(Springfield-jm) -- New cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Illinois. The latest daily total is nearly 38 hundred new cases of infection. That’s the highest one day total since January 29th. Additionally, about 17-hundred COVID patients are currently in the hospital says Governor J-B Pritzker…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The seven day rolling positivity rate has now risen to four point one percent. About 19 and a half percent of adult Illinoisans have been fully vaccinated. Locally, Iroquois County reported 2 new cases bringing their total to 2,870. Champaign County reported 51 new cases bringing their total to 19,247. Ford and Vermilion Counties did not have a report Wednesday.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker’s office says they are hopeful Illinois can move to Phase Five by the beginning of the summer. Despite the recent rise in cases, the Governor’s Chief of Staff Ann Caprara says there may be some good news in the next few months…

 

 

Governor Pritzker’s Chief of Staff Ann Caprara. Caprara says there are still concerns about the COVID variants circulating. There have now been 600 such cases in Illinois. In order to move to Phase Five, 50 percent of Illinoisans 16 and older will need to have received at least one dose of the vaccine. That number is currently around 40 percent.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Labor is urging drivers to be careful during the busy spring planting season. The best thing you can do is slow down and have patience as large farm equipment moves in and out of fields and down the road says the Department’s Hap Hileman. He notes that many accidents occur when a driver tries to pass a big piece of equipment, not realizing the farmer is making a left hand turn…

 

 

Illinois Department of Labor Spokesperson Hap Hileman. Drivers should also remember that farmers have limited visibility in the rear. Those driving farm equipment need to do their part as well, having slow moving vehicle signage posted and the correct lights.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The City of Paxton Economic Development committee will meet tonight. The committee will meet at 7pm where they will discuss how the city will benefit from the new sports complex in Rantoul.

 

 

(Rantoul-cf)-- The Village of Rantoul is in negotiations with two Hotels. Mayor Chuck Smith says that the chances of getting both is in the works… 

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith.

 

 

(Gilman-jm) -- Dates for Gilman’s Old Boys and Girls Reunion have been announced. The event was postponed last year because of the pandemic. It’s scheduled for August 12th-15th. The reunion happens every 5 years.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state GOP platform for this session is Reimagine Illinois. One of those on the committee creating the platform is 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City. He talks about the platform and their goals…

 

 

Another key portion of the platform deals with public safety says Representative Bennett…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

The Moyer District Library in Gibson City will host a free hot dog cookout as part of National Library Week today from 3:30 to 6.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- New legislation would let Illinois community colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education. A community college could apply to offer a bachelor of applied science degree in the field under the proposal. It’s sponsored by Chicago Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas who says this is desperately needed…

 

 

State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas of Chicago. Supporters say this is also a way to make a bachelor’s degree more accessible for non-traditional and lower income students.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College’s Child Development Center is receiving recognition. The center received the Gold Circle of Quality from ExeleRate Illinois.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- The pandemic has caused things to look different for students around the area. Between a hybrid mix of remote and in person learning to wearing masks during athletic events the past year has been a challenge. But the Paxton Buckley Loda School District is looking at trying to bring some form of normalcy says PBL Schools Superintendent Cliff McClure…

 

 

PBL Schools Superintendent Cliff McClure.

 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) -- The Iroquois County Republican Women is announcing they will be awarding a $500 scholarship to a graduating female high school senior. To qualify you must be a resident of Iroquois County at least 3 years, register to vote if 18 by November 2, 2021, proof of citizenship, letter of recommendation, copy of recent high school transcript and be a member or relation of a member of the group. The deadline to apply is April 15th. Email iroquois gop women at gmail dot com.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Redistricting efforts are underway in Springfield. Redistricting is done using census data. The Census Bureau announced the data won’t be available until fall however, 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says there are efforts to move forward with creating the new maps anyway…

 

 

Senator Barickman also discusses a recent redistricting meeting…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.