(Springfield-jm) -- A couple of business groups are keeping their legal options open following last week’s mask and social distancing rules from the governor were allowed to stand. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association said litigation against the rule is possible. The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association that represents convenience stores said a legal challenge is likely. Both groups were among the first to voluntarily implement mask and social distancing guidelines.
(Springfield-jm) -- Reformers say it’s time for Illinoisans to “advocate for themselves” when lawmakers redraw the state’s political boundaries in a few months. That’s the message the Coalition for Honest and New Government Ethics, or CHANGE Illinois, a group that has long advocated for changes to the redistricting process, intends to deliver through an online application its helped develop. The state has until June 30, 2021 to create an agreed-upon redistricting plan.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has a new guide to help assess out of state travel risks during the pandemic. The travel guide indicates which states and countries pose the greatest risk for the Coronavirus says Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike…
Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike says airports, bus and train stations and rest stops are all places with an increased risk of transmission. The travel guide is available on the State Department of Public Health’s website.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the state’s total number of cases is now 207,854 and deaths are at 7,756. Locally since Friday, McLean County reported 54 new cases bringing their total to 776. Livingston County reported 13 new cases bringing their total to 154. Vermilion County reported 9 new cases bringing their total to 263. Ford County reported 4 new cases bringing their total to 80. Kankakee County reported 39 new cases bringing their total to 1,979. Champaign County reported 31 new cases bringing their total to 1,739. Iroquois County reported 2 new cases bringing their total to 298. McLean County reported their 16th COVID death while Kankakee County reported their 67th COVID death.
(Undated-jm) -- The condition of Illinois corn and soybean crops dropped a little this past week. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 97 percent of soybean acres are blooming…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 81 percent of corn is in the dough stage and 21 percent has dented. 76 percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition. The third cutting of alfalfa is now 57 percent complete and average statewide topsoil moisture is rated at three percent very short, 20 percent short, 72 percent adequate and five percent surplus.
(Rantoul-jm) -- A North Carolina man has been arrested for driving under the influence after his vehicle struck a mobile home in Rantoul. 62-year-old Paul Lyons was arrested after his vehicle struck a mobile home in the 1200 block of Wedgewood Drive. No injuries were reported.
(Parke County, Indiana-jm) -- A fall event just over the border in Indiana that attracts thousands has been canceled because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Parke County, Indiana officials announced Monday the 2020 Covered Bridge Festival originally scheduled for October 9-18th.
(Paxton-cf)-- The Paxton-Buckley-Loda school district will begin school this Wednesday. PBL Superintendent Cliff McClure gives us the details on how the daily operations will be for this fall…
Paxton-Buckley-Loda Superintendent Cliff McClure.
(Urbana-jm) -- A 17 year old from Rantoul will spend the next 8 years in prison for a shooting in October. James Price pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm. Police say Price shot a person after an exchange of words between the victim and a group of people Price was with. Price had a prior juvenile adjudication for possession of a weapon.
(Washington-jm) -- U-S Senator Dick Durbin has introduced a bill to fund clean climate futures. The bill would establish an independent federal agency to support and invest in job creation and clean energy projects, provide grants to state and local governments for impacted communities, rebates to individuals and refunds for carbon capture and a delayed onset for a carbon tax.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Pritzker administration is targeting a decree the state entered into in 1972 to combat patronage hiring, but Republicans said it should be expanded, not vacated. A filing the Illinois Attorney General made on behalf of Governor J.B. Pritzker last month seeks to vacate a decree from 1972 about questionable hiring practices in Illinois State Government.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker visited the Metro East area Monday, as new restrictions are being put into place. The region has had three days in a row of a COVID-19 positivity rate of eight percent or more, triggering new mitigations. That means no party buses, no barstools at the bar and only six people to a table indoors. Bars, restaurants and casinos will have to close at 11pm, just like St. Louis. Governor Pritzker says residents need to take this seriously…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. If numbers don’t improve, the Governor says more restrictions may go into effect. The new rules will be dropped if the region’s positivity rate average six point five percent or less over the next two weeks.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the state’s total number of cases is now 207,854 and deaths are at 7,756. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County is reporting 618 have recovered, 136 remain in isolation with 6 hospitalized. Livingston County is reporting 123 have been removed from isolation, 28 cases are active with 1 hospitalized. Vermilion County is reporting 227 have recovered and 34 remain in isolation. Ford County is reporting 64 have been released from isolation, 13 remain in isolation and 1 hospitalized. Kankakee County is reporting 1,346 have recovered, 566 cases remain active and 6 are hospitalized. Champaign County is reporting 1,618 have recovered, 122 cases remain active and 12 are hospitalized. Iroquois County is reporting 231 have been released from isolation, 43 remain in isolation and 9 are hospitalized.
(Springfield-jm) -- The condition of Illinois corn and soybean crops dropped a little this past week. 81 percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage or beyond says State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 76 percent of the soybean crop is also in good to excellent condition, with 84 percent of acres now blooming. Average statewide topsoil moisture is at three percent very short, 20 percent short, 72 percent adequate and five percent surplus.
(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City police have released their recent activity report. On August 15th, Gail Scales of Champaign was ticketed for speeding and Dale Enghausen of Saybrook was cited for leaving the scene of an accident.
(Kankakee-jm) -- Kankakee Community College will be offering 5 free job hunting webinars over the lunch hour. The first webinar is September 22nd titled 5 steps to a winning resume, September 29th titled AIDA cover letter, October 6th, micro internships for students and recent grads, October 13th, Leveraging Linkedin and October 20th Acing your Video Interview. For more information or to sign up, call 815-802-8207.
(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 Vermilion County communities receiving funds…
(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College in Champaign is hosting a fall enrollment blitz. The blitz runs Monday through Friday 8-5 through August 21st. Enrollment will take place either at the student union or by zoom.
