(Gibson City-jm) -- We now know more information regarding an accident in Gibson City. Police say Carla Moxley was the driver of the vehicle that ran over Carol Leisure in the Dollar General parking lot. Police believe Leisure fell after getting out of her vehicle and Moxley didn’t see her lying on the ground before backing over her. Leisure served as a crossing guard for the GCMS school district for over 30 years.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,832 new Coronavirus cases Tuesday and 13 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,224,915 and deaths to 21,116. Champaign County reported 25 new cases and 1 additional death, a man in his 80s, bringing their total number of cases to 18,676 and deaths to 136. Iroquois County reported 1 new case bringing their total to 2,827. Vermilion County reported 35 new cases bringing their total to 8,786. Ford County did not have a report Tuesday.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- A familiar face is back leading the U-S Department of Agriculture. Tom Vilsack was appointed to the position under the Biden Administration having served as Ag Secretary under the Obama Administration. Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken talks about Vilsack’s return to the USDA…

 

 

Champaign County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Uken.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and OSF HealthCare are partnering to offer saliva-based COVID-19 testing at public schools, businesses, and organizations. The partnership will offer testing to Champaign County residents.

 

(Hoopeston-jm) -- Hoopeston’s pool will likely not open this year and its future could be in jeopardy. The pool, like many around the area, last year was closed because of the pandemic. The city’s pool committee reported recently they are having a hard time finding people to be lifeguards. The committee and council members discussed the pools repair needs and use and whether or not it would be better to permanently close the pool.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- More fans could soon be attending events at Paxton Buckley Loda school events. The district is following guidance from public health but Superintendent Cliff McClure is optimistic about the future…

 

 

PBL Schools Superintendent Cliff McClure.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Gasoline prices are starting to drop after 11 weeks as the nation enters the spring season. According to GasBuddy data, the national average price of gasoline posted a drop of 0.3 cents from a week ago to $2.86 per gallon. The data was compiled from more than 11 million price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations nationwide.

 

 

(Vermilion County-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing another round of $250 million in Rebuild Illinois funds have been released for transportation projects around the state. Looking at funds coming to Vermilion County and communities within the county...Vermilion County is receiving $423,351. As for communities...Danville is receiving $362,768, Hoopeston $58,775, Potomac $8,237 and Rankin $6,162.

 

Coming up during our noon newsblock we will continue our series focusing on the Rantoul Mayoral Race with incumbent Chuck Smith, current trustee Gary Wilson and newcomer Kevin Williams.

 

(Washington-jm) -- The Agriculture Secretary explains how the farm sector and rural America might benefit from a recent COVID-19 economic relief plan. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Decatur-jm) -- A now retired Illinois State Trooper who killed a woman in Decatur while responding to a Mahomet shooting in 2016 has been sentenced to 24 months probation. A judge handed down that sentence to Jeffrey Denning yesterday. Denning pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless conduct. Denning was driving over 100 mph through Decatur without his siren activated, responding to an officer shot in Mahomet, when he struck a vehicle, killing Kelly Wilson. 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,832 new Coronavirus cases Tuesday and 13 additional deaths bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,224,915 and deaths to 21,116. As for local active and recovered cases, Champaign County reported 18,298 have recovered, 247 are in isolation and 8 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,752 have been released from isolation, 13 are in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 257 active cases and 5 are hospitalized. Ford County did not have a report.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- To go along with the new QR Codes that are on the back of the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Bucks, the plan is to have the same code on the 2021 Chamber members sticker that can be scanned to send you to that businesses website… 

 

 

Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Alan Meyer. Chamber Bucks can be purchased at Paxton IGA, Hudson's Drug and Hallmark Shop, and the Chamber Office. 

 

 

(Cullom-jm) -- Tri-Point schools will be getting a new superintendent. Jeff Bryan submitted his letter of intent to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. 

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City Police have released their recent activity report. On March 15th, Kevin Platta of Gibson City was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and disobeying a traffic control device. Also on March 15th, Williams Butts of Gibson City was arrested for disorderly conduct. On March 19th, Craig Fuoss of Gibson City was cited for leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul Regional Veterans Memorial is going to be constructed at the new Rantoul Family Sports Complex. The memorial will honor veterans not just from Rantoul but from around surrounding areas as well. The group has been fundraising for several years and Spokesperson Jim Cheek says they will continue to raise funds to maintain the memorial once its built…

 

 

Rantoul Veterans Memorial Spokesperson Jim Cheek. You can purchase a brick for the memorial. Cost is $150 and can be purchased through Cheek or any other member on the committee.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- Students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 can now enroll in a study to help understand the effectiveness of vaccines in reducing the spread of the coronavirus. Participants will be paid and could receive the vaccine as soon as April 1. The U of I vaccine study is part of a broader initiative of the National Institutes of Health to determine whether those who are vaccinated could still carry and spread the virus that causes COVID-19.

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Champaign County residents will soon be able to receive severe weather alerts. The National Weather Service in Lincoln announced a tower lease agreement has been signed. The agreement will allow the weather service to put the weather radio equipment on a tower to service the county. The county has been without weather radio service for over a year.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- The nation's feedlot inventory numbers seem to be holding steady over the last three months. Gary Crawford reports…