THE CORONAVIRUS HAS DPONSORED BY MATTEX HEATICOOLING, AND PLUM
PATCHY FOG AFTER 3AM.
OTHERWISE, MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH
A LOW AROUND 62. CALM WIND
BECOMING NORTH NORTHEAST 5 TO
7 MPH IN THE EVENING. THURSDAY
PATCHY FOG BEFORE 9AM.
OTHERWISE, MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH
A HIGH NEAR 76. NORTH
NORTHEAST WIND 8 TO 10 MPH,
WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 18 MPH.
"WE HAVE SOME OBSTACLES IN
FRONT OF US." BUT A LACK OF
STUDENTS ISN'T ONE OF THEM.
WHAT UNEXPECTED ISSUE THAT'S
CAUSED FOR ONE SCHOOL
DISTRICT. ARE YOU STILL
WAITING ON YOUR FOID CARD? WHY
YOU'RE NOT ALONE. IT'S A
DISASTER THAT HIT THE SOUTH.
AND PEOPLE FROM CENTRAL
ILLINOIS ARE STILL HELPING
OUT.
YOU'RE WATCHING YOUR LOCAL
NEWS LEADER... THIS IS WCIA
THREE NEWS AT TEN.
"WE HAVE NOT DONE A REDUCTION
IN FORCE." ((JESSICA)) THE
DANVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS
DISPELLING RUMORS THAT THEY'VE
LAID PEOPLE OFF BECAUSE OF LOW
STUDENT ENROLLMENT. THEY SAY
.. STUDENT ENROLLMENT IS
FINALLY BACK ON TRACK. GOOD
EVENING I'M JESSICA KUNZ. IT
WAS A ROCKY FEW WEEKS FOR THE
DISTRICT .. THEIR ENROLLMENT
WAS DOWN BY HUNDREDS OF
STUDENTS -- FOR BOTH ONLINE
AND IN-PERSON LEARNING.
DISTRICT LEADERS SOLVED THE
PROBLEM BY GOING DOOR TO DOOR
AT FAMILY'S HOUSES. W-C-I-A
THREE'S JENNIFER JENSEN IS
LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM. JENNIFER
-- WHAT DOES ENROLLMENT LOOK
LIKE NOW?
((JENNIFER J)) TONIGHT THE
SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCED THAT
THEY NOW HAVE 4,635 STUDENTS
ENROLLED. THAT'S SIMILAR TO
THE NUMBER THEY WERE AT AROUND
THIS TIME LAST YEAR. BY
VISITING AND CALLING PARENTS
DIRECTLY, THEY WERE ABLE TO
INCREASE ENROLLMENT BY
HUNDREDS IN JUST A MATTER OF
DAYS.
THE DANVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
FACED ENROLLMENT CHALLENGES
BEFORE THE START OF THE SCHOOL
YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WHILE THEY WERE ABLE TO
TROUBLESHOOT THAT PROBLEM AND
INCREASE ENROLLMENT... THE
DISTRICT IS FACING A NEW
CHALLENGE THEY DIDN'T
ANTICIPATE NOW THAT CLASSES
HAVE STARTED. "NOW IT'S
FLIPPED, WE ONCE HAD 1,000
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN
PERSON. THAT NUMBER HAS
SHIFTED AND MORE OF THEM ARE
CHOOSING THE REMOTE OPTION AND
WE'RE DOWN TO 724 STUDENTS WHO
ARE PARTICIPATING IN PERSON
AND 3,911 HAVE SHIFTED TO
REMOTE PROGRAM." THE DISTRICT
SAYS THEY ARE WORKING TO GET
TECHNOLOGY TO THOSE STUDENTS
AND PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES.
"AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THE
NUMBERS SETTLED DOWN AND
FIGURE OUT WHERE EVERYONE IS,
WE ARE GOING TO COMMIT TO THIS
COMMUNITY THAT WE WILL PROVIDE
TUTORING AND DO WELLNESS
CHECKS." THEY ALSO PLAN TO
PROVIDE FLEXIBLE SUPPORT HOURS
FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE
CONFLICTING WORK SCHEDULES AND
START A VIRTUAL LIBRARY
SERVICE. "WE HAVE SOME
OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF US. BUT
WE'RE COMMITTED TO SEEING
SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH THIS YEAR
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE STAFF TO
DO IT." IN THE MEANTIME,
SUPERINTENDENT GEDDIS SAYS
THEY HAVE NOT LAID ANYBODY OFF
BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES AT THE
START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. "NO,
WE HAVE NOT DONE A REDUCTION
IN FORCE." SHE SAID IF OTHER
PROBLEMS COME UP LATER ON,
LAYOFFS ARE A POSSIBILITY. BUT
RIGHT NOW, EMPLOYMENT WILL
REMAIN THE SAME. "IT IS THE
GOAL OF THE BOARD THAT WE TAKE
ALL STAFF, COME UP WITH
CREATIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR
STUDENTS, AND USE THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE OUR
STUDENTS TO THE NEXT LEVEL."
