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Illinois health officials reveals first West Nile virus death of 2024
Illinois is reporting its first West Nile Virus death of the year. The person was in their 80s and lived in Lake County. Over the past week, two others have tested positive, according to the Lake County Health Department.
Illinois Government Agencies Use of Controversial AI Technology
CTA Using Artificial Intelligence Surveillance Program to Identify Guns in Stations. Earlier this month the Chicago Transit Authority (“CTA”) announced that it was currently one month into a year long pilot program with the private company ZeroEyes, a company that pairs surveillance videos with artificial intelligence to detect firearms. As implemented as part of the pilot program, when the AI technology software detects a possible firearm, a human employee is then alerted who reviews the footage for accuracy before they then alert the Chicago Police Department, the CTA and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications at the same time. Currently the CTA has paired the AI program with 250 cameras at various stations around the city, though it declined to identify which stations citing safety concerns. CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. said in a statement that “this added measure of protection provides additional peace of mind to everyone.” The US Department of Homeland Security recently reviewed the company’s technology and in a report stated that a group of first responders found that the technology was in fact “intuitive,” but advocates worry about the lack of public discussion and the effectiveness of the technology, particularly when weighed against potential violations to individuals civil liberties. ACLU Illinois spokesman Ed Yohnka in response to the news warned against the use of more surveillance tools, particularly when he believes these technologies, “all come with allure of adding more safety, but they never seem to deliver on that promise.”
What’s open and closed in Central Illinois for Labor Day
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Labor Day is upon us, and many places are closed in recognition of the day. For the federal holiday recognizing the labor movement and the economic and social victories workers have secured, most government employees and students are off. School districts across Central Illinois, including Champaign, Danville, Decatur, Springfield and Urbana, […]
Commonwealth Foundation gives Illinois an 'F' for labor laws
(The Center Square) – A new report says Illinois is failing when it comes to worker freedom. Along with Policy Analyst Andrew Holman, David Osborne, senior fellow of labor policy for the Commonwealth Foundation, authored the report titled, “The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws.” “Well, I hate to say it. Illinois probably set a new standard for ‘F’,” Osborne said. ...
Illinois’ ‘Black Moms Rising’ Is Tackling Maternal Mortality Crisis
The state of Illinois is working to address maternal mortality, with a special focus on moms of color. The state of Illinois is working diligently to get good use out of the $118 million in funding the CDC allocated to tackle maternal mortality nationwide. The Illinois Maternal Mortality Review Committee...
Illinois Blood Bank Urgently Needs Donors NOW to Save Lives
The Rock River Valley Blood Center in Rockford, Illinois is in dire need of your help. Are you willing to answer the call?. Summer is typically a tough season for blood banks across Illinois. People are just too busy to think about donating lifesaving blood, but with the holiday weekend ahead, low donation numbers could have dire consequences.
Illinois quick hits: Food service workers strike at U of I; CPS offers teachers 4 and 5 percent raises
Food service workers strike at U of I Food and building service workers at the University of Illinois are preparing to strike. Their current contract expires Saturday after several months of negotiations. Union workers voted down the latest contract proposal, saying they must be paid more if they serve more students. The union, representing 763 workers, said the strike would begin Sept. 15. CPS offers teachers 4 and 5 percent...
IL Conservation Police urge boating safety ahead of holiday weekend
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — If you plan to be on the water over the holiday weekend, officials are urging boaters to wear their life jackets. Illinois Conservation Police officials said that so far this year, they’ve responded to 48 boating-related situations. They said 15 people have died and another 15 were hurt. Of those deaths, two […]
Hatch Award Recipient Jen Braun Takes Extra Steps to Serve Monmouth's Students
MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (August 30, 2024) — With an office by two hallways and an elevator in the middle section of the middle floor, Jen Braun is in the center of it all in Monmouth College's bustling Center for Science and Business. But that prime location is only one of...
KHS girls drop close match to Sherrard
Kewanee High School’s varsity volleyball team dropped a close match, 25-20, 11-25, 24-26, to visiting Sherrard Thursday,. Taylor VanWinkle: 7 kills, 8 digs, 1 ace, 4 service points. Claire Taylor: 2 aces, 14 digs, 1 assist, 15 service points. Macee Pickering: 4 kills, 9 assists, 5 digs, 1 ace,...
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