Illinois COVID-19 Cases Top 1,000 URBANA – The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 296 new cases of coronavirus disease in Illinois. The number of cases now stands at 1,049 in 30 counties. There are also three new deaths: a Cook County man in his 80s, a Chicago man in his 80s and a woman
Illinois Officials: 3 More Dead, 422 Now Positive For Virus CHICAGO — Illinois public health officials say three more people have died after contracting the coronavirus and 422 people statewide have now tested positive for the disease caused by the virus. A total of four people have died in the state as a result of
Currently, there are 160 individuals in 15 Illinois counties who have tested positive for COVID-19. Click here for a map of the affected counties and other resources from WILL’s Coronavirus Information Center. Chicago Woman In 60s Is State’s 1st COVID-19 Patient Death CHICAGO — Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the first death in Illinois of a
Champaign Mayor Declares Emergency, Ebert Fest Canceled CHAMPAIGN – On Thursday, Champaign mayor Deborah Frank Feinen issued an Executive Order related to the COVID-19 virus. The action will give the city increased flexibility to operate during emergency operations. On Friday, the city council will hold a special emergency meeting to consider passing an ordinance related
Lawmakers Pushing For Privacy Protections From Smart Speakers SPRINGFIELD – A pair of Illinois lawmakers want privacy protections for data from smart appliances and virtual home assistants. State Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) says the information collected by those devices deserves the same protection as everything else in a home. The legislation would require police to get a
Lawmakers Okay SNAP Participants To Use Benefits Online SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House passed legislation this week meant to let recipients of food aid use their benefits online. Representative Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville) says not being able to spend food assistance on the web has directly hurt her constituents. “It really has been a struggle in my
Lawmakers Hear How Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Being Cut SPRINGFIELD – Illinois state senators heard testimony Thursday from environmental groups and power companies on how to curb future greenhouse gas emissions and what’s being done to do that right now. Utilities like Commonwealth Edison say they are meeting clean energy goals set out by agreements like
Involve Women In Policy That Involves Women: Report SPRINGFIELD – Illinois officials say the state should be doing more to level the playing field for women and girls. A council working toward that goal released its first annual report on Wednesday. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is leading the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, which
Police: 3 Die In Plane Crash On I-55 In Central Illinois LINCOLN — State police say three people died when a small plane crashed and burst into flames on Interstate 55 in central Illinois. Mindy Carroll of the Illinois State Police said in a statement that all three occupants of the plane were killed in
Illinois Officials Announce 4th Positive Test For Virus CHICAGO — Health officials say a person in Illinois has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the fourth suspected case in the state. The woman is the spouse of the third patient, whose case was announced over the weekend. The Illinois and Cook County public health departments made
Decatur Schools And Union Meet With Mediator DECATUR – Negotiators for Decatur Public Schools and their teaching assistants union met with a federal mediator for about three hours on Wednesday. But talks ended without a settlement, and no date for another session has been set. A District 61 news release called the meeting “productive” and
Special House Committee Challenges Newcomer SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday, the Illinois House formally began investigating the appointment process used to replace former State Rep. Luis Arroyo. The Chicago Democrat resigned from office last fall after he was arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe a state senator. But two lawmakers are challenging the qualifications of his
Union Vows To Fill Decatur School Board Meeting DECATUR – The teaching assistants union at Decatur Public Schools is calling on members show their solidarity by packing Tuesday night’s school board meeting. The meeting comes one day before the union and school district hold a bargaining session with a federal mediator. Teaching assistants have been without a
State Lawmaker Sponsoring ‘Crown Act’ In Illinois PEORIA – State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) wants to amend the Illinois Human Rights Act to ban hairstyle discrimination. She says her Crown Act will likely come up for a vote near the end of the legislative session. The goal is to help black and Latinx women who are
Families Begin Moving Into Champaign’s New Bristol Development CHAMPAIGN – Champaign city officials say the first families began moving into the new Bristol Development over the weekend. The 90-units making up Phase One of the development were built on the site of the old Bristol Place neighborhood at Bradley Avenue and Market Street on the