SPRINGFIELD – New legislation in Springfield would allow student athletes to make changes to their uniforms for religious purposes. State Sen. Laura Murphy of Des Plains, sponsor of the bill, said Tuesday students “should be able to easily make modesty alterations when they compete,” including adding a hijab, undershirt or leggings to meet modesty standards…… Read more…
ELDORADO – Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado announced Tuesday the walk-in COVID-19 vaccine clinic set for Friday at College Heights Baptist Church in Eldorado will take place as scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will not be offered as previously planned. Instead the number of Moderna vaccines will be increased by…… Read more…
SESSER – The Sesser City Council Tuesday night appointed Perry County Sheriff Steve Bareis as the city’s interim police chief. Bareis will serve as interim chief until a permanent police chief is appointed. According to a Facebook post from Sesser Mayor Jason Ashmore, Police Chief Ryan White “has decided to take a different career path.” The mayor…… Read more…
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Tuesday reported 3,193 new COVID-19 cases in Illinois, including 17 additional deaths. In southern Illinois, 15 new cases of the coronavirus were reported by health departments across the region. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,285,398 cases, including 21,540 deaths. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity…… Read more…
CHICAGO (AP) – A Marion man is accused in U.S. District Court of threatening the life of a federal judge in Chicago. Joshua Farner will face two counts of mailing threats and one count of threatening to assault and murder a judge. The indictment accuses Farner of sending the threatening letter to retaliate against the…… Read more…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. on Tuesday recommended a “pause” in using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of rare but potentially dangerous blood clots, a development that could jeopardize the rollout of vaccines around the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration announced…… Read more…
WHITE COUNTY – A Norris City man was sentenced in White County Monday afternoon to the Illinois Department of Corrections in connection with a high-speed chase that happened in May of last year. White County State’s Attorney Denton Aud said19-year-old Issac D. Anderson will spend two years in IDOC for aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a…… Read more…
MARION – The Marion City Council Monday night approved an ordinance increasing fire department nonresident fees for department service. According to the ordinance, any nonresident of the city who receives service from the city fire department personnel and city emergency equipment, including the “jaws of life”, while within the corporate limits of the city shall pay a…… Read more…
JEFFERSON COUNTY – The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department made two separate drug arrests Monday. According to sheriff’s reports, the first arrest took place around 7:30 a.m. Monday, when deputies responded to North Auburn Lane in the rural Bluford area to check the well being of a subject in a black car. Upon arrival, deputies reportedly found 30-year-old…… Read more…
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department on Aging said they’re working to make sure seniors “stay connected.” The state has distributed more than 1,100 iPads, tablets and access to WiFi and hotspots to older Illinoisans and those with disabilities thanks to a $1.7 million federal grant. Department on Aging Director Paula Basta said the technology has…… Read more…