(Springfield-jm) -- Fewer people are filing for unemployment in Illinois, but it’s still in the tens of thousands a week. The U.S. Department of Labor reports nearly 22,900 Illinoisans filed for initial unemployment benefits last week. That’s down about 2,800 from the total that filed the week before. Around 1.5 million Illinoisans have filed since the beginning of March. For the first time since mid-March, the number of initial weekly claims was below 1 million nationally last week.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Technology and Manufacturing Association says the sector is holding back on rehiring workers because of concerns about changing regulations and the possibility of another state shutdown, according to a new survey. The association's monthly survey was at a two-year optimism high in February, but plummeted to 20 percent in April because of the pandemic and the shutdowns that came after.
(Springfield-jm) -- More adult use cannabis dispensary licenses are expected to be issued in the coming weeks. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced that permanent rules have been adopted regarding the tiebreaking process for cannabis dispensary licensees. Specifically, the rules will be used to select adult use cannabis dispensary licensees when there are two or more applicants in the same Bureau of Labor Statistics Regions with tied high scores. With the approval of these rules, the state can now award 75 new licenses for recreational marijuana dispensaries.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is reminding families about the A-B-Cs of safe sleep. Babies should sleep alone, on their back and in a crib says DCFS Spokesperson Deborah Lopez…
DCFS Spokesperson Deborah Lopez. Lopez says babies should never be left to sleep in an adult bed or a couch. Unsafe sleep is a leading cause of death for children one year old and younger.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,834 new cases of Coronavirus and 24 additional deaths Thursday. That brings the state’s total number of cases to 200,427 and deaths to 7,696. Locally, Livingston County reported 3 new cases bringing their total to 137. Vermilion County reported 11 new cases bringing their total number to 247. Ford County reported 6 new cases bringing their total number to 76. McLean County reported 20 new cases bringing their total to 690. Champaign County reported 16 new cases bringing their total number to 1,716. Kankakee County reported 17 new cases bringing their total to 1,920. They also reported their 66th death. Iroquois County reported 4 new cases bringing their total to 294.
(Undated-jm) -- The Pritzker Administration has announced $250 million in infrastructure grants as part of his Rebuild Illinois campaign. WPXN’s Jason Madden looks at Iroquois County communities receiving funds…
(Urbana-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker and representatives with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity were in Champaign-Urbana on Thursday to announce 50 grants were awarded to small businesses in the area. The 50 grants total $910,000. The grants are part of the Business Interruption Grant program.
(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign Urbana Public Health Department will meet this afternoon where they will consider a mask ordinance for the county. The move comes after Governor Pritzker filed rules with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules Tuesday which would fine businesses, organizations and schools if they follow the mandate.
(Gibson City-jm) -- 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City is encouraging residents to fill out the 2020 census. Representative Bennett says if you haven’t filled out your census yet you could receive a visit from someone from the census…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Undated-jm) -- Farmland values increased slightly according to the 2020 annual study of 20 benchmark farms by Farm Credit Illinois. Values increased 2.07 percent from last year. That’s the 2nd consecutive year of slight increases following four years of declines.
Christ Lutheran High School will hold their golf outing today starting at noon at Shagbark Country Club in Onarga. Tee time is 1pm
For the Old Settlers Renuion in Cissna Park today it is the famous Dave Schippert fish sandwiches. Food pick up available at the Cissna Park Legion Post 527 from 4pm to 8pm today. The Cissna Park American Legion Color Guard raise the American Flag at 6pm tonight.
There is a limited parade with legion members on Saturday at noon. A new 20-20 Chevroet Ttrax will be given away Saturday night at 9pm.
(Springfield-jm) -- An attorney suing the state in federal court seeking compensation for businesses forced closed because of COVID-19-orders said a jury is needed to ensure things are fair. Attorney Alan Bruggeman said relying on the Pritzker administration to decide which businesses get paid allows politics to get in the mix, which could make things less fair. Bruggeman said he expects the case to survive a motion to dismiss. A hearing date is set for December 1.
(Springfield-jm) -- Most students in Illinois will be learning remotely this fall, according to results from an Illinois State Board of Education survey. Of more than 850 school districts in the state, only 671 have responded to the survey of fall semester plans amid COVID-19 concerns. Most are offering a blended model, around 200 are offering in-person and 150 are offering remote learning only.
(Springfield-jm) -- Some members of the Illinois General Assembly are pushing for the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform to pass nine measures regarding ethics reform. The nine measures include: prohibiting legislators from lobbying elected officials from other units of government, stop the legislator-lobbyist revolving door by establishing at least a one year prohibition on legislators leaving office and going to work as lobbyists, better define who is a lobbyist, expand disclosure of legislators outside income, initiate an official censure similar to U-S Congress, strengthen the Legislative Inspector General, end exemption of legislators direct employees from the state’s Human Rights Act, establish term limits for legislative leaders and enact a policy to temporarily remove a legislator as leader or committee chair during a criminal investigation or indictment.
(Springfield-jm) -- With fewer than 90 days until the November election, the partisan divide over vote-by-mail appears to be growing in Illinois. Mary Scheurmann reports…
(Undated-jm) -- The state hit topped 200 thousand confirmed Coronavirus cases Thursday. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,834 new cases of Coronavirus and 24 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 200,427 and deaths to 7,696. As for local active and recovered cases, in Livingston County 116 have been released and 18 cases are active. Vermilion County reported 217 have recovered, 27 remain in isolation with 1 hospitalized. In Ford County, 62 have been released from isolation, 11 remain in isolation with 1 hospitalized. In McLean County, 581 have recovered, 91 remain in isolation with 3 hospitalized. In Champaign County, 1,557 have recovered, 140 cases are active with 9 hospitalized. In Kankakee County, 1,326 have recovered, 528 cases remain active with 7 hospitalized. In Iroquois County, 222 have been released, 48 remain isolated with 10 hospitalized.
(Washington-jm) -- What was the market reaction to USDA's forecasts of big harvests? Gary Crawford reports…
(Champaign-jm) -- AMC movie theatre announced reopening dates for their theatres in Illinois including their location in Champaign. The Champaign theatre will reopen on August 27th.
(Ashkum-jm) -- Illinois State Police will be conducting Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols in August. WPXN’s Jason Madden reports…
(Gilman-jm) -- Iroquois Memorial Hospital’s Gilman Practice is moving. The hospital announced it will move the clinic next to the CVS starting August 17th.
Paxton IGA will be hosting a cookout benefiting York Rite of Paxton on Saturday, from 10-2.
