(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,128 new Coronavirus cases Wednesday and 27 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 238,643 and deaths to 8,091. The seven day positivity rate also rose Wednesday to 4.5 percent. Locally, Vermilion County reported 8 new cases bringing their total number to 344. McLean County reported 158 new cases bringing their total to 1,996. Ford County reported 7 new cases and 1 new death bringing their total to 110 and total deaths to 3. Livingston County reported 22 new cases bringing their total to 220. Champaign County reported 138 new cases bringing their total to 2,462. Kankakee County reported 28 new cases bringing their total to 2,352. Iroquois County reported 10 new cases bringing their total to 345.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says nine out of the state’s 11 designated regions have seen an increase in COVID-19 test positivity rates. In four of those regions, the positivity rate has risen by more than a full percentage point. It’s not a good sign says the Governor…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Only two regions, West Central and East Central Illinois have seen the positivity rate drop. The Metro East area and Will and Kankakee Counties are now under stricter mitigations such as no indoor dining or bar service because the rates there are over eight percent.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state of Illinois is getting $2.4 million from the federal government to combat unemployment insurance fraud. The taxpayer-funded grant from the Department of Labor covers the recently created unemployment programs as part of COVID-19 relief. More than 100,000 instances of alleged unemployment fraud were reported by the Pritzker administration last month.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois House has formed a special panel to investigate Speaker Michael Madigan, who has been implicated in a federal bribery probe. Republicans petitioned to form the committee this week, saying Wednesday that the House must “do its job and conduct a thorough investigation.” Republicans and some Democrats have called on Madigan to step down after federal prosecutors named him by title in a criminal investigation in which ComEd acknowledges engaging in bribery in the Capitol. Madigan has said he won’t step down.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Several utility companies in Illinois are coming together to extend the moratorium on residential disconnections. Nicor Gas, Northshore/Peoples Gas, Illinois American Water, Aqua Illinois, and Utility Services of Illinois are extending the moratorium through September 30, 2020. Ameren Illinois and ComEd will extend theirs through September 10, 2020.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- This is National Preparedness Month and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency wants families to be ready for anything. IEMA Spokesperson Rebecca Clark says preparedness is more than just putting a few bottles of water and a flashlight, it’s also about planning…

 

 

Illinois Emergency Management Agency Spokesperson Rebecca Clark. It’s recommended families have a weather radio, emergency kit and designated meeting spot. Clark says parents can get kids involved by practicing the emergency plan and including games or a favorite stuffed animal in the emergency kit.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois is cracking down on enforcement of Coronavirus guidelines. The campus has seen a spike in cases recently as a result of students not following guidelines of social distancing and wearing masks. In a massmail to students, campus leadership said if the trend continues they could end in person semester of learning.

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- The McLean County Public Health Department is reporting a batch of mosquitos has tested positive for the West Nile Virus. The health department says the mosquitoes were collected on the east side of Bloomington. 

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- Coronavirus numbers continue to rise daily around the state. While the numbers may be high, 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says there are other numbers that should be used in making decisions…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

 

(Champaign County-jm) -- Champaign County home sales soared in July to the highest in 14 years. According to the Champaign County Association of Realtors, home sales jumped 28.62 percent compared to a year ago. 364 homes sold last month compared to 283 in July 2019. That’s the most since 2007. The median price also rose from $156,800 to $167,525 up 6.84 percent. Average home sale prices rose double digits in July from $177,285 to $199,221, a 12.37 percent increase. The average number of days rose from 71 to 80.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is optimistic about agricultural trade with China. Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,128 new Coronavirus cases Wednesday and 27 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 238,643 and deaths to 8,091. The seven day positivity rate also rose Wednesday to 4.5 percent. As for local active and recovered cases, Vermilion County is reporting 293 have been released from isolation, 46 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. McLean County is reporting 1,143 have recovered, 828 are in isolation, 9 are hospitalized and 3 are in the ICU. Ford County is reporting 95 have been released from isolation, 11 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. Livingston County is reporting 167 have been removed from isolation and 49 cases are active. Champaign County is reporting 1,893 have recovered, 549 cases are active and 2 are hospitalized. Kankakee County is reporting 1,593 have recovered, 692 cases are active and 6 are hospitalized. Iroquois County is reporting 286 have been released from isolation, 39 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Doctors are reminding that dining out and socially drinking are high risk activities during the pandemic. Getting together to share a meal and have a drink is an important part of our culture, says Dr Susan Bleasdale, an infectious disease expert with U-I Health. But she says those situations can be problematic…

