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Governor J-B Pritzker says a COVID-19 saliva test developed by the University of Illinois is showing a lot of promise

(Springfield-jm) -- Former Illinois Governor James R. Thompson, the state’s longest-serving chief executive, has died. He was 84. Thompson was first elected governor in 1976 and eventually served four terms before leaving office in 1991. 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Friday’s daily COVID-19 total is the highest its been since late May. State officials are reporting more than 22 hundred new cases. But the past 24 hours have been the second highest for the number of tests run, at over 49 thousand. Governor J-B Pritzker says the virus isn’t going away anytime soon, and that it’s still dangerous…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. COVID-19 deaths in Illinois are now up to more than 77 hundred and about 16 hundred patients are currently in the hospital.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- State Senator Chapin Rose is demanding Gov. J.B. Pritzker get the state’s unemployment offices back open. The offices have been closed to the public since near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 22,900 new unemployment filers in Illinois last week.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says a COVID-19 saliva test developed by the University of Illinois is showing a lot of promise. The test is cheaper than the nasal swab, with results available in hours instead of days. It was initially created to test students and faculty on campus. Governor Pritzker says it’s a tremendous development in the fight against the Coronavirus…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The U of I has formed an organization to make the test available statewide and eventually across the country.

 

 

(Gifford-jm) -- A Gifford teen is dead and another injured after they were hit by a car Saturday night. Illinois State Police say the teens were riding their bike on U-S 136 about a mile east of Gifford just before 9:30 Saturday night when they were struck by a vehicle. 18 year old Matthew Correll died at the scene. A 15 year old was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. The accident remains under investigation.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign Urbana Public Health Department passed an ordinance Friday that takes Governor J-B Pritzker’s recent mandates a step further. This week the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules passed rules that could fine and cite businesses, organizations and schools up to $25 hundred if they don’t follow the mask and social distance mandate but would not fine individuals. The CUPHD took it a step further and passed an ordinance that would fine individuals the same amount as well. The health department says wearing a mask is no longer optional and the new ordinance takes effect August 24th.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- How has the beginning of August looked weatherwise and how does the rest of the month look? State Climatologist Trent Ford has the details…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford.


 

 

(Gilman-jm) -- The Iroquois West School Board will meet tonight where they are expected to finalize their fall plans and set their budget. Also at tonight’s meeting, school board members are expected to raise the minimum wage for employees, review updated school policies and hear updates on several projects. The Iroquois West School Board meeting gets underway at 7 pm.

 

 

(Fisher-jm) -- The Fisher School Board will meet tonight where they are expected to approve updates to their reopening plan. In addition, school board members are also expected to approve some updates to policies and present their tentative FY 21 budget. A building tour gets underway at 5:45 with the school board meeting getting underway at 6:30.

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- Illinois’ tax structure could change pending the outcome of a constitutional amendment before voters on the November ballot. The amendment would change the states tax structure from the current flat rate to a progressive income tax. The change would allow lawmakers to adjust the income tax amount whenever they would like to. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says the state needs to look at other ways to address the financial situation…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington. Early voting begins October 19th in Illinois. The election is November 3rd.

 

 

(Thomasboro-jm) -- Some streets in Thomasboro will see some work this summer. The village board approved to spend $25,000 to oil and chip portions of Clark, Park and as much of Pearl that can be done.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state is seeing record sales in marijuana during the pandemic. Sales have totaled more than $300 million since the start of the year, with July seeing more sales than any other month, according to state figures. Cannabis sales in July hit $61 million, which is up from $47.6 million in June and $44.3 million in May, according to the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- School districts that had planned for some in-person teaching amid COVID-19 concerns have reversed course to full remote to start the fall semester and that puts parents with jobs in a tough spot. A new study from BankRate shows 3 of 5 parents nationwide found remote learning will negatively impact their finances, with more than a third saying they would have to either cut their hours at work or quit altogether.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state is sending out two and a half million masks to public schools across Illinois. The cloth masks will go a long way towards protecting all students in the classroom says State Board of Education Spokesperson Jackie Matthews…

 

 

State Board of Education Spokesperson Jackie Matthews. Masks are required for kids and all school staff, and are scientifically proven to be one of the best ways to reduce spread of the virus, says Matthews. The state is also shipping out face shields to be used for additional protection at school if needed.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign Park District has suspended all public and private events at the Virginia Theatre through April 30, 2021. The decision was made due to health concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic. Champaign Park District officials said many of the events that were originally scheduled for the fall and winter of 2020 and the spring of 2021 will be rescheduled.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul Police Department is looking at ways to recruit officers to its department. That also includes recruiting more minority candidates. The department will implement a new testing system to recruit officers. Instead of testing once every two years the department will use a continuous testing model. The new testing system will kick off in January 2021.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker was supposed to appear before a Clay County judge last Friday after a judge ruled his executive orders unconstitutional. However, a northern Illinois judge and the state Supreme Court stepped in and put a hold on the case. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about the situation…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City. Bennett says he is sponsoring legislation that would answer what happens after the Governor’s 30 days are up that would require the General Assembly’s approval to issue more emergency orders beyond 30 days.

 

 

(Cissna Park-jm) -- The Cissna Park School Board will meet tonight where they are expected to approve a contract for an air conditioning project. In addition, school board members will also be asked to approve changes to the school handbook to include the use of face coverings and approve a change to their reopening plan. The Cissna Park School Board meeting gets underway at 7pm.

 

 

(Mahomet-jm) -- The Mahomet Seymour School Board will meet tonight where school board members expected to approve a pair of policy changes. In addition, school board members will hear about infrastructure plans with IGA, the village and the school board near the junior high and approve putting the FY 21 budget on display. The Mahomet Seymour school board meeting gets underway at 7pm.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Lower corn prices could help move the expected record large corn crop. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

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