(Springfield-jm) -- Forty percent of deer across parts of the Midwest and Northeast are testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture tested deer for COVID-19 antibodies in Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York. The results found that 7% of those tested in Illinois had been exposed to the virus, 31% in New York, 44% in Pennsylvania, and 67% in Michigan.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois reported over 3,000 new Coronavirus cases Thursday. The seven day positivity rate has risen to 5.2 percent. Vermilion County reported 20 new cases bringing their total to 10,401. Champaign County reported 86 new cases bringing their total to 22,054. Ford and Iroquois Counties did not have a report Thursday.
(Springfield-jm) -- The state’s I-Cash program returned 226 million dollars in unclaimed property during the last fiscal year. The property went to an estimated 174 thousand people, with the average claim coming in around one thousand dollars, says Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs, whose office runs I-Cash…
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. Frerichs says it’s easy to search the I-Cash database to see if you have any outstanding money or items. Visit: illinois treasurer dot gov slash icash to get started.
(Gibson City-jm) -- A popular Gibson City restaurant is closing at the end of the month. The owners of the Bayern Stube announced after 30 years they will be serving their final meals on Sunday, August 29th.
The 3rd Annual Team Hope Walk for Huntington’s Disease will take place
Saturday September 11th at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. The Walk starts at 8am with check in from 7-7:30am. The goal is to have 300 walkers. If you want to be guaranteed a t-shirt, you need to be signed up by Monday. There also will be raffles, a kid’s corner and food. Contact Samantha Cox at 217-249-1421 for more information. If you don’t want to walk, but still would like to donate, you may do so. Raffle items are also needed.
(Urbana-jm) -- A teenager accused of running away from police this week has been officially charged. 19 year old Patrick Briggs was one of four people arrested after shots were fired at a house in Rantoul. They tried to run away, but were later arrested on a golf course. Briggs was charged with various gun crimes and vehicle hijacking, among other charges in court on Thursday. The Champaign County state’s attorney said it is likely what happened in Rantoul was retaliation to a deadly shooting in Urbana this week. Briggs’ mother, Johanna Cowart-Williams, was killed and his girlfriend was paralyzed.
(Paxton-jm) -- The City of Paxton is adding a camera system to the city building. Mayor Bill Ingold says its a security issue…
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold.
(Iroquois County-jm) -- The Iroquois County Public Health Department is recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month this August. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to prevent disease. Appointments are available Monday through Friday 9 to 3:30.
(Washington-jm) -- USDA will soon begin two new market news reports that are designed to boost price transparency in cattle markets. Gary Crawford reports…
Gibson City will host their Friday Night Fun Cruise Night tonight from 6-9 pm with Warrant performing live music downtown at 8.
The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting their Freedom Fridays Live Music with Tyler from Unemployed Architects tonight from 6 to 9 pm.
Paxton IGA will be hosting their cookout benefiting the St. Mary’s CCW on Saturday from 10 to 2.
The Gibson Area Music Foundation will host their Hymn Festival on Sunday at 3pm.
(Springfield-jm) -- A new report from national business leaders and plumbing groups breaks down the cost of replacing every single lead-lined water pipe in the nation. The report was conducted by Environmental Entrepreneurs and the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters. It shows that Illinois has more lead pipes than any other state in the nation, with just under 680,000 known, plus another 782,000 potential lead lines. The good news is that the new report estimates that the nationwide replacement program will create over 6000 indirect or direct jobs in Illinois alone, with more than half of those in construction.
(Undated-jm) -- Illinois reported over 3,000 new Coronavirus cases Thursday. The seven day positivity rate has risen to 5.2 percent. Vermilion County reported 20 new cases. Champaign County reported 86 new cases. Ford and Iroquois Counties did not have a report Thursday.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a package of legislation to increase access to feminine hygiene products in Illinois. The first new law addresses “period poverty” and gets the state ready to act should the federal government start allowing these products to be purchased with “SNAP” and “WIC” benefits, says the Governor…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The other two laws require colleges and universities to have feminine hygiene products in all campus bathrooms and homeless shelters serving women and youth will have to provide tampons and pads for free.
(Mahomet-jm) -- The Mahomet village board has a new member. Rebecca Preston replaces Don Lynn who retired from the board.
(Rantoul-jm) -- The village of Rantoul approved implementing 10 license plate readers just over two months ago to help reduce violence in the village. Since then the cameras have been proved useful in apprehending suspects in two shootings. The first shooting occurred July 4th and injured five people including two kids. One suspect was arrested less than a week later. The second suspect was arrested earlier this week. The other shooting occurred earlier this week. The four suspects in that case were arrested less than an hour after the incident occurred.
(Springfield-jm) -- Local reaction is rolling in over Governor J-B Pritzker’s announcement of a mask mandate for kids in grades k through 12. Deputy Republican Leader Dan Brady of Normal…
Deputy Republican Leader Dan Brady of Normal.
(Roberts-jm) -- in updating our story from yesterday, the search for two bank robbery subjects concluded around noon on Thursday in the Buckley and Roberts area. Illinois State Police used helicopters and conducted a foot search with police dogs Wednesday night into Thursday as they were searching for two suspects wanted in a bank robbery in Racine, Wisconsin that occurred on Wednesday. Wisconsin police put out an alert on the vehicle. That vehicle was spotted on I-57 and led police on a chase along Interstate 57. The vehicle was stopped and the two suspects ran away on foot. They were both arrested on Thursday.
(Washington-jm) -- How much of your 2020 income do you think went to buy food? The answer may surprise you. Gary Crawford reports…
