Coronavirus: 5 things Clark, Champaign residents need to know today

With retail stores and restaurants closing due to the coronavirus, Clark County Commissioners are anticipating a hit to tax revenues and is making budget cuts. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

With retail stores and restaurants closing due to the coronavirus, Clark County Commissioners are anticipating a hit to tax revenues and is making budget cuts. BILL LACKEY/STAFF
By Brooke Spurlock
April 14, 2020
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Here are five things Clark and Champaign residents need to know about COVID-19, or coronavirus today.

1. The Board of Clark County Commissioners is cutting $4.7 million from its general fund budget to deal with anticipated sales tax revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The commissioners will also furlough 56 employees for two weeks.

RELATED: Coronavirus: Clark County Commission cuts $4.7M from budget, furloughs 56 employees

2. The Springfield Arts Council's Youth Arts Ambassadors program will raise the curtain on another live event following the success of its recent live online talent show. The "Parents Edition" of "60-Second Talent Show" will be presented online at 5:30 p.m. today on the Zoom video conferencing service where 14 parents of Ambassadors will showcase their artistic skills.

RELATED: Springfield parents in the spotlight for live online talent show

3. Local officials are still stressing the importance of a complete 2020 census despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Due to state and national guidelines designed to help curb the pandemic, there has been a greater emphasis on getting out messaging regarding the census through virtual means. In Clark and Champaign counties, it means continuing to get the word out while adapting to the current situation, including a statewide stay-at-home order.

RELATED: Clark, Champaign officials continue to stress importance of census

4. Candi's Concessions is helping fulfill the need to feed Springfield families during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering residents donuts in exchange for donations. Candice Chester, owner of Candi's Concessions, is setting up her donut trailer on the weekend and some days throughout the week at Scout's Cafe, 1399 Moorefield Rd. The donations collected will go to H.O.P.E, a Springfield nonprofit, that has been providing free hot meals and bagged lunches to the community.

RELATED: CORONAVIRUS: Concession owner trades donuts for donations for Springfield nonprofit

5. Red Roof is donating hotel rooms to health care workers and first responders protecting their families and self-quarantining away from home during the coronavirus pandemic. The hotel chain is offering limited free rooms for essential workers on the front line of the pandemic until May 31.

RELATED: Coronavirus: Red Roof donates hotel rooms to health care workers, first responders quarantining

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About the Author

Brooke Spurlock