A big-time hit on unemployment reported in Kankakee County. The continuing pandemic took another bite in the local area, like many other communities in the state and across the U.S. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) reported the jobless rate in the county soared to 15.9 percent in April. Last year’s number was at 4.4%. Officials report nearly 4,000 jobs have been lost in the area.

Bloomington, as always, records the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 12.8 percent. Rockford has the highest at 22.4 percent.

94.1 WGFA