(Springfield-jm) -- State officials say they are carefully watching Coronavirus outbreaks and hotspots in Illinois. Governor J-B Pritzker says since the state moved into phase four, cases among youth and young adults have been higher than ever before…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting nearly 12 hundred new cases and 8 additional deaths. The seven day positivity rate in Illinois rose slightly to three point one percent.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Locally, McLean County reported 4 new cases bringing their total number to 337. Livingston County reported 1 new case bringing their total number to 59. Vermilion County reported 3 new cases bringing their total number to 91. Kankakee County reported 10 new cases bringing their total number to 1,523. Iroquois County reported 3 new cases bringing their total number to 180. Champaign County reported 11 new cases bringing their total number to 1,076. Ford County reported no new cases Wednesday.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is tracking cases in area communities. 214 have been in Rantoul, 71 in Mahomet, 55 in Clifton, 24 in Fisher, 23 in Watseka, 20 in Chebanse, 17 each in Onarga and St. Joseph, 14 in Paxton, 13 in Ashkum, 11 each in Gibson City, Hoopeston and Gilman, 7 each in Crescent City and Danforth, 6 each in Ludlow, Milford and Donovan, 3 in Thomasboro, 2 each in Dewey and Foosland and 1 each in Gifford, Penfield and Ogden.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing a new plan to help prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 in Illinois. The plan breaks the state into 11 regions instead of the original four, separating Chicago, suburban Cook County, the Metro East area and more. The Governor says it also creates new metrics…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. If a region sees a resurgence, restrictions could be put back in place such as only allowing outdoor dining, suspending elective surgeries and greater limits on gatherings in that area.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Catalytic converters were stolen from four vehicles owned by the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. U of I Police say a university employee reported that the theft happened sometime between March 1 and July 13. The vehicles were parked at the Transportation and Automotive Services facility when the catalytic converters were stolen.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul City School Board will meet tonight where they will discuss their reopening plan and their fiscal year 20-21 budget. In addition, they will take action on board policies and hire a part time nurse. The Rantoul City School Board meeting gets underway at 6:30.

 

 

(Buckley-jm) -- One area elevator is seeing some improvements. Ludlow Co-op Elevators is doing some work at their Buckley facility says spokesperson Paul Seamon…

 

 

Ludlow Co-op Elevators Spokesperson Paul Seamon.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police have released their recent activity report. On July 10th, no injuries were reported and no tickets issued following a two vehicle accident involving a City of Paxton dump truck and a car at  Spring and Summer. On July 8th, a 17 year old from rural Paxton was issued a notice to appear for unlawful possession of alcohol after police received a report of the juvenile yelling at protestors and throwing a beer can. On July 7th, Christopher Merry of West Lafayette, Indiana was arrested on an Iroquois County warrant after police were called to the Paxton Inn for a person refusing to leave. On July 6th, no injuries were reported and no ticket issued after a two vehicle accident on Route 45 in front of Dollar General.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- State officials say they are carefully watching Coronavirus outbreaks and hotspots in Illinois. There have been dozens of cases among kids participating in an athletic camp in Suburban Lake Zurich and several bars and restaurants around the state have had to shut down temporarily due to COVID infection. This is troubling says Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike…

 

 

Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike is reporting nearly 12 hundred new cases of the virus. About three percent of COVID-19 tests run this past week came back positive.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- As for local active and recovered cases, 269 have recovered with 49 in isolation and 4 hospitalized in McLean County. In Livingston County, 53 have been removed from isolation with 4 active cases. 62 have been released from isolation with 27 still in isolation in Vermilion County. In Kankakee County, 1,072 have recovered with 388 active cases and 8 hospitalized. In Iroquois County, 162 have recovered, 12 remain in isolation and 1 hospitalized. 32 have been released from isolation in Ford County with 10 remaining in isolation. 936 have recovered in Champaign County with 123 active cases and 3 hospitalized.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says schools need to make masks a requirement for students heading back to the classroom this fall. The State Board of Education released guidelines for schools to reopen, but districts can work out all the specifics. The Governor says that should include students and teachers wearing masks, social distancing and limits on the number of students per classroom…

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker says many districts will likely offer a combination of in person and remote learning this fall.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Translators at the Champaign County courthouse will have new equipment to help them keep social distance. Translators and their clients will wear headsets with microphones that will allow them to communicate with each other. They will also wear clear masks to watch each other speak.

 

 

(Chatsworth-jm) -- Severe weather once again struck the WPXN listening area Wednesday afternoon. A tornado warning was issued for the north-central part of Ford County and west-central Iroquois Counties yesterday afternoon. Damage was reported near Chatsworth because of the storm. No other official reports of damage has been reported.

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The Rantoul Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Freedom Fridays every Friday until September 4. Rantoul Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery gives the details of the events… 

 

 

Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amanda Vickery.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana saw damage to their farm covering over 1,000 acres after Saturday's hail storm. The intense 1 3/4" ping pong ball-sized hail broke off stocks and tassels, resulting in a 50% yield reduction of corn. The damage could help fungicide data collection.