(Springfield-jm) -- On July 1, minimum wage in Illinois will go up to $10 an hour as part of a bill signed by Gov. JB Pritzker last February. However, with businesses still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, some business owners are wondering if this increase should be delayed. According to the United States Census Bureau, retail sales nationwide jumped 17.7% from April to May. Yet, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association says that does not mean businesses across the state can fund this kind of wage increase right now. After the first minimum wage increase to $10 in July, it will continue to go up by a dollar on Jan. 1 every year until 2025.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state unemployment rate fell in May. The Illinois jobless rate dropped to 15 point two percent last month, down from 17 point two in April. State Department of Employment Security Spokesperson Sam Salustro says more than 62 thousand jobs were added in May…

 

 

Illinois Department of Employment Security Spokesperson Sam Salustro. The national unemployment rate for May came in at 13 point three percent.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois reported 593 new cases of Coronavirus and 55 additional deaths Thursday. Locally, McLean County is reporting 2 new cases bringing their total number to 245. Kankakee County is reporting 1 new case bringing their total number to 1,233. Champaign County is reporting 5 new cases bringing their total number to 760. Champaign County is also reporting an additional death bringing their total number of deaths to 11.

 

 

(Boone, IA- jm) -- The Farm Progress Show is expected to occur as planned this September. The event will take place September 1 through September 3 in Boone, Iowa. Farm Progress Show officials said they are working with Iowa agencies to ensure safety measures are taken during the show to keep everyone healthy. Some of these measures include hand sanitizer stations and enhanced cleaning procedures for buildings and facilities.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois System is making plans for students and staff to return in the fall. The U of I System says classes will be a mixture of in-person and online learning in the fall. Classrooms will be cleaned and disinfected daily. Reusable, washable masks will be provided to all students and required in all classrooms, and hand sanitizer will be widely available in all buildings. Residence hall occupancy will be limited to two students per room. Dining halls will largely provide packaged meals for carryout, and in-person dining will be limited.

 

 

(Buckley-cf)-- The Buckley Fun days will have a different spin on this year as we continue to live in a world with COVID-19. In place of the Buckley Fun Days, there will be a game card that has different games on it such as Scrabble, ISPY, and an alphabet challenge. Event Organizer Keri Stachura has the details… 

 

 

Game Cards can be found at, The Post Office, and on The Village of Buckley's Facebook Page says Buckley Fun Day Organizer Keri Stachura…

 

 

Buckley Fun Day Organizer Keri Satchura.

 

 

(Gibson City-cf)-- Mclean County Coroner has identified a Gibson City man that was killed in a single car crash on Wednesday morning. Coroner Kathy Yoder said the crash happened at 3400 East near 1800 North Road in Colfax. 28 year old Kaleb Roberts was pronounced dead at 4:45am. Robers died of multiple blunt force injuries after the crash. Yoder said toxicology testing is pending. 

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- Rantoul Police were advised of a possible theft report from a resident at the Villas of Holly Brook in early February of this year. Information obtained at the time indicated that a check written to the business as a deposit for a room at the assisted living facility had been cashed by an employee instead of deposited into a business account to secure the room. As the investigation continued additional checks written to the business by residents had been altered and either cashed, or deposited into the employees personal account rather than the business account. Villas of Holly Book executives began an internal audit into the issue and were able to identify over $20,000 dollars in missing funds spanning between october of 2019 and January of 2020. Former Villas of Holly Brook Executive Director Kimblerly Cross of Rantoul was arrested today and charged with Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person. Cross is being held at the Champaign County Correctional Center. 

 

(Danville-jm) -- Those wanting to get their CDL can do so at Danville Area Community College. The community college is offering a training program. The 240 hour program includes 6 weeks in the classroom, 1 week online and 5 weeks in a truck. For more information, call 217-443-8565.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- How did a recent resurvey of some states on 2019 corn production impact the latest USDA domestic balance sheet? Rod Bain reports…

 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A new bill just signed into law will help Illinois schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate Bill 1569 will allow school districts to use remote learning during a declared public health emergency. Remote learning days will be allowed and up to five remote learning planning days will be considered attendance days. Student assessment requirements can also be waived if the Illinois State Board of Education has received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Adult Redeploy Illinois Program is celebrating 10 years of keeping people out of prison and getting them the help they need. The program redirects low level offenders into drug or mental health treatment, instead of locking them up. Director Mary Ann Dyar…

 

 

Adult Redeploy Illinois Program Director Mary Ann Dyar. Since the program began a decade ago, 65 hundred people have been diverted from prison to community based treatment. The option is currently available in 44 Illinois counties.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Active and recovered cases rose Thursday. 219 have recovered in McLean County with 13 in isolation. 36 have been released from isolation and 8 cases are active in Vermilion County. 116 have recovered with 21 active cases in Iroquois County. 918 have recovered with 254 active in Kankakee County. 680 have recovered with 69 active in Champaign County. 35 have been released from isolation in Livingston County. 21 have been released from isolation with one active case in Ford County.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit against one of the largest plasma collection companies in the world. The lawsuit alleges the company's policies discriminate against people with disabilities. CSL Plasma has 14 locations in Illinois, including Champaign.

 

 

(Fairbury-jm) -- OSF is offering sports physicals in Fairbury this July. Physicals will be offered at their facility in Fairbury July 7th and 13th from 4-5:30 pm by appointment only. To make an appointment call 815-692-2308.

 

(Buckley-cf)-- The Buckley Fun days will have a different spin on this year as we continue to live in a world with COVID-19. In place of the Buckley Fun Days, there will be a game card that has different games on it such as Scrabble, ISPY, and an alphabet challenge.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Current and former University of Illinois students and others in the community signed a letter to university administration. It outlines some of their concerns, including the over policing for black students and other racially motivated incidents that happened in the area during protests after the death of George Floyd. A written letter to the U of I president, chancellor, and other top school leaders demands the university to cancel all contracts with Champaign, Urbana, campus police, and the Champaign County Sheriff's Office. That means getting rid of police at sporting events, concerts, ceremonies, or other large-scale events hosted by U of I or at university facilities, and instead, create a police accountability commission of students, workers, and faculty. Those who signed the letter want the money to be invested in practices that can solve campus and community problems without the threat of violence. Other demands in the letter include the university's commitment to black life by hiring more black, indigenous, queer, and transgender counselors, recruiting 1,000 black students per year, and investing in scholarships for black students.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- An Indianapolis man has been convicted of sexually abusing a girl in Rantoul last year. A Champaign County jury found 57 year old Romero Leslie guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He will be sentenced August 14th.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois State Police will be conducting Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols in the area. WPXN’s Jason Madden has the details…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Nearly 8,000 Farm Credit Illinois members will be receiving their share of $28 million in cash patronage distributions. The group says it’s their 2nd consecutive payment to members.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Corn use for ethanol production is beginning to go up in what could be an 18-month gradual increase. Gary Crawford has the details…