(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois saw more than $100 million in marijuana sales in October. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation says there was a record $75 million in recreational pot sales last month. Sales of medical marijuana totaled another $33 million. Illinois officials say the first 10 months of legal cannabis sales total more than $500 million, with about $300 million in medical pot sales.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is urging struggling businesses to apply for Business Interruption Grants. Plenty of money is still available in this second round of grants, which don’t need to be paid back says DCEO Director Erin Guthrie…
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Erin Guthrie. Guthrie says they are really focusing on getting more downstate, minority owned and agriculture businesses to apply in this round. It’s taking about two to three weeks for the department to process grant applications. Find out more at dceo dot illinois dot gov.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois topped another 10,000 new Coronavirus cases Monday bringing the state’s total to 498,560 and deaths to 10,210. Locally since Friday, McLean County reported 260 new cases bringing their total to 5,508. Champaign County reported 170 new cases bringing their total to 7,129. Vermilion County reported 71 new cases bringing their total to 1,925. Livingston County reported 177 new cases bringing their total to 1,153. Kankakee County reported 502 new cases bringing their total to 5,164. Ford County reported 71 new cases bringing their total to 396. Iroquois County reported 104 new cases bringing their total to 879.
(Undated-jm) -- As for case numbers in area communities per the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments since the start of the pandemic: 593 in Rantoul, 289 in Mahomet, 177 in Fairbury, 174 in Hoopeston, 164 in St. Joseph, 159 in Paxton, 125 in Watseka, 124 in Clifton, 119 in Gilman, 107 in Chebanse, 92 in Gibson City, 75 in Cissna Park, 69 in Fisher, 68 each in Piper City and Onarga, 63 in Forrest, 51 in Milford, 48 in Potomac, 35 in Chatsworth, 33 in Crescent City, 32 each in Thomasboro and Danforth, 30 in Loda, 28 in Gifford, 26 in Rankin, 25 in Donovan, 21 in Cabery, 19 in Sheldon, 18 each in Melvin and Beaverville, 17 each in Buckley and Martinton, 14 each in Roberts and Penfield, 11 each in Ludlow, Thawville, Foosland and Elliott, 10 in Strawn, 9 in Kempton and 8 each in Dewey and Cullom.
(Undated-jm) -- According to the state, 10 school districts across the state have outbreaks in the schools. Locally, Central High School has an outbreak with between 5 and 10 cases involving students.
(Springfield-jm) -- Corn and soybean harvesting is starting to wrap up as we hear in the weekly crop report. It was a warm, dry week in Illinois, giving farmers plenty of time in the fields says State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 97 percent of winter wheat has been planted and 90 percent emerged. Average statewide topsoil moisture decreased to six percent very short, 25 percent short, 67 percent adequate and two percent surplus.
(Undated-jm) -- Gibson Area Hospital announced late Monday all Elite locations will be closed until at least December 1st. The hospital said the closure is for the health and safety of clients and staff.
(Springfield-jm) -- Business owners who need assistance guiding through the public health recommendations have an option. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says the Illinois Department of Labor is offering a free service for businesses owners…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City. That website again is illinois dot gov slash work safe.
(Undated-jm) -- The Paxton and Rantoul town councils meet tonight. In Rantoul, the Rantoul village board will meet at 6 to consider the purchase of a new front end loader, consider the village's tax levy and consider a local CURES program. At 7 tonight, the Paxton city council will consider a zoning change for Eastern Illini and consider amending some definitions for zoning codes. The Rantoul village board meeting gets underway at 6 and the Paxton city council meeting gets underway at 7.
(Paxton-cf)-- The PBL Education Foundation is currently hosting their annual fundraiser. The money raised goes to literacy programs, and this year still will, but it will also go to a new area. Pandemic relief..
PBL Education Foundation President Robin Neiwold. If you would like to donate you can do so at pbleducationfoundation.org
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton firefighters were called to a structure fire early Monday afternoon. Firefighters got the call at 90 N 2280 E just before 1. Ludlow, Loda and Gifford were called to assist. The structure was a total loss. No word on the cause of the fire.
(Roberts-jm) -- Roberts is looking for a new ordinance officer. Janet Walker announced she is resigning at the end of the month. Those interested in the position can email village president Matt Vaughan at mavaughan76 at gmail dot com. You do not have to be a resident of Roberts to apply for the position.
