(Springfield-jm) – Those backyard chickens could be making you sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to issue a warning about salmonella infections across multiple states. They say the infection is linked to backyard poultry. A total of 219 illnesses have been reported from 38 states, and 27 people have been hospitalized. One in four sick people is a child younger than 5 years, according to the CDC. Last year in 2021, a total of 1,135 people got sick from contact with backyard poultry.
(Springfield-jm) – A new state law will make it easier for men in Illinois to get prostate cancer screenings. The measure requires health insurers to cover prostate screenings without imposing a deductible, co-pay or any other cost-sharing fee. It was sponsored by Chicago Representative LaShawn Ford, a prostate cancer survivor, who says that everyone should have access to life-saving screenings…
State Representative LaShawn Ford of Chicago. The law takes effect in January of 2024.
(Champaign County-jm) – Champaign County election officials are seeking helpers for the primary. Officials are urging anyone with an interest in elections to come forward. It’s a volunteer role that comes with a stipend of $13 dollars an hour. Those interested can reach out to the Champaign County Clerk’s Office.
(Leverette-jm) – Strong storms Sunday morning caused damage in Leverette. Storms rolled through around 7 am causing several tree branches to fall in the trailer park. Damage was also reported at the grain elevator. Ping pong ball sized hail was reported as well causing significant crop damage.
(Melvin-tr) – The Ford County Fair is in full swing with many events planned for this week. Ford County Fair Board President Steve Meenan gives a rundown of the events today …
Ford County Fair Board President Steve Meenan.
(Champaign-jm) – The University of Illinois became the face of COVID-19 testing during the pandemic thanks to its SHIELD test. The rapid, saliva-based test was developed by university scientists to ensure students could return to campus for and remain healthy throughout the 2020-2021 academic year. Recently, a new report of collected data showed the test successfully slowed the spread of COVID through the university community and reduced hospitalizations and deaths. The report, published in Nature Communications, showed that Champaign County saw roughly a third less COVID cases than expected between early July and late December of 2020. Among 251 counties in the U.S. with a major university located in them, Champaign County also saw the greatest reduction of deaths – more than four times less than predicted based on those other counties’ numbers.
(Washington-jm) – As the slow spring planting season begins to wrap up and the growing season gets going in earnest, USDA is involved in a huge weekly undertaking that brings us every Monday a look at planting progress and crop development. Gary Crawford reports…
(Springfield-jm) – A new report shows a number of corrections officers in the state of Illinois received little to no punishment after being found responsible for misconduct. The ProPublica investigation says that between 2014 and 2019, eighteen Illinois Department of Corrections officers had misused force or sexually harassed inmates in Illinois state prisons, and still remained on staff. Eleven still hold their jobs today. The other seven either retired or were let go for other reasons. The report says eight of the eighteen were suspended temporarily and four were fired, but later reinstated to IDOC after filing grievances.
(Springfield-jm) – Governor J-B Pritzker is signing a new law to increase access to mental health care in Illinois. The idea is to make care more readily available by strengthening the state’s mental health workforce. The law lets those who have been out of the profession for less than five years reactivate their state license, and makes it easier for advanced practice RN’s to treat patients, says Governor Pritzker…
Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. The law also creates a tax credit for qualified employers who hire people in recovery from a substance use disorder or mental illness.
(Champaign-jm) – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District recently announced that COVID-19 community level transmission in Champaign County is now high. On May 20, CUPHD announced that Champaign County had a high community transmission rate for COVID-19. On June 3, it was changed to a medium level of transmission. It was changed back to the high transmission level. The health department is encouraging people to wear masks indoors regardless of their vaccination status.
(Urbana-jm) – A professor at the University of Illinois teamed up with local gun safety advocates in First Followers to take a deeper look at gun violence. UIUC Post-Doctoral researcher Tariq Khan taught history class in the spring with a focus on local history and policing. Khan is working with First Followers to look at why gun violence has grown in recent years.
(Paxton-jm) – A blood drive will be happening in Paxton later this month. Coordinator Kevin Hanson talks about the event…
Paxton blood drive coordinator Kevin Hanson.
(Champaign-jm) – Four Parkland College students earned top honors among the 14 persuasive speakers who recently presented at the 19th annual David M. Jones Persuasive Speaking Contest. Earning first place honors in this year's May 11 contest was Joel Langston of Champaign, whose speech supporting the Eastern Illinois Food Bank earned him a $500 scholarship. The food bank will receive a $500 donation from the Communication program faculty. Delma Cobb of Rantoul came in second with her speech for the Equal Justice Initiative, earning a prize of $250. Jake Van Anrooy of Poplar Grove was third with a speech supporting Jazz at Lincoln Center, and won $100. Fourth place winner Cavan Morber of Champaign will receive $50 for his speech supporting the Ocean Cleanup.
(Washington-jm) – The latest Consumer Price Index shows no slowdown in food price increases. Gary Crawford reports…
