(Springfield-jm) -- Although COVID-19 numbers are gradually improving, Governor J-B Pritzker says there is no definitive date yet for when indoor dining can resume. The Governor says mitigations will remain in place for now. The positivity rate has been dropping, but there are still a concerning number of Coronavirus patients in the hospital, especially the ICU…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says he wants to get everything open as soon as possible but also doesn’t want to yo-yo back and forth between opening and closing bars and restaurants until there is a steady improvement in the infection rate.
(Undated-jm) -- Monday the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 4,453 new Coronavirus cases and 105 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 942,362 and deaths to 16,074. Locally since the Wednesday before Christmas, Vermilion County reported 607 new cases bringing their total to 5,441. Livingston County reported 67 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 3,046 and deaths to 56. Ford County reported 23 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 1,200 and deaths to 34. McLean County reported 404 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 11,271 and deaths to 88. Iroquois County reported 44 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 2,277 and deaths to 50. Kankakee County reported 159 new cases and 6 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 10,610 and deaths to 132. Champaign County reported 247 new cases bringing their total to 13,582.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is reminding auto dealers and the public about stricter odometer laws taking effect January 1st. Under a new federal requirement, anyone selling a 2011 or later model vehicle needs to record the mileage on the title says Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt. Under the old rule, a 2011 vehicle would have been exempt from disclosing the odometer reading…
Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt. 2011 and newer vehicles will only be exempt from the odometer disclosure after 20 years, so in 2031. 2010 models and older are exempt and do not have to list the odometer reading.
(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City police have released their recent activity report. On December 22nd Robert Irvin of Gibson City was arrested on an in state warrant. On December 23rd Brett Thomas of Fisher was cited for driving while license suspended. On December 27th, Tony Harris of Gibson City was cited for driving while license suspended.
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton firefighters and investigators from the state fire marshal’s office believe a faulty electrical outlet caused a house fire in Paxton yesterday. The fire happened in the 500 block of East Orleans just before 7 am. No one was home at the time. More than 30 firefighters from Paxton, Buckley, Loda, Ludlow, Rantoul and Rankin responded to the fire.
(Washington-jm) -- Prices for hogs and pork don't really indicate much change from current herd sizes and from current production levels. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) -- The state Department of Public Health says flu activity in Illinois has been pretty minimal so far. Wearing a mask, staying home and socially distancing are not only helping to slow the spread of COVID-19, but also seasonal flu says State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike…
Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike says flu season typically peaks in January and February.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois topped 16,000 Coronavirus deaths Monday. The state reported 4,453 new cases and an additional 105 deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 942,362 and deaths to 16,074. As for local active and recovered cases, Vermilion County reported 4,623 have been released from isolation, 705 remain in isolation and 39 are hospitalized. Livingston County reported 2,848 have been removed from isolation and 142 cases are active. McLean County reported 10,136 have recovered, 1018 are in isolation and 29 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,148 have been released from isolation, 73 remain in isolation and 6 are hospitalized. Kankakee County reported 5,212 have recovered, 5246 cases are active and 19 are hospitalized. Champaign County reported 12,892 have recovered, 605 are in isolation and 8 are hospitalized.
(Springfield-jm) -- The state’s climatologist takes a look at 2020 weather in Illinois. The first five months of this year were wetter than normal across the state. The rain continued in some areas but a large path across central Illinois is ending 2020 in abnormally dry to severe drought conditions. State Climatologist Trent Ford says there was some severe weather…
State Climatologist Trent Ford. 15 of those tornadoes occurred on August 10th in the Chicago area as a derecho swept through Illinois. Ford says 2020 will likely end up in the top 30 warmest years on record in Illinois with temperatures above average especially in January and November.
(Champaign-jm) -- Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup is releasing the name of a woman killed early yesterday morning. Northrup says 36 year old Lisa Lewis died at Carle Foundation Hospital from multiple gunshot wounds from a shooting in the 2000 block of Moreland Boulevard in Champaign. An autopsy is scheduled for today. The shooting remains under investigation.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois Department of Agriculture Acting Director Jerry Costello II has set February 2, 2021 as the date for a referendum that proposes to amend the Illinois soybean marketing program. Specifically, the referendum proposes changing the terms for the members of the Program Operating Board from two three-year terms to three three-year terms. To be eligible to vote in this referendum, you must be an Illinois producer engaged in the business of producing and marketing soybeans and be affected by the Illinois soybean marketing program by having first right of ownership in any soybeans for which payment is received at the first point of sale. Eligible voters must cast their vote via absentee ballot this year due to COVID-19. Absentee ballots will be available beginning January 4, 2021 and must be received by the Illinois Department of Agriculture by no later than January 29, 2021.
(Washington-jm) -- What are some of the areas addressed regarding agriculture in the recently signed FY 2021 federal budget and coronavirus stimulus package? Rod Bain reports…
