(Springfield-jm) -- A new report from an Illinois think tank says the state was ill-prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily because of a pre-existing shortage of nurses, and that the pandemic has left state even more vulnerable in the event of another public health crisis. The report, by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute also argues the state would be in a better position if nurses at more hospitals were unionized and if the state adopted a law requiring mandatory minimum nurse staffing levels, an idea that was proposed in the 2019 legislative session but was not adopted. The Illinois Health and Hospital Association agrees there is a nursing shortage, it argues the lack of preparedness was more of a federal problem, and that the nursing shortage did not diminish the quality of care patients received. It strongly opposes legislation requiring minimum nurse staffing levels at hospitals, and disputes any correlation between the quality of patient care and the presence of a nurses’ union in a hospital.
(Undated-jm) -- A lawsuit challenging Governor J-B Pritzker’s COVID-19 orders will be heard in a Clay County court this afternoon. State Representative Darren Bailey filed the suit challenging whether the Governor can extend emergency declarations beyond 30 days as well as whether the Governor has the power to close businesses.
(Springfield-jm) -- Expect to see more police out on the roads over the 4th of July holiday weekend. ISP Captain JW Price says they are boosting patrols and troopers will be looking for speeders, distracted drivers and drunk drivers…
Illinois State Police Captain JW Price. That includes having a designated driver, using a ride share service, taxi or public transportation. If you get behind someone that appears to be driving drunk, pull over and call 9-1-1.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing 828 new cases of COVID-19 and 30 additional deaths. That brings the state’s total number of cases to 144,013 and deaths to 6,951. Locally, Ford County reported 1 new case bringing their total number to 33. Vermilion County reported 3 new cases bringing their total number to 67. McLean County reported 1 new case bringing their total number to 261. Livingston County reported 2 new cases bringing their total number to 47. Kankakee County reported 9 new cases bringing their total to 1,367. Champaign County reported 24 new cases bringing their total to 890. Iroquois County reported 3 new cases bringing their total number to 160.
(Undated-jm) -- As for cases in local communities...192 are in Rantoul, 54 in Mahomet, 52 in Clifton, 18 in Watseka, 15 each in Chebanse and Onarga, 12 each in Paxton and St. Joseph, 11 in Ashkum, 7 each in Gilman, Crescent City and Hoopeston, 6 each in Gibson City, Ludlow and Danforth, 5 in Fisher, 3 in Thomasboro and 1 each in Gifford and Penfield.
(Urbana-cf)-- The dust plum that is traveling from the Sarhian desert to the United States could be here this week. What will the chance of rain showers look like if the cloud reaches Central Illinois? Fox 55/27 Meteorologist Doug Quick has the answer…
Fox 55/27 Meteorologist Doug Quick. You can hear Doug on WPXN hourly and on dougquick.com.
(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department is announcing 6 cases of Cyclosporiasis. According to the health department, the outbreak is part of a multi-state outbreak believed to be linked to packaged garden salads. Symptoms of Cyclosporiasis include water diarrhea, loss of appetite, cramping, bloating or increased gas, nausea and fatigue.
(Paxton-cf)-- The Paxton Freedom Celebration was postponed earlier in the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The insurance company also told the city they wouldn’t insure the fireworks display due to the pandemic, says Mayor Bill Ingold…
The City also sets aside $7,500 dollars for the display, and raises another $7,500 by donations from businesses and citizens, with the pandemic and businesses being shut down, it wasn’t the time to ask for donations says Mayor Ingold…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Agriculture has released junior livestock and horse show dates. Beef cattle, sheep, dairy goats, pygmy goats and rabbits will be shows at the state fairgrounds September 11-13. Swine, dairy cattle and meat goats will show September 18-20. The English Jr Horse show will take place August 29 and 30 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds with the Western Jr Horse show September 3-6 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. The competitions are for ages 8-21.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation said online banking has increased 50% because of the COVID-19 pandemic and scammers are taking advantage. The bureau warned against two types of scams especially: one is the creation of fake banking apps, and the other is installing “trojans,” a form of malware that can take control of your phone or tablet and then extract information from your banking app when you open it.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Police are reporting a reduction in forensic backlogs. State police say through funding initiatives and the creation of a task force to address the backlog, they reduced the backlog by 33 percent. State police hope to continue to reduce the backlog at the 6 crime labs across the state.
(Springfield-jm) -- A new state law taking effect this week in Illinois further cracks down on distracted driving. Illinois was one of the first states to ban texting while driving, and the law has been tweaked over the years says Secretary of State Jesse White’s Spokesperson, Henry Haupt…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s Spokesperson Henry Haupt. Those caught face a minimum fine of one thousand dollars and may also have their driver’s license suspended or revoked. Motorists could also lose their license under another new law if they fail to yield at a crosswalk and seriously injure someone.
(Undated-jm) -- No additional COVID-19 deaths were reported in the area Wednesday.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing 828 new cases of COVID-19 and 30 additional deaths. That brings the state’s total number of cases to 144,013 and deaths to 6,951. As for active and recovered cases locally, Ford County is reporting 25 have been released from isolation while 7 remain in isolation. Vermilion County is reporting 44 have been released from isolation, 22 remain in isolation and 2 are hospitalized. McLean County is reporting 238 have recovered, 9 are in isolation and 1 hospitalized. Livingston County is reporting 39 have been removed from isolation with 6 active cases. Kankakee County is reporting 983 have recovered, 321 are active with 6 hospitalized. Champaign County is reporting 761 have recovered, 117 are active with 7 hospitalized. Iroquois County is reporting 135 have recovered with 20 in isolation.
(Urbana-cf)-- Most fans that have attended the State Farm Center since it was renovated in 2015 know there are a lot of new amenities in the arena. Visit Champaign President and CEO Jane DeLuce says those amenities are what helped sell the arena to the IHSA board to bring the IHSA State Finals back to Champaign Urbana…
DeLuce also says outside of the arena, when the IHSA was present for their walk through over 150 community members were present in the Traditions Club saying “we want you back”...
Visit Champaign President and CEO Jayne DeLuce.
(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois is hiring more than 100 people to help collect COVID-19 tests. The university wants to test all staff, faculty, and students as they come back this summer and fall. 20 test sites will be set up around campus with the goal to process 10,000 tests a day. After the initial test, the university wants everyone to be tested again three to four days later to confirm their first result.
(Gilman-jm) -- Local municipalities are looking to determine the economic impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on their budgets. One of those communities is Gilman. Mayor Rick Theesfield says some projects could be affected…
Gilman Mayor Rick Theesfield.
(Thomasboro-jm) -- Thomasboro Grade School students will be returning to the classroom later than expected. The school board approved starting the new school year two weeks later to give the district more time to implement safety protocols. Parents have some options for their students. They can enroll them in all remote learning, all in person learning or a combination of both. Classes for the Thomasboro Grade School district will begin August 10th.
(Urbana-cf)-- Bars and restaurants in the City of Urbana have been open for outdoor dining since the beginning of phase three. Mayor Diane Marlin describes how that process has gone, and that we have been blessed with really good weather…
Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin.
