State News

Law Enforcement Agencies Continue to Wait for Follow Up Legislation

Monday, May 24 by Jc Tinsley

IRN (The Illinois Radio Network) provided information for this storyIllinois law enforcement associations continue to wait for follow-up legislation to address issues in a sweeping criminal justice and police regulation law enacted earlier this year.The controversial measure impacting the criminal justice system and police...

Senator Bailey Says Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act Would Introduce Pornography to Schools

Saturday, May 22 by Jc Tinsley

State Senator Darren Bailey says if Senate Bill 818 becomes law, it will introduce blatant pornography into local school systems. The Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act creates personal health and safety standards for grades K-5 as well as updates and expands comprehensive sexual...

Trying to Keep Up Leads to Mask Confusion

Tuesday, May 18 by Jc Tinsley

Illinois Radio Network Assisted with this story... After only social media posts this weekend about plans to update the state’s guidance on face coverings, Gov. J.B. Monday issued new orders. Thursday, the CDC updated its guidance that fully vaccinated people can do most...

CoViD-19 Cases and Vaccinations Update

Monday, May 17 by Jc Tinsley

Ilinois state health officials reported more than 1200 confirmed or probable new CoViD-19 cases Sunday. The statewide positivity rate has dropped to 2.4% of all tests. Meanwhile, Kentucky cases are rising. More than 290 new cases were announced Sunday. Indiana officials say the state...

Social Media Causes Tri State Fuel Freak Out

Thursday, May 13 by Jc Tinsley

Once again proving that social media, while it can be incredibly useful and helpful, has it’s obvious and embarrassing drawbacks, locals and some around the tri state bought into gas hoarding yesterday. Fears about fuel shortages fueled some panic buying in the aftermath of...

Representative Niemerg Introduces Legislation to Unmask Legislators and Kids

Thursday, May 13 by Jc Tinsley

State Representative Adam Niemerg says you should be able to ditch your mask. On the Illinois House floor yesterday, Niemerg introduced legislation ending the mask mandate. The specific legislation would roll back the requirement of all Illinois House members to wear masks at all times. ...

Community College Enrollment Plummets Across State; Local Campuses Hit Hard

Wednesday, May 12 by Jc Tinsley

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing Illinois community colleges to move classes online, students stayed away in droves. Enrollment was down statewide this spring by over 14 percent. Locally, the numbers are even worse. Illinois Eastern Community College campuses averaged downward 14.7%. Lincoln Trail and...

IDES has Backlog of More than 43,000 Calls from Unemployed

Tuesday, May 11 by Jc Tinsley

It’s been more than a year since Illinois’ unemployment claims peaked and yet, thousands of people are still waiting for call backs from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. A Freedom of Information Act request has revealed a backlog of 43,355 calls from Illinoisans...

Indiana to Force Unemployed to Prove They’re Looking for Work

Tuesday, May 11 by Jc Tinsley

Indiana is now following steps taken by the Bluegrass state to help employers find staff. Hoosiers on unemployment are going to have to look for work. Governor Eric Holcomb says he’s reinstating the work search requirement that was waived during the worst of the...

Tri County Area Lagging Behind State Average for Vaccinations

Tuesday, May 11 by Jc Tinsley

The state’s top physician, Dr. Ngozi Ezike says if you’re not feeling confident about getting vaccinated for CoViD-19, you should talk to your doctor about your concerns.She says nearly 10 million doses of the vaccine have been administered so far and more than 35%...