Cases of COVID-19 in Illinois Top 11,000
CHICAGO – On Sunday, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health reported the statewide total of COVID-19 cases has grown to 11,256. The death toll now stands at 274. The state also says more than 58,000 people have been tested at IDPH, commercial or hospital laboratories. IDPH director Dr. Ngoze Ezike reported that a second inmate from Stateville Correctional Center has died. 71 counties are now affected. – Reginald Hardwick, Illinois Newsroom
Pritzker: Illinois Needs Feds To Send Thousands More Ventilators
CHICAGO — The Illinois governor says the state needs thousands more ventilators from the federal government as it desperately prepares for its a peak in coronavirus cases expected in late April. Gov. J.B. Pritzker told CNN Sunday that he has requested 4,000 ventilators but has received 450. Vice President Mike Pence says Illinois needs 1,400. Pritzker has sparred with President Donald Trump over what the governor calls a lack of federal assistance. Pritzker told CNN’s Jake Tapper that even though Trump called for General Motors to build ventilators under the Defense Production Act, they won’t be ready until well after Illinois’ expected peak. – Associated Press
New COVID-19 Cases Confirmed In Champaign, Macon and Piatt Counties
URBANA – The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Champaign County grew to a total of 56 on Sunday, according to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s website. Of that total, 17 have recovered while nine are currently hospitalized and none have died. Health officials in Macon County reported two more COVID-19 cases Sunday, making a total of eight confirmed cases among county residents. The two are men, one in his 60s, who is in isolation in his home. The other, in his 80s, is in isolation at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Health departments in Vermilion and Douglas Counties said Sunday they had no new cases to report. Douglas County has reported a total of nine confirmed COVID-19 cases to date, while Vermilion County has reported five cases. The DeWitt-Piatt Bi-County Health Department reports one new case in Piatt, for a total of two confirmed cases there. DeWitt County’s total remains at one. – Christine Herman, Illinois Newsroom
Illinois Group To Receive Federal Loan To Rural Projects
CHICAGO — Federal officials say Illinois is among 14 states benefiting from $65 million in investments for the improvement of community facilities in rural areas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission in southern Illinois will get a $1.8 million loan to build a new office. Officials say they plan to lease a part of the space to another nonprofit agency, Man-Tra-Con. Both organizations offer technical assistance and economic development to the following counties: Jackson, Franklin, Jefferson, Perry and Williamson. Federal officials say the investments will benefit more than 600,000 rural residents. – Associated Press
Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell Dies At 84
WASHINGTON — Bobby Mitchell, the speedy Hall of Famer who became the Washington Redskins’ first black player, has died. He was 84. The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Sunday night that Mitchell’s family said he died in the afternoon but didn’t provide other details. After starring in football and track at Illinois, Mitchell spent 11 seasons in the NFL. He played halfback for the Browns from 1958-61 and was a flanker for Washington from 1962-68. Mitchell was a three-time All-NFL selection and played in four Pro Bowls. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 1983. – Associated Press
