(Springfield-jm) -- The State Department of Public Health says COVID-19 numbers in Illinois have really improved. 601 new cases were announced Tuesday. That compares to the daily total of about four thousand new cases reported six weeks ago. Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike says more testing is being done…
State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike says less COVID patients are in the hospital, with about 16 hundred in now compared to more than five thousand at the end of April. Locally, Iroquois County reported 2 new cases bringing their total number to 145. Kankakee County reported 5 new cases bringing their total to 1,246. Champaign County reported 17 new bringing their total to 796.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is announcing $85 million in new grants to help businesses and communities recover. $60 million will be granted to 3,500 businesses as part of the Business Interruption Grant program to help businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. $25 million is being awarded through the Rebuild Distressed Communities program to help businesses that sustained damage as a result of the recent civil unrest. Applications are due by July 7th. More details can be found online at illinois dot gov slash dceo.
(Springfield-jm) -- The state is announcing plans for students to return to school in the fall. The guidelines cover Kindergarten through High School, colleges and universities. They require social distancing when possible, no more than 50 in one space at a time and masks for all students and staff…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Districts will be able to set up their own policies and schedules for returning to class. Governor Pritzker says schools should also be prepared to resume remote learning in case there is a resurgence of the virus.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul police are investigating a third shooting in the village this week. Police were called to the 1600 block of Kessler Drive just before midnight Monday night for a report of a house struck by gunfire. Multiple shell casings were found at the scene. Earlier in the day a 17 year old was shot in the leg on Harper Drive. Sunday, several shots were fired at a home on Abram Drive. Anyone with information on any of the shootings are asked to call Rantoul Police.
(Ford County-jm) -- While the impacts of the Coronavirus on sales tax revenues aren’t yet known many municipalities and counties are bracing for a major hit. Ford County Board Chairman Robert Lindgren says they don’t know the exact amount yet but they know it is affecting every community in the county…
Ford County Board Chairman Robert Lindgren.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Voters in Rantoul may have a referendum on the ballot in November. Voters approved a districting referendum in 2018 to divide the village into 6 wards with one trustee from each district beginning in April 2021. The village board learned at their June meeting they may have to put a referendum question on the November ballot on whether or not to have those terms staggered.
(Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce is reaching out to businesses in the Rantoul area. Chamber Director Amanda Vickery talks about why you should join the chamber…
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery.
(Onarga-jm) -- A decision on recreational marijuana sales in the Iroquois County village of Onarga could happen as soon as next month. The village has been looking at the issue for several months.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is announcing two funding opportunities for projects to improve water quality. Up to $5 million will be awarded annually through the Green Infrastructure Grant while $4.5 million will be awarded through the Nonpoint Source Pollution Control grant. The Green Infrastructure Grant was part of Governor J-B Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois program. The Nonpoint Source Pollution Control grant provides money to protect surface and groundwater quality.
(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is urging the public to sign up to receive license plate sticker renewal reminders by email. Instead of getting a postcard, you can get your notice delivered electronically says Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt…
Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt. From there, it’s easy to renew your sticker online says Haupt. Visit cyber drive illinois dot com for more information.
(Ludlow-jm) -- Ludlow will receive additional state funding for infrastructure improvements. The village will receive over $24,000 over the next three years through the Rebuild Illinois program and will be distributed through IDOT.
(Urbana-cf)-- The IHSA Boys State Tournament started at the Assembly Hall on the University of Illinois' campus in 1919, and was moved to the Peoria Civic Center in 1995. The tournament will be back in Champaign Urbana for the 2021 tournament and Visit Champaign President and CEO Jayne DeLuce says there will be new memories and traditions made with the return of the tournament…
Visit Champaign President and CEO Jayne DeLuce.
(Urbana-jm) -- Students applying for fall 2021 freshman admission to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will not be required to submit SAT or ACT test results due to the COVID-19 pandemic limiting students’ opportunities to take the exams. The change was supported by the university’s Academic Senate and approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees as a one-year exception.
(Paxton-cf)-- As planting for the 2020 season concludes, there will be more farmers in the fields spraying their crops in the next few weeks. A popular chemical sprayed on soybeans, Dicamba, has made national headlines recently and Ford Iroquois Farm Bureau manager David Treece updates us on the dicamba confusion…
Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece
(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul police and Champaign County Crimestoppers are seeking information on shots fired in the village over the weekend. Police were called 1300 block of Abrams Drive about 12:30 Sunday morning for a report of shots fired. When they arrived, they found an occupied home had been struck multiple times. Anyone with information is asked to call Rantoul Police or Champaign County Crimestoppers.