((JENNIFER J)) THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT WILL CONTINUE DOING
FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS FOR
STUDENTS. THEY HAVE LOCATIONS
EVERY TUESDAY AT DANVILLE HIGH
SCHOOL AND AT OTHER SCHOOLS AS
WELL. ((JESSICA)) THANKS
JENNIFER.
((JESSICA)) EVEN IF YOUR
STUDENT IS DOING VIRTUAL
LEARNING -- OFFICIALS ARE
REMINDING PARENTS THEY STILL
NEED TO BE VACCINATED. THE
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH IS REQUIRING KIDS GET
THEIR SHOTS AND HEALTH EXAMS
NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 15-TH.
IF STUDENTS DON'T MAKE THE DUE
DATE ... THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO
JOIN CLASSES AGAIN UNTIL THEY
RECEIVE THEIR REQUIRED
IMMUNIZATIONS. ONE DECATUR
PARENT AND NURSE FEELS VIRTUAL
LEARNING DOESN'T CHANGE THE
NEED FOR SHOTS.
"BACTERIA, ORGANISMS,
MICROORGANISMS, YOU CAN'T SEE
THEM ON A SURFACE OF ANYTHING
SO IT'S BETTER TO BE SAFE
THANN SORRY" IF YOU'RE IN THE
DECATUR AREA.. CROSSING
HEALTHCARE IS OFFERING SCHOOL
PHYSICALS AND HAS EXTENDED
HOURS.
((JESSICA)) UNIVERSITIES SAY
THEY NEED FEDERAL MONEY TO
OFFSET THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT
ON THEIR WORK. THAT WAS THE
MESSAGE A U OF I PROFESSOR
GAVE CONGRESS TODAY. JOSEPH
WALSH IS A VICE PRESIDENT FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOMENT. HE'S
STUDIED HOW THE CORONAVIRUS
HAS DISRUPTED THE COMMUNAL
ASPECT OF RESEARCH. SOCIAL
DISTANCING AND REMOTE MEETINGS
HAVE REDUCED THE SPREAD OF THE
VIRUS... BUT WALSH SAYS THERE
ARE SETBACKS.
UNIVTY OF ILLINOIS SYSTEM
CT
"THE CORONAVIRUS IS NOT
SPREADING IN THE LABS. THESE
ARE FOLKS - WE HAVE A GRAD
STUDENT HERE - WHO KNOW HOW TO
PUT ON PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT. AND
YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF SPREAD
OF THE VIRUS. WHAT DOESN'T
WORK FOR THOSE STUDENTS,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEW
STUDENTS, IS TRAINING THEM.
IT'S HARD TO STAND SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER WITH A BRAND NEW
STUDENT AND TEACH THEM HOW TO
TURN A KNOB HOW TO KNOW HOW TO
OPERATE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,
AND ESPECIALLY HOW TO DO THAT
SAFELY." WALSH SAYS NATIONAL
SECURITY IS IMPACTED BY
INTERRUPTED RESEARCH AND
DELAYS.
((JESSICA)) FAITH LEADERS HELD
A SPECIAL CEREMONY IN
SPRINGFIELD TODAY TO COMFORT
FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES
TO THE CORONAVIRUS. THE VIGIL
WAS STREAMED ONLINE SO OTHER
FAMILIES AROUND THE STATE
COULD TUNE IN. MANY FAMILIES
COULDN
ON WHEN GATHERINGS LARGER THAN
10 WERE RESTRICTED. THIS WAS
THE SECOND CEREMONY OF ITS
KIND.
((JESSICA)) LOOKING AT TODAY'S
NUMBERS -- THERE ARE MORE THAN
13-HUNDRED NEW CASES IN THE
STATE. THAT MAKES THE TOTAL
MORE THAN 253-THOUSAND. 30
MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED. THERE
HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 82-
HUNDRED COVID- RELATED DEATHS
IN ILLINOIS.
((JESSICA)) WE HAVE AN UPDATE
ON A MURDER INVESTIGATION OUT
OF OLNEY. POLICE HAVE ARRESTED
SOMEONE. 33-YEAR-OLD TARA HAWS
IS FACING A CHARGE OF MURDER
BY ACCOUNTABILITY. KYLE
JOHNSON WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON
SUNDAY. STATE POLICE ARE STILL
LOOKING FOR 19-YEAR-OLD RICK
MEADOR.
((JESSICA)) A TEENAGER WHO
DROVE DRUNK AND HIT A WOMAN'S
HOME WILL SERVE SIX YEARS IN
PRISON. 18-YEAR-OLD MICAIAH
BARTON WAS SENTENCED TODAY FOR
AGGRAVATED D-U-I. THE CRASH
HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER ON LOCUST
STREET NEAR NORTH 20TH STREET
IN DECATUR. 87-YEAR-OLD NANCY
HINTON WAS KILLED.
((JESSICA)) A DECATUR MAN WILL
STAY BEHIND BARS FOR CHILD
EXPLOITATION. 28-YEAR-OLD
DANIEL BETTY WAS SENTENCED TO
22 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON. HE
PLEADED GUILTY TO SEXUALLY
EXPLOITING AND ENTICING A 14-
YEAR-OLD GIRL LAST YEAR.
