CHICAGO – Governor J.B. Pritzker announced this morning that the Illinois Department of Public Health is set to file emergency rules for businesses, schools and child care establishments regarding the use of face coverings as well as social gathering limits. According to a release from the Governor’s Office, the emergency rules are designed to give…
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced Thursday it has extended jobless benefits another 20 weeks as the state’s unemployment numbers continue to soar because of the coronavirus pandemic. The agency said the extension was available beginning Thursday to people who have received 26 weeks of benefits, adding Illinois is among 19 states…
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – Four area community colleges are among 15 across Illinois be receiving part of $103.5 million for infrastructure improvements, according to Gov. JB Pritzker. Pritzker announced Thursday the money will go toward expanding existing facilities and constructing new buildings, among other projects. The investments are made possible by the Rebuild Illinois capital plan. John A.…
CARBONDALE – Carbondale Police are investigating a report of shots fired around 10:20 Wednesday night in the 700 block of S. Lewis Ln. According to a Carbondale Police press release, officers learned that an unknown suspect or suspects fired shots at two victims from a gold Cadillac, then fled the area in the vehicle in an unknown…
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Thursday announced 1,953 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 21 additional confirmed deaths. The amount marks the highest single-day increase since late May for the second time in a week, and raised the state’s preliminary seven-day positivity rate back to four percent. Local…
MARION (AP) – Officials of the Federal Bureau of Prisons said Wednesday an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion has died of complications from COVID-19. The Bureau of Prisons revealed that 65-year-old Earl James died Sunday after testing positive for the virus on July 22. Prison officials did not say why James, a Native…
ELDORADO – The Egyptian Health Department is urging area residents to follow CDC protocols and help to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus in southeast Illinois. Egyptian Health Department Director Angie Hampton said at a press conference Wednesday that Saline, Gallatin, and White counties will all be placed at warning level again for virus spread because…
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois treasurer’s office is reporting the return of a billion dollars of unclaimed property to rightful owners or their survivors in the past five years. Treasurer Michael Frerichs on Wednesday said the amount set a record for any five-year period in the 58 years his office has made the returning of property in state…
CHICAGO – During Governor J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 briefing, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said contact tracing efforts are providing “a little insight” into how the public is reacting to the novel coronavirus. Ezike said by talking to those who test positive for the novel coronavirus and others who may have been…
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Wednesday announced 1,759 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 30 additional confirmed deaths. Local case breakdown Jackson County: 14 Franklin County: eight Saline County: five cases (four isolated at home, one hospitalized) Alexander and Pope counties: three each White County: three (two isolated at…