(Springfield-jm) -- The first case of human West Nile Virus infection is being confirmed in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting a woman in her 40’s from DuPage County became sick last month and has tested positive for West Nile. Director Dr Ngozi Ezike says most people with the virus don’t show any symptoms, but some may experience fever, nausea, headaches and muscle aches and should call their doctor…
Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike says the best way to protect yourself is to wear insect repellant and report any stagnant pools of water where mosquitoes can breed.
(Springfield-jm) -- A House legislative committee will meet at 9 this morning where they will begin their investigation into House Speaker Mike Madigan’s role in the ComEd bribery scheme. Madigan was implicated in a deferred prosecution agreement between federal investigators and the utility giant. The committee is made up of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. Madigan has said several times he never did anything wrong.
(Springfield-jm) -- While the latest total adult-use cannabis sales for Illinois for the month of August weren’t immediately available, the amount of taxes for the month is in. Data from the Illinois Department of Revenue show the state took in $19.2 million in cannabis taxes last month, which is $5.3 million more than collected in July and nearly double what was brought in back in January. That money is split several ways, including grants to nonprofits in certain areas. State taxes can be more than 40 percent, depending on the potency. Local governments that approved additional local taxes started collecting up to 3 percent more beginning July 1.
(Springfield-jm) -- Colleges and universities are facing several challenges as the semester begins amidst a pandemic. The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign has increased restrictions on students and Bradley University in Peoria has quarantined the entire student body after an outbreak of COVID-19. Many schools have had to quarantine at least some students, and Governor J-B Pritzker says that’s the best option for those who are sick…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Many college administrators have expressed concerns about students attending large parties as well. And as for the Coronavirus numbers from Wednesday. The state reported 1,337 new cases and 30 additional deaths. Locally, McLean County reported 36 new cases bringing their total to 2,662. Vermilion County reported 9 new cases bringing their total to 391. Champaign County reported 158 new cases bringing their total to 3,064. Livingston County reported 9 new cases bringing their total to 264. Kankakee County reported 13 new cases bringing their total to 2,496. Iroquois County reported 5 new cases bringing their total to 364. Ford County reported no new cases leaving their total at 120.
(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois announced enrollment this fall set a record. The University announced Wednesday 52,331 students enrolled for classes for the 2020-2021 school year. Undergrad enrollment fell slightly to 33,492 from 33,850 in 2019.
(Bloomington-jm) -- One area lawmaker is criticizing Governor J-B Pritzker’s order fining businesses for not requiring individuals to wear masks in their stores. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman says businesses are not mask police and it unfairly targets businesses…
53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.
(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul fire officials say a fire at a mobile home Tuesday morning is suspicious. Firefighters were called to the fire in the 1200 block of Wedgewood around 3 am. Fire officials say the mobile home had been abandoned at the time of the fire.
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police have released their recent activity report. On September 5th, John Green of Champaign was arrested for disorderly conduct after police were called to an intoxicated individual at Casey’s. Also on September 5th, Devin Bradford of Paxton was arrested for domestic battery, interfering with the reporting of domestic violence and criminal damage to property. On September 3rd, Elijah Cannon of Champaign was arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and cited for speeding and illegal possession of adult use cannabis in a motor vehicle following a traffic stop at Pells and Washington. Also on September 3rd, Stephanie Dorrough of Paxton was arrested on a Champaign County warrant for failure to appear.
(Washington-jm) -- A look at USDA's latest farm product price index report shows declines for many products, with a few notable exceptions. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) -- There’s just a few weeks left for small non profit groups to apply for food and housing grants through Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs office. 375 thousand dollars will be split between 30 organizations through the charitable trust stabilization program says Treasurer Frerichs…
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. Groups selected will receive up to 12 thousand 500 dollars each. Apply by September 30th at: il charitable trust dot com.
(Springfield-jm) -- As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and cold weather approaches, the Illinois Commerce Commission is pushing for the moratorium on residential customer disconnections for non-payment to be extended. Last week, the Illinois Commerce Commission sent a letter to large state-regulated utilities to request an extension of the moratorium until March 31, 2021. All five Commissioners signed the letter, which includes data from the Illinois Department of Public Health about COVID-19 in the state.
(Springfield-jm) -- For the second straight year, the number of workers who are members of labor unions has declined in Illinois. Analyzing data from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, researchers from the Illinois Economic Institute, the University of Illinois, and the University of California-Irvine found that union membership has decreased in the state by over 56-thousand workers since 2017. The report said the decline was largely due to decreases in union workers in public sector jobs, a traditional labor stronghold. The public sector was shaken by the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Janus vs. AFSCME case, which ended requirements that government workers covered by collective bargaining pay union fees.
(Springfield-jm) -- Colleges and universities are facing several challenges as the semester begins amidst a pandemic. Bradley University in Peoria has quarantined the entire student body after a COVID outbreak and cases doubled over the weekend at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. At Illinois State, President Larry Dietz says they had large crowds gathering overnight as two YouTube stars visited Normal…
Illinois State University President Larry Dietz. The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign has increased restrictions on students and is conducting mass testing, while college administrators across the state warn students about having big parties. As for Wednesday numbers, Illinois now stands at 253,690 confirmed Coronavirus cases and 8,214 total deaths. And for local active and recovered cases, McLean County reported 1,307 have recovered, 1,330 are in isolation and 8 are hospitalized with 2 in intensive care. Vermilion County reported 331 have been released from isolation, 52 remain in isolation and 4 are hospitalized. Champaign County reported 2,414 have recovered, 630 cases are active and 3 are hospitalized. Livingston County reported 215 have been removed from isolation, 45 cases are active and 2 are hospitalized. Kankakee County reported 1,646 have recovered, 782 cases are active with 15 hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 320 have been released from isolation, 24 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. Ford County reported 100 have been released from isolation, 15 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized.
(Pontiac-jm) -- The Livingston County Public Health Department announced late Wednesday a bat found in Pontiac has tested positive for rabies. The health department says August and September are when the highest number of bats are submitted to the state for testing. The health department doesn’t think any people or pets were exposed. So far 33 bats have tested positive in Illinois for rabies this year.
(Ashkum-jm) -- Illinois State Police will be conducting Nitetime Enforcement Patrols in September. WPXN’s Jason Madden reports…
(Paxton-jm) -- A Paxton business is closing at the end of the month. Chakra Studio, located in downtown Paxton, announced they will be closing September 30th. The studio offered yoga, indoor cycling and group fitness classes.
(Champaign-jm) -- A Drive Thru job fair for Fed Ex in Champaign will be held today. The job fair will take place from 10-3 at the FedEx location on Mercury Drive. Positions include full time, part time and weekend only with positions earning up to $16.50 an hour.
(Tilton-cf)-- Today’sWPXN’s local business spotlight is DTI Office Solutions in Tilton. DTI services from Danville to Watseka, and Bloomington to Paris on all your office needs. DTI Office Solutions Owner Tony Mages gives a background on how DTI started…
DTI Office Solutions Owner Tony Mages
