(Springfield-jm) -- A new survey by the Illinois Municipal League found the majority of communities are facing revenue shortfalls due to COVID-19. The group reports the shortfalls are around 20-30% when compared to last year. Municipalities reported shortfalls across several categories that usually generate tax revenue, with the following sources resulting in the largest losses: 21% reported a loss in sales tax revenue, 17% reported a loss in gaming tax revenue, 17% reported a loss in motor fuel tax revenue and 15% reported a loss in income tax revenue.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinoisans are poisoning themselves through everyday activity, most would think would help keep you safer and healthier especially during this pandemic. The Coronavirus pandemic causing people to over clean or those who are cleaning doing it incorrectly resulting in a thirty-three percent spike in cases for the Illinois Poison Center. Illinois Poison Center numbers jumped even higher to forty-nine percent exposures in March and April. Illinois Poison Center estimates handling eight thousand exposure cases in a twelve-month time frame during the pandemic.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A new statewide rule requires bar and restaurant customers to wear a mask when interacting with staff. Governor J-B Pritzker says with COVID-19 numbers rising, the new requirement is meant to protect workers and help slow the spread of the virus…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Patrons must already wear a mask in a bar or restaurant unless they are eating or drinking at a table or up at the bar.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported almost 17 hundred new Coronavirus cases Tuesday and 29 additional deaths. Locally, McLean County reported 43 new cases bringing their total to 1,186. Livingston County reported 1 new case and an additional death bringing their case total to 173 and total deaths to 4. Kankakee County reported 18 new cases bringing their total to 2,141. Vermilion County reported 16 new cases bringing their total to 297. Champaign County reported 86 new cases bringing their total to 2,061. Iroquois County reported 3 new cases bringing their total to 308. Ford County reported no new cases Tuesday.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- As for total cases in area communities as reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health. 265 in Rantoul, 104 in Mahomet, 66 in Gilman, 60 in Clifton, 40 in Watseka, 35 in Paxton, 30 each in Fisher and St. Joseph, 28 in Chebanse, 23 in Hoopeston, 21 in Onarga, 16 in Fairbury, 14 in Ashkum, 12 each in Gibson City and Forrest, 10 in Danforth, 9 each in Foosland and Crescent City, 7 each in Potomac, Gifford, Milford, Bellflower and Saybrook, 6 each in Thomasboro, Ludlow, Piper City, Cissna Park, Rossville, Donovan, Martinton and Beaverville, 5 in Dewey and 1 in Penfield. Note not all of these cases are considered active by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Seniors 75 and older are getting more time to renew their driver’s license. Illinois Secretary of State Spokesperson Dave Druker says they are hoping to reduce lines and protect seniors from exposure to the Coronavirus…

 

 

Illinois Secretary of State Spokesperson Dave Druker. Letters will be sent to those who qualify and Druker says you should keep it as proof of the one year extension. License expiration dates for all other drivers have been pushed to November 1st.

 

 

(Rural Gibson City-jm) -- A FedEx driver received minor injuries after a collision with a train near Gibson City Tuesday. The accident occurred on Route 54 at 600 East just before 11:30. Ford County Sheriff’s police say the driver didn’t see the training coming until it was too late. The train struck the front bumper of the truck. The driver received some scrapes, no one on the train was injured.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Congressman John Shimkus is accepting applications for military service academy nominations. To be eligible: applicants must be American citizens at least 17 but not more than 23 years of age, not married or have legal obligations of child support and must live within the 15th Congressional District. Applications are due by October 30th and can be obtained by calling his office at 618-288-7190.

 

 

(Champaign County-jm) -- The Champaign County COVID relief fund has distributed $160,570 in grants to k-12 students and families. Among the recipients are the Champaign-Ford Regional Office of Education which received $2,200. The Hoopeston Multi-Agency received $3,000. Mahomet Seymour schools received $1,250. Rantoul City Schools received $6,500.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- The FY21 budget for PBL has some good news. The Equalized Assessed Valuation or EAV has gone up for the Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District. Superintendent Cliff McClure has the details… 

 

 

Paxton-Buckley-Loda Superintendent Cliff McClure.

