(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois State Police continues to reduce the FOID card backlog. Adding more staff and overhauling an antiquated system has helped state police lower backlogs by 89 percent for renewals and 75 percent for new applicants. Director Brendan Kelly says it’s been a challenging year with such a big influx of people wanting to get their FOID and concealed carry cards…

 

 

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly. Kelly says the ultimate goal is for the state police to process new FOID applications within 30 days and renewals within 60 days.

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 2,375 new Coronavirus cases and 32 additional deaths. Champaign County reported 39 new cases. Vermilion County reported 54 new cases and 2 additional deaths. Ford and Iroquois Counties did not have a report Tuesday.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Insurance’s program to help find old life insurance policies has helped consumers collect three million dollars so far this year. Insurance companies are required to try and find the beneficiaries of life insurance policies after someone has died, but families can also do their own search with a tool called the “Life Policy Locator.” The state Department of Insurance’s Shannon Whalen explains how it works…

 

 

State Department of Insurance’s Shannon Whalen. Millions of dollars in benefits have already been paid out. To check for any outstanding policies, visit insurance dot illinois dot gov and type life policy locator in the search bar.

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- An area airport is receiving statewide recognition. Frasca Field in Urbana was named the Privately-owned airport of the year by the state of Illinois.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- Several Gibson City residents have brought flooding concerns before the city council. The residents live in the Railside Drive area. They say every time they get a heavy rain the ditches in the area flood.

 

 

(Hoopeston-jm) -- A man who robbed a Hoopeston business will serve six years in prison.  Mathew Hofer committed this crime at about 1:25 p.m. on July 3 at 112 Wine and Coffee Shoppe in Hoopeston. Hofer walked into the business and ordered an employee to give him all the money while pretending he had a gun. Authorities arrested him shortly after the robbery.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- There is mounting evidence to show that we are on the down side of the beef cattle cycle. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Urbana-jm) -- A 20-year-old student at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign was arrested at around 2:43 a.m. on Saturday in relation to an incident of domestic battery. According to officers, Yisi Lyu initially called U of I police to ask for advice regarding a fight that he had on Friday. It was between him and a person that he is dating. During his conversation with the police, Lyu admitted that he choked his partner during their fight. Lyu was in his dorm room at Sherman Hall on South Fourth Street when the police arrested him.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The State Department of Public Health is reporting the first human case of rabies in Illinois since 1954. A Lake County man in his 80s woke up back in August to find a bat on his neck. The bat was captured and tested positive for rabies. The man refused the rabies preventive treatment and later died. So what if you come in contact with a bat? State Public Health Veterinarian Dr Connie Austin…

 

 

State Public Health Veterinarian Dr Connie Austin. Austin says it’s important for those exposed to get the preventive protocol. The rabies virus affects the central nervous system, ultimately causing brain disease and usually death.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Attendance at this year’s Illinois State Fair is setting records. After a year hiatus due to the pandemic, State Fair Spokesperson Krista Lisser says the annual August event did well, with more than 427,000 visitors. That’s the second highest total since the state started formally tracking attendance in 2014…

 

 

State Fair Spokesperson Krista Lisser. Over 44,500 tickets were sold to grandstand concerts, generating more than a million and a half dollars in revenue. All the numbers aren’t in yet but Lisser says overall, the 2021 fair produced about five million in revenue, ranking ninth for total revenue over the last 20 years.

 

 

(Bloomington-jm) -- Frontier Airlines is now offering nonstop flights from Bloomington, Illinois to Tampa, Florida. Right now, rates are as low as $49. The flights will begin taking off in mid-December 2021.

 

 

(Ashkum-jm) -- District 21 Illinois State Police in Ashkum have released results of recent Nighttime Enforcement Patrols. The patrols were conducted on September 25th in Kankakee County. 1 person was cited for DUI, 2 citations were issued for other drug or alcohol related offenses, 4 citations were issued for occupant restraint violation, 7 for registration violations and 3 each for drivers license and insurance violations.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- Opening day for fall trout fishing has been announced. Opening day is set for October 16th at 59 locations around the state. Locations locally include Kaufman Lake in Champaign, Kickapoo State Park near Oakwood and Weldon Springs State Park near Clinton.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Recent reports and forecasts for the pork sector reflect a mix of both pessimism and optimism. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Mahomet-jm) -- Champaign County Crime Stoppers is looking for your help to track down a thief. They’re responsible for stealing 11 catalytic converters in Mahomet. Authorities say it happened between August 30 and September. 1. The thief targeted vehicles at the Mahomet Car Connection dealership near East Oak Street and Sunny Acres Road in Mahomet.