(Springfield-jm) – The school mask mandate for Illinois schools has effectively been suspended -- for now. On Tuesday, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted against extending the Illinois Department of Public Health emergency rule on school mask mandates. IDPH's move to reissue the emergency rule would have required school districts to enforce Governor JB Pritzker's school mask mandate despite a recent court ruling on the matter. The vote was 9 to 0 with 2 just voting present.
(Vermilion County–jc) – Two Vermilion County residents were fatally injured in a two car crash along Illinois Route 1 in Vermilion County. Police say 25 year old Joshua Newberry of Hoopeston lost control of his vehicle and struck a vehicle driven by 63 year old Linda Crippin of Danville. Crippin and passenger Jerry Crippin, also of Danville, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Vermilion County Coroner’s office. Newberry was cited for a traffic violation and wearing no seat belt. An investigation is ongoing.
(Springfield-jm) – The sports betting industry in Illinois is booming and the Super Bowl was its biggest day ever. Experts are projecting Illinoisans to have wagered nearly double what was wagered last year. Last year, people in Illinois gambled about $45 million on the big game, and the state made about a million in tax revenue in that one day. This year, the number is projected to be north of $75 million wagered.
(Undated-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 2,893 new Coronavirus cases and 53 additional deaths. The seven day positivity rate fell to 3.8 percent. Champaign County reported 87 new cases and 6 additional deaths. Vermilion County reported 17 new cases and 2 additional deaths.
(Urbana-jm) – A Champaign man who admitted he didn’t turn himself in to begin his prison sentence when he was supposed to has been sentenced to a year of conditional discharge. Anthony Lindsey pleaded guilty to escape, admitting that he failed to show up at the jail on January 24th to begin a 5 year prison sentence for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
(Washington-jm) – Dairy growers now have more time to enroll for both Dairy Margin Coverage and its supplemental version for this year. Rod Bain reports…
The Paxton ERS chicken and noodle supper scheduled for Thursday night has been postponed until next Thursday due to the incoming inclement weather.
Several Committee meetings for Vermilion County have been canceled today and Thursday. Today the February Public Safety Committee Meeting is canceled and the Thursday Health and Education Committee Meeting is canceled.
(Springfield-jm) – An Illinois Senator is working to ensure dispatchers are classified as first responders. Senate Bill 3127 would amend various laws to include “Emergency Medical Dispatchers” in reference to first responders, giving them the same recognition as police, firefighters and medics. It’s sponsored by Senator Neil Anderson.
(Iroquois County-tr) – The Iroquois County Board is currently in the midst of approving applications for Covid relief Funds allocated to Iroquois County. Iroquois County Board Chairman John Shure laid out the county’s plan of disbursement…
Iroquois County Board Chairman John Shure
(Buckley-tr) – The Owners of the 103 Bar and Grill in Buckley with the help of Katharine Grayson will be hosting a benefit featuring food, a silent auction, and many other activites to honor the life and family of Ford county Sheriff's Deputy Brian Norton. Brian Norton Benefit Spokesperson Katharine Grayson gave WPXN a heartfelt look into how Brain Norton was known by those around him…
Brian Norton Benefit Spokesperson Katharine Grayson
(Mahomet-jm) – A Mahomet man faces up to 40 years in prison after he admitting to sexually molesting a preteen girl. Andrew Huddle pleaded guilty in Champaign County court to a single count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. In exchange for his guilty plea, 5 other counts were dismissed.
