(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,143 new Coronavirus cases and 20 additional deaths Monday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,187,839 and deaths to 20,563. Locally Champaign County reported 75 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 18,236 and deaths to 129. Iroquois County reported 1 new case bringing their total to 2,778. Ford County reported 9 new cases bringing their total to 1,586. Vermilion County did not have a report Tuesday.

 

 

(St. Joseph-jm) -- A trail that would connect Urbana to Danville is coming along. The Kickapoo Rail Trail is a bike and walking path being created along an old railroad line that would go from Urbana through St. Joseph and over to Kickapoo State Park and Danville. St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling has been apart of the group…

 

 

St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- A new Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois has been named. The Department of Justice announced that Douglas J. Quivey is now serving in this role, effective Monday. This comes after former U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois John C. Milhiser announced his resignation last month.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Senate Executive committee, which typically reviews the most important and most controversial legislation, now has a new ranking Republican member, as 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman has been elevated to the top spot for his caucus. Senator Barickman, who serves in caucus leadership as the Senate Republican Caucus Chair, will also be taking on the role of Republican spokesperson for the Redistricting Committee.

 

 

(Mahomet-jm) -- The Mahomet Area Youth Club is hosting their annual fundraiser. Starting March 1st, the group will hold a virtual silent auction through the week culminating with a virtual live auction at 6pm on March 6th. Director Sara Balgoyen talks about some of the items on the silent auction…

 

 

Mahomet Area Youth Club Director Sara Balgoyen. In order to bid, you must register. It’s free and can be done by visiting mayc auction dot com. You can also check out the live auction on that site on March 6th.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Two Rantoul men are facing attempted robbery charges. Police say Angel Quinones and Moises Concepcion-Roman are accused of robbing a man coming out of a Rantoul restaurant on South Garrard Street. Police say the victim noticed a flat tire on his vehicle, while he was checking it out Quinones and Concepcion-Roman approached him and pointed a BB gun and demanded money.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- An elevator at the Ford County courthouse will be upgraded. It’ll cost about $158,000 and will bring the elevator into ADA compliance.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) --  The University of Illinois System received emergency use authorization today from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for covidSHIELD, its innovative saliva-based COVID-19 test that was used on the U of I campuses to hold the virus in check by utilizing widespread testing with rapid results. Under FDA guidelines, the EUA allows the U of I System to broadly expand its covidSHIELD testing beyond its universities.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- In what kind of financial shape is the U.S. farm economy? Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,143 new Coronavirus cases and 20 additional deaths Monday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,187,839 and deaths to 20,563. As for local active and recovered cases, Champaign County reported 17,777 have recovered, 330 are in isolation and 12 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,714 have been released from isolation and 5 remain in isolation. Vermilion County did not provide a report Monday. Ford County is unable to report active and recovered cases due to an issue at the state level.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- There aren’t many side effects from the COVID vaccine, but there are a few and they don’t differentiatie that much from the flu shot. Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson has the details… 

 

 

Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Jury trials resumed in Champaign County court yesterday. A pause to jury trials was put in place back in December. The county is taking steps to keep everyone safe including reconfiguring courtrooms to allow for additional distancing.

 

 

(Champaign County-jm) -- More Champaign County residents are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Residents 16 years and older with disabilities or underlying conditions who aren’t otherwise covered in previous eligibility categories can now receive the vaccine. The underlying conditions or disabilities include cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, diabetes, heart conditions, obesity, pregnancy, pulmonary disease and sickle cell disease.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The consolidated election will take place April 6th but several area races are taking shape. WPXN’s Jason Madden takes a look at who is on the ballot…

 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A Rantoul man faces up to 30 years in prison for allegedly robbing a woman at a Champaign motel. Demarco Ross is charged with armed robbery, aggravated unlawful restraint and criminal damage to property. Police say Ross allegedly pulled a knife on the woman he had just met, took her keys and phone before slashing her tires and jumping on her windshield.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- The Parkland College Foundation is announcing the scholarship period for Fall 2021 is now open. Workshops will be held tonight at 6pm and March 9th at noon on zoom or their facebook page. The deadline to apply for scholarships is 5pm on March 15th.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- A building on the University of Illinois campus was damaged following a hit and run crash. The incident happened at the Personnel Services Building. Police say a car that had been reported stolen struck the building. The person driving fled before officers could arrive. 

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- A panel of farm organization leaders and two former Deputy Agriculture Secretaries converged at this year's Ag Outlook Forum to talk about some of the current key issues in the farm sector.  Rod Bain reports…

 

 

 

OSF St James-John Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac’s Diabetes Support Group will meet tonight from 6 to 7pm.