(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is blaming the federal government after a financial audit of the Illinois Department of Employment Security revealed benefits were improperly given out.  The audit revealed that unemployment benefits were paid to not only dead people and children, but also to people who never existed. Now, Pritzker is pointing his finger at the federal government saying their rushed unemployment programs did not give the state a way to pay benefits in a safe manner. But he said the $150 million in improperly paid benefits in Illinois are just a drop in the bucket of the money that got into the right hands of Illinoisans.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- At its heart, the Illinois State Fair is a celebration of agriculture. Agriculture is the state’s top industry, making an economic impact of about 19 billion dollars annually. Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton spoke at an ag day breakfast at the fair…

 

 

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. Visitors to the fair can sample home grown products in the Illinois Department of Agriculture tent, check out horse and livestock shows, see the butter cow, watch pig races and see antique farming equipment.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,639 new Coronavirus cases and 16 additional deaths. The seven day positivity rate rose to 6.2 percent. Vermilion County reported 41 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 10,919 and deaths to 159. Champaign County reported 49 new cases bringing their total to 22,912. Ford and Iroquois County’s did not have a report.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Some bills sponsored by local state representative Tom Bennett have been signed into law by Governor Pritzker while others have not yet been signed. Representative Bennett talks about the bills…

 

 

State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- An Urbana man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on child pornography charges.  Before the investigation into 32-year-old Brandon Knoff, Urbana police received five separate Cybertip referrals. According to a press release from prosecutors, three different social media and cloud storage applications reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an online social media user had transmitted content believed to be child pornography onto their servers.  Should Knoff be convicted, the offense of transportation of child pornography two counts carries a statutory penalty of at least five to 20 years in prison. For possession of child pornography, Knoff would face up to 10 years behind bars. 

 

 

(Loda-jm) -- The 3rd Annual Team Hope Walk for Huntington’s Disease will take place Saturday September 11th at Lakeview Country Club in Loda. Spokesperson Samantha Cox talks about the event and how to get signed up…

 

 

Team Hope Walk for Huntington’s Disease Spokesperson Samantha Cox. Again that number is 217-249-1421.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Tax bills for Ford and Iroquois County residents have gone out. The second installment for Ford County residents is due September 10th. For Iroquois County residents the second installment is due September 7th.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Here’s the crop report for the week ending August 15th. According to Crop Statistician Steve Parn, 96 percent of soybeans are blooming and 80 percent are setting pods. That’s about on par with the five year average. Turning to corn…

 

 

Crop Statistician Steve Parn. The third cutting of alfalfa hay is now 82 percent complete. Average statewide topsoil moisture stands at two percent very short, 12 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Less than half of the staff members with the Illinois Department of Corrections are vaccinated despite the mandate from Governor J-B Pritzker for all state workers in congregate care facilities to get the shot. With about seven weeks till the deadline IDOC staff members are only at 44% vaccinated.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is signing new science related laws, honoring medical history and the importance of agriculture education. The measures add agricultural science and ag education classes as course options required to meet university admission standards. Senator Doris Turner of Springfield sponsored the change…

 

 

State Senator Doris Turner of Springfield. Another new law names Penicillium Rubens as the official state microbe of Illinois. It’s a nod to the work of an ag lab in Peoria, which was able to mass produce Penicillin in the 1940s.

 

(Ford County-jm) -- Public health leaders are pushing to stop the spread of false COVID vaccination information. Healthcare leaders say the spread of misinformation has caused some vaccine hesitancy. Ford County Public Health Community Educator Megan Reutter says they offer information on their social media but they also recommend talking to your doctor if you have any concerns…

 

 

Ford County Public Health Community Educator Megan Reutter.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Champaign County residents that meet the criteria can now get a third COVID-19 vaccine dose. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is encouraging certain fully vaccinated immunocompromised residents to get a booster shot. Those who are currently able to get a third COVID-19 vaccine dose in Champaign-Urbana must meet the following criteria: At least 28 days have passed after a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood, received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency, advanced or untreated HIV infection or active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Older adults in Illinois will have better access to driver training programs that may cut their insurance costs, under a new law sponsored by State Representative Dan Brady of Normal. Brady says he was approached about the legislation...

 

 

State Representative Dan Brady of Normal.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- The University of Illinois has announced a process for cracking down on fake COVID-19 vaccination cards for the fall 2021 semester.  The U of I had announced it will require full vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff who are able to do so. With this, officials have become concerned about people on campus trying to get past this rule with a black market of fake CDC vaccine cards. The university has protocols in place to ensure both in-state and out-of-state students have real vaccine cards.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Here’s the crop report for the week ending August 15th. It was warmer and wetter than normal this past week, with 27 percent of corn now in the dent stage. Crop Statistician Steve Parn looks at soybeans…

 

 

Crop Statistician Steve Parn. The third cutting of alfalfa advanced to 82 percent complete, and average statewide topsoil moisture is rated two percent very short, 12 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus.