(Beason–jc)  One tornado was confirmed on Monday morning with storms that ran through the area. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado in Beason. The storm caused damage to some power lines and  also uprooted trees. 

 

(Dewey-jm) – Two people were taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries following an accident near Dewey Monday afternoon. The accident happened at U-S 136 and the Dewey-Fisher Road and involved a car vs semi.

 

(Springfield-jm) – July weather in Illinois was wetter than normal. State Climatologist Trent Ford says last month may end up as one of the top 20 wettest Julys on record, although rainfall totals varied widely across the state…

 

 

State Climatologist Trent Ford. Ford says rainfall was one to six inches above normal in most areas north of I-80 and south central Illinois totals were three to nine inches above normal. High precipitation was seen in Elgin, the Metro East area and Olney. Conversely, drought conditions persist in east central Illinois counties.

 

(Springfield-jm) –  Governor J.B. Pritzker declared the monkeypox virus outbreak a public health emergency Monday. The emergency disaster proclamation allows the Illinois Department of Public Health to work with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to expand testing and vaccination efforts in the state. According to IDPH data, Illinois has had 520 cases of monkeypox as of Monday. Most cases have been located within the city of Chicago, but central Illinois has seen cases recently. Champaign County had its second case and Sangamon County its first probable case last week.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois crop conditions improved over the past week. The weather was cooler and wetter in many parts of the state, giving crops a little boost. Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says 76 percent of soybeans are blooming…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 91 percent of corn acres are silking and 31 percent have reached the dough stage. 74 percent of the Illinois corn crop is rated in good to excellent condition. Average statewide topsoil moisture is now rated at 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Firefighters in Champaign were called to a house Monday afternoon to extinguish a fire that started in the attic. The fire happened at 1220 Gertrude Avenue just before 2 p.m. A neighbor reported fire coming from the single-story house and arriving firefighters observed smoke and fire coming from the eaves of the home. The firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire, which was primarily contained to the attic. Two adults were home at the time of the fire; they were not hurt, but will be displaced because of the damage.  The cause of the fire has not been determined.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Some Illinoisans may see a tax increase because of the state’s failure to pay back a bill. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City explains…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Paxton-jm) – The Ford County Public Health Department is asking for the public's help collecting dead birds as it continues testing as part of its West Nile virus surveillance program. The health department started collecting dead birds May 1 and will continue through October 15.  If you find a dead bird, contact Ford County Public Health Department (217)379-9281.

 

(Rantoul-jm) – A Chicago man has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for looting a Rantoul business. Michael Woods pleaded guilty to burglary after admitting to breaking into Colonial Liquors on May 31, 2020. Woods was among others who broke into the liquor store as part of the looting that took place following the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is encouraging more minorities to consider organ donation. This is National Minority Organ Donation Awareness Month and Secretary of State Spokesperson Beth Kaufman explains why this is so important…

 

 

Secretary of State Spokesperson Beth Kaufman. Kaufman says transplants can be successful regardless of the ethnicity of the donor and recipient but long term success may be greater if both are more closely matched.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Democratic party has a new leader. State Representative Elizabeth Hernandez of Cicero, will be the first Latina elected chair of the state party. This comes after now-former chair U.S. Representative Robin Kelly announced on Friday, July 29 that she lacked the votes needed to continue in the position and withdrew.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois crop conditions improved over the past week. The cooler and wetter weather helped a bit, says Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. He gives an update on the state’s corn crop…

 

 

State Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener. 76 percent of soybean acres are blooming and 37 percent are setting pods. 68 percent of the crop is rated in good to excellent condition. 92 percent of the second cutting and 20 percent of the third cutting of alfalfa is now complete. Average statewide topsoil moisture is rated as 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person responsible for a series of liquor thefts. In a news release, Crime Stoppers said that the thefts happened at Haymakers, located at 3501 South Fields Drive in Champaign, over the course of two months. In each theft, a man walks into the store, loads a backpack with liquor and leaves without paying. Crime Stoppers said he has stolen $900 worth of liquor. The suspect appears to be a Black male with a medium build.

 

(Vermilion County-jm) – Environmental groups are celebrating the scrapping of plans for the proposed Bulldog Mine in eastern Illinois. Jonah Chester reports…

 

 

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man is facing murder for hire charge. Marcell Drake is accused of soliciting a person to murder his ex girlfriend whom he is facing charges of choking her and threatening her with a gun. He has been in jail since October. He is charged with being an armed habitual criminal, obstruging justice and aggravated assault as well as domestic battery and solicitation to commit murder. Bond for the new case is set at 1 million dollars while the other case is $500,000.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District will stop reaching out to people who test positive for COVID-19 starting August 15. The health department says its due to a reduction in funding and resources being re-allocated.