(Springfield-jm) -- For those going through the COVID-19 vaccination process or who are about to, the Illinois Department of Public Health has some reminders. You won’t reach maximum protection against the Coronavirus until 10 to 14 days after you receive the second dose of the vaccine, says State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. But she says that doesn’t mean you don’t still need to be careful…
State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike says the good news is that the COVID vaccine is about 95 percent effective, a far greater percentage than the annual flu shot which is around 40 to 50 percent effective.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,314 new Coronavirus cases and 69 additional deaths Wednesday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1 million 134 thousand 231 and deaths to 19,375. Locally, Livingston County reported 8 new cases bringing their total to 3,949. McLean County reported 57 new cases bringing their total to 13,947. Champaign County reported 113 new cases bringing their total to 16,604. Iroquois County reported 7 new cases bringing their total to 2,697. Ford County reported 7 new cases bringing their total to 1,458.
(Springfield-jm) -- Unemployment benefits fraud continues across the country. Here’s what to do if it happens to you. The fraud is occuring because someone likely got your personal information from a data breach, such as the one at Equifax a few years ago, or other cyber attacks says Illinois Department of Employment Security Director Kristin Richards. She explains how you’ll know if you’ve been targeted…
Illinois Department of Employment Security Director Kristin Richards. Richards says if this happens, you can report it online by visiting: ides dot illinois dot gov and clicking on “fraud and identity theft.”
(Urbana-jm) -- Champaign County Sheriff’s deputies helped resuscitate a 27-year-old man this week who was experiencing a heroin overdose. Sheriff Dustin Heuerman says deputies were dispatched around 7:30 p.m. to an Urbana motel to help with a medical emergency. When they arrived, they found a man laying on the floor, not breathing and unresponsive. Deputies then administered four doses of Narcan to him and did chest compressions until paramedics arrived. The man regained consciousness shortly after emergency medical personnel arrived.
(Springfield-jm) -- An area state representative has been named to a leadership role in the new General Assembly. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City was named to the leadership team by GOP leaders…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Watseka-jm) -- Iroquois County Mobile Home Privilege tax bills will be sent out in the coming months. Treasurer Kurt Albers says tax bills will be mailed out the first week of March. Anyone with questions is asked to call Albers office at 815-432-6985.
(Ashkum-jm) -- Illinois State Police will be conducting occupant restraint enforcement patrols this Friday. WPXN’s Jason Madden has the details…
(Springfield-jm) -- Attorney General Kwame Raoul is joining a nationwide effort to protect the public from robocalls. Attorney General Raoul and many of his counterparts in other states are seeking to overturn a federal court decision that said the Telephone Consumer Protection Act could not be used to fight Robocalls from 2015 to 2020…
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Raoul says despite telephone spam filters, Robocalls remain a top consumer complaint.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,314 new Coronavirus cases and 69 additional deaths Wednesday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1 million 134 thousand 231 and deaths to 19,375. As for local active and recovered cases, Livingston County reported 3,766 have been removed from isolation and 114 cases are active. McLean County reported 13,369 have recovered, 398 are in isolation and 23 are hospitalized. Champaign County reported 15,856 have recovered, 636 are in isolation and 29 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,611 have been released from isolation and 29 remain in isolation.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois schools have served more than 113 million meals to families during the COVID-19 pandemic. School breakfast and lunch programs remained a vital resource, even as kids learned from home says the Illinois State Board of Education Principal Consultant Tim Murphy…
Illinois State Board of Education Principal Consultant Tim Murphy. Murphy says schools had to adapt and offer curbside and advance pick up to help minimize exposure. Murphy says they are looking for more schools, camps, community groups and the like to participate in the state’s summer meals program.
(St. Joseph-jm) -- A bridge is now closed for at least two years after a hit and run. An oversize load struck a part of the bridge on Champaign County Road 2000 East over Interstate 74 just west of St. Joseph. IDOT says they have not found the person responsible. Drivers are urged to use county roads 1800 East, 1900 East, and 2200 East as alternate routes.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker may get his bailout as the Biden Administration takes over. Governor Pritzker’s budget relied on federal money which 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman says doesn’t solve the state’s problems…
53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.
(Paxton-jm) -- Ford County Sheriff Mark Doran is awarding a $500 scholarship through the Illinois Sheriff’s Association. To be eligible the applicant must be a permanent Illinois resident, attend an in state school and be registered as a full time student for the 2021-2022 school year. The deadline to apply is March 15th. Applications can be picked up at the Ford County Sheriff’s Office.
(Rantoul-cf)-- OSF Medical Centers now have two vaccination clinics in Champaign County. One in Champaign-Urbana and now at the Rantoul Youth Center. President of OSF Dr. Jared Rodgers has the details on how they chose the Youth Center…
OSF President Dr. Jared Rodgers. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith received his first dose Wednesday morning, and is encouraging the public to do the same…
Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith.
A Illinois Conservation Cropping Seminar will take place virtually this morning from 9-11 am. More details are available at c-c-s-w-c-d dot com.
