The coronavirus story is developing quickly in Illinois. Here are updates from WGLT's newsroom and our partners at Illinois Public Radio, NPR, and The Associated Press.
You can also see (or add to) our list of cancellations, closures, and rescheduled events. Find all of our coverage at WGLT.org/Coronavirus.
HEARTLAND: SUMMER CLASSES ONLINE TOO
4:15 p.m. Monday, April 6
Due to the coronavirus, Heartland Community College will extend online learning into the 2020 summer academic term, which begins May 18.
Students who registered for in-person summer classes must find the equivalent online course. However, not all in-person courses, such as lab-based classes, can support an online format. Those will be canceled. Classes originally in an online format are not affected.
Enrollment assistance is available by contacting Heartland's advisement office during regular business hours. Heartland also offers a 24-hour technical support service for any students who need assistance.
— Jolie Sherman | WGLT
KROGER INCREASES SAFETY MEASURES
3:30 p.m. Monday, April 6
To promote increased physical distancing, Kroger has put several new measures in place.
Beginning Tuesday, the grocery store will limit the number of shoppers to 50% of the building code’s calculated capacity. Typically, the space allows for one person per 60 square feet. But that will change to one person per 120 square feet, about the space of a small bedroom.
Kroger is confident about its QueVision Technology, which gives an accurate count of shoppers entering and exiting the building. Information from this technology will help decide which kinds of safety practices to implement.
Other safety measures include installing plexiglass partitions at check lanes, pharmacies, and Starbucks counters across the company, floor decals to remind customers of proper physical distancing, and in-store messaging of health habits.
In additon to shoppers, Kroger employees are also being closely monitored via tempertature checks.
— Jolie Sherman | WGLT
NORMAL THEATER OFFERS ONLINE SCREENINGS
2:45 p.m. Monday, April 6
The Normal Theater is offering a unique alternative for Bloomington-Normal moviegoers: online screenings.
The Normal Theater has partnered with FilmMovement to present exclusive streaming of new independent films that have not yet been released to standard video on-demand (VOD) platforms. Films premiere every Friday until the following Sunday.
After a purchasing a ticket, viewers will have a 48-72 hour window to watch the film. A portion of ticket payments support the Normal Theater.
For more information on ticket purchases, current virtual screenings, and new releases visit the Normal Theater website and Facebook page.
— Jolie Sherman | WGLT
ISU EXPANDS PASS-NO PASS OPTION FOR STUDENTS
12 p.m. Monday, April 6
Illinois State University students adjusting to an abrupt shift to online classes will not have to worry as much about their grades for the spring and summer semesters.
Following the lead of other universities, ISU says it will give students the option to take any course as “pass/no pass,” instead of receiving a traditional letter grade. In an email to campus, ISU President Larry Dietz said the change signals “a spirit of flexibility that will help ensure positive student outcomes.”
Transcripts will indicate the extraordinary circumstances encountered in the spring 2020 semester. Learn more about the change by reading Dietz’s full message.
An online petition that gathered over 20,000 signatures asked ISU to consider expanding pass/fail.
— Ryan Denham | WGLT
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