(Springfield-jm) -- About one million children in Illinois will soon be receiving additional monthly food aid. The state has qualified for an expansion of the pandemic E-B-T program, giving many eligible families a little extra to help feed their kids. Governor J-B Pritzker says enrollment is automatic…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The card will be sent out next month to qualifying kids not able to access free or reduced meals at school. The federally funded expansion will be able to reach 200 thousand more children than last year.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois is the second most corrupt state and Chicago is the most corrupt city in the country, according to a new report from the University of Illinois at Chicago. The report shows over several decades, Illinois has the second-most corruption cases per-capita behind Louisiana. Chicago beat out Los Angeles for the top spot.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says one in seven Illinoisans have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. About 56 thousand doses are administered each day in Illinois, but that could soon increase says Governor J-B Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor says if the Johnson and Johnson version of the vaccine is approved later this week, states are being told they will see a 20 percent increase in doses by the end of March.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,022 new Coronavirus cases and 44 additional deaths Wednesday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,179,342 and deaths to 20,374. Champaign County reported 59 new cases bringing their total to 18,060. Ford County reported 9 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 1,564 and deaths to 43. Iroquois County reported 3 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 2,771 and deaths to 59. Vermilion County reported 51 new cases bringing their total number of cases to 8,436.
(St. Joseph-jm) -- An area community is planning for the future. St. Joseph is seeing growth and Mayor Tami Fruhling says they are preparing for even more growth in the coming years…
St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling.
(Roberts-jm) -- Roberts and Melvin firefighters were called to a grain dryer fire. Crews were called to the fire at 1528 N State Route 115 just before 3pm.
(Springfield-jm) -- Local reaction continues to come in after former House Speaker Mike Madigan announced last week he was resigning from his House seat. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington called it historic…
53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Commerce Commission is reminding residential and business customers that, beginning February 27, 2021, mandatory dialing will occur where all local calls made within the Illinois 217 Area Code will have to be placed using the 10-digit telephone number. That day, the 447 area code will be added as an overlay to the region currently served by area code 217 to ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers for the area. Your number will not change unless you get a new phone number.
Over 670,000 FFA students will be participating in FFA Week across the country. WPXN was able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Bryce Sluis from Cissna Park High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
We were also able to talk with Rantoul FFA member Pascaline Grace Phongo
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritkzer is announcing a 15 million dollar loan program for small Illinois towns hit by record spiking natural gas prices. The extreme weather has caused prices to skyrocket and that is hitting downstate communities especially hard says Governor Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The Governor is calling on the Illinois Finance Authority to put together the low interest loan program. It would help municipalities spread payments out over a more manageable timeframe, although officials say they are hoping federal assistance will be available as well.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois is not the best state to own a firearm. According to an annual ranking from Guns 'n Ammo Magazine, Illinois ranks 41st in the nation for gun ownership due to lawmakers banning many components legalized elsewhere, proposals to reform the state's FOID card and a crackdown on gun sales. In spite of that, federal records show a record number of gun purchases in 2020.
(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois’ hemp harvest fell slightly last year. Hemp farmers harvested nearly 24 hundred acres during the second season of the industry. That’s down from 2019 when farmers harvested just over 28 hundred acres of hemp says State Department of Agriculture Division of Cannabis Manager David Lakeland…
Illinois Department of Agriculture Division of Cannabis Manager David Lakeland. Lakeland says they are now accepting applications for the 2021 hemp season. More information is available on the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s website.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,022 new Coronavirus cases and 44 additional deaths Wednesday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,179,342 and deaths to 20,374. As for local active and recovered cases, Champaign County reported 17,460 have recovered, 476 are in isolation and 11 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,689 have been released from isolation, 13 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 262 cases are active and 12 are hospitalized.
(Mahomet-jm) -- The Mahomet Area Youth Club will be hosting their annual fundraiser coming up next week. Director Sara Balgoyen says they will have a virtual silent and live auction…
Mahomet Area Youth Club Director Sara Balgoyen. You must register to participate. It is free to sign up. Visit mayc auction dot com to register and check out the items on the silent and live auction.
(Hoopeston-jm) -- The Hoopeston City Council is now at full capacity. Steve Eyrich was recently sworn in to fill the Ward 1 alderman vacancy. The council recently filled another open seat.
(Springfield-jm) -- State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City is announcing some committees he has been assigned to. Representative Bennett discusses the committees…
104th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Undated-jm) -- The Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley is announcing scholarship applications are now underway. The scholarships are available to high school seniors in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. Deadline to apply is February 28, 2021. More details are available at: cfkrv dot org then click on the scholarship tab.
With FFA week being this week and we were able to talk with several students from area FFA Chapters. Christina White from PBL High School’s FFA Chapter talks about what is going on today.
We were also able to talk with Fisher FFA member Lacey Cotter
Stay tuned to our local newscasts as we will have more from our FFA students all week.
