Phone companies have only a few short days to start complying with new rules regarding robocalls.

The Federal Communications Commission mandated that every telecommunications company install technology called “sophisticated caller ID” to reduce the number of illegal robocalls by June 30th. By Tuesday, phone companies have to notify the FCC exactly what they are doing to stop the annoying calls.

Teresa Murray, a member of the Consumer Watchdog US Research Interest Group says that not every company has been compliant with the new rules. Murray told Newschannel 20 on Thursday that only about 17% of the more than 3,000 companies in the U.S. are actually doing what they are supposed to do. Murray says if companies are not complying with what the FCC is asking for next Tuesday, then other phone companies are prohibited from putting their phone calls through, which means your phone may not work.

According to the FCC database, companies like Comcast a fully implemented caller ID technology but other major phone companies like Verizon and AT&T are still in the partial stages of mitigating robocalls.

The new rules do not apply to text messages, only robocalls. If you are receiving any robocalls, the FCC said to file a complaint with them.

The National Weather Service has issued an elevated fire danger for portions of West Central Illinois for the next several days.

Warm, dry, and windy conditions are expected across the region, which could cause fire to spread erratically.

The National Weather Service is asking residents to take extra precautions over the next few days. They ask you to properly discard cigarettes by not tossing them out of a moving vehicle. Avoid parking on dry grass and check trailers for dragging chains. Avoid burning leaves and trash outside for the next few days, and be ready to extinguish any open flames.

The warm, dry, windy weather is expected to last through the weekend across West Central Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Discovery Partners Institute wastewater monitoring program for COVID-19 has expanded to two counties in the region since its inception in May.

According to IDPH, they are collecting samples of wastewater in seven additional counties in the state after piloting the program with 10. Cass County was one of the pilot counties. In August, the program conducted monitoring in the City of Beardstown noting a high level of the virus in the town’s wastewater samples.

IDPH said in May that the virus is detectable in human waste nearly from the onset of infection, while symptoms may not appear for three to five days. The program’s hope was to detect a potential outbreak on a county-by-county basis.

WICS Newschannel 20 says the program has now expanded to Adams, Brown, and Pike counties in West Central Illinois. IDPH says approximately $311,000 of the original $5.5 million has been spent on the program so far. As of today, there are wastewater treatment plants submitting samples from 17 counties.

IDPH and Discovery Partners are working to rapidly onboard treatment utilities in all 102 counties in the state by the end of January 2022.

18th District Congressman Darin LaHood and 13th District Congressman Rodney Davis announced today that the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives with a project request they made jointly for $10,200,000 for the 183rd Wing of the Illinois National Guard based in Springfield.

On September 3rd, they announced that the project had passed 57-2 out of the House Armed Service Committee. The NDAA bill will now likely go to conference after consideration in the Senate to reach a final agreement.

The funding would be used to construct a base civil engineer complex. The project was requested by Illinois National Guard Adjutant General Major General Richard Neely and has the approval of the Department of Defense. It also had the support of Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder and Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport Executive Director Mark Hanna.

LaHood said in a press release today that he was proud to see this included in the latest NDAA: “This funding will enhance training efforts, and modernize the facilities for better operations and maintenance productivity of our military. In Congress, I’ll continue to work with Rodney to ensure the men and women in the 183rd have the resources they need.”

Davis followed that up by saying that the project is a main priority for the 183rd Wing: “Our troops here in Central Illinois deserve to have a proper facility to meet their maintenance and preparedness needs. This project would support their important mission. I’m hopeful that this project will eventually be included in legislation that is signed into law and will continue to advocate on its behalf.”

The National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA is the annual budget for the Department of Defense and military. This year’s NDAA also includes the following provisions:

• Authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for service members and extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities
• Focuses investment in new and emerging weapon systems capable of penetrating denied operating environments such as China
• Authorizes $250 million to conduct counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and prohibits DoD from providing any financial support to the Taliban
• Requires the DoD to immediately submit a plan to Congress on how it will support the evacuation of American citizens from Afghanistan, maintain air superiority, conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, and carry out counter-terrorism operations
• Prohibits the transfer of terrorists housed at Guantanamo Bay to any country that is a state sponsor of terrorism
• Prohibits the use of DoD funds to conduct research, including biomedical, infectious disease, and genomic research in China
• Requires DoD and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to assess the involvement of the Chinese Communist Party in the origins of COVID-19
• Requires biennial reporting on Russian influence operations and campaigns targeting U.S. military alliances and partnerships and continues prohibitions on military cooperation with Russia and any activities that recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea
• mandatory draft eligibility (Selective Service registration) for women who turn 18 years of age

The Senate will need to pass its own version of the bill, and then the two chambers will iron out the differences in the coming months at a conference committee.

Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki has announced a special “Blue Mass” for emergency responders on Tuesday, September 28th at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, located at 524 East Lawrence Street in Springfield.

The day begins at 9 a.m. as emergency responders will assemble in the Cathedral. At 9:15 a.m., there will be the posting of the colors, with Mass beginning at 9:30 a.m. Emergency responders and their families are invited to attend as is the public to show their support and pray for those on the front lines.

