(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health gave a COVID-19 update to a Senate Committee, including possible plans for a possible phased-in reopening. Senators heard from State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike about how vaccination efforts are increasing as more doses arrive, and asked when the state could move to phase five, a full reopening of the state. She responds…

 

 

State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Senators also asked about businesses requiring employees to be vaccinated against the virus. Ezike said she doesn't know of any adopting such a policy right now but that some have been discussing the possibility of requiring proof of vaccination or continuous COVID testing.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,997 new Coronavirus cases Tuesday and 19 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,212,110 and deaths to 20,973. Champaign County reported  23 new cases bringing their total to 18,625. Iroquois County reported 1 new case bringing their total to 2,813. Vermilion County reported 17 new cases bringing their total to 8,704. Ford County did not have a report Tuesday leaving their total at 1,621.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- A veterans memorial will be constructed at the new Rantoul Family Sports Complex. Groundbreaking for the memorial is expected to begin in April and take 4 to 6 weeks to complete. Spokesperson Jim Cheek says the memorial will honor all veterans from the area, not just Rantoul…

 

 

Rantoul Veterans Memorial Spokesperson Jim Cheek. Cheek says the group is still selling bricks for $150. If you would like to purchase a brick for the memorial, reach out to a member of the committee.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Gas prices continued an upward trend, going up to an average of $3.05 a gallon in Illinois. Prices have been rising for several weeks. The average gas price in Illinois has jumped more than 70 cents in the last year. GasBuddy attributes the rise in prices to the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The sixth annual Illini Success report released Tuesday shows that University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates in summer 2019, fall 2019 and spring 2020 still found jobs, enrolled in graduate school or began volunteer programs on par with previous years – despite the global pandemic.  The report found that 91% of graduates secured a “first destination” – defined as a job, enrollment in graduate school or a volunteer position – within six months of graduation. The report also shows that the average salary for a full-time-employed recent graduate is $65,178, up from last year’s $63,515. About 75% of graduating Illinois residents stayed in the state for a job or graduate school, and 68% of all graduates found their first destination in Illinois.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- If you fall under the Phase 1-B guidelines in the vaccination process, and have already signed up for your first dose, you don’t need to re-register. The Ford County Public Health Department is encouraging all Ford County residents to sign up on their website, says Ford County Public Health Department Community Educator Megan Ruetter…

 

 

Ford County Public Health Department Community Educator Megan Ruetter.

 

 

(St. Joseph-jm) -- A St. Joseph man is facing five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. Joshua Rodriguez is accused of molesting a young girl. The girl reported the abuse and Rodriguez was arrested. Bond was set at $1 million. He is due back in court March 24th.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Communities across Central Illinois are receiving $11.7 million in U-S Housing and Urban Development Grants. Rantoul is receiving  $348,890 in Community Block Grant funding. Champaign is receiving $1,045,984, Bloomington $547,296, Danville $1,014,692 and Urbana $516,972. Other central Illinois communities receiving Community Block Grants include Decatur, Pekin, Peoria and Springfield. Urbana is also receiving $819,687 in Home Investment Partnership funding.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Low to moderate income taxpayers with unpaid fines are getting a little bit of a reprieve this year. Usually, the state can take out overdue fines from your income tax refund. But this year, that won’t happen for those who qualify for the earned income tax credit says Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza...

 

 

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. The fines will still have to be paid eventually, as this is just a deferment. To be eligible, individuals can earn up to $15,820 and for a family of four $56,844.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,997 new Coronavirus cases Tuesday and 19 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,212,110 and deaths to 20,973. Locally, Champaign County reported 18,275 have recovered, 216 are in isolation and 8 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,742 have been released from isolation, 11 are in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 273 active cases and 7 hospitalized.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- There’s a concern about the potential impacts the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent shutdowns and mitigation measures will have on students. One of those concerned is 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- More University of Illinois students will be able to return to classrooms for in-person instruction this coming fall. University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen said he plans to expand in-person instruction for the majority of classes and labs at all three campuses. Killeen says it's based on the success of the covidSHIELD testing and the growing numbers of vaccinations in Illinois.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College has a vacancy on their board. Jonathan Westfield resigned from the board after being appointed in 2017. The board will meet in April to discuss filling the vacancy.

 

 

(Roberts-cf)-- The village of Roberts is hosting an event throughout the spring called Operation CHALK. The idea was born when Roberts Mayor Matt Vaughn saw his niece using sidewalk chalk to create artwork, and a neighbor wanted her to decorate their driveway, says Vaughn… 

 

 

Roberts Mayor Matt Vaughn.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Champaign County Circuit Clerk Susan McGarth is warning of a phone scam. She says scammers are purported to be from the circuit clerk’s office asking about information from people’s upcoming cases. McGarth says they do not call unless they are returning a phone call from you.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- A pair of central Illinois airports are receiving federal money. Willard Airport in Savoy is receiving $1,864,767 while Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington is receiving $1,938,664 in Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations from the U-S Department of Transportation. The funds can be used for operation, personnel, cleaning and sanitization costs.