Read more about the article Testing accelerated at Rantoul meat processing plant hit by coronovirus outbreakPam Dempsey, Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Medical staff prepare to test workers for Covid-19 at Rantoul Foods on Friday, May 8, 2020, as part of a two-day mass testing event. The meat processing plant had 55 confirmed cases as of Friday.

Testing accelerated at Rantoul meat processing plant hit by coronovirus outbreak

Rantoul Foods, one of Central Illinois’ largest meat processing plants, accelerated its mass testing Friday as the number of confirmed cases at the plant rose to 55.

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Read more about the article Covid-19 outbreak hits Rantoul meat processing plant
A livestock truck in line at the Rantoul Foods plant in Rantoul, Il on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. photo by Darrell Hoemann/The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

Covid-19 outbreak hits Rantoul meat processing plant

Just days before President Trump ordered meat packing plants to remain open to mitigate food shortages, Rantoul Foods in Central Illinois saw its first case. There are now 21. One of the largest meat processing plants in central Illinois is battling an outbreak of coronavirus in which 21 cases of  Covid-19 have been already been counted, a company official confirmed Monday

Rantoul Foods, which is based in Rantoul and processes between 30 million and 35 million pounds of pork each month, saw its first case on April 25, said Jerry Jacobsen, the company's director of human resources, safety and business administration. Since then 20 more cases have been reported.

Jacobsen said the company is taking safety measures to bring the outbreak under control.

“The first thing is the health of our employees," Jacobsen said, “because without our employees we don’t have a business.” 

The first worker identified with Covid-19 has now recovered and returned to work, he said. 

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Public lab testing of coronavirus faced weeks of delays; number of tests conducted locally unknown

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District started preparing for the coronavirus outbreak in January of this year, but no testing for the disease locally began…

Continue ReadingPublic lab testing of coronavirus faced weeks of delays; number of tests conducted locally unknown
Read more about the article Gun violence in downstate Illinois in four mapsGoogle Maps
A map of gun-related incidents in Springfield, Illinois.

Gun violence in downstate Illinois in four maps

At least 100 people died from gunfire over the past three years and at least 500 were wounded, according to data obtained from a sample of police departments of eight small cities in downstate Illinois. Here's a look at where gun violence occurs.

Continue ReadingGun violence in downstate Illinois in four maps
Read more about the article Police data show gun violence a chronic, growing problem across IllinoisPam Dempsey/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Hundreds of people in Danville gather for a candlelight vigil on June 13, 2016, in honor of Devon McClyde, who was shot while playing basketball in Garfield Park on June 8, 2016. In 2017, eight people were killed from gun violence in Danville.

Police data show gun violence a chronic, growing problem across Illinois

His name was Devon McClyde and he was 16 years old when he was caught in the crossfire of an argument while playing basketball…

Continue ReadingPolice data show gun violence a chronic, growing problem across Illinois

Farmers worry trade war would damage relationship with top customer

As China and the U.S. swap threats of import taxes on billions of dollars of goods, financial markets fluctuated and farmers are frustrated, saying they worry over hard-built trade relationships with one of their largest customers.

Continue ReadingFarmers worry trade war would damage relationship with top customer