By BEN ORNER Capitol News Illinois borner@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Illinois has rented a fleet of refrigerated semi-truck trailers to store the bodies of deceased COVID-19 patients in case morgues become filled to capacity, according to a spokesperson for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The “more than 20” trailers made available […]
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Another 102K Illinoisans file first-time jobless claims amid COVID-19 pandemic
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday that 4.4 million Americans filed first-time unemployment claims during the week that ended April 18, including 102,936 workers in Illinois. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 520,227 workers in Illinois, or 8.2 […]
Some Illinois State Parks to reopen on May 1
Beginning May 1, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will reopen several state parks that were closed on March 16. Not all Illinois State Parks will reopen, though. On the IDNR’s list are: Northwestern Illinois: Argyle Lake State Park, Jubilee College State Park, Lowden State Park, Morrison-Rockwood State Park, Rock […]
Pritzker extends stay-at-home order until May 30, makes modifications
Gov. JB Pritzker has extended the Illinois stay-at-home order until May 30. As of May 1, the stay-at-home order will be modified, though. Modifications include: Anyone over two-years old who is medically able to tolerate a face-covering or a mask must wear one when in a public place and unable […]
Champaign-Urbana Public Health Briefing April 23, 2020
Champaign, Ill.— All daily media briefings are provided under the leadership of the Champaign County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). We are announcing two new cases today; Champaign County has a cumulative total of 100 cases. There have been a total of five COVID-related deaths. These numbers are accurate as of […]
St. Joseph-Ogden Senior Spotlight: Ava Mills, Bailey Mills, Carson Mills and Brayden Grimsey
Ava Mills Dance (4 years), We The People, Maroon Platoon, Spanish Club Ava lives with her family in Ogden. She and her two sisters are triplets. Her main hobby is dance. She spends a lot of time at the dance studio in St. Joseph. Ava’s greatest memories at SJO also […]
Illinois reports largest daily increases in COVID-19 cases, tests
By BEN ORNER Capitol News Illinois borner@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois health officials reported the state’s largest one-day increase of COVID-19 cases and tests results Wednesday as Gov. JB Pritzker announced two new drive-thru testing facilities. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 2,049 new cases Wednesday and 98 additional deaths. […]
Illinois Republicans push for gradual reopening of economy
Illinois Rep. Michael Zalewski, a Riverside Democrat and co-chair of the House economic recovery working group, said one of the most pressing tasks – one that he said state government has little control over – will be getting the state’s economy up and running again, which he said could take […]
Lawmakers slowly preparing for session to reopen
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Top leaders of the Illinois House and Senate say there is still no timetable for calling lawmakers back into session, but they have launched a process for narrowing down the topics they’ll need to address whenever they do return. In recent […]
Pre-pandemic Champaign County Home Sales Rise Along with Prices
The Champaign County Association of Realtors (CCAR) is reporting strong activity early in March prior to the global coronavirus pandemic slowdown. Champaign County area home sales rose 12.06 percent compared to March 2019 while there were also increases in both median and average home sale prices. CCAR reported there were […]