongs apartment. They say Armstrong had several files of child porn in dropbox files on his computer and several images on his phone. He remains in the custody of US Marshals.

 

(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) -- Champaign County Crimestoppers are seeking the public's help in finding a Rantoul man. 27 year old Denzel Travis is wanted on aggravated battery. Travis is described as 5 foot 11 inches tall weighing 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 373-8447.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline farmers can use Dicamba products. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City has the details…

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) -- Associate Judge Michael Sabol has been appointed the resident Circuit Judge in Iroquois County for the 21st Judicial circuit. Sabol will take over following the retirement of Judge James Kinzer in August.

 

(Undated-jm) -- The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some calling for a boost in income taxes to help government fill up their coffers.  Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker soldiered on with his progressive income tax proposal despite the pandemic, hoping it will generate $3.5 billion in tax revenue. Both chambers of the Illinois Legislature passed the Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment No. 1, which will let voters decide in November whether to replace the state’s flat income tax with a graduated income tax. The Illinois Policy Institute criticized the idea because the state had just passed a record-high budget, making no attempt at belt tightening before the pandemic hit. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- With Coronavirus cases falling in Illinois, Governor J-B Pritzker says the state should be moving to phase four late next week. Fortune Magazine recently ranked Illinois as having the biggest decrease in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks says Governor Pritzker…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. State Public Health Officials announced 473 new cases and 19 additional deaths Monday, with a daily positivity rate of just two and a half percent.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The COVID-19 pandemic is a natural experiment in spending behavior that businesses and academics are watching closely. Illinois’ restrictions on businesses and services eliminated a lot of options to spend money, turning some people into frugal consumers. The uncertainty also prompted spending changes. Dr. Tim Michaelis, a professor of management at Northern Illinois University, said frugal people tend to be prepared for an economic event like the pandemic.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Winter wheat harvesting is underway as we hear in the weekly crop report. Three percent of winter wheat has been harvested so far says State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 96 percent of corn has emerged and 63 percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition. 94 percent of soybeans are rated in good to excellent shape. Average statewide topsoil moisture fell to three percent very short, 20 percent short, 74 percent adequate and three percent surplus.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- As there was a slight increase in the number of new Coronavirus cases Monday, there was a jump in the number of recovered or released from isolation cases. In McLean County, 214 have recovered. In Ford County, 21 have been released from isolation. In Livingston County, 35 have been released from isolation. In Vermilion County 36 have been released from isolation. In Iroquois County, 112 have recovered. In Kankakee County, 834 have recovered. In Champaign County 665 have recovered.

 

 

(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.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A Champaign County judge will allow a former University of Illinois police officer accused of raping four women to proceed in his case without a lawyer. Jerald Sandage told Judge Roger Webber he understood he had a right to an attorney and that one would be appointed if he couldn’t afford one. Sandage is charged with sexual assault, sexual abuse and intimidation for alleged attacks on four women in incidents that date back to June 2012. 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Usually Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer and many pools open for the season however, with the Coronavirus many area pools are staying closed for the season. The Hap Parker Aquatic Center is one of them that didn’t open but Director Luke Humphries says they are making plans just in case…

 

 

Rantoul Recreation Department Director Luke Humphries.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Two juveniles are being questioned for their role in a mailbox fire in Rantoul. Police and firefighters were called to the 1100 block of Falcon Drive Sunday afternoon. The juveniles were ages 8 and 12.

 

(Undated-jm) -- The temperatures this past weekend felt more springlike than summer like but could there be a change in the weather pattern? State Climatologist Trent Ford has the answer…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford.

 

 

(Cissna Park-jm) -- A railroad crossing in Cissna Park will be closed next week. Union Pacific will close the tracks on Route 49 starting June 23rd. The closure is expected to last 7 days.