AUTHORITIES SAY HE POSED AS A
TEENAGE BOY ON AN APP CALLED
"SPOT-A-FRIEND" TO TARGET
MINORS.. MEET THEM FOR SEXUAL
ACTIVITY.. AND SEND THEM
EXPLICIT PICTURES.
((JESSICA)) RANTOUL POLICE ARE
STILL SERACHING FOR A MISSING
MAN. 62-YEAR-OLD DAVID
FRANKLIN DISAPPEARED THREE
WEEKS AGO.. POLICE SAY THEY
FOUND HIS BIKE ON THE NORTH
EAST SIDE OF RANTOUL. THEY'VE
ADDED HELICOPTERS AND DRONES
TO THEIR SEARCH BUT STILL CAME
UP EMPTY TODAY.
((JESSICA)) TOMORROW IS THE
FIRST MEETING INVESTIGATING
SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN'S ROLE
IN COM ED'S CORRUPTION. HOUSE
REPUBLICANS CALLED FOR A
SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO
INVESTIGATE THE SPEAKER.
MADIGAN HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED
IN THE FEDERAL CASE... AND THE
HOUSE COMMITTEE IS NOT ABLE TO
ACTUALLY CHARGE THE SPEAKER.
BUT REPUBLICANS WANT ANSWERS.
"AS OF RIGHT NOW, THOSE FACTS
ARE UNCONTESTED. WE WOULD
INVITE THE SPEAKER TO CONTEST
THOSE FACTS, IF HE DOES NOT
BELIEVE THEY ARE ACCURATE."
THE COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF
THREE DEMOCRATS AND THREE
REPUBLICANS. TOMORROW'S
MEETING WILL ESTABLISH RULES
AND REGULATIONS.
((JESSICA)) GOVERNOR PRITZKER
VISITED DECATUR TODAY TO
REMIND PEOPLE TO FILL OUT THE
CENSUS. THE MAYOR THERE SAYS
IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTAN,
GIVEN THE CITY'S RECENT
POPULATION LOSS. THE GOVERNOR
ALSO RESPONDED TO CRITICS OF
HIS GRADUATED INCOME TAX PLAN.
THEY ARGUE HIGHER TAXES ON THE
WEALTHY MIGHT DRIVE THEM OUT
OF ILLINOIS.
GOV. J.B. PRITZKER (D)
ILLINOIS "IF YOU ASK ME, IN
THIS VERY CRITICAL MOMENT IN
THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE, WHAT
YOU DON'T WANT IS A
DIMINISHMENT OF THE SERVICES,
THE SUPPORTS THAT PEOPLE
VITALLY NEED, AND THAT'S WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DON'T PASS
THE FAIR TAX." YOU HAVE THREE
WEEKS LEFT TO FILL OUT THE
CENSUS. STATE LAWMAKERS SAY
THE FORM MAKES A BIG
DIFFERENCE IN HOW MUCH OF YOUR
FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS COME BACK
TO ILLINOIS.
((JESSICA)) THOUSANDS OF
ILLINOIS GUN OWNERS ARE
WAITING ON THEIR FOID CARDS.
THE BACKLOG HAS BEEN BUILDING
UP SINCE THE START OF THE
YEAR. 135 THOUSAND RENEWAL AND
NEW CARD APPLICATIONS HAVEN'T
BEEN PROCESSED. POLICE AREN'T
PUNISHING PEOPLE FOR HAVING
EXPIRED CARDS -- BUT IT'S
CAUSING ISSUES WHEN OWNERS ARE
SHOPPING. ONE GUN OWNER'S
RENEWAL HAS BEEN IN THE STACK
SINCE JUNE.
"YOU STILL TEND TO RUN INTO A
LOT OF PROBLEM WHEN YOU GO TO
BUY AMMUNITION OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT. THEY DON'T WANT TO
SEE YOUR CONCEALED CARRY CARD.
THEY WANT TO SEE YOUR FOID
CARD EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE
SAME NUMBERS." POLICE SAY THE
BACKLOG WAS CAUSED BY AN
INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS.. AND
NOT ENOUGH ANALYSTS TO GO
THROUGH ALL OF THE PAPERWORK.
THE STATE IS IN THE PROCESS OF
HIRING NEW ANALYSTS TO SPEED
UP THE PROCESS.
((JESSICA)) HE WAS A BASEBALL
LEGEND -- BUT HE WAS ALSO A
FRIEND OF ONE CENTRAL ILLINOIS
FAMILY. HOW THEY'RE
REMEMBERING LOU BROCK. PLUS...
PEOPLE ARE STILL REELING FROM
HURRICANE LAURA. HOW DOZENS
FROM CENTRAL ILLINOIS ARE
HELPING THEM GET BACK ON THEIR
FEET.
((JESSICA)) AND LATER -- HIGH
SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES ARE A NO
GO IN ILLINOIS. BUT IT'S A
DIFFERENT STORY JUST ACROSS
THE BORDER.
LIVE FROM YOUR LOCAL NEWS
LEADER... JESSICA KUNZ... PAUL