Pilot program to send mental health professionals with law officers in 4 Illinois communities
SPRINGFIELD – Police departments in four communities in Illinois will be part of a co-responder pilot program that aims to send social workers and mental health professionals on law enforcement calls. That was part of House Bill 4736, a measure signed into law Tuesday by Gov. JB Pritzker in Peoria, one of the four communities in […]
UIS faculty to file intent to strike
UIS faculty union members voted Wednesday to authorize an intent to strike. A notice will be filed Thursday with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. The first day faculty could walk out Is May 2. Kristi Barnwell is the president of the University Professionals of Illinois-Springfield United Faculty. “We authorized the vote in the hopes […]
Pritzker declares disaster for snow event; will forge ahead with in-person budget address
SPRINGFIELD – With a massive winter storm expected to blanket the entire state in ice and snow, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday issued a disaster declaration and activated members of the Illinois National Guard. He also announced that his regularly scheduled State of the State and budget address would go on as planned at noon […]
Renovations on state Capitol underway; Senate will make temporary move after spring session
Renovations are underway on the north wing of the Illinois Capitol. Plans include the construction of an underground parking garage, elimination of the circle drive on the north side of the Capitol and the addition of a new entry that improves access and security. “We are very fortunate that we have a statehouse to be […]
New accommodations allow many guests to see — and hear — the Gettysburg Address for the first time in Illinois
Ann Crain has volunteered at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield for four years. She greets guests and answers questions about the exhibits– which all focus on the life, and legacy, of President Abraham Lincoln. Every year, the museum brings out its copy of the Gettysburg Address around the anniversary of its […]
Active-duty military, vets get free Lincoln museum admission
SPRINGFIELD — Military veterans will be admitted free to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum on Veterans Day. Featured that day will be a performance by a military band, the Airlifter Brass. There will also be a memorial flame burning outside the museum in downtown Springfield. Veterans and active-duty personnel who want to be […]
Where Can You Get Tested for COVID-19 In Central Illinois?
For health questions about COVID-19, call the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. IDPH has also compiled a list of testing sites across the state, including information on testing eligibility and contact information. Public testing sites offer free testing regardless of insurance, with no need for a doctor’s referral. Illinois […]
Ethics Commission Finds Ex-Exelon Lobbyist Sexually Harassed Colleague
SPRINGFIELD — A state ethics commission has found a former Exelon lobbyist sexually harassed one of his female colleagues on two separate occasions in Springfield, in violation of the Lobbyist Registration Act. David Fein, formerly Exelon’s senior vice president of state governmental and regulatory affairs, will have to pay a $6,000 fine and his lobbyist […]
News Around Illinois: Sept. 18, 2020
TOP STORY — Friday, September 18 Parties Dispute How Far Feds Will Let Madigan Probe Go The U.S. attorney investigating House Speaker Mike Madigan OK’d a separate probe by a House committee, but Democrats and Republicans do not agree on how far it should go, Associated Press’s John O’Connor reports. John Lausch, U.S. attorney for […]
News Around Illinois — Sept. 10, 2020
2 Applicants Rejected For Marijuana Licenses Sues Illinois CHICAGO (AP) — Two companies that were rejected for Illinois marijuana licenses have filed a lawsuit to delay the state from awarding licenses to the winning applicants. The state announced that only 21 of 700 applicants would proceed to a lottery for 75 licenses. Southshore Restore and […]
News Around Illinois – August 21, 2020
Illinois Reports 1,832 COVID-19 Cases And 27 Deaths SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 1,832 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 27 deaths. The number of confirmed cases on Thursday come from the state conducting 51,612 tests in the previous 24 hours. The state now has reported 213,721 cases and 7,833 fatalities. […]
News Around Illinois – Aug. 20, 2020
Vehicles Hit Illinois Covered Bridge Twice After Reopening LONG GROVE, Ill. (AP) — A covered bridge in northern Illinois has been damaged twice by vehicles within days of its reopening after a $1 million rebuild repaired severe damage a delivery truck inflicted in 2018. Less than 24 hours after Long Grove’s iconic covered bridge reopened […]
News Around Illinois – Aug. 19, 2020
Architect Of The Capitol To Take Up Issue Of Douglas Statue SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Board members of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol on Wednesday will take up a request from the Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to replace imagery of political giant Stephen Douglas and Illinois pioneer Pierre Menard because of […]
News Around Illinois – Aug. 10, 2020
Police Say They Arrested More Than 100 People During Mag Mile Looting Hundreds of people smashed windows, stole from stores and clashed with police early Monday in Chicago’s upscale Magnificent Mile shopping district and other parts of the city. “We are waking up in shock this morning,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said at a Monday morning […]
News Around Illinois – Aug. 7, 2020
City Colleges Of Chicago Faculty And Staff Threaten Strike Over COVID-19 Safety Concerns Faculty and staff at City Colleges of Chicago are threatening to strike after accusing the administration of failing to ensure a safe work environment for employees required to return in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders of the unions representing faculty, clerical staff […]