(Springfield-jm) -- Another 17,000 Illinoisans filed for initial unemployment benefits last week, which’s about 760 more than the week before. Groups of employer associations are pushing for the state to use some of the billions in federal funds to cover the debt unemployment trust fund debt they say could be up to $5 billion.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) --  Illinois is inching closer to setting term limits on lawmakers. The bill, introduced by Representative Anthony DeLuca, would limit Illinois lawmakers in leadership roles from serving more than 10 consecutive years. Those roles include speaker of the house, senate president and minority leaders of the house and senate.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA saw small increases in global corn production. Stephanie Ho has the details…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,581 new Coronavirus cases and 40 additional deaths Thursday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,292,515 and deaths to 21,609. Champaign County reported 27 new cases bringing their total to 19,615. Iroquois County reported 7 new cases bringing their total to 2,907. Vermilion County reported no new cases leaving their total at 8,948. Ford County did not have a report.

 

 

 Rantoul-jm) -- The Rantoul Sports Complex will host their first games this weekend. The sports complex will kick off their first game tonight says Mayor Chuck Smith…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith. 

 

Mahomet, IL – Starting on the evening of April 22 and extending into the fall, Mahomet-Seymour School District is hosting a series of community engagement meetings for the development of a long-range facility improvement program. The engagement program, Bulldog Blueprint, is being organized by a coordinating committee of more than 20 volunteers led by four community co-chairs: Jama Grotelueschen, Adi Puckett, Jennifer Soderlind and James (Riz) Risley. Through a series of community workshops, the District will gather data and input to identify community priorities related to the development of a long-range facility plan. ALL members of the community are invited and encouraged to participate in this engagement process. 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton police have released their recent activity report. On April 12th, Christopher Siaperas of Paxton was arrested for aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery. No injuries were reported and no tickets issued following a two vehicle accident near State and Vermilion on April 12th. Austin Jennings of Paxton was arrested on April 10th for a Champaign County warrant. Also on April 10th, Wilma Brown of Loda was ticketed for driving with a suspended driver’s license. On April 9th, Breana Lowe of Melvin was arrested for failure to appear. Jacob Hill-Campbell of Paxton was arrested on April 9th for two warrants for failure to appear. Andrew Thompson of Paxton was ticketed for failure to yield following a two vehicle accident at Cherry and Ottawa on April 7th.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The spring legislative session continues as lawmakers continue to try and pass their legislation along with handling the COVID pandemic and prepare to address the state’s budget crisis. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about some of the legislation he has introduced…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

The Onarga American Legion will host their fish fry tonight from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.

 

The Thawville Community Sale will take place Saturday.

 

Paxton IGA will host their cookout benefiting the Ford-Iroquois Master Gardeners on Saturday from 10 to 2.

 

The Onarga Fire Department will host a taco fundraiser on Saturday starting at 10:30. Cost is $2.50 per taco.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Mothers in Illinois who make 208% of the federal poverty level are now eligible for full Medicaid benefits for a full year. Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the expansion from 60 days to 12 months postpartum. The move follows the federal government’s approval of an Illinois waiver allowing the extension.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said the state's financial situation is getting better. The state received a new outlook on bonds from two major investor services this month. Both took the outlook from negative to stable. During the two-year budget impasse, Illinois' credit rating had dropped to a stop above junk status. 

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- USDA's latest outlook for the meat industry expects higher prices for beef and pork. Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,581 new Coronavirus cases and 40 additional deaths Thursday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,292,515 and deaths to 21,609. As for local active and recovered cases, Champaign County reported 19,024 have recovered, 453 are in isolation and 13 are hospitalized. Iroquois County reported 2,816 have been released from isolation, 28 are in isolation and 2 are hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 8,780 have been released from isolation, 42 cases are active and 5 are hospitalized.

 

 

 

(Iroquois County-jm) -- Iroquois County Clerk Breein Suver is reminding local government officials they have until May 1st to submit Statements of Economic Interest. Approximately 1200 officials are required to submit the statements including from townships, villages, schools, drainage districts, fire districts, multi-township assessing districts, libraries, county government, park districts and cemeteries. There is a fine for not submitting on time.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The state is receiving billions of dollars in federal aid. The money comes from the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington talks about how he feels the state should use the money and what he fears some in Springfield might do instead…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.