(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Transportation is urging motorists to be careful as winter weather impacts travel across the state. Depending on where you live, you may be seeing rain, sleet or heavy snow. IDOT Spokesperson Maria Castaneda has this advice if you have to travel and the roads are bad…
IDOT Spokesperson Maria Castaneda. I-DOT will be out salting and treating roads, plowing snow and responding to emergencies. Castaneda urges drivers to give snowplows a wide berth on the road so they can do their job. You can check the latest road conditions at getting around illinois dot com.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois is among the worst states to retire in, according to WalletHub. The consumer finance website ranked Illinois No. 41 of all states to retire in. They based the ranking on affordability, quality of life and healthcare.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing a new COVID-19 vaccination webpage. The information is on the state’s coronavirus dot illinois dot gov website, and features a searchable database of vaccination sites, eligibility guidelines, frequently asked questions and more. Governor Pritzker again asks the public for patience during the vaccine rollout, noting that additional community sites are coming on line, as well as local pharmacies…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Again the website is: coronavirus dot illinois dot gov. Governor Pritzker reminds that more than three million Illinoisans are eligible for the vaccine in this next round.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,944 new Coronavirus cases and 49 additional deaths Monday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1 million 104 thousand 763 and deaths to 18,798. Locally since Friday, McLean County reported 133 new cases and 10 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 13,535 and deaths to 146. Ford County reported 6 new cases bringing their total to 1,410. Livingston County reported 42 new cases bringing their total to 3,804. Champaign County reported 279 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 15,966 and deaths to 106. Iroquois County reported 21 new cases bringing their total to 2,694. Kankakee County reported 84 new cases bringing their total to 11,828. Vermilion County reported 220 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 7,250 and deaths to 91.
(Springfield-jm) -- As the 102nd General Assembly gets underway members will face a number of issues. 104th District State Representative Mike Marron says the FOID card backlog is one of the main issues he hopes to address…
104th District State Representative Mike Marron of Fithian.
(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois announced they will be canceling in-person activities for their 2021 Moms Weekend. The move was prompted by the continuing pandemic. Moms Weekend was scheduled for April 9-11.
(Springfield-cf)-- The Illinois Department of Employment Security has seen a large influx of applications since the pandemic began. A lot of the applications were from people who have never applied for IDES benefits before, and have had steady employment says 52nd District State Senator Scott Bennett of Champaign…
52nd District State Senator Scott Bennett of Champaign.
(Champaign-jm) -- Absent a widely available vaccine, mitigation measures such as stay-at-home mandates, lockdowns or shelter-in-place orders have been the major public health policies deployed by state governments to curb the spread of COVID-19. But given the uncertain duration of such policies, questions have been raised about the potential negative mental health consequences of extended lockdowns with indefinite end dates. But according to new research co-written by a team of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign experts who study the intersection of health care and public policy, the negative mental health effects of such lockdowns are temporary and gradually decrease over time as people adjust to their “new normal.” The researchers found that social distancing policies correlated with immediate increases in interest in obtaining information about “isolation” and “worry” – but those effects tapered off two to four weeks after their respective peaks.
(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City police have released their recent activity report. On January 18th Derrick Akerlund of Loda was arrested on an in state warrant. On January 22nd, Dylan Welch of Gibson City was arrested for driving while license revoked.
(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Transportation is urging motorists to be careful as winter weather impacts travel across the state. The area is expected to see freezing rain and snow and IDOT is ready with more than 18 hundred trucks and equipment statewide to treat and plow the roads. Spokesperson Maria Castaneda says drivers should watch for slick spots especially on bridges and overpasses…
IDOT Spokesperson Maria Castaneda. Before you head out, IDOT suggests checking the latest winter road conditions at: getting around illinois dot com.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker announced new investments by the State of Illinois to help more small businesses access federal COVID-19 emergency programs. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will direct a $3.4 million investment to expand community navigator outreach programs and technical assistance services provided through the State’s Small Business Development Centers. These investments are designed to help more businesses take advantage of billions of dollars of financial assistance recently made available through the renewed Paycheck Protection Program, and with other federal programs set to launch in the coming weeks.
(Springfield-jm) -- A record 15 billion dollars is invested in Treasurer Mike Frerichs’ College Savings Programs. Both Bright Start and Bright Directions help families save for college, and be used to cover everything from tuition to books and room and board says Treasurer Frerichs…
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. Frerichs says there are currently 733 thousand accounts worth 15 billion dollars. Since 2015, families have used the money to pay for nearly five billion dollars in college expenses. Learn more at illinois treasurer dot gov.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois’ COVID totals now stand at 1 million 104 thousand 763 confirmed cases and 18,798 deaths after the state reported 2,944 new cases and 49 deaths Monday. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County reported 12,828 have recovered, 539 are in isolation and 22 are hospitalized. Livingston County reported 3,574 have been removed from isolation and 165 cases are active. Champaign County reported 15,209 have recovered, 651 are in isolation and 24 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,536 have been released from isolation, 46 are in isolation and 6 are hospitalized. Kankakee County reported 10,417 have recovered and 1,244 cases are active. Vermilion County reported 559 cases are active with 22 hospitalized.
(Paxton-cf)-- The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines require two shots for the vaccine to be 95% effective. If you only receive the first of the two doses within the 21 or 28 day time frame, you may not be as protected. Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson has the details…
Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson. If you receive your first dose at Hudson Drug and Hallmark, you will be notified by an automated phone call or text message that you are due for your second dose.
(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police have released results of recent nighttime enforcement patrols. The patrols, conducted over the weekend in Kankakee County, netted 4 citations for registration offenses, 15 for driver’s license offenses and 3 for insurance violations.
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton park district officials are hoping to bring back some adult and youth activities. Park district activities have been on hold because of the pandemic but Director Cody Evans says they want to offer programs for the community…
Paxton Park District Director Cody Evans.
(Thomasboro-jm) -- A Thomasboro man has been selected to the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association Board. Dustin Ehler with Ehler Brothers in Thomasboro was one of two recently elected board members.
(Undated-jm) -- Mediacom is announcing they are donating $10,000 to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. The donation is part of a larger $100,000 donation to combat hunger and assist families. Mediacom has local offices in Rantoul and Pontiac and a technical operations center in Mahomet.