Following the Blue Mass, Terrance Gainer will be the guest speaker in the Cathedral atrium. Gainer is a former U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, and Director of the Illinois State Police, and is a retired Captain of the U.S. Navy.

A federal grand jury indicted three men from Nebo for sexual exploitation of a child. The indictment was unsealed today when the last of the three men was arraigned in the Central District of Illinois federal court.

33 year old Anthony M. Westemeyer, 55 year old Michael J. Wallace, and 37 year old Bobby J. Warner all of Nebo were indicted for an incident that occurred in May where they allegedly caused a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct, which was recorded and stored on a computer.

If convicted, the men face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment, followed by a life term of supervised release. Each charge also carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.

Wallace was arrested in Nebo on September 10th, and Warner was arrested in Pittsfield on September 13th. United States Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins ordered that both men be detained pending trial at a related hearing on September 16th. The U.S. Marshals Service lodged a detainer for Westemeyer, who is presently in the custody of the Pike County Sheriff. Judge Schanzle-Haskins also ordered that Westermeyer be detained pending trial at today’s hearing.

Agencies participating in the investigation include U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; the Illinois Attorney General’s Office; the Pike County Sheriff’s Office; and the Pike County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Seberger and Tanner K. Jacobs are representing the government in the prosecution.

Anyone with information connected with this investigation is urged to call the Department of Homeland Security Investigations at (217) 547-2100.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. 

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

MCS Community Services has received a bump in funding for the local LIHEAP and Community Services Block Grant Program this year thanks to increased funding from the state and federal CARES Act money.

Tammi Lonergan of MCS Community Services who administers both programs says that the state has increased thresholds for those who can apply: “The LIHEAP funding is Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program. It’s an ongoing program that we have every year, but with the additional funds, they have upped the cap on the income poverty level that people can make to qualify for the program, which means more people will be using the program, more people will be eligible for the program. They have also increased the benefit amount per household so that you will be getting a bigger benefit this year to help with your utility bills.”

Here’s the breakdown of your eligibility threshold by family size and 30-Day Gross Income:

1 person — $2,147

2 people — $2,903

3 people —  $3,660

4 people — $4,417

5 people — $5,173

Lonergan says that MCS services about 1,400 households a year and the block grant program services approximately 50 households across Morgan, Scott, and Cass counties.

Lonergan says that people need to set up an appointment either in person or over the phone with the MCS offices by either visiting their office at 345 West State Street or by calling 217-243-9404. She says those applying need to bring documentation to qualify for the programs: “For the LIHEAP program, what they need to do is to call our office, set up an appointment. They will need social security cards for everyone in the household, their most recent gas, electric, propane, and water bill, and proof of the household gross income from the last 30 days.”

Lonergan says they have experienced quite a few more applicants this year, especially during COVID and with the income thresholds now being moved, she expects even more. The LIHEAP program will be open until May. Lonergan says that there is plenty of money in the program, especially after Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced $327 million in community assistance programs leveraged by American Rescue Plan funding on Monday.

A Northern Illinois Democrat State Representative has filed a bill that would make it a crime to protest within 300 feet of a school zone while school is in session.

48^th District Democrat Terra Costa Howard of Glen Ellyn filed House Bill 4151 on Tuesday that would make it a crime to orally protest, pass out flyers or handbills, carry a sign, or protest within 300 feet of a school zone during school hours.

It amends the 2012 state Criminal Code that creates the the offense of disorderly conduct in a school zone. Provides that a person commits the offense when an individual knowingly displays signs, engages in oral protest, education, or passing leaflets or handbills with 300 feet of school premises from one hour prior to the start of the school day until one hour after the school day ends. It also says that if an individual knowingly approaches within 8 feet of an individual who is within 300 feet of school premises for purposes of displaying signs, engaging in oral protest, education, or passing leaflets or handbills, from one hour prior to the start of the school day until one hour after the school day ends. The bill does not exempt students staging protests and/or walk outs.

The offense would be considered a Class A misdemeanor, which is the most serious misdemeanor charges in the state. Anyone found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor could receive up to 364 days in county jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.

If the bill passes, it would take effect immediately.

The bills filing comes at a precarious time when student-led protests have occurred in Marion, North Mac, Homewood, and most recently at a private school in Lisle on topics ranging from same-sex marriage, racism, and quarantine and/or mask mandates due to COVID-19.

The bill has already received 7 Democratic co-sponsors.

The State of Illinois said yesterday it has fixed a glitch in two computer programs that allowed unauthorized people to view records.

The problem occurred when people were removed from access to accounts under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. The glitch allowed those individuals to continue to access the accounts and see benefits and personal information after they had been deleted.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Illinois Department of Human Services in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology says that the State of Illinois Integrated Eligibility System glitch was first found on November 24, 2020.

Officials from the departments say that the issue was corrected in January, and after continued monitoring, have not been able to identify any instances of fraud. Individuals who were affected were sent a notice in the mail on September 9^th with a help line number. The help line will remain open until December 8^th.

The glitch is being revealed now under a recently enacted state law requiring public notice of such data breaches and incidents.