(Springfield–jc) –Protected health information for more than 700,000 customers of rehabilitation services and Medicaid and Medicare savings programs may have been compromised. The Illinois Department of Human Services announced maps meant to determine where to open new local offices were publicly viewable.
To date, IDHS said it was unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of personal information as a result of this incident.
(The Center Square) – One of the nearly 300 new laws that took effect in Illinois New Year’s Day is a ban on compact fluorescent light bulbs. State Rep. Nicholas Smith, D-Chicago, introduced House Bill 2363 in February 2023. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the measure in August 2024. The law prohibits the sale and distribution of screw-base and bayonet-base compact fluorescent lamps. Restrictions on pin-base compact fluorescent and linear fluorescent lamps are set to begin in 2027. HB 2363’s Senate sponsor, state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, said toxic pollutants in fluorescent bulbs pose a health risk.
(USDA–dm)-Effects continue due to a surprising USDA report in August reflecting the size of this year’s corn crop. Rod Bain has more
(Urbana-jm) – As all Carle Health service areas throughout central and southeastern Illinois face increasing rates of respiratory illness, the health system is taking temporary precautions in line with the comprehensive viral respiratory prevention and control recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The updated guidelines include: patient rooms are limited to two visitors at a time, visitors must be 18 years or older and anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms are strongly encouraged to wear a mask while in their facilities. Carle joins OSF as the latest medical providers in the area to implement restrictions.
(Paxton-jm) – The City of Paxton will hold Christmas tree pickup on Monday, January 5th. The city asks residents to place their trees neatly near the alley or street.
(The Center Square) – An Illinois congressman’s warning that Americans are paying more for groceries is drawing pushback from economists who say federal inflation data shows food prices are easing. In a video posted online, U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Rockford, opens his refrigerator and points to everyday grocery items, saying their prices have “all gone up significantly.” Sorensen cites immigration policy as a driver of grocery costs, saying he supports farmers and an immigrant agricultural workforce to keep prices down. He did not mention taxes, which can also affect grocery bills, according to Nicole Huyer, a senior economic analyst at the Heritage Foundation. Illinois’ statewide grocery tax ended Jan. 1,
(Springfield–jc) –Biologists at Illinois Department of Natural Resources fisheries are collecting live Christmas trees to be used as fish habitat in local lakes after the holidays. Agency officials said the trees will be bundled, weighted and submerged at lakes, providing habitat for multiple species and promoting algae growth for insects that attract fish for anglers. The I-D-N-R Office of Fisheries website has drop-off location information and instructions.
(Chicago–jc) –Federal authorities are searching for an alleged child predator last seen in Chicago.According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Ricardo Vega is a citizen of Mexico wanted for contacting underage girls online, sending them sexually abusive videos and images, and instructing them to reproduce the explicit material using themselves or their younger siblings. ICE said Vega was active in online chat rooms frequented by child predators.
(Springfield–jc) – President Donald Trump is praising the United States military for capturing Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, but Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says the president’s action is unconstitutional. The president held a press conference at the White House Saturday and said the U.S. Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in Caracas late Friday and early Saturday to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.The president said no U.S. service members were killed and no U.S.. equipment was lost during the operation. Trump said Venezuela would be under U.S. control.
(champaign–dm)- A new federal law should make travel easier for breastfeeding moms. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has more.
Miller says since the law took effect right before the holidays...not all TSA workers will be up to speed. But, she expects the law, overall, will get moms through security quicker...and with less stress.
(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana Fire Department responded to the former OSF On Call Urgent Care building in Urbana after a car hit the building Sunday afternoon. Officials said the driver fled the area. The fire department responded to the building, located at 520 N. Cunningham Avenue, around 12:15 p.m. A car hit a window outside the building — damaging both the window and window frame — but leaving the structure of the building intact.
(Undated-jm) – A service that provides to seniors and those with disabilities is abruptly coming to an end. CRIS Rural Mass Transit announced this afternoon it will no longer provide rides in Vermilion, Ford and Iroquois Counties and dissolve all together. They say its due to the state freezing funds to the group. Local county board members have expressed frustration with the lack of communication from the state.
(The Center Square) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says states will not receive matching child-care funds until they verify that providers are legitimate, and President Donald Trump says Illinois is worse than Minnesota on the issue. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are probing fraud allegations involving tens of millions of federal taxpayer dollars sent to day care centers in Minnesota. Trump discussed the issue over the New Year’s Holiday in Palm Beach, Florida.
