Illinois minimum wage workers will see an increase in their pay Wednesday. July 1 will bring the second statewide minimum wage increase in 2020. In January, minimum wage went from $8.25 per hour to $9.25. The upcoming increase will move to $10 per hour. Wages for tipped workers will rise […]
Author: dani
IEPA confirms algal bloom on the Illinois River near Starved Rock
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed the presence of the algal toxin, microcystin, along the northern bank of the Illinois River at the Starved Rock Lock & Dam. Algal toxins (e.g., microcystin and cylindrospermopsin) sometimes produced by blue-green algae can cause sickness or other adverse health effects in people […]
May 2020 brought sharp decline in Champaign County Home Sales
Homes sales in Champaign County took a sharp decline in May 2020, according to a Champaign County Association of REALTORS® release. A total of 234 residential homes were sold in May, down 30.97 percent from 339 sales in May 2019. The median home sale price in May for the Champaign […]
Champaign County Forest Preserve offers Camp in a Bag
The Champaign County Forest Preserve introduces Camp in a Bag for children ages 3 to 11. Because summer camps were canceled as East Central Illinois takes precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forest Preserve decided to bring outdoor summer activities in a different way. Throughout the summer, bags will […]
Museum of the Grand Prairie and the Homer Lake Interpretive Center to reopen July 8
The Champaign County Forest Preserve has announced that the Museum of the Grand Prairie and the Homer Lake Interpretive Center will reopen, on a limited basis, on July 8, 2020. Beginning July 8, 2020. Homer Lake Interpretive Center will be open from 1:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, […]
OGS PTO Color Run on August 15
Oakwood Grade School PTO has been given the green light to host a Color Run on August 15. The fundraiser, which is in its second year, will benefit Oakwood Grade School. The 3.1 mile run/walk will begin at Oakwood Park in Oakwood, Ill. with music and activities for the whole […]
St. Joseph Board to discuss moratorium on food trucks until Phase 5 of Restore Illinois
The St. Joseph Village Board of Trustees will discuss a moratorium on food trucks at the July board meeting, according to Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges. “We want to do everything right now to help our businesses to hang in there,” Fruhling-Voges said. She expects the moratorium to extend through the end […]
Illinois Schools Can Return to In-Person, State Provides Guidelines
Illinois school districts received the recommendations that they had been awaiting from the Illinois State Board of Education Tuesday. Gov. JB Pritzker recently released details for Phase 4 of Restore Illinois, which specifically stated that schools could re-engage after being closed since mid-March. ““Classroom learning provides necessary opportunities for our […]
More businesses to reopen in Phase 4, groups of 50 will be allowed
All regions of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan have met the requirements to move into Phase 4 by June 26. In a press release, the Pritzker administration cited significant progress in reducing new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, with the average 7-day statewide case positivity rate falling to just […]
Stage 2 of Return to Play awaiting IDPH approval
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) released a draft for Stage 2 of Return to Play guidelines Wednesday. Currently, the plans are pending Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) approval. Stage 2 could begin as early as June 26 if the Phase 4 requirements of Restore Illinois are met throughout […]
