(Springfield-jm) -- The state of Illinois saw slight decreases in the number of people filing first-time unemployment claims as well as the number of people receiving continuing benefits during the week that ended July 4. The Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday that it processed 39,015 initial unemployment claims during the week, which was shortened by the Independence Day holiday weekend. That was down from 43,934 initial claims filed the previous week, a decline of 11 percent. Meanwhile, the number of Illinois workers receiving continuing benefits under traditional unemployment insurance fell to 667,460, a decline of about 1.4 percent from the previous week.
(Springfield-jm) -- The state legislature says Illinois' revenue took a $1.1 billion hit this past fiscal year. The main reason for the drop is the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is not all bad. The data also shows improvements in June due to the state's reopening plans.
(Springfield-jm) -- The State Department of Transportation is alerting motorists that mowing is underway on Illinois highways. In recent years, IDOT has developed a specific schedule for mowing, says Spokesperson Paul Wappel…
IDOT Spokesperson Paul Wappel. IDOT schedules mowing to help create and maintain habitat for pollinators like the monarch butterfly, which is at risk of being declared endangered. Wappel says crews are also mowing culverts, ditches and around traffic signals.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,018 new cases of COVID-19 and 20 additional deaths Thursday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 150,450 and deaths to 7,119. Locally, McLean County reported 9 new cases bringing their total number to 299. Ford County reported 1 new case bringing their total number to 42. Livingston County reported 1 new case bringing their total number to 56. Kankakee County reported 32 new cases bringing their total number to 1,438. Iroquois County reported 2 new cases bringing their total to 172. Champaign County reported 18 new cases bringing their total number to 998.
(Undated-jm) -- As for total number of cases in communities as reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health...210 in Rantoul, 66 in Mahomet, 54 in Clifton, 21 in Watseka, 20 in Fisher, 19 in Chebanse, 16 in Onarga, 15 in St. Joseph, 14 in Paxton, 11 each in Gibson City and Ashkum, 10 in Hoopeston, 8 in Gilman, 7 each in Crescent City and Danforth, 6 each in Ludlow, Beaverville, Danforth and Milford, 3 in Thomasboro, 2 in Foosland and 1 each in Dewey, Gifford, Penfield and Ogden.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Several roads in Rantoul were closed yesterday afternoon after heavy rains caused major flooding. The National Weather Service reported 2-3 inches of rain had fallen in an hour's time. The U-S 136 viaduct along with Maplewood Drive near the post office were closed due to high water. The south Casey’s was also closed after water flooded the store and parking lot prompting a response from the Rantoul Fire Department in case fuel leaked from the underground fuel tanks.
(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College is announcing staffing cuts due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 65 full time employees will lose their job because of an estimated $4.9 million deficit in the next fiscal year. The Champaign based community college hoped to not cut positions by offering voluntary separations but not many took the offer. The community college is also facing a decrease in enrollment however, those numbers have not yet been released.
(Urbana-cf)--The normal is now wearing a mask in the grocery store, or around older loves more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde gives us steps to move forward and not backwards from the last three months…
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde
(Vermilion County-jm) -- A Potomac man has been sentenced to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to burglary. 40 year old Justin Lawless received the sentence in Vermilion County court. According to police, Lawless entered a storage container and stole items used in the management and upkeep of a farm in Collison back in October of 2018.
(Rantoul-cf)-- The Forum Fitness Center in Rantoul is now open in Phase 4. Equipment is being properly sanitized and the fitness center is asking all patrons to social distance and wear masks when distiancing can’t be practiced says Rantoul Recreation Department Director Luke Humphrey…
Rantoul Recreation Department Director Luke Humphrey.
(Undated-jm) -- The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on many sectors of the economy and livestock farming is one of them. Closures of public spaces such as schools, restaurants, bars, and hotels mean decreased demand for meat products. In addition, outbreaks of coronavirus-caused illness at meatpacking plants caused some large operations to shut down temporarily, swamping small mom-and-pop operations that are now booked into spring 2021. The Illinois Pork Producers Association says the industry is back at about 90 percent capacity. Farmers are putting their pigs on high-fiber diets so that they don’t grow too large to be processed when their time does come.
