(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says the stricter COVID-19 mitigations placed on some regions of the state will be enforced. Some of the new restrictions now affecting four Illinois regions include no indoor dining or bar services, and gathering are limited to 25 people or less. The Governor says it’s important for businesses and the public to follow these rules…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritkzer says bars and restaurants still failing to comply could lose their liquor license, which could be hard to get back if regulations aren’t being followed.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Restaurant Association says they can’t allow 20 percent of restaurants and 120,000 jobs in Illinois go away. That’s how many IRA President and CEO Sam Toia said could close for good if they aren’t allowed to have indoor service because of COVID-19. Toia supported such efforts in the spring and summer but said the science has changed and the way COVID-19 should be dealt with should too.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The tour continues for some Illinois statehouse Republicans.  Dubbed the “Restore Illinois Bus Tour,” the group of lawmakers are voicing support for President Trump and discussing political corruption in the state. The tour started Tuesday and continues into the weekend. Saturday the tour will stop in Champaign, Mattoon and Effingham. The group made a stop in Bloomington yesterday.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the state, and some areas are seeing stricter safety measures put into place. The latest daily total is 49 hundred 42 new infections and 44 additional deaths. Four out of 11 state regions are under tighter mitigations as a result, with region one in northwestern Illinois now getting additional restrictions such as further limiting groups of people, especially at bars and restaurants says Governor J-B Pritzker…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Hospitalizations are also increasing, with more than 24 hundred Illinois COVID patients currently admitted. As of last night, 525 were in the ICU and 212 were on ventilators.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- As for local case numbers, McLean County reported 34 new cases bringing their total to 3,977. Champaign County reported 44 new cases bringing their total to 5,746. Livingston County reported 12 new cases bringing their total to 628. Vermilion County reported 18 new cases bringing their total to 1,390. Kankakee County reported 61 new cases bringing their total to 3,326. Iroquois County reported 5 new cases and one additional death bringing their total to 519 and deaths to 20. Ford County reported no new cases.

 

 

(Ashkum-jm) -- With one Nighttime Enforcement Patrol complete, District 21 Illinois State Police in Ashkum are gearing up for another round of patrols. WPXNs Jason Madden has those details…

 

 

 

(Thomasboro-jm) -- Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup has released the names of the two individuals killed in an accident on Route 45 between Rantoul and Thomasboro Wednesday evening. Northrup and Illinois State Police say 67 year old Steven Block of Urbana was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes when he struck a vehicle driven by 28 year old Kristina Freeman-Mann of Rantoul. Block and Freeman-Mann were pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger in Freeman-Mann’s car was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. An autopsy is scheduled for today on Mr. Block.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- A Chicago man was found guilty in Champaign County court of predatory sexual assault of a child. A Champaign County jury found 43-year-old Caribe Jones guilty of the charge on Thursday. Jones is being held at the Champaign County Correctional Center, where he awaits sentencing on December 14th. He faces six to 60 years in prison.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul village leaders approved a loan for a business in the village. Administrator Scott Eisenhower talks about the loan and how it will help the business…

 

 

Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhower.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A former paramedic has been convicted of sexually assaulting a patient while she was in an ambulance with him. Jeffrey Sanford Jr. of Gifford, was convicted on two counts of sexual assault for the incident and faces four to 15 years in prison. He will be sentenced December 29th.  Rantoul police are also investigating a report made that Sanford may have performed sex acts on a 93-year-old woman while she was unable to consent.

 

Paxton IGA will be hosting a cookout benefiting LIA Women’s Club on Saturday, from 10-2.

(Springfield-jm) --  Even during a time when the economy was notably strong, Illinois lost ground in ensuring children have access to health coverage. Mary Schuermann reports…

 

 

 

(Sprignfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services transitioned to a new healthcare system, YouthCare, and it's led to some controversy. In September, DCFS introduced YouthCare as a way to improve access to healthcare for children in their custody. On Thursday, the Senate Human Services Committee met for a hearing to give an update on YouthCare. Some of those that testified said some providers in the state are unaware of the new system which makes it harder for them to receive care.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Municipalities across Illinois continue to wait for COVID-19 relief funding allocated by the federal government, but state officials said they aren't withholding the funding. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or Cares Act, approved this spring allotted $150 million for towns and cities in Illinois, but so far the Illinois Municipal League said only $21 million has been released by Governor J.B. Pritzker’s administration.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the state, and some areas are seeing stricter safety measures put into place. Region one in Northwestern Illinois continues to have one of the highest positivity rates in the state which warrants further mitigations, says Governor J-B Pritzker. That includes a further reduction on groups and indoor activities since the virus is most easily spread via droplets from talking loudly, eating and drinking…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The latest daily new case total is over 49 hundred. The good news is that the state is averaging about 70 thousand tests a day. To find a testing site near you, visit: coronavirus dot illinois dot gov and click on resources.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County reported 3,647 have recovered, 285 are in isolation and 14 hospitalized. Champaign County reported 5,417 have recovered, 301 are in isolation and 7 hospitalized. Livingston County reported 528 have been removed from isolation, 90 cases are active and 4 hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 1,195 have been released, 175 are in isolation and 9 hospitalized. Kankakee County reported 2,709 have recovered, 542 cases are active with 28 hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 449 have been released from isolation, 45 are in isolation and 5 hospitalized. Ford County reported 208 have been released from isolation, 34 are in isolation and 6 hospitalized.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- This week’s Scott’s Tips for Success has to do with winterizing your home. Scott Allen with Paxton Hardware and Rental has these tips…

 

 

Paxton Hardware and Rentals Scott Allen. You can hear more tips for winterizing your home tomorrow morning at 7:30 with Scott’s Tips for Success.

 

 

(Mahomet-jm) -- A Mahomet man has been arrested for the hit and run death of a bicyclist. 41 year old Robert O’Malley was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Police say O’Malley struck and killed one bicyclist and injured another one on Route 150 near Mahomet on October 11th before leaving the scene. 

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Costco officially opened Thursday morning in Champaign. The new store is in the former Bergner's in Market Place Mall in Champaign.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City will be purchasing a new truck next year after one of their current ones was totaled. Mayor Dan Dickey explains why the city chose that route…

 

 

Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Champaign County Area home sales continued to surge in September rising 27.44 percent over a year ago, also marking a 14-year high for September sales according to the Champaign County Association of Realtors. There were 274 home sales in Champaign County in September 2020, an increase of 27.44 percent from 215 homes sold in September 2019. The last time September sales reached that level was in 2006 when there were 275 home sales. Year-to-date home sales through September of 2020 totaled 2,335, an increase of 9.68 percent from 2,129 sales in the prior year. The median home sale price in September for Champaign County was $180,000, up 12.5 percent as compared to $159,900 in September 2019. The average number of days on the market stood at 56 days for Champaign County home sales, that is 21 days fewer than September 2019.  Inventory of homes for sale stood at 848 properties on the market. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage for the month of September was 2.89 percent, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, down from 3.61 percent in September 2019 and down from 2.93 percent in August of 2020.

 

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at MarketPlace Mall in Champaign today from 11-4.