(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois voting rights groups have reached a settlement agreement with Secretary of State Jesse White over alleged violations of the federal Voting Rights Act and Illinois’ recently passed automatic voter registration law. The lawsuit argued that the secretary of state’s office, which offers voter registration services, violates state and federal law and “frustrates Illinois citizens’ ability to register to vote.” The secretary of state’s office allegedly failed to provide applicants with required information about voter eligibility, ask applicants about their voter registrations status, and offer information in other languages, as required by state and federal law.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Unemployed and need affordable healthcare? The Illinois Department of Insurance says help may be available. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, those who have received jobless benefits this year can look for greater savings on the health insurance marketplace, says Get Covered Illinois Executive Director Laura Pellikan…

 

 

Get Covered Illinois Executive Director Laura Pellikan. Pellikan says even if you just signed up recently you can go back and see if you’re eligible for a better deal. 

Get started by visiting: get covered illinois dot gov. The last day to enroll is August 15th.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- This weekend was a dangerous weekend as 15 people were shot in the area. Three adults and two children were shot in Rantoul Sunday evening. Friday afternoon five people were shot, one fatally at an American Legion in Champaign. Four people were shot in Danville early Sunday morning after a concert at a bar. Also Sunday, a person was shot in Urbana.

 

 

(Illinois--jc)  --President Joe Biden will be making his first stop in Illinois since taking office.According to the White House, Biden will be in suburban Crystal Lake on Wednesday to talk about the American Families Plan, which includes $1.8 trillion in investments and tax credits for families and children over 10 years old.The Democratic Party of McHenry County said on Twitter that Biden would be visiting McHenry County College.

 

(Fisher-jm) -- A parade and ice cream social unofficially kicked off the 80th Fisher Community Fair last night. Fair President Todd Cotter says the first official day of the fair is today…

 

 

Fisher Community Fair President Todd Cotter.

 

 

(Gibson City-jm) -- Gibson City will spend over $20,000 for new hydrants. The city council approved spending $24,000 to purchase 10 hydrants.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- Food shoppers are seeing prices going up faster than previously projected. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

The Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting their Freedom Fridays Live Music with 90s Daughter Acoustic on Friday, July 9th from 6 to 9 pm.

 

Balloons over Vermilion will take place on Friday, July 9th and Saturday, July 10th at the Vermilion County Regional Airport in Danville.

 

(Springfield-jm) -- A new national report that evaluates K-12 civics and U.S. History standards adopted by the 50 states and the District of Columbia gives Illinois an F in both subjects. A bipartisan team conducted the reviews, according to the Thomas B.  Fordham Institute. The results indicated that Illinois is inadequate in both subject areas, and the disciplinary concepts are so general as to be useless to teachers, students, parents, curriculum planners, and assessment designers. A complete revision is recommended. It further stated that Illinois' U.S. History standards are almost nonexistent, providing insufficient guidance for educators who have the responsibility to teach American history.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Protecting your family from ticks this summer. After being out in the woods or a grassy area it’s always a good idea to check for ticks, says University of Illinois Extension Entomology Specialist Sarah Hughson. If you find one, you can remove it with a pair of tweezers by grabbing it at the base and pulling it straight out. You should not pinch it with your fingers or burn the tick…

 

 

University of Illinois Extension Entomology Specialist Sarah Hughson. Hughson says dogs should be checked as well, especially near the ears and armpit areas.

 

 

(Champaign-jm) -- Tickets for Christian band Mercy Me go on sale this Friday at noon. Mercy Me will perform at the State Farm Center on November 6th.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois General Assembly passed 600 bills during the spring legislative session. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City discusses some of the bills…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

 

(Champaign County-jm) -- Champaign County home sales continued their hot streak in May. According to the Champaign County Association of Realtors, home sales rose 35 percent compared to May of last year.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- If you are a dog owner and are living in an area where it's dangerously hot, experts urge you to be alert for symptoms of heat stress and stroke in your dog.  Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

The Shop in the Park in Cissna Park will take place on Saturday, July 10th from 10 to 2.

 

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in L’Erable will hold their annual Parish Homecoming on Sunday, July 11th with Mass at 11 and dinner to follow.