(Springfield-jm) -- Three members of the special investigative committee looking into allegations against House Speaker Michael Madigan are calling the actions of the committee into question, specifically those of Committee Chairman Representative Chris Welch. In the 71 days since the petition, the committee has only met twice and has heard from one voluntary witness. As of yesterday, no committee hearings scheduled for the foreseeable future.
(Springfield-jm) -- Three regions of the state are about to be under even stricter COVID-19 mitigations. Regions 5, 7 and 8, which includes southern Illinois and Will, Kankakee, DuPage and Kane Counties will be subject to Tier 2 restrictions starting Wednesday says Governor J-B Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The three regions join northwestern Illinois, which has been under Tier Two for a few weeks now. Governor Pritzker says statewide, the number of daily COVID cases has increased 380 percent since October 1st.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois reported 10,573 new cases Monday and 14 additional deaths. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County reported 4,502 have recovered, 952 are in isolation and 13 are hospitalized. Champaign County reported 6,679 have recovered, 420 are in isolation and 6 are hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 1,669 have been released from isolation, 220 are in isolation and 21 are hospitalized. Livingston County reported 905 have been removed from isolation and 236 cases are active. Kankakee County reported 3,035 have recovered, 2,027 cases are active and 48 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 551 have been released from isolation, 299 are in isolation and 8 are hospitalized. Ford County could not provide updated active and recovered information at this time.
(Undated-jm) -- Sadly several COVID related deaths were reported in the area over the weekend. McLean County added 2 new deaths bringing their total to 41. Champaign County added 3 new deaths bringing their total to 32. Vermilion County added 1 new death bringing their total to 15. Ford County had an additional death bringing their total to 17. Iroquois County also added one new death bringing their total to 21.
(Undated-jm) -- Cases have also been reported in Long Term Care facilities locally. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 139 cases and 14 deaths have been tied to facilities in Ford County. 136 cases and 18 deaths have been tied to facilities in Iroquois County. 193 cases and 10 deaths have been tied to facilities in Champaign County. 56 cases and 1 death has been tied to facilities in Vermilion County. In Kankakee County 581 cases and 47 deaths have been tied to facilities. 30 cases and 1 death have been tied to facilities in Livingston County. In McLean County 228 cases and 23 deaths have been tied to facilities.
(Springfield-jm) -- Corn and soybean harvesting is starting to wrap up as we hear in the weekly crop report. Thanks to a warm, dry week in Illinois, 95 percent of corn and 96 percent of soybeans have been harvested. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener gives an update on winter wheat…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Average statewide topsoil moisture declined to six percent very short, 25 percent short, 67 percent adequate and two percent surplus.
(Undated-jm) -- The American Soybean Association is seeking candidates for their soy scholarship. The scholarship is available to high school seniors interested in an ag career. The deadline to apply is December 6th. Application details are available online at american soybean dot wufoo dot com slash forms.
(Paxton-jm) -- Accolade Paxton Senior Living is hosting a Thanksgiving food drive. The facility is looking for non perishable food items such as stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, canned vegetables and other Thanksgiving themed food. Spokesperson Laura Hicks has the details on how you can drop those items off…
Accolade Paxton Senior Living Thanksgiving Food Drive Spokesperson Laura Hicks. The donations will be given out to students in area schools.
(Undated-jm) -- The Vermilion County Board and St. Joseph village board meet tonight. The Vermilion County Board will meet at 6 where county board members are expected to approve the appointments of several individuals to the county board of health, hear an update on the county’s land bank program and consider budget amendments for the county coroner and state’s attorney. In St. Joseph at 7, village board members will be asked to approve the village’s tax levy and approve a bid for $2,450 to remove 5 trees in the village. The Vermilion County Board meeting gets underway at 6 with the St. Joseph village board meeting getting underway at 7.
(Rantoul-cf)-- The Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County’s Holiday Bureau pickup system for this year's event will look a little different this year. Director of the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County Andy Kulyzcki has the details…
Director of the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County Andy Kulyzcki.
(Champaign-jm) -- A University of Illinois student was attacked outside a fraternity house Friday. The student was walking through a parking lot adjacent to the fraternity house in the 400 block of East John St. in Champaign around 11:30 p.m. when he said three men got out of a vehicle parked on the street nearby and assaulted him. The student went to a local hospital for treatment of facial injuries. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Champaign Police Department at 217-351-4545 or crime stoppers at 217-373-8477.
(Danville-jm) -- Registration for spring and winter courses at Danville Area Community College is underway. Winter courses run December 21st through January 8th online only. The spring semester starts January 19th.
