(Springfield-jm) -- Some Illinois road construction projects scheduled to be completed this year could be delayed until next year because of lower-than-anticipated gas tax revenues during the coronavirus pandemic. Transportation Secretary Omer Osman says the department will prioritize projects related to safety improvements. State officials say from March through June of this year gas tax revenues are down $82 million from the same period last year.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Board of Education is revealing the guidelines for free and reduced-price meals. The guidelines are for the 2020-21 school year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will extend free meals until at least December 31, 2020. If families experience a change in income at any time during the school year, they can reapply for the free or reduced-price meals program by requesting a Household Eligibility Application from their child’s school.

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- Schools are back in session for the fall semester around the area despite the Coronavirus pandemic. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says many district leaders around the state had several questions and frustrations about reopening…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois now has over 235,000 COVID cases. Locally, since Friday, McLean County is reporting 395 new cases bringing their total to 1,767. Champaign County is reporting 164 new cases bringing their total to 2,369. Vermilion County is reporting 12 new cases bringing their total to 330. Kankakee County is reporting 58 new cases bringing their total to 2,303. Ford County is reporting 2 new cases bringing their total to 103. Iroquois County is reporting 15 new cases bringing their total to 336. Livingston County is reporting 12 new cases bringing their total to 193.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois corn and soybean crops are progressing ahead of the five year average for the most part. 97 percent of soybeans are setting pods, compared to 94 percent normally. 72 percent is rated in good to excellent condition. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener turns to corn…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. The third cutting of alfalfa is now 84 percent complete, and average statewide topsoil moisture declined to 12 percent very short, 40 percent short and 48 percent adequate.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Eastern Illinois Foodbank has received a $417,000 grant from the Feeding America COVID Response Fund. The money will be used to purchase a new food distribution truck and expand food inventory to include more culturally-diverse choices.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The City of Paxton city property committee will meet tonight at 6pm. The committee will discuss contracts to replace the city storage building destroyed by fire earlier this summer. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Last week felt summer like with temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90’s however, the weekend felt more fall like. State Climatologist Trent Ford has a look ahead into the first two weeks of September…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford.

 

 

(Buckley-jm) -- Parking changes along Route 45 in Buckley could be coming. The village is considering adding handicap and 15 minute parking signs along the route. The signs must be approved by the state. The village will take up the issue at their September meeting.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A retention pond will not be coming to Coady Park or at least not for now. The park district tabled the idea at their August meeting. They could take up the issue again in September.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Employment Security has submitted its application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for federal Lost Wage Assistance funds. Under the new federal program, people who are unemployed due to COVID-19 may be eligible to receive $300 per week in addition to their weekly benefit amount. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- When the coronavirus pandemic hit Illinois, state officials scrambled to buy scarce gear like protective gowns and masks and lifesaving patient ventilators. Governor  J.B. Pritzker pledged to be on the lookout for price-gouging and to report it to Attorney General Kwame Raoul. But in response to an Associated Press records request, the administration hasn’t made any reports. Raoul’s office has received 1,800 price-gouging consumer complaints but has no summary of actions taken because of staff working remotely.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is expressing his frustration over the U-S Postal Services delay in mail delivery. The Governor was recently asked about the potential delay in mail delivery due to budget issues and whether it would impact the state’s efforts to implement mail in voting due to the Coronavirus pandemic…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois reported 1,668 new cases of Coronavirus and 7 additional deaths Monday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 235,023 and 8,026 deaths. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County is reporting 907 have recovered, 840 are in isolation, 4 are hospitalized and 1 is in the ICU. In Champaign County, 1,845 have recovered, 504 cases are active and 2 are hospitalized. In Vermilion County, 289 have been released, 36 are in isolation and 2 are hospitalized. In Kankakee County, 1,544 have recovered, 692 cases are active and 13 are hospitalized. In Ford County, 96 have been released and 5 are in isolation. In Iroquois County, 282 have been released, 34 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. In Livingston County, 156 have been removed from isolation and 33 cases are active.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois corn and soybean crops are progressing ahead of the five year average for the most part. 71 percent of corn is in the dent stage or beyond and 12 percent is mature. 70 percent of the corn crop is rated in good to excellent condition says State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Now for soybeans…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Conditions this past week were drier, with average statewide topsoil moisture dropping to 12 percent very short, 40 percent short and 48 percent adequate.

 

 

(St. Joseph-jm) -- The village of St. Joseph is once again looking at adding a village administrator. The village has been considering hiring a village administrator for several years. The village administrator would run day to day operations of the village.

 

 

(Thomasboro-jm) -- The Thomasboro Grade School District is facing a $126,309 deficit this fiscal year. The numbers however, showed deficits in more than one fund. Normally, the district runs a slight deficit in the education fund, however, this year there is also a deficit in the operations and maintenance fund as well as the transportation fund.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- A new area code will be coming to the area. In updating our earlier stories, 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett explains the new area code coming to the 217…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Forbes has named OSF Healthcare one of America’s Best in State employers. The hospital group says they employee nearly 24,000 at 145 locations and 14 hospitals.

 

 

(Ludlow-jm) -- Ludlow village trustees are going through and updating village ordinances and codes however, there are a couple issues they aren’t sure how to address. One issue is should billing for garbage be added to resident’s water bills. Another is how long should the village allow camping trailers to sit on private property and should permits be required to do so. The village hopes to address these issues at their September meeting.