(Springfield-jm) -- Fewer Illinoisans filed for unemployment claims last week than the week before. There were still nearly 24,500 people who filed initial claims, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Last week’s figure was more than 3,600 fewer than had filed the week before. At around 7,500, there were about 3,500 fewer independent contractors filing for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance last week than the week before.
(Undated-jm) -- Central Illinois is in line for a very wet and stormy weather pattern featuring multiple rounds of showers and heavy-duty storms. 2 to as much as 5 inches of rain is possible through the weekend. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect through tomorrow morning. Severe storms are also possible today with damaging winds the primary threat. Doug Quick will have the latest Storm Team Forecast at the end of this newscast.
(Gifford-jm) -- The Gifford Celebration will take place tomorrow. Spokesperson Logan Hesterburg runs down the day's activities…
Gifford Celebration Spokesperson Logan Hesterburg.
(Champaign County-jm) -- More than 50 Illinois Police Departments have a police social worker or mental health professional on staff. The Champaign County Sheriff's Department is now on that list as well. The new social worker position is a part of the Justice Diversion Program in Champaign County. The justice diversion program is a division of the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, with a goal to help aid community members who may be going through a crisis. The Rantoul Police Department also has a social worker.
(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign has seen an uptick in thefts, specifically catalytic converters. Over the past 6 months, 11 vehicles were targeted and had the catalytic converter removed during the late hours of the night. Damage to these cars costs about $25,300 in repairs.
(Washington-jm) -- A new USDA report shows hog producers may be scaling down production plans more than some industry analysts expected. Gary Crawford reports…
(Undated-jm) -- The Fourth of July, summer's biggest blockbuster holiday, is quickly approaching and that means more people will be hitting all modes of travel, but road trips will continue to dominate this summer, according to AAA. Despite the highest gas prices in seven years, the Auto Club predicts more than 91% of holiday travel will be by car. An expected 43.6 million Americans will drive to their destinations, the highest on record for this holiday. In Illinois, 2.5 million residents will be going by car, which is 8% more than the previous record set in 2019.
(Rankin-jm) -- The 2021 Rankin Lions Club Truck and Tractor pulls will take place this Friday and Saturday. Spokesperson Aaron Bertan talks about the activities both nights…
Rankin Truck and Tractor Pull Spokesperson Aaron Bertan.
(Paxton-jm) -- Former Paxton Buckley Loda High School Athletic Director John Overstreet was inducted into the Illinois Athletic Directors Hall of Fame this week. Overstreet was one of four to be inducted this year. Overstreet served as athletic director from 1999 until his retirement in 2017.
(Watseka-jm) -- The Iroquois County Public Health Department will host a pair of COVID vaccine clinics next week. The health department will hold a Moderna vaccine clinic on Wednesday, June 30th from 10 to 3 and a Pfizer vaccine clinic on Thursday, July 1st from 10 to 3.
(Washington-jm) -- Wind turbines on farms can generate electricity, but also controversy. Gary Crawford reports...
Gibson City will host their Friday Night Fun Cruise Night tonight from 6-9 pm with King T’z performing live music downtown.
The Gifford Community Celebration will take place tomorrow with a 5k at 7 am, parade at 10 am, food trucks and games from 11-3, car show noon to 4, bags tournament at 6, fireworks at dusk.
Paxton IGA will be hosting their cookout benefiting the Masonic Lodge #416 tomorrow from 10 to 2.
Rankin will host their 4th of July and truck and tractor pull today at Centennial Park. Activities continue on Saturday with fireworks at dusk