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at St. Pauls Lutheran School in Woodworth today from 2-6 pm.
The Fisher Community Fair will hold a curbside food drive this afternoon from 3 to 6:30 pm at the Fisher Fairgrounds. WPXN will be broadcasting live this afternoon starting at 4-30 with Becky Puetz.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says guidance is available now that the moratorium on utility shut offs is being lifted. Those behind on their utility payments have 30 days to set up a repayment plan with their utility. Shut offs and late fees can’t be charged or occur until July 26th. The guidance is available on the attorney general's website: illinois attorney general dot gov.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department on Aging is launching a new campaign to protect seniors and adults with disabilities from abuse. The tv and social media campaigns aim to assist in preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation of elderly and those with disabilities. According to the Illinois Department on Aging, they handled over 21,000 abuse reports in 2019. If you suspect elder abuse or exploitation, call and report it at 1-866-800-1409.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois is joining more than a dozen other states in trying to force the Environmental Protection Agency's hand on methane pollution standards. Mary Scheurmann reports…
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,018 new cases of COVID-19 and 20 additional deaths Thursday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 150,450 and deaths to 7,119. As for local active and recovered cases...in McLean County 257 have been released from isolation, 32 remain in isolation with 1 hospitalized. In Ford County 31 have been released from isolation with 9 in isolation and 1 hospitalized. In Livingston County, 50 have been removed from isolation with 4 active cases. In Vermilion County 50 have been released from isolation, 28 remain in isolation with 2 hospitalized. In Kankakee County 1,050 have recovered, 352 cases remain active with 4 hospitalized. In Iroquois County, 150 have recovered with 17 in isolation. In Champaign County, 857 have recovered with 125 active cases and 7 hospitalizations.
(Undated-jm) -- McLean County reported their 15th Coronavirus death Thursday. As for other area counties...Kankakee County has 63 deaths, Champaign County 16 deaths, Iroquois County 5 deaths, Livingston and Vermilion Counties have 2 deaths each and Ford County has 1 death.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced a $300 thousand public-private investment to support rural broadband plans Thursday. One of those receiving money is the Housing Authority of Champaign County.
(Urbana-jm) -- A University of Illinois police officer facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct is no longer employed with the university. Former U of I Police Officer Brian Tison is accused of engaging in a series of unwelcome, offensive actions with three different women and others over a period of as long as 17 years.
(Undated-jm) -- A Clay County judge ruled last week that Governor Pritzker is only allowed to issue one executive order instead of several subsequent ones in response to a lawsuit filed by Representative Darren Bailey over the governor’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City shares his thoughts on the ruling…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Gibson City-jm) -- The 2020 Gibson City Harvest Fest is the latest event to be canceled. The two day festival was scheduled to take place September 11th and 12th. Organizers say they are planning next year’s event, scheduled to take place September 10th and 11th. Earlier this week the Watseka Family Festival scheduled for the end of August and the National Sweetcorn Festival in Hoopeston, scheduled for Labor Day weekend were both canceled.
(Rantoul-cf)-- The Rantoul Chamber of Commerce will be putting on Freedom Fridays until Sept. 4. Rantoul Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickory describes how important it is to revamp downtown areas in smaller communities…
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery.
(Undated-jm) -- A sure sign of summer, cicadas are emerging throughout Illinois after hibernating underground for years. There are three types of cicadas in Illinois: Annual cicadas and periodic cicadas, which emerge in 13-year and 17-year cycles. Seventeen-year cicadas are the longest living insect known to man. No one knows why, but Illinois has the largest brood of cicadas in the world. This summer will be steady with cicadas emerging, but the main invasion will be in 2024.
The Fisher Fair will hold a pandemic parade tonight at 7pm. WPXN will be broadcasting live at 4-30 during the community food drive with our Becky Puetz.
Paxton IGA will hold a cookout benefiting First Lutheran Youth Group on Saturday from 10-2.
