(Springfield–jm) – The Illinois Department of Public Health reaffirmed its recommendation that newborn infants receive a hepatitis B vaccine after the CDC changed its official recommendations this week. The CDC officially abandoned its longtime recommendation of universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth this week, following a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) earlier this month. Universal vaccination started in 1991, and IDPH officials said this caused infection in U.S. children to drop by 99%.

 

(Decatur–dm)-- 88th District State Representative Regan Deering (R-Decatur) released the following statement after Governor Pritzker signed SB 2111 into law.  The bill uses downstate funds to bail out Chicago’s mismanaged mass transit system.

   

88th District State Representative Regan Deering, Republican from Decatur.  The new law diverts 1 billion dollars  from Illinois’ road fund, followed by an additional 473 million dollars each year from downstate roads and bridges, to fund Chicagoland mass transit.

 

(Springfield–dm)-Republican members of Illinois’ congressional delegation have expressed concerns about former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s request for a pardon from President Donald Trump. In a letter to the president, U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, Darin LaHood and Mary Miller said granting clemency in Madigan’s case would reward a lifetime of unethical behavior and embolden other public officials to exploit their offices for personal gain. Madigan is serving a 7.5-year prison sentence in West Virginia after a federal jury convicted him on ten counts of public corruption earlier this year.

 

(Paxton–jc) The city of Paxton is working with one local church to help expand and resurface a road on the west side of town. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says city engineers are looking to upgrade a gravel entrance to the Paxton Church of Christ into a housing development south of route 9 in Paxton…

   

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

 

(Gibson City–jm) – A Hoopeston woman will be spending the next 11 years behind bars for her role in a drug distribution ring in the Gibson City area. 58-year-old Angela K. Rutledge was among four people arrested on felony methamphetamine charges last February following a controlled buy of about a quarter pound of the drug at Gibson City’s North Park. Authorities later searched residences on North State Street and West Ninth Street in Gibson City and a residence in Loda, seizing half a pound of meth as a result of the investigation. Ford County Judge Matt Fitton sentenced Rutledge. She had previously pleaded guilty to one Class X felony count of meth delivery (15-100 grams) on July 14, the day she was to stand trial. In exchange, State’s Attorney Andrew Killian agreed to dismiss an additional Class X felony count filed against her and to recommend a sentence of no more than 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with day-for-day credit apply. Besides Rutledge, also charged in this investigation were 64-year-old Allen Burgin of Loda and Urbana, who faces three Class X felony counts of meth delivery and has a jury trial set for January 20, and 54-year-old Kenneth Koltveit of Gibson City, who faces two Class 2 felony counts of meth delivery and is due back in court on February 9 amid ongoing plea negotiations. A fourth person, 46-year-old Tara Kall of Gibson City, was arrested for possession of less than five grams of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor, but was not charged.

 

(Rantoul–dm)-Lincoln’s Challenge in Rantoul just graduated their 65th class since they started.  Public Relations Director Michael Camacho tells us about preparations for the 66th class.

   

Lincoln’s Challenge Public Relations Director Michael Camacho

 

(Greenville–jc)  –A district judge has added 24 additional months to an Illinois prison inmate’s sentence for possessing a makeshift weapon. Raekwon M. Patton, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of contraband in prison after a correctional officer at FCI-Greenville found him with a sharp metal object.

Patton was serving a 300-month sentence at the time.

The sentence comes as the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules is expected to consider the Illinois Department of Corrections’ request for a permanent rule on electronic scanning of inmates’ mail.

