Have A TV At Home? Then You’re A Click Away From Keeping Your Children Schooled During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Have A TV At Home? Then You’re A Click Away From Keeping Your Children Schooled During The Covid-19 Pandemic

As a parent, you might be daunted by the role of “school teacher” while your children’s schools are closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Your local PBS television station is here to help! Here at WILL, we broadcast more than 11,000 hours of educator-approved, researched-based children’s programming for Pre-K through elementary-aged youngsters.  Our programming schedule…

Who Can Get Tested For COVID-19 In Champaign County?

Who Can Get Tested For COVID-19 In Champaign County?

With testing kits in short supply, Champaign County health officials are limiting who meets the criteria to get tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.  Now, the priority will be given to hospitalized patients with severe acute lower respiratory illness, such as pneumonia, as well as people in vulnerable populations who live in…

Cafeteria Workers, School Staff On The Front Lines Delivering Food To Illinois Students
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Cafeteria Workers, School Staff On The Front Lines Delivering Food To Illinois Students

Dawnal Mahan is an essential employee. She manages the cafeteria inside Chatham Elementary School, a kindergarten through fourth grade school in the small town located south of Springfield.  While most teachers aren’t in the building, Mahan is still going to work each school day to prepare pre-packaged meals for students — including breakfast and lunch….

While Schools Are Closed, Illinois District Uses Buses As Wi-Fi Hotspots
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While Schools Are Closed, Illinois District Uses Buses As Wi-Fi Hotspots

Elementary and secondary school districts across Illinois are moving toward online or e-learning while students remain at home in an effort to contain the coronavirus.  One district in southern Illinois has taken a unique approach to ensure every student has access to the internet. Belleville Township High School District 201, located outside St. Louis, is…

Champaign County Board To Offer Remote Meeting Option
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Champaign County Board To Offer Remote Meeting Option

UPDATE: Champaign County Executive Darlene Kloeppel said on Thursday that in-person public attendance at Thursday evening’s county board meeting  will not be allowed, and all public comment would occur via online video conferencing, due to new government guidelines discouraging meetings of more than ten people. She added that if in-person attendance by county board members…

Health Providers Launch COVID-19 Hotlines, Digital Screenings, Drive-Up Sample Collection

Health Providers Launch COVID-19 Hotlines, Digital Screenings, Drive-Up Sample Collection

Hospitals and clinics across east-central Illinois are seeing an uptick in calls from people concerned about the coronavirus. In response, many are developing online tools to help answer questions and determine whether people need to seek medical care. Carle Health System has created new coronavirus screening tools for people experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as…

polling place in Springfield

Turnout Down As Coronavirus Stalks Illinois Primary

SPRINGFIELD – Despite fear and uncertainty amid a global pandemic, hundreds of thousands of Illinois voters turned out for Tuesday’s primary election. Overall, however, turnout was down significantly compared to the last presidential primary in 2016. At the top of the ticket, Joe Biden left Bernie Sanders in his dust — winning Illinois by 23…

Congressional Races Set: Miller & Weaver in 15th, Londrigan & Davis In 13th

Congressional Races Set: Miller & Weaver in 15th, Londrigan & Davis In 13th

The next person to represent Illinois’ 15th Congressional District will be a woman from Coles County. Voters in Tuesday primary election selected Republican Mary Miller and Democrat Erika Weaver to run in November. With 95% of precincts reporting, Weaver received 16,777 votes, or 51.9% of the total. She received more than twice the votes of…

Newcomers Defeat Incumbents In Democratic County Board Primary

Newcomers Defeat Incumbents In Democratic County Board Primary

Four newcomers running for the Champaign County Board defeated incumbents and recent appointees in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. The winners include Emily Rodriguez of Champaign, who defeated county board chairman Giraldo Rosales in District 8, on a vote of  1,403 to 283. Rodriguez won 83% of the vote, according to the first unofficial tally from the…