State Announces New COVID Restrictions For Region 6 In East-Central Illinois
URBANA – East-central Illinois restaurants and bars will have to operate under increased limitations, starting Monday, Nov. 2. That’s the starting date for COVID-19 resurgence mitigations announced for Region 6 by Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health. The 21-county region includes Champaign, Macon and Vermilion Counties. Other counties in Region 6 […]
‘Incredibly Unlikely’ China Will Meet Its Trade Targets, Expert Says
It’s been almost ten months since the signing of the first phase of a trade agreement between the United States and China. In the lofty deal, China…
Sales Overseas Boost US Pork, Helping Defray 2020’s Challenges
Pork producers in the Midwest had great hope for 2020, in part because China was still rebuilding its swine herd after a devastating African swine fever…
East-Central Illinois Makes 10 Of 11 Regions Mitigated as Restaurants Push Back
Illinois is down to one region that is not facing increased COVID-19 mitigations after east-central Illinois’ Region 6 reached an 8 percent positivity…
COVID-19 Impacts Illinois School Data Collection, Including Attendance Rates
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) published its annual school report card data Friday, but state officials urged caution when interpreting that data due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on data collection for the 2019-20 school year. State Superintendent Carmen Ayala said during a call with reporters this week that […]
Some Health Officials Find Their Hands Tied On COVID-19 Restrictions
ROCKFORD – Sandra Martell is in a tough spot. As public health administrator in northern Illinois’ Winnebago County, Martell was threatened with lawsuits from several area bar owners after she included them on a list of businesses allegedly defying the governor’s orders to halt indoor dining. The county is part of a region that faced […]
With Trick-Or-Treating Limited By COVID, Some Turn To Outdoor Haunts
In some ways, this Halloween season is no different than in years past — despite COVID-19. Haunted houses still offer the creepy clowns and chainsaw…
Internal Documents Reveal COVID-19 Hospitalization Data The Government Keeps Hidden
Where are hospitals reaching capacity? Which metro areas are running out of beds? NPR has learned federal agencies collect and analyze this information in detail but don’t share it with the public.
Mitigations Triggered In 9th Of 11 Regions As COVID-19 Rages
A ninth of the state’s 11 COVID-19 reopening regions triggered increased mitigations Thursday as the governor touted the release of federal funding for…
Why Distributing A COVID-19 Vaccine Is Harder Than It Sounds
Pharmaceutical companies are scrambling to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine and receive FDA approval. In the meantime, states are finalizing plans…