(Clay County-jm) --  A Clay County judge ruled Thursday that Governor J.B. Pritzker’s executive orders were void beyond the initial 30-day period in a legal win for state Representative Darren Bailey. The Illinois Attorney General is expected to appeal and the case could go all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court. Pritzker called Bailey's lawsuit a political stunt.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The first report from the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission surfaced Thursday, a day after it was supposed to be shared with state lawmakers, and without any kind of meeting of the commission. The state law creating the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission was signed by the governor last month and required an initial report on how to revive the state’s economy to be issued July 1. The report outlines various assistance programs the Pritzker administration facilitated, including hundreds of millions of tax dollars for things like job training, low-income energy assistance, business grants and more.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Despite the recent rains, June ended up drier and warmer than normal in Illinois. The statewide average temperature was nearly 74 degrees last month. That’s almost two degrees above normal and tying for the 26th warmest June on record in Illinois. The biggest departures were in Northern and Northeastern Illinois says State Climatologist Trent Ford…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says precipitation varied widely last month, with areas of Western Illinois and East Central Illinois getting more than eight inches of rain and parts of Central and South-Central Illinois only receiving about half an inch. Ford says the short term outlook is calling for dry, hot weather.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois reported 869 new cases of COVID-19 and 36 additional deaths Thursday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 144,882 and total number of deaths to 6,987. Locally, Livingston County reported 4 new cases bringing their total number of cases to 51. McLean County reported 4  new cases bringing their total number to 265. Vermilion County reported 4 new cases bringing their total number to 71. Ford County reported 1 new case bringing their total number to 34. Kankakee County reported 6 new cases bringing their total number to 1,373. Iroquois County reported 2 new cases bringing their total to 162. Champaign County reported 11 new cases bringing their total to 901.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- As for cases in area communities, 195 are in Rantoul, 12 in Paxton, 7 each in Gibson City, Gilman, Crescent City and Hoopeston, 52 in Clifton, 16 each in Chebanse and Onarga, 11 in Ashkum, 19 in Watseka and 6 each in Danforth, Ludlow and Beaverville, 8 in Fisher, 1 each in Gifford and Penfield, 54 in Mahomet and 12 in St. Joseph.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul police are investigating a report of shots fired in the village early Thursday morning. Police were called to the 600 block of St. Andrew’s Circle just before 1:30 am for a report of shots fired. A few minutes later officers received a fireworks complaint in the 1400 block of Mather (may-ther) Drive. No evidence of shots fired or fireworks were found. About 8:15 am police were called to the 1400 block of Eater (ate-er) Drive after a resident found several spent shell casings in the street. The resident reported hearing what they thought were fireworks earlier in the morning but did not call police. Anyone with information is asked to call Rantoul police.

 

 

(Ford County-jm) -- The Ford County Sheriff’s office has released their June activity numbers. Deputies responded to 7 traffic accidents and issued 34 citations during the month including 7 for speeding, 3 each for driving on a suspended license, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and illegal transportation of alcohol, 2 each for improper lane usage, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and reckless driving and 1 each for fleeing and eluding police, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. Deputies also handled 12 reports of suspicious activity, 7 reports each of harassment and custody disputes, 6 domestic issues, 3 criminal damage to property reports and 2 each of fight in progress, burglary and hit and run.

 

 

(Buckley-jm) -- Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley will be holding a pork burger lunch this Saturday. Executive Director Sandy Spitz talks about the lunch…

 

Christ Lutheran High School Executive Director Sandy Spitz.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- IDOT is suspending road construction and reopening some lanes of roads for the 4th of July holiday weekend to minimize travel disruptions. Where lane closures remain, IDOT reminds motorists work zone speed limits will remain in effect. 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA is offering loan repayment flexibility during the time of the pandemic.  Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting Cornerstone Youth on Saturday, July 4th from 10-2.

 

Buckley will hold a 4th of July parade on Saturday, July 4th starting at 10:30 am

(Springfield-jm) --  A recent survey shows how Americans feel about the economic situation during and after the pandemic. The website WalletHub examined people’s thoughts on travel and dining, and how soon the country will recover financially. The survey also asked about taxes.  Governor J.B. Pritzker is going forward with his progressive income tax proposal which includes a $3.7 billion tax increase. The majority of respondents are not in favor of a tax hike.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- More Illinoisans went back to work last week as the nation posted record job gains, but a full recovery remains far off. The U.S. Department of Labor posted both its weekly unemployment figures and June unemployment data ahead of the holiday weekend. The department announced the nation added 4.8 million jobs in June, shattering previous records and expectations. The last record was in May when the U.S. added 2.7 million jobs. The unemployment rate fell to 11.1 percent in June. In Illinois, 45,249 workers filed initial claims for unemployment in the week ending June 27. That’s a decrease of 1,027 from the week prior. June’s unemployment rate has yet to be released, but the Illinois Department of Employment Security said May’s unemployment rate was 14.7 percent.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Labor is alerting local officials about a new hiring requirement for public works projects. A law requiring at least 90 percent of workers hired for a public works job to be from Illinois kicks in after two months of a state unemployment rate higher than five percent says Assistant Director Jason Keller…

 

 

Illinois Department of Labor Assistant Director Jason Keller. Keller says the requirement will be enforced by the Department of Labor and Illinois Attorney General’s Office. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois reported 869 new cases of COVID-19 and 36 additional deaths Thursday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 144,882 and total number of deaths to 6,987. As for active and recovered cases, in Livingston County 39 have been removed from isolation with 10 active cases. In McLean County 238 have been released from isolation with 13 in isolation and 1 hospitalized. In Vermilion County, 44 have been released from isolation, 23 remain in isolation with 2 hospitalized. In Ford County, 25 have been released from isolation and 8 are in isolation. In Kankakee County, 995 have recovered, 315 remain active with 10 hospitalized. In Iroquois County, 144 have recovered and 13 remain in isolation. In Champaign County, 775 have recovered, 114 remain active with 4 hospitalized.

 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police have released their recent activity report. On June 28th, Dominick Stallone, 65, of Paxton was arrested for violating an order of protection after police were called to a dispute on Dawn Avenue. On June 26th, an unknown vehicle ran over the stop sign at Market and Pells. Anyone with information is asked to call Paxton police.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for a sexual assault last year. 46 year old Roberto Velazquez received the sentence after pleading guilty in Champaign County court to criminal sexual assault. Prosecutors say Velazquez assaulted the intoxicated woman at a party in Rantoul back in March of 2019. He was given credit for 239 days served.

 

 

(Urbana-cf)-- The dust plume traveling from the Sarhian desert has gotten national attention over the past several weeks and it could reach to Central Illinois making the sky a milky color. What is the dust plum, and what causes it? Fox 55/27 Meteorologist Doug Quick fills us in…

 

 

Fox 55/27 Meteorologist Doug Quick. You can hear Doug on WPXN hourly and on dougquick.com. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is announcing closures of all drivers services facilities for the 4th of July holiday. Facilities open Monday through Friday will be closed today. Facilities open Tuesday through Saturday will be closed on Saturday.

 

The Rantoul VFW and American Legion will host a 4th of July parade on Saturday at 10 am starting at the police station, head east to Chanute Street, south on Chanute to Sangamon then west to the train station.

 

Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley is hosting a drive thru pork burger lunch on Saturday, July 4th from 11-1.