(Springfield-jm) -- Masking up in school is a contentious issue in many areas, but the State Board of Education is pointing to a recent CDC study that found masks are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19. The CDC study looked at about one thousand schools in Arizona and determined that schools that don’t require masks were three and a half times more likely to have an outbreak of the virus compared to schools that do. The State Board’s Executive Director of Safe and Healthy Climate Jeff Aranowski…
State Board of Education Executive Director of Safe and Healthy Climate Jeff Aranowski. Governor J-B Pritzker was asked this week when the state’s school mask mandate will be lifted and he said they will continue to follow the recommendations of the CDC.
(Undated-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,058 new Coronavirus cases and 23 additional deaths Tuesday. Vermilion County reported 42 new cases and 1 additional death. Champaign County reported 48 new cases. Ford and Iroquois Counties did not have a report.
(Springfield-jm) -- Attorney General Kwame Raoul and law enforcement partners are boosting efforts to fight online child exploitation. Reports of child pornograhy and exploiting kids are on the rise and everyone must do their part to stop this trend, says Attorney General Raoul. His office has put together a series of webinars for parents and schools to learn more about internet safety, apps like Snapchat and Tik Tok and signs that a child or student has been a victim of online solicitation…
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Additional efforts are being coordinated through the Attorney General’s internet crimes against children task force, which is deploying a new mobile computer forensics unit that will travel the state as well.
(Paxton-jm) -- The Ford County Soil and Water Conservation District will once again be holding their fall tree sale. Tree orders are due by October 8th. To place your order call 217-379-4388.
(Springfield-jm) -- Ethics reform was passed during the recent legislative session. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City talks about the legislation…
106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.
(Champaign County-jm) -- The Champaign County Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless seek to fill the gap in the homeless service system and advocate for year-round and low-barrier emergency shelter for single individuals. According to the group, they will be requesting proposals to fill the gap and plan to advocate for local non-CSPH funds, as well as to provide technical assistance to apply for Continuum-controlled funds such as the ESG program. According to the 2021 Point in Time Count, 148 total individuals are experiencing homelessness, with 132 individuals residing in emergency shelter programs.
(Springfield-jm) -- October is National Protect your Hearing Month and the Illinois Department of Labor is focusing on safety at work. Hearing loss can occur at any age, and those constantly exposed to high decibel sounds on the job are at particular risk, says the agency’s Hap Hileman…
Illinois Department of Labor’s Hap Hileman. Employers in these situations are required to provide workers with hearing protection and to take steps like limiting exposure to loud noises, using low-noise machinery and building a barrier to muffle the noise if possible. Officials recommend talking to your doctor if you’re concerned about hearing loss.
(Danville-jm) -- A man who stole over $2 million from two companies, including a sign company in Danville, has pleaded guilty to charges. Court documents say 43-year-old Jeffery Henson's string of crimes began in 2016, when he pretended to be an online job recruiter to obtain personal identifying information of a job seeker. With that person's stolen information, he obtained a job in their name as director of accounting at a Schaumburg, Illinois, consulting firm, stole at least $1,868,765. He then worked at Watchfire Signs in Danville when he took the identity of another individual and stole over $330,000.
(Vermilion County-jm) -- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in recognition of the month, the Vermilion County State's Attorney' Office is hosting a supply drive. The drive will supply and benefit the Crosspoint Human Services Domestic Violence Transitional Center. Purple donations boxes will be placed at various locations including the Vermilion County Administration Building, McDonald's North Vermilion location and Crosspoint at the Y. Items needed include men's and young men's hygiene products, baby products, pillow cases, sheets and other toiletries. The drive will run throughout the entire month of October.
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Cissna Park American Legion today from 1-7 pm.
The Iroquois County Public Health Department will host a flu shot clinic today from 4-6 pm at the health department in Watseka.
