Compromise reached for vaccinated teacher COVID-19 sick time

ILLINOIS (IRN) — A compromise has been reached regarding a bill that would have provided paid leave for school employees with COVID-19-related issues. Gov. J.B. Pritzker vetoed House Bill 2778, which passed both legislative chambers last fall with more than a veto-proof majority. The negotiated compromise would provide such leave for only those who are fully vaccinated.…… Read more…

Parents, students, schools await ruling on mask mandate challenge

ILLINOIS (IRN) — Parents, students and schools across the state are waiting for a ruling from a circuit court judge on a petition to block masks from being required on children in some Illinois schools. Illinois is one of 13 states that still require masks on school children. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has had the mandate…… Read more…

Education Committee hears legislation aimed at fixing teacher shortage

ILLINOIS (IRN) — The Illinois House and Secondary Education Committee this week heard ideas on how to address staffing shortages at Illinois schools. State Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, introduced multiple teacher reimbursement bills during the hearing, all of which seek to address the statewide teacher shortage Illinois schools are facing. Scherer said not enough attention…… Read more…

Bill would give county clerks power to cancel voter registration

SPRINGFIELD, IL — A bill filed by state Rep. Charles Meier aims to combat voter fraud by allowing a county clerk the ability to cancel a voter registration if they do not think the person is a qualified voter. House Bill 4310 was filed in December by state Rep. Charles Meier, R-Highland. The bill seeks to…… Read more…

Illinois officials still mum on pandemic unemployment fraud totals

ILLINOIS (IRN) — While other states have revealed how much fraud there’s been in their unemployment system since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois officials have yet to reveal such information to taxpayers. But some available data indicates its at least $430 million. Following Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s months long stay-at-home order in the spring…… Read more…

Survey shows why some Illinoisans won’t get vaccinated

ILLINOIS (IRN) — As the state continues to see new coronavirus cases by the thousands, a survey reveals why some Illinoisans still won’t get vaccinated. QuoteWizard looked at the latest data on vaccine hesitancy and found that concerns over side effects was on the minds of Illinoisans. “What we found specifically in Illinois is that 58% of…… Read more…

Illinois farmers report record crop yields for 2021

ILLINOIS (IRN) — Last year was a banner year for Illinois farmers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2021 Illinois Crop Production summary shows that it was an excellent year for soybeans, corn and wheat. The state remains the top producer of soybeans with an estimated yield of 64 bushels per acre, a 9% increase from…… Read more…

Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidates sound off on vaccine mandates

SPRINGFIELD, IL — After the mixed rulings on vaccine mandates with the U.S. Supreme Court decisions last week, Republican gubernatorial candidates are sounding off. Before Thursday’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court blocking President Joe Biden’s vaccine or testing mandate for employers of 100 or more employees, Gov. J.B. Pritzker Wednesday said Illinois’ rule for…… Read more…

Dietician says set goals not resolutions

ILLINOIS (RFD) — Registered Dietitian Sara Umphleet has some advice for the New Year: Forget resolutions… Sara says setting modest achievable goals like stepping up activity levels and eating more fruit and vegetables are goals that encourage better health habits while failing at a resolution can tend to discourage people from getting healthy.… Read more…

Illinois reduces quarantine time for schools

ILLINOIS (IRN) — As Illinois goes through another surge in COVID-19 cases, state officials are cutting the recommended quarantine time for teachers and students in half. The Illinois State Board of Education said effective immediately, the state will follow the Center for Disease Control’s guidance on shortening isolation and quarantine periods from 10 to 5…… Read more…

National blood crisis looms

ILLINOIS (RFD) — Saying it is the worst blood shortage they’ve seen in over a decade, the American Red Cross says there is a national blood crisis. There has recently been less than a one-day supply of critical blood types and the Red Cross has had to limit blood product distributions to hospitals, and at…… Read more…