(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois continues to see increasing initial unemployment claims. The U.S. Department of Labor reported more than 36,000 Illinoisans filed for initial unemployment claims last week. That’s 6,600 more than the week before, and a larger increase than any other state saw from the week before.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Another rating agency is giving Illinois bonds a near junk status. Fitch Ratings this week rated $850 million of general obligation bonds BBB- (triple B minus), which is just above speculative grade, which some call junk. S&P Global Ratings issued the same rating. S&P said 15 percent of the state’s budget is based on speculative revenue from federal funds and tax increases that haven’t materialized.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 5,632 new Coronavirus cases since Friday and 40 additional deaths. That brings the state’s total number of cases to 319,150 and deaths to 8,984. The 7 day positivity rate jumped from 3.8 percent Friday to 4.2 percent Sunday. The state reported more than 60,000 tests were tested on Saturday and Sunday. 1,776 people were in the hospital with COVID-19.  Of those, 388 patients were in the ICU and 159 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.   

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is launching a new streamlined, online system for reporting child abuse and neglect. The new system is much easier to use: those filing a report no longer have to register as a user, has clearer entry fields and it takes less clicks to get the information filled, says DCFS Deputy Chief of Staff Tierney Stutz…

 

 

DCFS Deputy Chief of Staff Tierney Stutz. That way, investigators can immediately begin reviewing reports. Stutz also says the child abuse hotline has also been updated, with specific prompts for kids that are reporting their own abuse or neglect, as well as for teachers and law enforcement. To file a report visit DCFS’ website or call the hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE.

 

 

(Rural Buckley-jm) -- Buckley first responders were called to an accident early Saturday morning. Emergency crews were called to a single vehicle rollover accident with injuries on I-57 southbound near mile marker 268. No word on the extent of those injuries.

 

 

(Gilman-jm) -- Those traveling north on I-57 toward Kankakee will see road construction. Crews will begin work on I-57 near Gilman starting today. No word on how long the work will last.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- The fall semester started a couple of months ago and the return to the classroom has looked different compared to years past. Gibson City Melvin Sibley Schools Superintendent Jeremy Darnell says his district has done good with the challenges so far…

 

 

Gibson City Melvin Sibley Schools Superintendent Jeremy Darnell.

 

 

(Ford County-jm) -- The Ford County Board is expected to approve their FY 21 budget at tonight’s county board meeting. In addition to the budget, county board members could approve an ordinance for a local CURE program for federal Coronavirus relief funds. The Ford County Board meeting gets underway at 7 pm.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)--The Paxton Masonic Lodge is raffling a trip to the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis Tennessee. The winner of the raffle will receive a voucher with $2,500 to use at the hotel. Tickets are $75 and only 300 will be sold.  Masonic Lodge Member James Sheral has the details… 

 

 

Masonic Lodge Member James Sheral. You can purchase your raffle ticket from any active Lodge Member, at Hudson's Drug and Hallmark shop, or from Beau Tyler the Manager of the Public House 130.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Children picking out a fall themed books at the Paxton Carnegie Library will also be able to pick up an October activity calendar. The event runs through the end of the month.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign County Association of Realtors has a new president. Liz McDonald was named president recently. McDonald is co-owner of the McDonald Group.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- The USDA released a new crop forecast report Friday.  Gary Crawford has a look at the new USDA forecasts for corn and soybean production and prices…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Cannabis sales in Illinois are booming, but the taxes the state takes in won't fix Illinois’ financial challenges, the latest figures show. Depending on the potency of the product, it can have taxes of 40 percent or more. Since the adult-use program began in Illinois, dispensaries have sold more than $431 million worth of cannabis products. The state has taken in more than $106 million in revenue. That may sound like a lot of revenue, but with a state budget of more than $40 billion, it’s a “drop in the bucket.”

 

 

(Springfield-jm) --  Illinois is one of the worst states in the country for representation on Election Day. A study by the personal finance website WalletHub compared each state’s voter distribution to its electorate distribution by race, age and gender to come up with a Voter Representation Index. Then they applied the same approach to determine the National Voter Representation Index, which compares U.S. voters to the national electorate based on four additional demographic categories: employment status, family income, educational attainment and marital status. Illinois ranked 45th in the nation with a voter representation index score of 84.11, with race representation lowering the overall score.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Illinois now has more than 319,000 Coronavirus cases and almost 9,000 deaths after the state reported 2,905 new cases Saturday and 2,727 new cases Sunday. The seven day positivity rate is now up to 4.2 percent after it was at 3.8 percent Friday. Over 66,000 tests were run Saturday and over 64,000 were run Sunday. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The pandemic has pushed the issue of voter access to the forefront, but for Illinois' disability community, it's more than just another talking point. Mary Schuermann reports…

 

 

 

(Roberts-jm) -- Roberts and Melvin firefighters were called to a house fire Sunday afternoon. Firefighters were called to the fire at 100 block of W. Maple around 2pm. Loda, Buckley, Piper City, Sibley and Thawville were also called to assist.No word on the cause of the fire or if there were any injuries.

 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) -- Iroquois County Clerk Breein Suver is announcing 9 polling location changes. 8 of the changes are temporary for the November 3rd election. The other will be a permanent change starting with the November 3rd election. Voters in Belmont 1 will now vote at the Cornerstone Church in Woodland, Belmont 2 and 3 will now vote at the Watseka High School cafeteria, Concord will now vote at the park building at Dunning Park in Iroquois, Douglas 1 will now vote at The Garage Community Center in Gilman, Loda will now vote at the Loda American Legion, Onarga 1 and 2 will now vote at the Iroquois West Middle School Gym in Onarga, Pigeon Grove will now vote at the Cissna Park American Legion. The permanent change involves Milford 2 which will now vote at the Milford Christian Church. Anyone with questions can call the Iroqouis County Clerk’s office at 815-432-6960.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is putting on a scarecrow contest. Participating businesses pay $75 and put up a scarecrow as part of the chamber’s fundraising. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director Lindsay Quick talks about the contest…

 

 

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director Lindsay Quick.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City leaders will discuss phase 5 of their combined sewer and separation project at tonight’s council meeting. Phase 5 focuses on the downtown area. The Gibson City city council meeting gets underway at 7pm.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- An area group has received a grant to help boost immune systems. Valerie Wright talks more about the grant…

 

 

Spokesperson Valerie Wright.

 

 

(Hoopeston-jm) -- Several Hoopeston government facilities are closed because of an increase in COVID-19 numbers in the community and after an employee at city hall tested positive. Hoopeston City Hall and the front window at the Hoopeston Police Department are closed until at least October 26th. The Hoopeston Public Library announced late Friday they will be closed for 3 days because an employee there tested positive. They are also changing their hours and only offering curbside services starting Tuesday. Their hours will be available by phone from 10-3 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 3-8 on Tuesday. The Hoopeston Area school district also announced they are suspending in person learning for at least two weeks after several positive cases were reported in their school district.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- The Moyer District Library in Gibson City will once again be offering their afterschool program with a new addition. The library announced Tiffani Phillips has been hired to lead the program. Phillips has been in the community for 14 years and owns a store in the community.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA's October forecasts for major crops are within industry expectations. Stephanie Ho reports…