(Springfield-jm) – Hospitals across Illinois and the United States are dealing with increasing numbers of cyberattacks. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, large ransomware breaches in the health care sector increased 278% from 2018 to 2022. Matt Dean, senior fellow for Healthcare Policy Outreach at The Heartland Institute, said hospitals can’t just go to the police when cyberattacks happen. Cyberattackers went after Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago earlier this year. The cyberattacks have led to difficult decisions for hospitals and health care facilities.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois House unanimously passed a plan to require insurance coverage for prescribed at-home pregnancy tests. Illinoisans with health insurance could have coverage for at least two urine-based pregnancy tests per month. Sponsors worked to ensure Medicaid patients would have coverage for medically-necessary pregnancy tests as well. If this proposal becomes law, insurance companies would be required to provide coverage for at-home pregnancy tests starting January 1, 2026. Medicaid would start providing coverage on January 1, 2025. House Bill 5643 now moves to the Senate for further consideration. Senators could discuss the plan when they return to Springfield on April 30.
(Washington-jm) – This has been a fast-paced planting season. Gary Crawford reports…
(Urbana-jm) – The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission is hosting an open house on the proposed changes to Lincoln Avenue. The project aims to reduce the high frequency of crashes in this high-traffic area by improving bike and pedestrian safety. Some ways that officials are looking to achieve this is through bike lanes, signalized pedestrian crossings, lane reductions, access control, and more.
(Paxton–jc) One of the main themes for the Paxton Mainstreet Group is to promote the local businesses in the city. Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper says its working together that will move the city to even more success…
Paxton Main Street Executive Director Donna Pepper.
(Iroquois County-jm) – A ballot placement lottery was held at the Iroquois County administrative building. Democrats won the ballot placement lottery and will appear first on the ballot in November. Republicans will appear second on the ballot. Seventeen of the nineteen elected precinct committeepersons attended the Iroquois County Republican convention. Challenger Mitchell Bence defeated the incumbent Lyle Behrends to become the new Iroquois County Republican Party chairman. The vote was 9-8 for Bence. Behrends had served as chairman since 2016. Dan Huse was reelected vice chairman. He defeated challenger Lindsey Ishmiel. Huse also received 9 votes. Kurt Albers was reelected treasurer without opposition. Joseph Monack was elected secretary without opposition. Since there is only one Democratic precinct committeeperson, there was not much of a convention for the Democratic Party. The Iroquois County Republican Party is looking for multiple appointments for the office of precinct committeeperson and for a vacancy on the county board in district 2.
(Paxton–dm) The month of April has been designated as Parkinson’s Disease month. Dan Mushrush has more.
***News nws0997parkinson’s*** Dan voicer
(Paxton–jc) Today’s WPXN Business of the Day is Paxton Hardware and Rental. Scott and Lisa Allen are celebrating their 10th anniversary of owning the local store, purchased from the family. Spring is a very busy time at Paxton Hardware and Rental from lawn care products, to spring garden planting rentals to paint and more says Paxton Hardware and Rental Owner Scott Allen…
When it comes to rentals, they carry grass seeders to bounce houses, to skid steers, to canopies and slushie machines.
Paxton Hardware and Rental Store Owner Scott Allen
Paxton Hardware and Rental is the WPXN Business of the Day, today.
(Springfield-jm) – The Secretary of State’s Office has announced that Illinoisans will now be able to notarize documents electronically, rather than in-person. The “E-Notary” system will allow customers and notaries to electronically sign and notarize documents from their home or office. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said the change is part of the ongoing effort to modernize procedures.
(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois House unanimously passed a plan to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to create child pornography that involves real children or obscene imagery. The proposal also prohibits non-consensual dissemination of certain AI generated sexual images. Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz explained that bad actors could use AI technology to make images of Illinois children and cause significant harm to their reputation, emotional health and privacy.
(Washington-jm) – Winter wheat condition ratings are dropping fast. Gary Crawford reports…
(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding a retail theft. On April 1st at approximately 12:13 p.m., two subjects entered Meijer on North Prospect Avenue in Champaign. The subjects walked directly to the pet care aisle and selected a cart full of dog food and exited the store without stopping to make payment. The stolen merchandise was valued at close to $700.00. The suspects were described as black males, 45-60 years old. One male was described as wearing a dark blue ballcap, blue North Face jacket, jeans, and had an earring in his left ear. The second male was wearing a black ballcap, blue zip-up sweatshirt, and gray shirt. The suspects fled the store in a black Chevy Tahoe.
(Danville–jc) The East Central Illinois Action Agency is hosting its annual dinner and auction on Friday night in Danville. The non-profit agency serves Vermilion Ford and Iroquois Counties in Illinois. East Central Illinois Action Agency C-E-) Odette Hyatt-Watson says with the money raised they help area citizens with a wide variety of programs…
East Central Illinois Action Agency C-E-O Odette Hyatt-Watson. The annual dinner is set for a 5pm social hour and 6pm Dinner and Auction at the New Life Banquet Center on North Bowman Avenue in Danville.
(Undated-jm) – The Ford-Iroquois 4-H Foundation is honored to announce the awarding of $1,000 scholarships to twelve outstanding 4-H high school seniors. The following 4-Hers were awarded this year’s scholarship: Lena Hohulin, a member of the Fountain Creek Stitch ‘N Do 4-H Club, Samuel Munsterman, a member of the Danforth Blue Ribbon 4-H Club, Tatum Willms, a member of the Crescent City Barnbangers 4-H Club, Morgan Sinn, a member of the Fountain Creek 4-H Producers, Catherine Wesslund, a member of the Prairie Champions 4-H Club, Grace Vance, a member of the Prairie Champions 4-H Club, Emma Izquierdo, a member of the Danforth Blue Ribbon 4-H Club, Anna Anderson, a member of the Fountain Creek Stitch ‘N Do, Reka Ritzma, a member of the Crescent City Barnbangers 4-H Club, Brynn Boundy, a member of the Prairie Fire 4-H Club, Aubrey Wagner, a member of the Country Kickers 4-H Club, and Wyatt Eisenmann, a member of the Fountain Creek 4-H Producers.
