(Springfield-jm) -- Unemployment in Illinois dropped to 11% in August, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Despite the decrease, Illinois' unemployment rate was 2.6 percentage points higher than the national average in August. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Internal Revenue Service said 309,972 Illinois residents will receive a special mailing this month, encouraging them to see if they are eligible to claim an economic impact payment. The letters will be mailed to those who typically are not required to file federal income tax returns, but may qualify for an EIP, along with those who haven't filed a tax return for either 2018 or 2019. Eligible individuals can receive up to $1,200, while married couples can receive up to $2,400. Furthermore, those with qualifying children under the age of 17 at the end of 2019 can receive an additional $500 for each qualifying child. To register for an EIP, people must visit the "Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info" tool on IRS.gov before October 15.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois plans to continue withholding federal payroll taxes on behalf of its 62,000 employees despite a program President Trump launched in August that allows workers to defer paying those taxes through the end of the year. Trump announced the program in a memorandum August 8. It applies to the 6.2 percent tax that employers withhold for their employee’s Social Security benefits. The intent is to temporarily boost workers’ income during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the taxes that would be deferred would have to be repaid after January 1. Then, the employee’s withholding would double to 12.4 percent until the amount of taxes that were deferred is repaid. According to an analysis by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a worker earning $50,000 a year would see a temporary increase of $119.23 in each two-week pay period. But at the end of the year, that person would owe $1,073.08 in deferred taxes.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says he will not give into pressure about letting youth sports resume. The Governor has been hearing from a lot of coaches, parents and student athletes who want to get back on the football field or hockey rink. He says the risk of spreading COVID-19 is too high and that your actions affect others…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. An infectious disease expert at the Governor’s press conference agreed and said it’s not just the actual game that’s a problem. He says a sports team is together in the locker room, working out in the gym and while traveling, giving the virus more opportunities to spread.

 

 

(Rural Rantoul-jm) -- Several law enforcement agencies are investigating after a body was found in rural Rantoul. The body was found near 3100 North County Road 1838 East. Police say the remains appear to be that of a male and was located near where the bike belonging to David Franklin was found. Franklin has been missing for nearly a month. Police would not say at this time whether the body found was that of Franklin’s. An autopsy is scheduled for this morning. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,056 new Coronavirus cases and 25 additional deaths Thursday. That brings the state’s total number of cases to 268,207 and total deaths to 8,392. Locally, McLean County reported 22 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total numbers to 3,025 cases and 19 deaths. Champaign County topped 4,000 total cases after 127 new cases were reported. Their total now sits at 4,074. Livingston County reported 16 new cases bringing their total to 310. Vermilion County had 1 new case bringing their total to 476. Ford County reported 3 new cases bringing their total number to 130. Kankakee County reported 25 new cases bringing their total to 2,634. Iroquois County reported 3 new cases bringing their total to 381. 

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Indoor dining at bars and restaurants in campustown can resume. The temporary order suspending indoor dining ended this week and was not extended. Champaign and Urbana both issued the orders back when students first started returning to campus.

 

 

(Buckley-jm) -- Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley will be hosting their annual fish and chicken fry tonight. Director Sandy Spitz talks about the dinner…

 

 

Christ Lutheran High School Executive Director Sandy Spitz.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul teen found with cannabis and a gun has been sentenced to 5 years probation. The 17 year old pleaded guilty to armed violence in Champaign County court. Had he been charged as an adult he would have faced a mandatory 6 to 30 years in prison.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- Unemployed people in the state and some businesses have the opportunity to receive some funds to get people back to work. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City explains…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Watseka American Legion today from 9 to 3.

 

The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce will host their golf outing today at noon at Lakeview Country Club in Loda.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- U.S. Attorney John Lausch Jr. has cleared Illinois lawmakers to conduct interviews of key players in an admitted patronage scheme by ComEd to curry favor with House Speaker Michael Madigan, including questioning the speaker himself. In a formal reply to the two heads of the Illinois House Special Investigation Committee, Lausch said his office doesn’t have an objection to the committee seeking testimony from witnesses or the production of documents in its independent investigation. Republicans indicated they plan to call Madigan, his long-time ally and former ComEd lobbyist Michael McLain, as well as a host of other current and former ComEd employees. Lausch cautioned the lawmakers to stay away from asking witnesses about statements or documents they’ve been asked to provide the grand jury in the course of the ongoing federal investigation.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- With a flood of complaints that the marijuana licensing process is flawed, Governor J.B. Pritzker has announced that his team will meet with those affected to address the issue. Only 21 of about 700 applicants qualified for a lottery to determine who will get 75 new recreational marijuana retail licenses. State regulators say they have indefinitely delayed the lottery to review objections.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Experts expect consumer spending to play a big role in how Illinois' economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, but predicting how far consumers will open their wallets during the remainder of the year isn't as easy. A survey by Chicago-based PowerReviews found spending, including for the holidays, could actually increase this year. Almost three-quarters of consumers said their overall holiday spending will either stay the same or increase this year, and 64% said they will spend more online than last year. Not everyone shares that optimism. Personal finance website WalletHub said spending will likely fall from last year.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the Illinois Department of Public Health says this is especially important during the pandemic. While there aren’t statistics yet regarding COVID-19 related suicides, many of the issues people are facing now such as job loss, financial problems and social isolation are risk factors says State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike…

 

 

State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Some of the warning signs for suicide include often talking or writing about death, feeling hopeless, increased substance abuse and withdrawing from friends and family. That number again is 1-800-273-TALK.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,056 new Coronavirus cases and 25 additional deaths Thursday. That brings the state’s total number of cases to 268,207 and total deaths to 8,392. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County reported 1,740 have recovered, 1,260 are in isolation, 6 are hospitalized with 1 in the ICU. Champaign County reported 3,615 have recovered, 439 cases are active and 7 are hospitalized. Livingston County reported 268 have been removed from isolation, 37 cases are active and 3 are hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 378 have been released from isolation, 88 remain in isolation and 4 are hospitalized. Ford County reported 118 have been released from isolation and 8 remain in isolation. Kankakee County reported 1,858 have recovered, 705 cases are active and 11 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 344 have been released from isolation, 16 remain in isolation with 2 hospitalized.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Illinois Terminal in Champaign will receive an expansion thanks in part to a $17.275 million grant to the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District. The plans include adding onto the terminal into the existing parking lots creating tenant space, apartments and a parking deck. Construction is expected to start in late 2021. 

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois will receive nearly $1 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The U of I will receive $999,377 in funding from the EPA to research how to control and prevent harmful algal blooms. Harmful algal blooms are algae overgrowths in water that can potentially harm human health and aquatic ecosystems. Some factors that cause these to develop include excess nitrogen and phosphorous in waterways.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- The Coronavirus pandemic continues to see national attention. 16th Congressional District Congressman Adam Kinzinger says while some people may be ok others may not…

 

16th Congressional District Congressman Adam Kinzinger.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- An Urbana teen who was involved in an battery incident in Rantoul has been sentenced to probation. The teen was one of three individuals that was involved in an attempted drug related robbery where one of them got shot in the leg on Aspen Drive. The Champaign County State’s Attorney's office says the teen is on track to complete a job training program, has a certificate as a roofer and has a job and therefore recommended 9 months probation.

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- An area GOP lawmaker is urging downstate democratic lawmakers to push for the speaker of the Illinois House to resign in the wake of the recent corruption scheme at ComEd. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington joined other Republicans in demanding the long standing speaker to resign. Now Senator Barickman says members of the Democratic party need to do the same…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

The Loda American Legion will be hosting their all you can eat fish and chicken fry tonight from 4 to 7:30 pm.

 

Paxton IGA will be hosting a cookout benefiting St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Melvin on Saturday from 10-2.