(Springfield-jm) -- Fall has been warmer than normal in Illinois this year. Climatological fall is wrapping up this month, with some temperatures for the record book says State Climatologist Trent Ford…
State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says fall precipitation has been all over the place, with just under seven inches since September in northwestern Illinois and over 12 inches in east central Illinois. The early December outlook calls for average temps and precipitation, but Ford says forecast models are leaning heavily on the La Nina effect to increase odds for warmer and wetter weather through February.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 5,558 new Coronavirus cases and 19 additional deaths Friday. The state’s seven day positivity rate remained steady at 4.1 percent. Champaign County reported 95 new cases and 1 additional death. Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion Counties did not have a report.
(Paxton-jm) -- Medicare open enrollment is open. It’s time for seniors to choose whether they want to keep their current plan or switch plans, says Ford County Public Health Administrator Lana Sample…
Ford County Public Health Department Administrator Lana Sample.
(Ludlow-jm) -- Firefighters from Paxton and Rantoul were called to a semi fire early Saturday morning. Crews were called to the fire on northbound I-57 at milemarker 254 just after 3:30. No injuries were reported.
(Iroquois County-tr) -- The partnership between Toys for Tots and Iroquois Memorial Hospital is proud to keep the donations within Iroquois County for Iroquois County residents. Toys for Tots Spokesperson Bill Nutter thinks that is a big key…
Toys for Tots Spokesperson Bill Nutter. Last year's campaign had over 4,000 toys distributed to children from newborn to the age of ten. Donations are being accepted until December 3rd.
(Ford County-jm) -- The first of 43 wind turbines for the Ford County Wind Farm has been put up. Crews from Apex Clean Energy completed the first one near Guthrie and are moving forward with the rest. Developers hope to have the project completed by the end of February beginning of March.
(Washington-jm) -- Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products in this new fiscal year may not be as large as was predicted back in August. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) -- Starting in late December, unemployment insurance benefits will no longer be paid out via a debit card. This won’t affect how much claimants receive but will alter how they get the money says Illinois Department of Employment Security Acting Director Kristin Richards…
Illinois Department of Employment Security Acting Director Kristin Richards. The change comes after the state’s vendor, Key Bank, decided to stop providing debit cards for benefit purposes. Richards says those currently using debit cards can go online at: ides dot illinois dot gov slash payment and switch to direct deposit if they wish.
(Champaign-Vermillion County-tr) -- Faith in Action at OSF Healthcare in Champaign will be filling Christmas bags to give to local seniors in Champaign and Vermilion County who could use some Christmas cheer this holiday season. Christmas Bag Spokesperson Nicole Dowling has more…
Christmas Bag Spokesperson Nicole Dowling. Donations are being accepted until December 3rd.
(Paxton-jm) -- Paxton first responders were called to a single vehicle rollover accident Sunday afternoon. The accident happened on I-57 at the Paxton exit just after 3. No injuries were reported.
(Paxton-jm) -- The City of Paxton held their tree lighting Friday night. The tree is a project put on by the Paxton Service Club with help from the City of Paxton, Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative and Victor Johnson and his family. Spokesperson Judy Ondercho talks about the history of the tree lighting…
Paxton Service Club Spokesperson Judy Ondercho. Hundreds of people lined the streets Saturday afternoon for the annual Christmas parade. Glenn Kaiser was named the grand marshal.
(Minneapolis-jm) -- Emily Claire Hari is appealing the 53-year prison sentence and criminal convictions she received for masterminding the 2017 firebombing of a Minnesota mosque. Hari’s court-appointed attorney, Shannon Elkins, filed a notice of appeal in U.S. District Court in Minnesota. The U.S. Court of Appeals’ 8th Circuit sent a letter to Elkins and federal prosecutors two days later, notifying them of the briefing schedule for the appeal. U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank sentenced the 50-year-old Hari, formerly known as Michael B. Hari, to 53 years in prison on September 13, after a jury convicted Hari in December 2020 of several civil-rights and hate-crime charges in connection with the August 5, 2017, firebombing of the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.
(Washington-jm) -- Prospects for U.S. agricultural export values in this new fiscal year are good, but not as good as they seemed a few months ago. Gary Crawford reports…
