(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says current COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place for the coming weeks in anticipation of a possible post-Thanksgiving surge. The number of new cases has been declining the last few days, but that trend may not hold. Governor Pritzker says even if an area meets the metrics to ease up on mitigations, that won’t be allowed for a while…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says he has spoken to several experts, including Dr Anthony Fauci who agree. He notes another concern is that a surge of new cases will overwhelm already crowded Illinois hospitals.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 6,190 new coronavirus cases and 85 additional deaths Monday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 726,304 and deaths to 12,278. Local health departments were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday and Friday, so since Wednesday, McLean County reported 694 new cases bringing their total to 8,580. Champaign County reported 507 new cases and 6 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 10,858 and deaths to 58. Ford County reported 88 new cases bringing their total to 755. Livingston County reported 124 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 2,252 and deaths to 23. Vermilion County reported 210 new cases bringing their total to 3,103. Iroquois County reported 130 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 1,702 and deaths to 29. Kankakee County reported 501 new cases and 12 new deaths bringing their total number of cases to 8,780 and deaths to 118.
(Springfield-jm) -- It’s the last weekly crop report of the season. Temperatures were about 4 degrees above normal, even as some areas saw snow and experienced a hard freeze. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says rainfall was above normal as well…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 99 percent of winter wheat has emerged and 79 percent is rated in good to excellent condition, an improvement over the previous week.
(Undated-jm) -- A Cabery man has been arrested after police say he sold alcohol to an underage person. Illinois State Police say they conducted alcohol surveillance at 22 businesses in the Kankakee-Bradley-Bourbonnais area. John Mathis of Cabery was one of two people arrested for unlawful delivery of alcohol to a minor.
(Pesotum-jm) -- District 10 Illinois State Police in Pesotum have released results from several recent patrols. During Distracted Driving patrols in Vermilion County, 9 people were cited for hand held phone or device violations and 6 citations for texting while driving. During Roadside Safety Checks in Champaign County, 4 were arrested and cited for DUI, 4 citations were also issued for other drug or alcohol related offenses, 3 citations for occupant restraint offenses,1 for a registration offense, 11 for driver’s license offenses and 9 for insurance violations. During special traffic enforcement patrols in Vermilion County, 4 people were cited for occupant restraint offenses, 40 for speeding and 1 for distracted driving.
(Paxton-jm) -- It may be the 1st of December but now is a good time to start preparing for tax season. Shaffer Tax and Accounting in Paxton Owner Jeff Shaffer has the tax filing deadlines you need to know…
Shaffer Tax and Accounting Owner Jeff Shaffer.
(Champaign-jm) -- Phones are ringing and students are singing –
The University of Illinois’ ‘Dial-A-Carol’ is coming back this Christmas. It has been a holiday season tradition for 60 years. With COVID there will be a few changes. Callers will have 9 prerecorded songs to choose from. Dial-A-Carol will return December 11 and remain open 24 hours a day until the 17th. The number is 217-332-1882.
(Danville-jm) -- Mobile COVID-19 testing will be returning to Vermilion County. The state’s mobile testing team will be at the Vermilion County Public Health Department in Danville on Sunday, December 6th from 8 to 4.
(Mahomet-cf)-- If you live in Mahomet and are needing assistance paying bills, rent, or any other expense you can request money from the Mahomet Community Fund. Also, if you would like to donate to the fund Spokesperson for the Mahomet Community Fundy Leah Wenger has the details…
Spokesperson for the Mahomet Community Fund Leah Wenger. Once again the website is mahometcommunityemergencyfund.com.
(Gibson City-jm) -- A Normal man is facing multiple charges following an incident in Gibson City. Dezel Dotts was arrested on November 23rd. He is charged with home invasion, aggravated battery, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated assault, criminal damage to government supported property, threatening a public official and resisting and trying to disarm a peace officer. He was taken to the Ford County Jail.
(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.
(Washington-jm) -- Producers interested in applying for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program have a little more than one week left to apply. Stephanie Ho reports…
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois now has 726,304 Coronavirus cases and 12,278 Coronavirus related deaths after the state reported 6,190 new cases and 85 additional deaths Monday. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County reported 7,043 have recovered, 1465 are in isolation and 22 are hospitalized. Champaign County reported 9,876 have recovered, 924 are in isolation and 17 are hospitalized. Livingston County reported 2,024 have been removed from isolation and 205 cases are active. Vermilion County reported 219 cases are active with 29 hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 1,124 have been released from isolation, 529 remain in isolation and 20 are hospitalized. Kankakee County reported 3,979 have recovered, 4683 cases are active and 83 are hospitalized.
(Springfield-jm) -- It’s the last weekly crop report of the season. Rainfall over the past week was more than an inch above normal, increasing average statewide topsoil moisture to 3 percent very short, 13 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 99 percent of winter wheat has emerged…
State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. Pasture conditions also improved and were rated 53 percent in good to excellent condition.
(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton Buckley Loda Education Foundation is looking to raise $4,000 as part of Giving Tuesday. The foundation will use the money to provide Clara Peterson students free monthly books through the remainder of the school year. Donations can be made through the PBL Education Foundations facebook page. Six local businesses have pledged additional matching $500 donations as the fundraiser reaches certain benchmarks. The fundraiser runs through December 6th.
(Fisher-jm) -- A Fisher 5th grader has received a national honor. Jordynn Huskisson was named Little Miss of America 2021 over the weekend. Huskisson was the reigning Little Miss of the Midwest in 2020.
(Fisher-cf)-- The Village of Fisher’s Christmas Parade this year will be different than recent years. There will be a drive through Santa this year where kids can still write letters to Santa, and deliver them to him…
Fisher Parade Spokesperson Kristin Darling. The Drive-Thru Santa will take place at the Fisher Community Building on Saturday from 10 to Noon.
(Vermilion County-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced it’s hosting mentored archery deer hunting for adults and youths at the Kickapoo State Park Recreational Area near Danville. It will run from December 13 through January 3, 2021. Applications are due by December 4th.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois Department of Agriculture will open the second year of the Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program December 15th with a few new requirements. This year applicants will be required to certify their cover crops approved through their local FSA office before applying. Applicants will also need their current FSA-578 and federal crop insurance policy number(s) for the 2021 application process. The program is applicable for acreage in Illinois planted to cover crops in the fall of 2020 that will be planted to an insurable crop in 2021. Eligible applicants receive a $5 per acre premium discount on the following year’s crop insurance invoice for every acre of cover crop enrolled and verified in the program.
(Paxton-jm) -- The WPXN news Spotlight on area businesses features Shields Auto Mart of Paxton. Shields AutoMart in Paxton. General Manager Pete Klein talks about their exclusive lifetime powertrain warranty…
Shields AutoMart in Paxton General Manager Pete Klein.
(St. Joseph-jm) -- The St. Joseph-Swearinger Memorial Library will once again be holding their book sale. The book sale will take place December 7th through January 28th with the cost being by donation. Hours are Monday and Wednesday 1-8 pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9 to 7 and Saturday 9 to 3.
(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police have released results from two enforcement patrols conducted over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. During Nighttime Enforcement Patrols, troopers issued 1 citation of an occupant restraint violation, 7 for registration offenses, 3 for drivers license offenses and 2 for insurance offenses. During Special Traffic Patrols, troopers issued 1 citation for distracted driving, 2 for DUI, 20 for occupant restraint violations and 192 for speeding.
(Washington-jm) -- Increases in prices received for commodities in the livestock index led to a slight uptick in USDA's Agricultural Prices report covering October. Rod Bain reports…
