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The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting more cases of severe hepatitis in children

(Springfield-jm) – A new state law will make it easier for survivors of domestic violence to file an order of protection. The law provides survivors of sexual or domestic abuse the option of filing online. It was sponsored by Amanda Pyron, Executive Director of the network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. She says some counties have already adopted this practice in response to the pandemic…

 

 

Advocating Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Amanda Pyron. The law also requires larger counties in Illinois to offer survivors to attend hearings remotely.

 

(Springfield-jm) – May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and a national organization claims Illinois can do more to keep bikers alive. Fatal motorcycle crashes jumped 13% in Illinois last year, higher than the national average of a 9% increase. Nationwide, 6,101 people were killed in motorcycle crashes in 2021, the highest number on record. Illinois is one of only three states that doesn’t have any form of motorcycle helmet law. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in states without all-rider helmet laws, almost 60% of motorcyclists killed in 2019 were not wearing helmets. That compares to 9% in states with such laws. Illinois had a helmet law up until 1970, when lawmakers repealed the measure. According to Advocates, per vehicle mile traveled, motorcycle riders are nearly 29 times more likely to be killed in a traffic crash than occupants of passenger vehicles.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting more cases of severe hepatitis in children. A total of nine pediatric patients are under investigation for hepatitis, which is inflammation of the liver. That’s up from the three reported last month, says Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey…

 

 

State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey. Officials are asking doctors and parents to keep an eye out for potential symptoms including fever, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A 14-year-old was recently arrested after he was accused of stealing a car in Champaign on Sunday. The teenager had been convicted five times for possessing stolen vehicles before he was arrested again on Monday. According to Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz, the 14-year-old was accused of stealing a car that belonged to an Uber driver who left his car unlocked to run inside the Target store in Campustown for a quick errand. About 25 hours after the car was reported stolen, Champaign Police spotted the vehicle and saw a young male driver with several passengers inside. They arrested the driver, the 14-year-old, in the 1300 block of Mariner Drive. The teen was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, obstructing justice and failure to comply with his home detention. He is currently on parole. Rietz also charged two other teenagers who were accused of being involved in the confrontation with Champaign Police when they attempted to gather information about the passengers in the stolen car. Rietz said a 15-year-old was charged with aggravated battery for allegedly spitting on a police officer and aggravated resisting a police officer for running from another officer who hurt his leg while chasing the teen. He was released to his grandmother. The other teenager, a 16-year-old, was charged with resisting a peace officer after he was accused of running from police who saw him walking near where the stolen car had been abandoned. He is currently on parole for mob action.


 

(Springfield-jm) – The state received several billion dollars from the federal government to help during the pandemic. Some Republicans, including 53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington says the state misused that money…

 

 

53rd District State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Police Department has launched a new program that lets members of the public better help police in the event of a crime near their home or business. The Security Camera Registration Program allows community members and business owners with security cameras, video doorbells and similar systems to inform the Police Department of the presence of private surveillance systems that may be of assistance to police investigating criminal activity in the nearby area. Those who wish to register their surveillance systems with the City can easily register online at champaignil.gov/mycamera. 

 

(Washington-jm) – Our nation Wednesday filed a second dispute to Canada's dairy tariff-rate-quota policy within the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is signing two new laws addressing children’s mental health. One law creates the Children’s Mental Health Council, made up of experts from a variety of fields. Senator Meg Loughran Cappel of Shorewood discussed the measure at a press conference, saying the group will tackle multiple issues…

 

 

State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel of Shorewood. Governor Pritzker signed a second law requiring all youth in foster care to be assigned a mental health provider and given a well-being assessment.

 

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Legislative Audit Commission met with the Illinois State Police Merit Board to discuss the spending of $550,000 in taxpayer funds to twice investigate an employee who was terminated from her role in 2020 over wage theft allegations. The Audit Commission found that the ISP paid former Merit Board CFO Jenny Thornley over $71,000 in taxpayer dollars in disability and workers' compensation pay, even after she was fired by the merit board. Thornley was charged in Sangamon County in September 2021 with stealing up to $100,000 in false overtime claims. It’s alleged she forged the signature of the agency’s executive director, Jack Garcia. After Thornley learned about the investigation into her alleged wrongdoings, she accused Garcia of groping her in his office. That allegation was determined to be unfounded.The two investigations into Thornley cost the taxpayers more than $550,000.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A postcard invitation from the Champaign County County Executive to complete a countywide broadband survey will be mailed this week to specific households that have been randomly selected in each area of the county. The Champaign County board has committed to using a significant amount of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act funding to help expand broadband services in the county. To decide how to invest the county’s funds, the County Executive’s office is conducting a countywide broadband survey in cooperation with the University of Illinois and Champaign County Farm Bureau in the month of June. According to officials, the information will give them critical information that will be used to support broadband service providers to expand services in the best ways to meet the local needs.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Ethics reform has been a major talking point recently following the 22 count indictment of former House Speaker Michael Madigan. 106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City says a new report out hi-lites the need for change…

 

 

106th District State Representative Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

 

(Champaign-jm) – Early voting has begun in Champaign County for the 2022 primary elections. In-person early voting started at 8 a.m. last Thursday. You can vote at the Brookens Administrative Building in Urbana weekdays 8:30-4:30, Saturdays 9-4 and Sundays 10-4. June 13th through the 27th other locations will open up including Lake of the Woods Pavilion in Mahomet, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph and The Gathering Place in Rantoul. June 25th through the 27th, more locations open up including the Mahomet Public Library and the Rantoul Recreation Department. More information on times, locations and who’s on the ballot can be found at the Champaign County Clerk's website.

 

(Washington-jm) – USDA has once again raised its forecast for 2022's retail food price inflation. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

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