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Illinois reports first death from West Nile Virus
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting their first death this year from the West Nile Virus. The individual, who lived in Lake County, was in their 80’s. The person had symptoms in mid-August and died not long after. “Sadly, Illinois is reporting our first death of the year attributed […]
Illinois quick hits: Construction workers hurt in collapse; DUI enforcement for Labor Day
Construction workers hurt in collapse Two construction workers were seriously hurt when the unfinished wooden frame they were working on collapsed Wednesday in Casey. The collapse happened at Westside Church of Christ, which has been undergoing renovation this summer. During construction of a 4,500-square-foot addition, the wooden roof trusses came crashing to the ground. The church said both were airlifted to Champaign. ...
As Illinois Receives Praise for Its Cannabis Equity Efforts, Stakeholders Still Working on System’s Flaws
Medical marijuana patients can now purchase cannabis grown by small businesses as part of their allotment, Illinois’ top cannabis regulator said, but smaller, newly licensed cannabis growers are still seeking greater access to the state’s medical marijuana customers. Illinois legalized medicinal marijuana beginning in 2014, then legalized it...
Illinois utility watchdog: Bad deals peddled by alternative electricity suppliers
(The Center Square) – A utility watchdog group is warning Illinoisans to be wary of alternative electricity suppliers. This comes after a Citizens Utility Board review of state reports shows that ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers with alternative suppliers have lost a combined total of about $297 million over the last year and $1.8 billion since 2015. While ComEd and Ameren deliver electricity to their customers over the power lines...
Federal pandemic relief funding for schools is ending. How has it impacted Illinois schools?
Superintendent Brian DeBernardi walks along the outside of Northwest Elementary School in LaSalle. “You can see where this kind of juts out. None of this was here,” he says, pointing to a 15,000 square-foot addition to the school. It’s brand-new — kids just stepped in the doors last week.
Illinois Democrats, GOP offer differing views to undecided voters
(The Center Square) – Democrats and Republicans are focused on different issues as they try to attract undecided voters in Illinois. State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, told The Center Square at last week's Democratic National Convention that there needs to be more infrastructure construction in the United States. “I think the issue that people want to look for is at the kitchen table. Am I gonna have a decent-paying job?...
Illinois cheer families could be owed money after massive settlement against Varsity Brands
Illinois will now be part of a proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit against Varsity Brands, a company that puts on cheer camps and competitions and that was accused of using monopolistic tactics to raise prices and undercut competition. According to Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Illinois has signed onto the...
Illinois Police Departments Show Troubling Patterns in Use of Traffic Stops
Investigation Finds Chicago Police Officers Routinely Fail to Report Traffic Stops. A recent investigation by a watchdog organization found that Chicago Police officers have routinely failed to document instances of traffic stops that do not end in arrest or charges, as many as 20,000 a month last year, in violation of a 2003 law which mandates that every traffic stop must be documented. This information stands in stark contrast to CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling reporting this past June that traffic stops in Chicago were down by approximately 87,000 stops from last year. What is particularly troubling about these numbers is that rates of traffic stops increased just as the department announced it would move away from the controversial “stop-and-frisk” tactic of patrolling, with some believing the practice is just a replacement to the policy that advocates say violated individuals Fourth Amendment rights. “It is quite concerning, especially if CPD is intentionally not recording traffic stops so they can claim they’re fixing the problem, when all they’re doing is hiding it behind an absence of data,” said Alexandra Block, director of the Criminal Legal System & Policing Project at the ACLU of Illinois. Many advocates believe that officers use minor traffic stops as a pretext to search for drugs and weapons in minority neighborhoods. CPD leadership seems to know that traffic stops present an issue, with Snelling asking that traffic stops be brought under the supervision of the federal courts under the federal consent decree that CPD has been under since 2019. However, advocacy groups remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the consent degree and what change it can bring to drivers who feel they are being profiled and the routine traffic stops are an infringement on their rights.
Temperatures drop slightly, thunderstorms expected this week
Illinoisans are catching a little break from the extreme heat seen earlier this week with temperatures soaring to the 100’s. An Excessive Heat Warning was in effect Tuesday 11am-8pm causing the Danville Consolidated School District to transition to an E-learning day and all outdoor programming sponsored by the Champaign Park District was cancelled.
WATCH: Lightning in Central Illinois spotted from miles away
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Lightning was visible late Tuesday night as storms swept through Illinois, and viewers in several areas shared some videos with WCIA of what they saw. Video from Champaign around 9:50 p.m. WCIA Chief Meteorologist Kevin Lighty said the lightning was from Chicago-area storms more than 100 miles away. If you captured […]
Red Lobster to Potentially Close Three Illinois Locations Amid Nationwide Retreat During Bankruptcy Proceedings
As Red Lobster navigates choppy waters in its ongoing bankruptcy saga, court documents reveal that the seafood chain is shuttering a slew of restaurants across the nation, including three eateries in Illinois. As per NBC Chicago, if a judge approves the latest court filing, the state will see the closure of its Geneva and Bourbonnais locations as well as a Peoria establishment. The last days for these restaurants are not set in stone, but Red Lobster is pushing for lease rejections by Aug. 31.
From Blue Man Group to filmmaking, Galassi brothers Adam and Boomer share their creativity
Petersburg’s Adam and Boomer Galassi are brothers and filmmakers. They spoke to Community Voices about their creative processes, their films, and their experiences as a part of the Blue Man Group. To watch "Salt Creek County" visit: https://youtu.be/KZ5d0hymXC4. To watch "The Know" visit: https://youtu.be/0Dfq5LnvqOY.
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