(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is laying out the state’s plan for distributing the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. If the vaccine from Pfizer is approved by the FDA next week, Illinois is expected to get about 109 thousand doses in mid-December. These initial doses will be going to health care workers in the 50 counties with the highest number of cases says Governor J-B Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Since the Pfizer vaccine is administered in two doses, three weeks apart, the Governor says no one will be fully immunized by Christmas. The state has about 655 thousand frontline health care workers that will be first up to get the vaccine. After that, the vaccine will be distributed to long term care and assisted living facilities.
(Springfield-jm) -- Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is closing Driver Services Facilities for another month due to the pandemic. The facilities will be closed for most in person transactions through January 4th. In the meantime, Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt reminds there are several things you can take care of online…
Illinois Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt. Haupt says some facilities will be open just for new drivers to get a license and for CDL applications. Visit cyber drive illinois dot com to see if there is one open near you.
(Springfield-jm) -- Voter turnout for the November election in Illinois reached nearly 73 percent. That’s the highest turnout for a presidential election since 1992 and remarkable since it was held in the midst of a pandemic, says State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich…
State Board of Elections Spokesperson Matt Dietrich. The November 2020 election set several records, for the number of voters registered, votes cast and mail in ballots received.
(Gibson City-cf)-- Those in the GIbson City Melvin Sibley School district will see a slight increase in property taxes, as expected with the new school that was built for the district. G-C-M-S Schools Superintendent Jermey Darnell has the details on the increase…
G-C-M-S Schools Superintendent Jermey Darnell
(Ford County-jm) -- The Ford County Board will hold a special organizational meeting today. The board will swear in newly elected members then choose a new chairperson and vice chair. Currently board chairman Robert Lindgren was not re-elected. The organizational meeting will take place at 4pm.
(Danville-jm) -- The Vermilion County Farm Bureau will host a wind and solar farm informational meeting today starting at 6pm. The meeting takes place on zoom.
(Undated-jm) -- The future of House Speaker Mike Madigan remains unclear. Recently several members associated close to the longtime and powerful speaker were indicted. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says the recent indictments have increased calls for the speaker to resign…
53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.
(Urbana-jm) -- A Rantoul man has been sentenced to 7 and a half years in federal prison for transportation and possession of child pornography. William Armstrong was arrested in June and pleaded guilty to the charges in August. He was ordered to remain on federal supervised release for 10 years at the end of his prison term. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
(Ludlow-jm) -- Ludlow’s first phase of their water main project will be larger than expected. The approved bid was almost $1 million lower than the engineer estimated. The project will include overhaul of the water plant and replace about half of the village’s water mains to pvc.
(Washington-jm) -- The pork industry may expand production again next year, but that expansion may be less "expansive". Gary Crawford has the details…
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging safety when it comes to putting up holiday decorations. The first concern is lights. Fire Marshal Spokesperson JC Fultz has this advice…
State Fire Marshal Spokesperson JC Fultz. Candles are another hazard and should be kept away from anything potentially flammable. More than half of home decoration fires in December are caused by candles.
(Springfield-jm) -- Struggling to pay your utility bills? Some Illinois, gas, electric and water companies are committing to help customers through the winter. As the second wave of the pandemic sweeps across the state, many are still having a tough time financially. Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Carrie Zalewski says utilities are offering options to qualifying customers, but you need to ask…
Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Carrie Zalewski. Funds are also available to help pay past due bills, or you can request that your payments be deferred. Some of these options have a deadline, most in late December, so the I-C-C urges people to call their utility now.
(Rantoul-cf)-- The Rantoul Recreation department is hosting their senior lunch program every Wednesday up until Christmas. If you would like a meal you have to call 217-893-5700. Spokesperson Andy Graham has the rest of the details to enter…
Rantoul Recreation Director of the senior lunch program Andy Graham.
(St. Joseph-jm) -- The St. Joseph-Swearinger Memorial Library will once again be holding their book sale. The book sale will take place today 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.
(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois is revising on campus COVID testing. Beginning today, students, faculty and staff getting tested will have to use a straw to deposit their saliva into a smaller test tube. Campus officials say it should speed up the time it takes to get test results.
(Watseka-jm) -- The consolidated election may not take place until April but you can now begin circulating petitions. Iroquois County Clerk Breein Suver explains the consolidated election…
Iroquois County Clerk Breein Suver. You can begin filing your petitions December 14th.
(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police in Ashkum is releasing results of recent Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols. During patrols, troopers issued 39 safety belt and 1 child restraint citations.
(Danville-jm) -- Several Vermilion County officials recently were sworn in. Erika Briggs was sworn in as auditor, Melissa Quick was sworn in as circuit clerk, Jane McFadden as Coroner, Dave Stone as recorder, Aaron Hird was regional schools superintendent and Jacquiline Lacy as state’s attorney.
(Washington-jm) -- There is money to be made in the beef cattle business, depending on what part of the business you're in. Gary Crawford has the details…