 

 

UI Health Infectious Disease Expert Dr Susan Bleasdale. Bleasdale urges the public to be very careful in these settings. Precautions include opting for carry out, wearing a mask when possible, sitting at tables at least six feet apart from others and washing or sanitizing hands frequently.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- With revenue shrinking amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois municipalities are mulling over budget cuts, including to emergency responders. The Peoria city council this week voted to cut two fire department engine companies, eliminating 22 jobs and that may not be enough as some city council members want to freeze all capital expenses currently not being spent. The city of Decatur is looking at numerous budget cuts, including shutting down its busiest fire station in the city, costing 27 firefighters their jobs. In Springfield, union wage hike freezes are needed, but eliminating positions has to be considered. The Illinois Municipal League recently released a survey showing a whopping 87 percent of communities face revenue shortfalls of 20-30 percent compared to last year. The survey included results from 227 municipalities across the state. Municipalities reported shortfalls across several categories that usually generate tax revenue, including sales taxes, gaming taxes, motor fuel taxes and income taxes.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) --  Illinois was in dire financial straits before the pandemic-induced shutdowns ground the economy to a halt, but a new study said the state may have an option that would bring in $19 billion to pay off debt or invest in its crumbling infrastructure without doing so on taxpayers' backs.  The nonpartisan Reason Foundation found Illinois could net $19.4 billion by leasing the rights to nine state-owned toll roads.  Even though Illinois stands to make more than any other state Reason examined, it’s estimated the deal would pay down about 14 percent of Illinois' $136 billion in total pension liabilities. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The American Lung Association has big plans to end youth vaping for Illinois students, parents, and schools. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20% of high school students used e-cigarettes last year. The American Lung Association  is launching a public awareness campaign with the Ad Council called “Get Your Head Out of the Cloud." The campaign aims to provide parents with the facts about e-cigarettes and help support conversations with kids before they start to vape. The group also plans to work with lawmakers next year to pass legislation to add e-cigarettes to the Smoke Free Illinois Act.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- House and Senate lawmakers are taking a closer look at police officer training in Illinois. At a virtual hearing, legislators asked Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Director Brent Fischer about the initial hiring process, including drug testing and whether psychological tests are given. He says that’s up to local departments but that having  a statewide standard may be beneficial…

 

 

Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Director Brent Fischer. Lawmakers stressed the importance of getting more feedback from local law enforcement agencies about how well current training programs are working.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- An iconic piece of Rantoul history will be coming down later this month. The village was notified by the U-S Air Force they will begin dismantling the missile that sits on the west edge of the former Chanute Air Force Base September 15th. Chanute once housed training of the minuteman missile program. The village fought to keep the missile however, the Air Force refused and the missile will be scrapped.

 

 

(Rural Roberts-jm) -- Roberts and Melvin first responders were called to a single vehicle accident Wednesday evening. Emergency crews were called to the accident on Route 115 a couple miles south of Roberts. No word on if there were any injuries.

 

 

(Ashkum-jm) -- Illinois State Police will be conducting Nitetime Enforcement Patrols in early September. WPXN’s Jason Madden reports…

 

 

 

(Gifford-jm) -- The Gifford Grade School budget looks to be in the black this fiscal year. The district estimates they will be in the black by just over $43,000. The district warns though they aren’t sure how much they will receive in state funding as well as the one percent county sales tax revenue because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Crop conditions in the Midwest are continuing to drop. Stephanie Ho reports…