(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is announcing more than five thousand new cases of COVID-19 Friday. The latest daily total is 5,309 and 47 additional deaths. 65 percent of Illinoisans age 12 and up are now fully vaccinated. Governor J-B Pritzker was asked about President Biden’s new vaccine mandates…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Under the Governor’s own mandate, all teachers and staff at preschools through 12th grade, all college staff and students and health care workers must get their first shot by September 19th or submit to regular testing. Locally Friday Vermilion County reported 42 new cases and 1 additional death. Champaign County reported 117 new cases and 2 additional deaths. Ford County reported 69 new cases and 2 additional deaths. Iroquois County did not have a report.
(Springfield-jm) -- Sport team license plates have raised more than 13 million dollars for Illinois public schools. More than 71 thousand vehicles in Illinois are adorned with plates representing favorite sports teams, with 25 dollars from each purchase and renewal going to education. Secretary of State Jesse White’s Spokesperson Beth Kaufman says some teams are more popular than others…
Secretary of State Spokesperson Beth Kaufman. The least popular plates are the Chicago Bulls and the St. Louis Cardinals, although Kaufman says Illinois has more Cardinals license plates on the roads than Missouri.
(Paxton-jm) -- School districts are starting to plan how they will spend federal COVID aid money. One of those districts is Paxton-Buckley-Loda. Superintendent Cliff McClure says they are seeking input on some potential project ideas…
PBL Schools Superintendent Cliff McClure.
(Undated-jm) -- Dozens of motorcyclists roared through several towns Sunday as part of the 9-11 Memorial Ride. The group started in Danville before making stops in Hoopeston, Rankin, Paxton, Ludlow, Rantoul, Gifford, Potomac before heading back to Danville.
(Paxton--jc) --An upcoming blood drive will be held at the 1st Lutheran Church here in Paxton today. Kevin Hansen is in charge of coordinating the drive, and shares some details for those who would like to donate….
Blood Drive Coordinator Kevin Hansen
(Undated-jm) -- There are several meetings scheduled for tonight. At 6pm in Rantoul, the high school school board will hear a presentation on their tentative capital development program and approve the fiscal year 2022 budget. At 7 in Gibson City, the city council will review a recycling contract, consider changing credit card companies and consider new welcome signs. At 7 at the Cornbelt Fire Station in Mahomet, the Mahomet Seymour school board and village of Mahomet will hold a joint meeting to discuss the shared tennis courts. At 7 in Paxton, the Ford County board will consider revisions to the wind farm ordinance, and consider highway tax appropriations for townships. In Roberts at 7:30, village leaders will discuss whether to continue spraying for mosquitos, consider hiring a new ordinance officer and continue discussions of ambulance services.
(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritkzer is announcing a 50 million dollar grant program to help revitalize downtown and main street areas. The idea is to kickstart projects in areas really struggling over the last year and a half, with grant awards ranging from 250 thousand to three million dollars, says Governor Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Projects can range from downtown plazas to structural repairs. The deadline to apply for these grants is January 10th. Visit the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s website for more information.
(Springfield-jm) -- Republican lawmakers continue to criticize the state budget passed in May. The over 3,000 page bill was passed in the middle of the night with not much time for debate and included a critical error that brought lawmakers back a month later. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says there was further evidence of that last month…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Urbana-jm) -- Urbana police are investigating a pair of weekend deaths. Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup says Alura Yarber died after she struck several cars and a large tree on Anderson Street. Kendall Jones died at Carle Foundation Hospital after being shot multiple times. Autopsies for both Yarber and Jones are scheduled for tomorrow.
(Springfield-jm) -- Republicans continue to fight for additional ethics reforms in Springfield. An ethics reform package was approved in the spring session, however, 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says it wasn’t enough…
53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.
