(Springfield-jm) -- Another member of Governor J-B Pritzker's staff has tested positive for COVID-19. The governor along with all other people who came into close contact with the individual will self-isolate for the next two weeks. According to the governor's office, the staff member was tested during a weekly testing for the governor's office. The test came back negative, but after experiencing symptoms, the staff member was tested again. That test came back positive.
(Springfield-jm) -- If you’re having trouble paying your home energy bills, the Illinois Commerce Commission recommends discussing the situation with your utility company. In many cases, those struggling with utility costs just need to ask for help says I-C-C Chair Carrie Zalewski…
Illinois Commerce Commission Chair Carrie Zalewski. Additionally, several companies have agreed to extend the moratorium on disconnections for low income residents through the winter, including Ameren Illinois, Peoples Gas, ComEd, Nicor Gas and North Shore Gas.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,362 new Coronavirus cases and 23 additional deaths Tuesday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 291,001 and deaths to 8,637. Locally, Ford County reported 5 new cases bringing their total number to 160. Livingston County reported 5 new cases bringing their total to 427. Vermilion County reported 18 new cases bringing their total to 673. McLean County reported 8 new cases bringing their total to 3,298. Kankakee County reported 6 new cases and 1 additional death bringing the total number of cases to 2,780 and deaths to 72. Champaign County reported 42 new cases bringing their total to 4,691. Iroquois County reported no new cases leaving their total at 404.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health along with area health departments are reporting case numbers in local communities. Rantoul’s case total is at 310. 169 in Mahomet, 92 in St. Joseph, 79 in Gilman, 64 in Clifton, 55 in Watseka, 48 in Paxton, 44 in Chebanse, 39 in Fairbury, 37 in Hoopeston, 36 in Fisher, 31 in Onarga, 28 in Gibson City, 23 in Forrest, 19 in Potomac, 18 in Cissna Park, 15 in Thomasboro, 14 in Ashkum, 13 each in Rossville and Milford, 12 each in Gifford and Danforth, 10 each in Piper City and Crescent City, 9 each in Foosland and Donovan, 8 each in Saybrook, Martinton and Cabery, 7 each in Buckley and Bellflower, 6 each in Loda, Ludlow, Beaverville and Cullom, 5 in Dewey and 1 in Penfield.
(Watseka-jm) -- Autopsy results on one of the inmates who died at the Iroquois County Jail last month is complete. Iroquois County Coroner Bill Cheatum says Andre Maiden died from an overdose of fentanyl and heroin. The investigation is still ongoing. Results on a second inmate, Jason Fancher, who died at the jail has not yet been released.
(Undated-jm) -- September is coming to a close and tomorrow we start October. How does the climatological outlook for the month look? State Climatologist Trent Ford has those details…
State Climatologist Trent Ford.
(Iroquois County-jm) -- Paxton and Buckley fire crews were called to a fire on I-57 Tuesday afternoon. Crews were called to the rest area for a truck with a camper on fire. No injuries were reported.
(Champaign-jm) -- EnterpriseWorks, the tech incubator at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Research Park, is a recipient of a grant through the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA grant, worth $125,000, intends to support the growth and development of tech companies across the state. U of I's Research Park is one of 24 awardees nationwide.
(Gibson City-jm) -- Last week was Child Passenger Safety Week in Illinois. State law requires children to be in a safety seat until the age of 8 and face rear facing until the age of 2. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City provides some statistics…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Paxton-jm) -- Construction on a new city storage shed in Paxton won’t happen until next year. Due to a shortage of construction materials available, the new shed won’t be built until 2021 instead of this fall. The existing shed caught fire in late May destroying several pieces of city equipment.
(Buckley-jm) -- There will be no 15 minute or handicap parking along Route 45 in Buckley. The village board looked into the issue at their recent meeting. The village learned that if they were to move forward with handicap parking, they would have to make the area to meet ADA requirements.
