(Springfield-jm) -- Here’s an update on COVID-19 vaccination mandates for certain Illinois workers. Under Governor J-B Pritzker’s orders, all pre-k through high school teachers and staff, college students and staff and healthcare workers were supposed to have received their first dose of the vaccine by this past Sunday, and be fully vaccinated within a month. He was asked Monday if this mandate will contribute to the current worker shortage…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Workers in this category who do not get vaccinated must submit to routine testing. As for state employees staffing prisons, veterans homes, nursing homes and the like, they now have until November 18th to get fully vaccinated. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 8,415 new cases and 93 additional deaths since Friday. Iroquois County reported 83 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 3,947 and deaths to 69. Champaign County reported 248 new cases and 1 additional death bringing their total number of cases to 25,849 and deaths to 183. Ford and Vermilion County’s did not have a report.
(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City police have released their recent activity report. On September 13th, Laurie Ferguson was arrested for driving under the influence and cited for improper lane usage, driving while license suspended and illegal transportation of alcohol. On September 17th, Daniel Leach was arrested for driving under the influence and cited for no valid driver’s license and improper lane usage. On September 18th, Adam Durham was arrested for an in-state warrant and Justin Durham was arrested for driving with a license suspended.
(Bloomington-jm) -- The Bloomington Police Department is continuing their search for a missing Illinois State graduate student. Officers said 25-year-old Jelani Day was reported missing almost a month ago. Day’s family and an ISU faculty member reported him missing after he did not show up for class for several days and no one could get hold of him. Day’s car was found on August 26 in Peru, IL. On September 5, search teams found a body in the Illinois River in that same city. The LaSalle County coroner said the body was a man; however, investigators said at this time that case is separate from Day’s.
(Springfield-jm) -- It was a warm week with plenty of time in the fields as we hear in the weekly crop report. The statewide average temperature this past week was more than 73 degrees, that’s seven degrees above normal. Below average rain left nearly all seven days available for fieldwork. Crop Statistician Steve Parn says 72 percent of corn is now mature…
Crop Statistician Steve Parn. 54 percent of soybeans are dropping leaves and one percent of the crop has been harvested. Average statewide topsoil moisture stands at 11 percent very short, 27 percent short, 61 percent adequate and one percent surplus.
(Champaign County-jm) -- The Champaign County Board of Review is down another member. Debbie Estes resigned citing a busy personal schedule and her belief it would affect her ability to adequately serve on the board. Estes is the fourth person to resign from the board after the entire three board group resigned in June.
(Livingston County-jm) -- Livingston County is reporting a case of West Nile Virus. According to the Livingston County Public Health Department, a bird in Dwight tested positive for west nile. West Nile has been detected in Iroquois, McLean and Vermilion Counties.
(Champaign-jm) -- Parkland College has implemented new COVID-19 safety standards and procedures this week to comply with the recent executive order from Governor Pritzker for higher education. In phase one, the college has been gathering vaccination status information from students and employees and has begun utilizing the Safer Community app to verify compliance status. While no student, employee, or visitor is being turned away at any entrance for noncompliance in this phase, the college is restricting the number of entrances to campus in preparation for a comprehensive entry-checking system that will utilize the Safer Community app for students and employees.
(Champaign County-jm) -- Champaign County Crime Stoppers is setting up a GoFundMe to raise money for Illegal Gun Bounty Reward Program rewards. The program asks for the community's help with information on felony gun crimes. It pays out $1,000 in rewards to those who have any tips or information on these crimes.
(Springfield-jm) -- It was a warm week with plenty of time in the fields as we hear in the weekly crop report. Below average rainfall and temperatures were seven degrees above normal gave farmers most of the week for fieldwork. 72 percent of corn is now mature and 11 percent has been harvested. Crop Statistician Steve Parn looks at soybeans…
Crop Statistician Steve Parn. 75 percent of the soybean crop is rated in good to excellent condition, an improvement from the previous week. Average statewide topsoil moisture declined to 11 percent very short, 27 percent short, 61 percent adequate and one percent surplus.
(Ford County-jm) -- The Ford County Board has approved changes to its wind farm ordinance. After four years, the moratorium on wind farms was lifted after the county board approved several changes including requiring setbacks of at least 2200 feet from property lines and 2.64 times the turbine tip or 1320 feet from adjacent non-participating properties. Also included in the ordinance is no turbines within one and a half miles of incorporated limits.
(Paxton - tr) -- The Gold Star Mission will be taking a 5 Day, 530 Mile Journey around central Illinois today to honor fallen Illinois Men and Women service members. Some local stops include the Gibson City American Legion at 12:11pm, Paxton Fire Department @ 2pm and Rantouls Lincoln’s Challenge academy a little after 3pm. The Gold Star mission strives to preserve the memories and ensure the names of our fallen illinois service men and women live on.
