(Springfield-jm) -- Child care is not getting any cheaper in the state of Illinois. The state is now ranked ninth most expensive state for child care, according to Move.org. In Illinois, the average cost of child care is $12,795 each year. Infant care costs were also 19.9% of the median household income of Illinois families. 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office doesn’t expect to bring back COVID-19 shutdowns. The governor’s office told the Associated Press while there are concerns of increased COVID-19 cases, they note hospitals have open beds and there’s no need to repeat shutdowns. The governor does still have 50% capacity limits for most businesses part of his COVID-19 reopening plan with no date certain on when all restrictions would be lifted.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- What do higher dairy prices mean for dairy margins? Stephanie Ho reports from Washington…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,587 new Coronavirus cases and 9 additional deaths Tuesday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,306,787 and deaths to 21,694. Iroquois County reported 2 new cases bringing their total to 2,916. Champaign County reported 55 new cases bringing their total to 19,827. Vermilion County reported 18 new cases and 3 additional deaths, a woman in her 80s and two men in their 70s, bringing their total number of cases to 9,039 and deaths to 131. Ford County did not have a report Tuesday.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- State lawmakers have a tough task ahead of them, creating a state budget in the midst of a pandemic. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City discusses the budget…

 

 

One area lawmakers will be focusing on is education says Representative Bennett…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive today at Gibson Area Hospital from 9:30 to 2:30.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan continues to spend political funds on legal bills. Madigan has spent $2.7 million on a law firm that handles corruption cases, according to campaign finance disclosure. The Chicago Tribune reported that’s $1 million more than he paid for legal services in 2020. Madigan still controls his personal political fund and his Ward 13 fund with a combined total of around $13 million.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Around $1.6 billion from federal funds are set to cover costs to expand access to early childhood education and child care in Illinois. Of the funds, $140 million will go to childcare providers over the next three weeks. That’s in addition to nearly $300 million in grants for providers over the past year.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Wheat is increasingly being used as a feed ingredient in China, which is driving up the country's forecast consumption numbers. Stephanie Ho reports…

 

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,587 new Coronavirus cases and 9 additional deaths Tuesday bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1,306,787 and deaths to 21,694. As for local active and recovered cases, Iroquois County reported 2,830 have been released from isolation, 20 remain in isolation and 1 is hospitalized. Champaign County reported 19,245 have recovered, 442 are in isolation and 11 are hospitalized. Vermilion County reported 82 active cases and 5 are hospitalized. Ford County did not have a report Tuesday.

 

 

(Paxton-jm) -- A new car wash is coming to Paxton. Mayor Bill Ingold says its coming to the west side of town…

 

 

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.

 

 

(Vermilion County-jm) -- The Vermilion County Sheriff's Office is warning the public that some residents are receiving scam calls that appear to come from the sheriff's administrative number. The calls come from 217-442-4080. The caller then leaves a message saying they are Sergeant Bell to call them back at 630-765-5237.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- The COVID-19 vaccine will be available to independent pharmacies in phase two of the distribution process. Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson has the details of what the vaccine process will look like at his pharmacy… 

 

 

Hudson Drug and Hallmark Owner Andy Hudson.