(Springfield-jm) -- Masks are back if you want to go renew your license or take care of other business at an Illinois Driver’s Services Facility. Secretary of State Jesse White’s Office is reinstituting a mask policy beginning Monday says Spokesperson Henry Haupt…
Secretary of State Spokesperson Henry Haupt. The same policy will be in place at the state capitol and secretary of state offices. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,082 new cases Wednesday. Locally, Ford County reported 27 new cases bringing their total to 1,947. Champaign County reported 44 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 21,618 and deaths to 158. Vermilion County reported 71 new cases bringing their total to 10,235.
(Champaign-jm) -- The Champaign Urbana Public Health Department is encouraging everyone to mask up as COVID numbers continue to rise. The health department says they are aligning their recommendations with recent guidelines from the CDC. The CDC is also recommending universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.
(Springfield-jm) -- A new state law aims to help older special education students. Previously, once a special ed student turned 23, they were no longer able to attend school. Under this new law, they can still finish out the academic year, says Governor J-B Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The change begins with the upcoming school year.
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton’s clock tower will receive an updated look. Mayor Bill Ingold talks about the project…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.
(Paxton-jm) -- A Pennsylvania man faces up to 7 years in prison after an incident in Paxton back in April. William Glidden was found guilty on two counts of aggravated battery to a police officer. Police say they were called to the Cobblestone Inn on April 2nd for an intoxicated individual refusing to leave. Glidden tried to strike two Paxton police officers and a county deputy. Glidden will be sentenced September 22nd.
(Rural Paxton-jm) -- The owners of a bed and breakfast near Paxton are seeking to suspend a judge’s order to sell the property. A judge ordered the owners of Timbercreek Bed and Breakfast to turn over the title to the property to Mark and Todd Wathen within 14 days so they could sell the property and collect over $81,000 from the sale. The Wathen’s sued the bed and breakfast back in 2011 after they refused to hold a civil union on the property. The Illinois Human Rights Commission fined the bed and breakfast $81,218 for discrimination against the couple in 2016.
(Rantoul-jm) -- The Village of Rantoul will hold a Community Revitalization and Affordable Housing discussion tonight. The meeting will take place from 6-7 pm at village hall. The public is invited to provide input.
(Washington-jm) -- Bolstering our nation's food and farm supply chains from cyberattack grows in importance after a recent incident involving the world's largest meat processor. Rod Bain reports…
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker says districts should keep the new masking guidelines in mind when developing plans for the new school year. The Governor says it’s important for schools to devise safety protocols that better fit their particular needs, but has this warning…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Under the latest guidance from the CDC, it’s recommended that all staff, teachers and students wear a mask inside school, regardless of vaccination status.
(Champaign County-jm) -- One area health department is aligning their recommendations to fall in line with recent guidelines for masking from the CDC. The Champaign Urbana Public Health Department announced Wednesday they are encouraging everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to mask up. COVID numbers have risen significantly in the past few weeks and the Delta variant has been detected in Champaign, Vermilion and Iroquois Counties so far.
(Springfield-jm) -- The state is boosting efforts to attract and support more early childhood teachers. For starters, Governor J-B Pritzker signed legislation creating a consortium among Illinois colleges to help child care workers earn advanced degrees, says bill sponsor Senator Cristina Pacione (pacy-oh-nee) Zayas (zye-as)...
State Senator Cristian Pacione. Additionally, the state will pump 200 million dollars in federal funds into additional training, mentorships and scholarships.
(Paxton-jm) -- The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Wine and Chocolate Walk will be making a return this fall. Chamber President Alan Meyer has the early details…
Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce President Alan Meyer.
(Champaign County-jm) -- In updating our story from earlier this week, An Illinois State Police trooper, who was conducting a probable cause search during a traffic stop, was dragged by an SUV after the driver he pulled over sped away, according to the Illinois State Police. The incident took place on Sunday, July 25, 2021, on Interstate 57 southbound just north of Interstate 74 in Champaign County. During the traffic stop, troopers say they found probable cause to search the vehicle. The trooper then asked the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Darrius McCarty of Chicago, to step out of the vehicle. For unknown reasons, McCarty suddenly ran back to his rental car and got in the driver seat and drove off. At the time, the Trooper who initiated the traffic stop was still inside searching the vehicle through the open passenger door. The trooper was dragged for a short distance and both legs were run over by the back wheel of the fleeing vehicle. The trooper was taken to a hospital, treated, and released. McCarty is now wanted on an arrest warrant for aggravated battery to a police officer, with a bond set at $750,000.00 bond.
(Ford County-jm) -- A Sibley woman has been sentenced for driving on a suspended license. Terricia Martin was sentenced to 10 days in the Ford County Jail and fined $1,500. Martin was stopped in Gibson City back in October 2019 after an officer ran the tags on the vehicle Martin was driving that came back the driver had a suspended license. Martin faced a second trial this week for another charge for driving on a suspended license, this case from 2020.
(Champaign County-jm) -- Champaign County home sales made gains during the first half of 2021 compared to last year at the same time but there could be a slow down for the second half of the year. Home sales in June totaled 386 compared to 385 last year. 1,557 homes sold during the first half of 2021 compared to 1,372 for the first half of 2020.
(Washington-jm) -- How is the beef industry responding after a series of impactful events, and what can be done to improve supply chain resiliency against future occurrences? Rod Bain reports…
