(Springfield-jm) – 63 Illinois counties are now considered at an elevated risk for COVID-19 transmission. That’s up from 46 counties the previous week. Illinois Department of Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey says the increase was expected this time of year…

 

 

State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey. Claffey says many of those beds are taken up by kids with serious cases of RSV, another respiratory illness. He stresses that it is not too late to get your flu shot and the bivalent COVID booster.

 

(Springfield-jm) – A banking group says Illinoisans should keep their guard up during the holiday season to protect themselves from cases of fraud.  The Illinois Bankers Association reports incidents of fraud are on the increase. One of the most common forms of identity theft is check fraud. Reports of check fraud in Illinois have increased by nearly 70% this year and have jumped over 300% since 2014.  

Common ways check fraud can occur include stealing a blank check from a checkbook, using a disposed canceled check, or a check placed in a mailbox. The IBA said other ways to prevent check fraud include making sure to properly dispose of checks, filling out checks properly without using abbreviations, and if using digital checks, use a bold font that is more difficult for someone to replicate. 

The IBA said other types of fraud also prevalent during the holidays include online shopping scams involving peer-to-peer payments, or P2P payments. P2P transactions are electronic money transfers made directly to another person, using money transfer applications such as PayPal, Zelle and Venmo. They advise consumers to confirm all details such as name, email and phone number before sending money, and never send money to a stranger or let a stranger access your phone.  

(Springfield-jm) – New legislation banning assault weapons may be on the docket when Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield in January. The “Protect Illinois Communities Act” is the product of a House working group. Representative Bob Morgan of Deerfield is sponsoring the measure and explains what it does…

 

 

State Representative Bob Morgan of Deerfield. Current owners of assault weapons would be able to keep them under the bill, but would have to get them registered. Morgan was at the 4th of July parade shooting in Highland Park. He hopes to get this passed during the “lame duck” legislative session early next month.

 

Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Park District has a new director. Sarah Sandquist has been hired as the new director, replacing Joe DeLuce who is retiring at the end of the year. Sandquist comes from Fishers, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis and was a graduate of the University of Illinois. Her first official day is today but will take on all responsibilities January 1st.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A Bloomington medical practice will be joining the Christie Clinic group in the spring. Medical Hills Internists and Christie Clinic signed a letter of intent that would go into effect April 1st. The addition will add 13 more primary care doctors and 50 clinical staff.

 

(Washington-jm) – Participant feedback is part of the process used by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service in developing future agricultural trade missions, including those being planned for next year. Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Paxton-jm) – Hundreds of shoppers came to the city of Paxton on Friday night for a three hour kick off holiday sales event. The Paxton Area Chamber of commerce along with PRIDE in Paxton held the annual bag sale with a preview Friday night.

Music, Santa and Frosty the Snowman also highlighted the event. The Paxton Holiday Bag sale continues throughout the city, today. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Participating in the state’s AIDS drug assistance program will have access to a new treatment next year. Starting in January, program coverage will include the HIV treatment drug Cabenuva says State Public Health Spokesman Mike Claffey…

 

 

State Public Health Spokesperson Mike Claffey. The hope is that more people will use this medication and as a result, transmission of the virus will decline. According to the Department of Public Health, about 36 thousand people in Illinois are living with HIV and nearly half are enrolled in the assistance program.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois continues to sweeten the deal in an effort to attract electric vehicle makers and related companies to the state.  Legislation was approved the final day of session year, which would extend up to 30 years in payroll tax credits for those who work in Illinois under the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act. The companies receiving the breaks can receive a state income tax credit of 75% or 100% of payroll taxes withheld from each new employee and 25% or 50% for current employees.  The REV Act changes also modifies the definition of electric vehicle component part manufacturer in an effort to attract more EV parts companies, and grants the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity the power to determine the conditions and procedures for renewing the REV Illinois Credit.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Lawmakers and advocates want more to be done to combat the growing number of Fentanyl related deaths. During a press conference at the capitol, the group discussed the need for more awareness about how deadly fentanyl is, saying its 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and heroin. Representative Rita Mayfield of Waukegan says the issue of addiction needs to be addressed head on and discussed freely…

 

 

State Representative Rita Mayfield of Waukegan. Others talked about how NARCAN, which can counteract an overdose, needs to be more readily available and the need for primary care doctors and substance abuse specialists to work together to help patients battling an addiction.

 

(Champaign-jm) – A large fire broke out Saturday evening in Champaign just before 9 p.m. The fire occurred at 112 E. Hill Street in Champaign. Officials say the fire began in a large detached garage fire at the address. It then spread to a two-story single family home on the property. The cause of the fire has not been determined. No one was home at the time the fire started, and no firefighters were injured.

 

(Mahomet-jm) – A Champaign County judge reduced the sentence of a man who killed a bicyclist and injuring another in Mahomet and then fled. Robert O’Malley had been sentenced to 13 years in prison for the October 2020 death of Dr. William Schuh. O’Malley also struck Schuh’s adult daughter who was riding with him and his wife. O’Malley fled but was later found. A judge reduced the sentence by a year after finding O’Malley was remorseful for his actions.

 

 

(Washington-jm) – USDA's new farm income forecast has quite a bit of happy holiday news in it. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Rantoul kicked off the Christmas holiday season Friday night. The village held their annual lighted Christmas parade. Other festivities included carriage rides and Santa’s workshop.