Area News
ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE FIRST CORONAVIRUS DISEASE CASES OUTSIDE CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY
Illinois is currently reporting 19 cases CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Kane County Health Department (KCHD), and the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) today announced the first Illinois residents outside of Chicago and Cook County to test positive at the IDPH laboratory for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The cases include a…
Read MoreDECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES SPECIAL PATROLS FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY
This St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate responsibly The Decatur Police Department today announced it will conduct special patrols this St. Patrick’s Day to crack down on impaired drivers and encourage people to wear their seat belts. Celebrated throughout the country, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to…
Read MoreTHE PEOPLE SPEAK IN ANOTHER BATCH OF ‘LETTERS TO THE EDITOR’
Endorses Tammy Wagoner For Macon County State’s Attorney Dear Editor: This letter is sent in support of my friend and colleague Tammy Wagoner who is running for State’s Attorney in Macon County. I have known Tammy for several years. I first met Tammy when working together in a multi-county team which focused on addressing issues…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: BITS AND PIECES FROM HERE AND THERE AROUND THE COMMUNITY
• PLEASED to see Macon County’s law enforcement agencies employ another tool in making our roadways safer with the No-Refusal Program that was announced last week. Big THANKS to Macon County Sheriff Tony Brown, Decatur Police Chief Jim Getz, and Macon County State’s Attorney Jay Scott. Impaired driving is dangerous and a threat to…
Read MorePATIENTS ABLE TO VOTE IN FIVE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM HOSPITALS
Voters who are hospitalized 14 days or less before the Illinois primary election on March 17 will be able to cast their ballots at all five Memorial Health System hospitals. A qualified voter who has been admitted to a hospital not more than 14 days before an election is entitled to receive a ballot…
Read MoreSCHERER BILL TO WAIVE PLATE REGISTRATION FEES FOR FAMILIES OF FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS
A bill sponsored by state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, allowing family members of fallen war heroes with special military vanity license plates to forgo paying registration fees passed out of a House transportation committee last week. “Imposing burdensome fees on the families of our service men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice…
Read MoreMACON COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO IMPLEMENT NO-REFUSAL PROGRAM ON DUI ARRESTS
Macon County Sheriff Tony Brown, Decatur Police Chief Jim Getz, and Macon County State’s Attorney Jay Scott announced February 24 that effective immediately their agencies are implementing a No-Refusal Program for Driving Under the Influence arrests. Under this program search warrants will be sought to authorize blood draws from drivers arrested for DUI…
Read MoreSTILL NO AGREEMENT BETWEEN TEACHING ASSISTANTS AND DECATUR BOARD OF EDUCATION
Members of the Decatur Federation of Teaching Assistant (DFTA, IFT Local 4324) and the D61 Board of Education met Wednesday night for 3 hours, but no final agreement was reached. DFTA President Paula Busboom released the following statement: “Here we are again: another mediation session, another example of the Board’s complete lack of understanding…
Read MoreHIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CONDUCT COMMITTEE HEARING AT STATE CAPITOL
Springfield, IL– Over 100 high school students from across the 51st Senate District were in Springfield this week to try their hand at legislating, all as part of State Senator Chapin Rose’s (R-Mahomet) annual Youth Advisory Council program. “One aspect of public service that I truly enjoy is the obligation to help the…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: SOME REFLECTIONS ON TWO PAST ILLINOIS GOVERNORS
Last week’s early release from prison of former Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, after President Trump commuted his 14-year prison sentence, brought back some memories. Blagojevich’s years as governor were essentially the same as my years as mayor and, as the photo on the front page of the print edition shows, I introduced him…
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