Illinois Governor Imposes Stay-At-Home Order To Curb Virus

CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ordered the state's residents to remain in their homes except for essential needs, joining similar efforts in California and New York to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Pritzker's order announced Friday will still allow the state's 12.6 million residents to seek essentials including groceries and medicine. The order will take effect Saturday and last through April 7. Pritzker says the move could potentially prevent tens of thousands” of deaths. He says people can continue to shop for groceries, visit pharmacies and gas stations, exercise outdoors and pick up meals from restaurants. Click here for details of the order. - Associated Press

Illinois: Woman Dies From Coronavirus; Cases Grow To 585

URBANA – The Illinois Dept of Public Health announced 163 new cases of the coronavirus in our state. A woman in Cook county in her 70s is the latest person to die. She’s also the fifth person to die. Right now, the state says there are a total of 585 COVID-19 cases in 25 counties in Illinois. Those affected range from ages 3 to 99. Additionally the state is working with the US Department of Health and Human Services, Wal-Mart and Walgreens to set up drive-thru testing in the hardest hit areas of the state. – Reginald Hardwick/Illinois Newsroom

Weather Service Says 2 Tornadoes Struck Southern Illinois

SUNFIELD — The National Weather Service says preliminary findings by surveyors indicate damage done to structures in two southern Illinois counties was caused by two tornadoes. One person was slightly injured and about a dozen homes were damaged Thursday in Hamilton and Perry counties. A tornado, estimated to be 125 yards wide, traveled a little over three miles through the town of Sunfield in Perry County. Surveyors estimate the twister reached peak winds of 100 mph. Surveyors estimate the second tornado, nearly 300 yards wide with peak winds of an estimated 110 mph, hit Dahlgren. Authorities say trees in both communities were snapped or uprooted and power lines downed. - Associated Press

Oberweis Declared Winner Of 14th District GOP Primary

CHICAGO —  Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis has come out on top in the scrum of Republican candidates seeking to reclaim the 14th District U.S. congressional seat from first-term Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood. The Associated Press on Friday declared Oberweis the winner over six other candidates in Tuesday's Republican primary. Underwood flipped the longtime GOP seat in 2018 when she defeated Rep Randy Hultgren, who was elected in 2010. The 14th District, west of Chicago, includes city suburbs and rural areas. - Associated Press