 

 

(Champaign County-jm) -- Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heurmann is announcing his office will be increasing patrols between now and the Labor Day holiday weekend. According to the latest data from IDOT, in 2018, 121 alcohol related accidents occurred in this time frame in Champaign County resulting in 4 fatalities and 53 injuries. There were also 32 drug related accidents resulting in 8 fatalities and 10 injuries. So far in 2020, Champaign County deputies made 56 DUI alcohol arrests, 9 DUI drug arrests and drug or alcohol impairment was a contributing factor in at least 12 accidents.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state’s budget deficit could be significant because of the Coronavirus pandemic. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City discusses the latest numbers…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Housing Development Authority announced that $10 million in funding is available to support affordable housing and community revitalization efforts in Illinois communities. The grants will be provided to municipalities, counties, and land banks through the state's Strong Communities Program. This program helps local government agencies acquire, maintain, rehabilitate, and demolish abandoned residential properties in their areas. Local government agencies can receive grants of up to $250,000 through the program.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing the review of the Long Term Care Bureau in response to delays in complaint investigations during the pandemic. The bureau investigates abuse and neglect complaints. An independent consultant and former U-S Attorney have been hired for the review.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A second region of the state is moving to tighter COVID-19 restrictions. First it was the Metro East area, and now it’s Will and Kankakee Counties that are under stricter guidelines. That’s thanks to rising cases says Governor J-B Pritzker…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The restrictions for Will and Kankakee areas are stricter than those in place in the Metro East and include a ban on indoor dining and bar service. The Governor says if the Metro East numbers don’t improve, that area will also face these tougher measures starting September 2nd.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois now has over 223,000 Coronavirus cases and over 79 hundred deaths after the state reported an additional 1,680 cases and 29 deaths Tuesday. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County is reporting 727 have recovered, 439 are in isolation and 4 are hospitalized. Livingston County is reporting 150 have been removed from isolation, 19 cases are active with 1 hospitalized. Kankakee County is reporting 1,475 have recovered, 599 cases are active and 8 are hospitalized. Vermilion County is reporting 269 have been released from isolation, 24 are in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. Champaign County is reporting 1,730 have recovered, 311 cases are active with 2 hospitalized. Iroquois County is reporting 266 have been released from isolation, 23 are in isolation and 3 are hospitalized. Ford County is reporting 79 have been released with 17 in isolation.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is tracking cases in area Long Term Care Facilities. According to IDPH, 7 cases have been reported at Country Health and Rehab in Gifford, 5 cases have been reported at the Villas of Hollybrook in Rantoul and 2 cases at Clark Lindsey in Champaign. 32 cases and 1 death has been reported at Accolade on Pells in Paxton. 79 cases and 10 deaths have been reported at Gilman Healthcare. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Relief is now available for homeowners having a hard time paying their mortgage during the pandemic. The 150 million dollar emergency mortgage assistance program is underway, helping those who have been impacted by the virus says Illinois Housing Development Authority Spokesperson Andrew Field...

 

 

Illinois Housing Development Authority Spokesperson Andrew Field. Apply online at: ema dot ihda dot org. It’s expected the program will help about 10 thousand households through the end of the year.

 

 

(Watseka-jm) -- Iroquois County Treasurer Kurt Albers is reminding residents the deadline to pay their second installment of real estate taxes without penalty is coming soon. The deadline to pay is September 1st. After that day a late penalty will be assessed. You can pay your real estate taxes at the Treasurer’s office between 8:30 and 4:30 Monday through Friday, by mail, or at any Iroquois County bank.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois is reminding area non profits the deadline to apply for Community Commitment Grants is the end of the month. The grants are funded by endowments from donors. Eligible non profits can apply for up to $7,500. For more information call the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois at 217-359-0125.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois is cracking down on parties and large gatherings. Campus police along with volunteers are going around breaking up parties and large gatherings and following up on tips of parties and gatherings. Activities are turned over to campus student affairs officials who decide whether disciplinary action should be taken. U of I Chancellor Robert Jones has said students who don’t follow the rules could be suspended.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Meteorological summer comes to an end at the end of the month and the start of meteorological fall begins September 1st. State Climatologist Trent Ford has a look at September and meteorological fall…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police are investigating the theft of over almost $300 worth of fuel from a gas station. Police were notified of the theft on the morning of August 13th that a truck pulling a flatbed with three vehicles stopped over an access point for the station's fuel around 4:30 am. It is suspected that 112 gallons of fuel was pumped out at that time. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Ford County Crimestoppers at 217-784-4173.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- What trends were revealed when the Agriculture Department looked at 2020 cash rents per acre versus the previous year? Rod Bain reports…