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The pandemic has prompted more Americans to consider moving to less populated areas and continuing to work from home

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois economy shrank at an annual rate of 5.4 percent during the first quarter of 2020 compared to the previous quarter, according to federal data released Tuesday, an indicator of just how severely the COVID-19 pandemic affected commercial activity. Nearly all sectors of the economy took significant hits during the quarter led by arts, entertainment and recreation, which took the biggest hit with a 36 percent rate of decline. Accommodations and food service fell at a rate of more than 27 percent. Other sectors taking big hits included finance and insurance, down 10.6 percent, and transportation and warehousing, which includes airline and rail transportation, which fell at a 9.8 percent rate. he only bright spot in the report was the agricultural sector – one area of the economy that was not affected by the stay-at-home order – which grew quarter-to-quarter at a rate of 183 percent.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- New data released by the Small Business Administration shows taxpayers gave more than 200,000 Illinois businesses a total of more than $22 billion in COVID-19 relief funds. The SBA documents suggest more than 2.1 million jobs were retained in Illinois. In Illinois, there were more than 202,000 businesses that were listed in documents released this week. Businesses that got less than $150,000 were kept mostly anonymous, though some location information was available.The latest aggregate report from June 27 showed Illinois businesses shared in $22.4 billion.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- There’s only about a week left to file your income taxes if you haven’t already done so. Taxpayers have until July 15th to file this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Sam Salustro says about 85 percent of people have already filed…

 

 

Illinois Department of Revenue Spokesperson Sam Salustro. Salustro says they encourage people to file electronically so that they will get their refunds quicker. If you’re filing a 10-40 for your state taxes, you can do it for free online at: my tax dot illinois dot gov

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 587 new cases of Coronavirus Tuesday and 57 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 148,452 and deaths to 7,063. Locally, Vermilion County reported 2 new cases bringing their total number to 78. Ford County reported 1 new bringing their total to 41. Livingston County reported 1 new bringing their total number to 55. McLean County reported 3 new cases bringing their total to 282. Kankakee County reported 8 new cases bringing their total number to 1,390. Iroquois County reported 1 new case bringing their total number to 169. Champaign County reported 17 new cases bringing their total to 975.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- As for local totals, Rantoul has had 210 cases, Mahomet 63 cases, Clifton 53 cases, Watseka 20 cases, 18 cases in Chebanse, 17 in Fisher, 16 in Onarga, St Joseph 15 cases, 13 in Paxton, 11 each in Gibson City and Ashkum, 9 in Hoopeston, 8 in Gilman, 7 each in Crescent City and Danforth, 6 each in Milford and Ludlow, 3 in Thomasboro, 2 in Foosland and 1 each in Dewey, Gifford and Penfield.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- It's smaller than it used to be, but the U.S. still has an agricultural trade surplus with the rest of the world. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Watseka-jm) -- A Milford man has been indicted for the murder of a Martinton woman. Jason Fancher was indicted on two counts of murder in the deaths of 54 year old Pam Williams. Her body was found outside of Sheldon in December. Investigators believe Williams death was connected with the murder of Brian Musk of Milford. Fancher is not being charged in Musk’s death. Bond for Fancher was set at $1 million.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton firefighters were called to a farm equipment fire Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters were called to the fire at 500 North 1450 East about 12:45 pm. No word on what caused the fire.

 

 

(Urbana-cf)-- A lot of people in Champaign Urbana and surrounding communities wanted the IHSA boys state tournament to return to Champaign the birthplace of March Madness. Visit Champaign President and CEO Jayne DeLuce said her mission was to get it back to Champaign ten years ago when she took the position… 

 

 

Visit Champaign President and CEO Jayne DeLuce. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The pandemic has prompted more Americans to consider moving to less populated areas and continuing to work from home and a new analysis from Business Insider found Illinois is well suited for post-pandemic refuge seekers. Springfield topped the list. Bloomington was fourth, Champaign was fifth, Peoria placed 28th, and Danville ranked 30th in the nation, according to the analysis. The business publication came up with the best places in the country to live in after the pandemic. The publication used nine economic, educational and demographic metrics for its ranking, including population density, housing affordability, commute times, and school spending per student.

 

(Washington-jm) -- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth faces criticism for comments she made about removing statues of President George Washington. The junior Senator from Illinois told CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday that the nation needs to have a dialogue about Washington and his ownership of slaves when the host asked her about calls for the first U.S. President’s statues to be removed.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The fight is on over whether or not Illinois voters should approve a change of the state’s flat income tax to a tax with higher rates for higher earners. The group “Vote Yes for Fairness” put out a series of 15-second video ads supporting the proposed constitutional amendment voters will decide on this November. Governor J.B. Pritzker this week gave the group $51.5 million. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce joined with other groups virtually across the state Tuesday to oppose the amendment. The Illinois Farm Bureau, National Federation of Independent Businesses and Manufacturing Association joined the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in opposing the amendment.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Coronavirus pandemic has caused an increase in the state unemployment numbers. The unemployment rate went over 17 percent in April and over 15 percent in May. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says that has activated a state law that helps put Illinoisans to work and is being enforced by the Illinois Department of Labor…

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City. The law only applies to projects that receive state or federal funds.

 

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- This week's USDA crop supply and demand forecasts will be based partially on those surprising planted acreage numbers that were released June 30th.  Gary Crawford has the details…

 

 

 

(Danville-jm) -- A Danville man has been arrested on kidnapping and beating a Cissna Park woman. Police say a Cissna Park woman returned home and found her home had been broken into and Vincent Beard outside waiting for her. Beard forced the woman to drive to Danville punching her several times and threatening her with a gun. He is charged with aggravated kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and aggravated battery.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police are investigating a theft that occurred sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning. The theft occurred in the 400 block of East Pine Street. Stolen was a wallet with currency, debit cards and drivers license, a fishing tackle box and a depth finder for a boat. Anyone with information is asked to call Paxton police.

 

 

(Champaign-cf)-- The COVID-19 testing site at the MarketPlace Mall in Champaign has been operated by the Illinois National Guard since it opened in late May. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde says that the National Guard will be pulling out of the site, and will be replaced by another testing agency that will offer walk-up testing as well…

 

 

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The state of Illinois is hoping to hire about 4,000 contact tracers in the fight against COVID-19, but the Federal Trade Commission is warning about scams related to contact tracing. Contact tracing involves calling people infected with the virus to see who they have had contact with in recent days. It also means reaching out to those who may have been exposed to people with COVID-19. The Federal Trade Commission reported scammers pretending to be coronavirus contact tracers are sending text messages to falsely warn people they’ve been exposed to someone with the virus and need to click a link to learn more. The link downloads malicious software onto a person’s smartphone, giving hackers access to private information.

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