 

WATSEKA, Ill. — After nearly five decades of caring for women across the region,  Doctor Roger Taylor, a physician generations of families have come to know and trust, is now seeing patients at Iroquois Memorial Hospital’s Specialty Clinic. Dr. Taylor’s arrival at I-M-H is a meaningful moment for the community. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – A new Illinois law will help craft brewers and distillers grow their business by updating state regulations. The legislation also makes the popular cocktails to go program permanent. The new law creates a Class 3 distiller license, allowing distilleries to make up to 100,000 gallons of spirit annually. License holders can then apply to self-distribute up to 2,500 gallons of liquor each year. Sponsors clarified that using third-party platforms to deliver liquor is not illegal reselling, transferring, or exchanging of alcoholic drinks. The law also allows craft brewer license holders to offer rewards and loyalty programs like mug clubs for customers.The Illinois Municipal League opposes making the cocktails to go program permanent, as some local governments are dry communities.The Illinois Restaurant Association says this law guarantees alcohol delivery and cocktails to go can continue through 2028 and beyond. IRA also celebrated that Illinois is now the 30th state to make cocktails to go permanent.

 

(Springfield–jc0  –The Illinois Department of Natural Resources  is accepting applications for Volunteer Fire Assistance  grants now through February. 16 of next year The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service V-F-A federal grant program provides matching funds to aid fire departments in the purchase of new equipment and helps fund training.  The VFA grant program reimburses 50% of the recipients’ project costs up to $10,000. So far this year, the program has awarded over 323 thousand dollars for  48 Illinois projects.

 

(Rantoul–jc)  The village of Rantoul's trash hauling company is seeking to expand its operations in the town and that could mean a cost savings for the residents. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says the G-F-L company hopes to increase operations locally with an additional facility…

 

 

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

 

(Onarga-jm) – A 19-year-old from Onarga pleaded guilty to aggravated battery on Wednesday, five months after he was arrested for attacking a paramedic. Previously, WCIA reported that Iroquois County deputies were requested by paramedics in Onarga on July 11. Once on the scene, deputies learned that Joseph Burke had attacked a paramedic while they were assisting someone else. Previously, he was charged with three counts of aggravated battery. In October, Burke pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. But — just two months later — he agreed to a plea deal. Burke appeared in court on Dec. 17 and agreed to withdraw his prior plea of not guilty. He pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery, and the other two counts were dropped. Court records also indicate that Burke was sentenced to 24 months of probation.

 

(Springfield–jc)  Illinois Governor J B Pritzker signed Senate Bill 21-11 into law.  The bill uses downstate funds to bail out Chicago’s mismanaged mass transit system. Reaction from Republican Minority Leader Toni McCombie from Savannah…

 

89th District State Representative and Republican Minority Leader Toni McCombie from Savannah.  The new law diverts 1 billion dollars  from Illinois’ road fund, followed by an additional 473 million dollars each year from downstate roads and bridges, to fund Chicagoland mass transit.

 

(Chicago–jc)  –A nonprofit law firm has filed an amicus brief urging a federal appeals court to stop Illinois from forcing pro-life healthcare professionals to promote and make referrals for abortion. Becket filed the brief Tuesday on behalf of the Catholic bishops of Illinois and other Catholic and Orthodox groups. In National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Treto, a group of pro-life doctors and pregnancy centers and doctors challenged an Illinois law requiring healthcare professionals who decline to perform abortions for conscience reasons to tell women about the “benefits” of abortion and refer women to abortion providers

 

(USDA–dm)-USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey discusses opposite temperature extremes in the U.S. this past week.

 

 

(Thawville-jm) – A water main break and a house fire Sunday led to repairs and then a boil order in the Village of Thawville.  The boil order was lifted Wednesday.

WPXN News notes…

 

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, December 18th from 4:30-6:30 pm. Dinner includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, $6 for kids 6-13. Deliveries available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

 

Impact Life will hold a blood drive on Friday, December 26th from 9-noon at the First Lutheran Church in Paxton. To schedule an appointment, email Kevin Hanson at e-m-t-c-o-o-r at hotmail dot com.

 

The Champaign County Forest Preserve will host Raptors Up Close at the Lake of the Woods Pavilion on Saturday, January 24th from 10-11:30 am.