SPRINGFIELD – Building on existing efforts to ensure equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Wednesday announced a new partnership with Rural Health Inc. and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital to administer vaccines to residents throughout southern Illinois. The partnership is part of a broader…
JEFFERSON COUNTY – A longtime Chaplain for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department and Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge has received the Bill Mehrtens Lifetime Achievement Award. Mt. Vernon Resident Dan Lovin was announced as the recipient of the award during the organization’s February board meeting in Springfield. FOP State Lodge…
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Wednesday reported 2,104 new confirmed and probable cases COVID-19, including 44 additional deaths. In southern Illinois, one death and 58 new cases were reported among health departments. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,191,520 cases, including 20,626 deaths, in 102 counties. Local case breakdown: Williamson County: 13…
SPILLERTOWN – One person died in a Tuesday afternoon house fire in Williamson County. According to a post on Southern Illinois Fire Incidents Facebook page, The Williamson County Fire Protection District and the Marion Fire Department responded to the fire on Spillertown Road around 4:15 p.m. After arriving to the scene, firefighters saw large flames…
CHICAGO (AP) – A Chicago man is facing a federal charge of inciting a riot after he allegedly went online last August to urge other to take part in the widespread vandalism of stores and others businesses. Twenty-two-year-old James Massey appeared in a court hearing via telephone on Tuesday, hours after he was arrested. Prosecutors alleged…
JEFFERSON COUNTY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that Interstate 64 from east of Okawville to the Jefferson County line will have intermediate lane restrictions in each direction beginning at 6 p.m. March 8, weather permitting. Officials said the work is necessary to complete pavement repairs and is anticipated to be completed in July. Lane…
CARBONDALE – Carbondale Police are investigating gunfire that damaged a home around 4:45 Tuesday afternoon in the 600 block of West Cherry Street. According to a Carbondale Police report, witnesses provided several descriptions of possible suspect vehicles involved, including an orange sports car, a dark blue or black car and a bright red car occupied…
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Tuesday reported 1,577 new COVID-19 cases in Illinois, including 47 additional deaths. Southern Illinois health departments reported 40 new cases across the region. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,189,416 cases, including 20,583 deaths. Local case breakdown: Williamson County: 12 Union County: seven Franklin and Perry counties:…
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the emergency use of a COVID-19 saliva test developed by the University of Illinois. Despite the lack of FDA approval until Monday, officials said the test has been used more than 1.5 million times at the university’s campuses in Urbana, Springfield and Chicago. University…
CHICAGO (AP) – A report released Monday from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents said research shows Illinois is facing a devastating teacher shortage crisis, with 77% of the school districts responding to the 2020 survey saying they have a teacher shortage problem. Education researchers in Illinois said the reasons for the teacher shortage are numerous and…