State News

Department of Veterans’ Affairs Launches ‘Operation Rising Spirit’

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) today launched “Operation Rising Spirit,” a campaign challenging service organizations, volunteers, and patriots of Illinois to raise the spirits of military veterans and the heroic staff who care for them every day at state veterans’ homes...

Jesse White Announces Reopening Plan with Expanded Hours Beginning June 1 & 2 for Driver Services Facilities

Tuesday, May 26 by WROY/WRUL Staff

Will focus on new drivers, expired DL/IDs and vehicle transactions through July 31 Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced today his office’s reopening plan – beginning June 1 – with the first two months focused on serving ONLY new drivers, customers with...

IDES Notifying Claimants Whose Information May Have Been Viewed by a Single Individual Due to PUA System Access Issue

Tuesday, May 26 by WROY/WRUL Staff

Deloitte to Offer Free Credit Monitoring to All Claimants Possibly ImpactedSPRINGFIELD – After working with Deloitte to investigate a glitch in the system it built for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today notification will begin to go out...

Public Health Officials Announce 1,713 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease

Tuesday, May 26 by WROY/WRUL Staff

Public Health Officials Announce 1,713 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,713 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 31 additional deaths.- Cook County: 1 female 30, 1 male 30, 1 male 40s, 1 male...

Rep. Bailey Opposed Bill to Mandate Mail-In Ballots and Increase Costs Nearly $17 Million for Local Election Authorities

Friday, May 22 by WROY/WRUL Staff

Springfield, IL…After several hours of debate, State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) voted to oppose Senate Bill 1863 that mandates an expanded vote by mail program and unsecure curbside voting as well as would expand using more 16- and 17-year olds as election judges and...

Illinois Unemployment Rate Rises to 16.4% Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Friday, May 22 by WROY/WRUL Staff

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate jumped +12.2 percentage points to 16.4 percent, while nonfarm payrolls shed -762,200 jobs in April, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact Illinois businesses and households, based on preliminary data...

Rend Lake Accepting Bids for Gate Attendant

Thursday, May 21 by WROY/WRUL Staff

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake is announcing the opportunity for persons to bid on the contract to perform gate attendant services, in the Rend Lake campgrounds, during the 2020 recreation season.Rend Lake will be awarding contracts for two positions. Both...

Memorial Day Memories

Thursday, May 21 by WROY/WRUL Staff

Medal of Honor recipient says his decoration belongs to those who never made it homeBy Dr. Mark DePueIt was February 23, 1945, when Corporal Hershel “Woody” Williams of the 3rd Marine Division earned an honored place in Marine Corps history. His unit was fighting...

Righter: Administration Withdraws Controversial Proposal to Criminalize Business Owners

Thursday, May 21 by WROY/WRUL Staff

Mattoon, ILL—On May 20, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced he is withdrawing his emergency rules criminalizing business owners with a Class A misdemeanor for violating ongoing executive orders. State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) issued the following statement on his actions: “Thank you to the citizens across the...