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The Illinois House has canceled all but one session day for next month

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois House has canceled all but one session day for next month. In a one-page memo, House Speaker Chris Welch canceled all days except February 10. That’s when members could return to the capitol building, not the Bank of Springfield Convention Center, to possibly vote on the House rules. The Illinois Senate’s next scheduled day is February 9. It’s unclear how the governor’s February 17 State of the State and Budget Address will be handled amid COVID-19 concerns.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The second year of the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program ended with 768 applications requesting over 185,000 acres submitted. The discount program opened the application period December 15th and saw the acreage limit met within its first 24-hours. In 2019, over 500 applications requesting over 133,000 acres were received. Consistent with last year’s program, qualified applicants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. 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. Recipients of the premium discount program receive $5 per acre on the following year’s crop insurance for every acre of cover crop enrolled and verified in the program.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,751 new Coronavirus cases and 81 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1 million 112 thousand 181 and deaths to 18,964. Locally, McLean County reported 30 new cases bringing their total to 13,634. Champaign County reported 49 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 16,061 and deaths to 107. Vermilion County reported 99 new cases bringing their total to 7,349. Livingston County reported 27 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 3,848 and deaths to 67. Iroquois County reported 14 new cases bringing their total to 2,668. Ford County reported 5 new cases bringing their total to 1,419. Kankakee County reported 29 new cases bringing their total to 11,875.

 

(Mahomet-jm) -- Mahomet’s fire chief has received a prestigious honor. John Koller was named the Illinois Fire Chief’s Associations 2020 Fire Chief of the Year. The award was created in 1979 to recognize outstanding fire chiefs. Koller has been chief for six years.

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The leader of the Paxton Park District is hoping to have spring and summer programs to offer both adults and youth. Director Cody Evans talks about the challenges the Coronavirus pandemic has brought to the park district…

 

 

Paxton Park District Director Cody Evans.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- First Busey Corporation reported 4th quarter earnings of $28.3 million. The Champaign based bank said it had earnings of 62 cents per share which surpassed Wall Street expectations of 57 cents per share. 

 

 

(Washington-jm) --  Landowners wishing to enroll acreage in the Conservation Reserve Program general sign-up have until February 12th to do so. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Rifle Association says the Pritzker administration is operating outside of state law with continued delays in processing Firearm Owner Identification Card and Concealed Carry License applications. The average wait for both is around 122 days when it’s only supposed to take 30 days for FOID and 90 days for CCL. Illinois State Police says there were 175,751 new FOID applications and 25,518 CCL backlogged.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The total cost of smoking in Illinois is more than $2.6 million per smoker, according to consumer finance website WalletHub. The total cost includes hundreds and thousands of dollars in out of pocket costs, healthcare costs and lost income per smoker, among other factors. Across the country, Illinois came in at No. 41.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says he expects COVID-19 vaccine shipments to ramp up in coming weeks. The Governor says Illinois hasn’t received nearly as many doses as he’d like, but that he got some good news this week…

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Additionally, Governor Pritzker says the Biden Administration is committing to minimum dose amounts set every three weeks so that states can better plan how many vaccination appointments can be offered. The Governor says in the past, they wouldn’t know how many doses were arriving until just a few days ahead of time.



(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,751 new Coronavirus cases and 81 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1 million 112 thousand 181 and deaths to 18,964. As for local active and recovered cases, McLean County reported 12,977 have recovered, 487 are in isolation and 24 are hospitalized. Champaign County reported 15,315 have recovered, 639 are in isolation and 22 are hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 552 cases are active with 22 hospitalized. Livingston County reported 3,606 have been removed from isolation and 175 cases are active. Iroquois County reported 2,562 have been released from isolation, 45 remain in isolation and 4 are hospitalized. Kankakee County reported 10,459 have recovered and 1,248 cases are active.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- If you have already had the COVID-19 virus you might have some immunity but it isn’t sure how long that immunity will last. Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson says that even if you have had the virus, you should still get vaccinated… 

 

 

Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Carle Health is loosening some of its restrictions for visitors and support persons at all of its locations. All visitors and support persons are required to wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth at all times while inside the facilities. Non-medical disposable and fabric masks are acceptable. In addition, Carle says support persons must be over the age of 18, except in end-of-life situations or if the support person is a patient's parent. Outpatient appointments and procedures will allow two support persons for patients under the age of 18, or one support person for an adult patient when social distancing can be maintained. Visitors need to use approved entrances, go directly to their patient room, and limit their movement throughout the facility.

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The Rantoul Rush, a travel baseball and softball program is hosting a fundraiser. The prizes are $3,000 for 1st place, $1,500 for 2nd place, $500 for 3rd place, and there will be 5 $100 winners. Spokesperson Ryan Birch has the details on how to get tickets… 

 

 

Rantoul Rush Spokesperson Ryan Birch. The winning tickets will be drawn on February 15th. 

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The Ford County 2020 tax sale has been postponed due to COVID-19 regulations. The new scheduled date is February 17th, 2021 at 1:00 pm.  Property owners will be able to make payments on delinquent 2019 payable 2020 taxes until February 16th, 2021. If you still need to make a tax payment, please contact the treasurer’s office for current amount due.  All payments must be in the form of cash, certified check or payments will be accepted online at gov tech tax pro dot com through the first week of February.  For more information, please contact the treasurer’s office or visit the Ford County Treasurer’s website at ford county dot illinois dot gov.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA is expecting milk production this year to increase.  Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

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