(Washington-jm) -- The USDA is about to release two important reports of major interest to grain producers and traders--grain stocks and small grains production. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) -- A joint hearing of the Senate Criminal Law and Public Safety Committees on Tuesday took up the subject of drug sentencing reform. In 2015, then-Governor Bruce Rauner created a criminal justice task force to identify areas of the criminal justice system that could be reformed that would result in a 25% reduction in the prison population by 2025. Advocates say the best way to start is to change how the state responds to low-level drug felonies.
(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State Jesse White’s Office says paying by check online will be free through the end of the year. The state is waiving the e-check processing fee until December 31st. The goal is to get more people to take care of things like renewing their license plate sticker online says Secretary White…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. You can also get a duplicate license or ID card online and renew your driver’s license if you qualify for the safe driver renewal program. The Secretary of State’s website is: cyber drive illinois dot com.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois has over 291,000 Coronavirus cases and 8,637 deaths after the state reported 1,362 new cases and 23 additional deaths Tuesday. Kankakee County reported their 72nd death Tuesday. As for local active and recovered cases, Ford County reported 139 have been released from isolation while 16 remain in isolation. Livingston County reported 380 have been removed from isolation, 41 cases are active with 3 hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 569 have been released from isolation with 100 active cases. McLean County reported 3,088 have recovered, 178 are in isolation and 9 are hospitalized. Kankakee County reported 2,459 have recovered, 249 cases are active and 12 are hospitalized. Champaign County reported 4,315 have recovered, 356 cases are active and 8 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 370 have been released from isolation, 13 remain in isolation and 2 are hospitalized.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 29,517 Coronavirus cases and 4,642 Coronavirus deaths have been at long term care facilities in the state. According to IDPH, 132 cases and 18 deaths have been at facilities in Iroquois County. 53 cases and 3 deaths have been at facilities in Ford County. 72 cases and 5 deaths have been at facilities in Champaign County. 17 cases and no deaths at facilities in Vermilion County. 99 cases and 12 deaths at facilities in McLean County. 12 cases and 1 death at facilities in Livingston County. 537 cases and 46 deaths at facilities in Kankakee County.
(Gilman-cf)-- This summer seemed to be one of the better growing seasons for local crops due to the amount of moisture that the area had. Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece has the details, heading into harvest.
Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau Manager David Treece
(Urbana-jm) -- The president and CEO of the Eastern Illinois Foodbank announced retirement plans yesterday. Jim Hires has served the organization for the past 15 years. He will continue to serve as president and CEO until the position is filled or his planned final day of April 2, 2021.
(Bloomington-jm) -- A bird on Bloomington’s east side has tested positive for the West Nile Virus. The McLean County Health Department reminds that even with the cooler temperatures, west nile is still around in mosquitos. They say you should remove stagnant water from your property, wear long sleeves when outside during peak mosquito hours and wear insect repellent that contains DEET.
(Champaign-cf)-- There hasn’t been much precipitation in the winter months the last few seasons. The average precipitation in the winter in the WPXN area is usually 30 inches in total. Fox 55/27 Meteorologist Doug Quick details how we could see around the same amount this winter season, but that there are other issues we could see this year…
Fox 55/27 Meteorologist Doug Quick.
(Champaign County-jm) -- Champaign County has renewed participation in an electric aggregation program. The county negotiated the 100 percent green energy for December 2020 through December 2022 at a cost of 0.04543 per kilowatt hour. Notices were sent out to all residents. Champaign County residents will be automatically enrolled unless they opt out by October 30th.
(Undated-jm) -- Ameren says it plans to invest $8 billion in renewable energy projects during the next two decades, with a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 across Illinois and Missouri. The company says it plans to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2030 and 85% by 2040, based on 2005 levels. It also will eventually close its coal-based power plants, starting with the retirement of the Meramec Energy Center in 2022 and ending with the final coal-power plant closing in 2042.
(Washington-jm) -- What's in store for pork production and hog prices? Rod Bain has the latest from Washington…
