(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois will get a piece of a $117 million Medicaid fraud settlement with United Health Services, Inc. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says the settlement says the state will get $5.38 million as part of the deal. The settlement comes after alleged violations of the False Claims Act including admitting people who were not eligible for inpatient or residential treatment, implementing improper and excessive lengths of stay and billing for services not rendered.
(Undated-jm) -- If you have not yet filed your taxes, today is the last day to do so. This year's federal and state income tax deadline is today, it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. If you need more time, you only have today to file for an extension. The extension would then give you until October 15.
(Springfield-jm) -- The State of Illinois brought in $52 million in adult-use cannabis sales in the past six months. The state collected $34.7 million in cannabis excise taxes in the second half of fiscal year 2020. The Illinois Department of Revenue collected $18 million in sales taxes that will be shared with local governments.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is asking younger Illinoisans to be careful about spreading the Coronavirus. As bars and restaurants have opened back up, more young adults seem to be contracting COVID-19. Governor J-B Pritzker says too many think that even if they get it, they won’t get that sick…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The State Department of Public Health is announcing 707 new COVID-19 cases and 25 additional deaths. Three percent of the tests run over the past week have come back positive.
(Undated-jm) -- Locally, McLean County reported 12 new cases bringing their total number to 333. Vermilion and Iroquois Counties each reported 1 new case bringing their total numbers to 88 and 177 respectively. Kankakee County reported 15 new cases bringing their total number to 1,513. Champaign County reported 19 new cases bringing their total to 1,065. Ford and Livingston Counties both reported no new cases Tuesday leaving their totals at 43 and 58 respectively.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has been tracking cases in area communities. 214 have been in Rantoul, 71 in Mahomet, 55 in Clifton, 23 each in Fisher and Watseka, 21 in Chebanse, 16 each in St. Joseph and Onarga, 14 in Paxton, 12 in Ashkum, 11 in Gibson City, 10 each in Hoopeston and Gilman, 7 each in Danforth and Crescent City, 6 each in Milford, Beaverville and Ludlow, 3 in Thomasboro, 2 each in Foosland and Dewey and 1 each in Gifford, Penfield and Ogden.
(Springfield-jm) -- Despite the President’s calls for all kids to return to the classroom in the fall, Governor J-B Pritzker says it will be up to individual school districts in Illinois on how to proceed. The State Board of Education released guidelines for schools to follow during the pandemic, such as having all staff and students wear a mask. Schools can formulate their own plans from there says the Governor…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Some districts are looking at staggered schedules and are trying to figure out how to handle lunch periods. WPXN News will be reaching out to area school districts for their return to school plans for the fall semester.
(Paxton--jc) Work at the site of the American Flag on the west side of Paxton continues. Organizer Denny Kingren says concrete in the area is one of the steps being done along with setting the pole. A community celebration and dedication of the American Flag is set for September.
(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton Buckley Loda School Board will meet tonight where they will discuss their reopening plans. In addition, school board members will discuss and possibly consider the fiscal year 21 budget and consider the next inductees into the hall of fame. The PBL School Board meeting gets underway at 6pm.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois hospitals will receive additional funding thanks to a bill signed by Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about the bill…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Urbana-jm) -- A faculty member at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign was scammed out of thousands of dollars. Police say the faculty member received an email from someone he thought was a colleague asking for gift cards with a promise to reimburse them. The faculty member sent approximately $4,400 worth of gift cards before a store clerk informed him of the scam, according to U of I Police.
(Champaign-jm) -- The Salvation Army Thrift Store, located at 2212 N. Market St. in Champaign, will soon be closed for good. The company announced the location will close permanently on August 8th. The store will reopen on Monday, July 27. It will hold a liquidation sale until its closing date.
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(Washington-jm) -- What are USDA's expectations for the U.S. corn crop? Stephanie Ho has the details…
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor JB Pritzker announced Tuesday he will dedicate $108.5 million to preK-12 public education and higher education institutions to help face the challenges presented by COVID-19. The funding intends to ensure all students receive a quality education by bridging the digital divide, protecting the health and safety of students, and overcoming barriers created by the pandemic. A total of $10 million will be allocated to support early childhood programs in Illinois. K-12 schools will receive $50 million to close the digital divide, training for parents and educators and social-emotional support for students. Higher education will receive $49 million of the total $108 million.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission is launching a new electronic filing system. Attorneys will be able to draft, sign, submit, and receive approval of settlement contracts through the system, called CompFile. Officials hope this will continue to promote remote work during the pandemic.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is encouraging residents to learn a life safety skill. The state sees a range of hazardous weather from tornadoes to earthquakes, flash floods and ice storms. IEMA says learning a life safety skill such as first aid, CPR or fire prevention could save yours or your loved ones life.
(Undated-jm) -- As for active and recovered cases locally. McLean County reported 260 have recovered with 54 in isolation and 4 hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 53 have been released from isolation, 32 remain in isolation and 1 hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 162 have recovered with 10 in isolation. Ford County reported 32 have been released from isolation with 10 in isolation. Livingston County reported 53 have recovered with 3 active cases. Kankakee County reported 1,068 have recovered with 382 active cases and 8 hospitalized. Champaign County reported 920 have recovered with 128 active cases and 2 hospitalized.
(Undated-jm) -- There were no new deaths in the area yesterday leaving the total numbers at 15 in McLean County, 2 each in Vermilion and Livingston Counties, 5 in Iroquois County, 63 in Kankakee County, 17 in Champaign County and 1 in Ford County.
(Loda-jm) -- Loda village leaders are expected to hear an update on a trio of water projects at tonight's village board meeting. ERH, the village’s water maintenance company will provide an update on the meter project at the firehouse along with a tile issue near the firehouse and a service leak on Mulberry. Village trustees will also discuss no parking signs on Washington Street. The Loda village board meeting gets underway at 7 pm.
(Champaign County-cf)-- Fairs have been canceled across the state due to the pandemic, and with progressive income tax resolution on the ballot in Illinois topped with the election Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken says these are all issues to watch in the coming weeks and months…
Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken.
(Westville-jm) -- A Westville woman is dead after police say a young child found a gun in the car and accidentally shot her. Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup says 64 year old Marita Hile died at Carle Foundation Hospital over the weekend. Police say Hile was shot after a child discovered a handgun in car and it discharged striking Hile in the back.
(Washington-jm) -- USDA's July Crop Production report is estimating lower production of winter wheat. Stephanie Ho reports…
(Bloomington-jm) -- There’s a new exhibit at the Illinois State University Wonsook Kim School of Art, Student Art Gallery. The exhibit, by two graduate students, is featured at the gallery at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington.
