State Museum to Celebrate Gen X with Fall Exhibit
By Jeremy Coumbes on January 4, 2022 at 10:42am
Illinoisans who are members of Generation X are getting a moment in the sun later this year. The Illinois State Museum has announced plans to debut a new exhibition entitled “Growing Up X”, which is set to open at the Springfield facility in October. Illinois State Museum Curator of History, Erika Holst says organizers think […]
Rush Won’t Seek 16th Term in Congress
By Benjamin Cox on January 4, 2022 at 9:32am
One of Illinois’ longest serving Congressman is set to retire. According to NBC-5’s Mary Ann Ahern of Chicago, long-time 1st District Congressman Bobby Rush of Chicago is not going to seek re-election in the upcoming year. Rush has represented the first Congressional District since 1992. NBC-5 sources report that Rush is making phone calls to […]
IL State Democrats Unveil New Judicial Subcircuits Map for 7th Judicial District
By Benjamin Cox on January 4, 2022 at 9:27am
The House and Senate Redistricting Committees released late yesterday updated judicial subcircuits that reflect suggestions gathered during the public hearing in December. The subcircuits allegedly allow for greater opportunities for diversity on the bench. Subcircuits were also drawn for Cook, DuPage, and Madison counties. According to Capitol Fax, there was a push for Champaign and […]
Ex-Virginia Police Chief Lands Job in Grandview, No Charges Filed Over Inappropriate Messages
By Benjamin Cox on January 3, 2022 at 8:40pm
The embroiled former Chief of Police in Virginia who resigned last year over allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a teen has found a new job near Springfield. Springfield Leaks reports that ex-Virginia Police Chief Bryce Kennedy has been hired on as a full-time police officer at the Grandview Village Police Department. Kennedy was first […]
Greene Co. Health Dept. Temporarily Expands WIC and Vaccination Clinic into Roodhouse
By Benjamin Cox on January 3, 2022 at 6:24pm
The Greene County Health Department has expanded a program for young mothers and infants and those seeking immunizations into Roodhouse. Greene County Health Department Administrator Molly Peters says that the Woman, Infant, and Children Program, commonly known as WIC, and an immunization clinic for the flu, Covid, and other illnesses will be open in the […]
Durbin, 3 Female Senators Draft New Reauthorization of VAWA
By Benjamin Cox on January 3, 2022 at 5:50pm
A bipartisan group of senators aims to introduce a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) when the Senate reconvenes this month. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin joins Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a domestic violence survivor herself, and California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein and Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski in reaching a bipartisan […]
Several State Colleges & Universities Start Spring Semester on Remote Learning
By Benjamin Cox on January 3, 2022 at 2:55pm
Several state colleges will be starting their Spring Semester on remote learning. The decision has largely been fueled by the rapidly-spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus making its way through the United States. The University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana will start the spring semester remotely for at least the first week, beginning in-person learning on Jan. 24, with […]
Dept of Ag Names New State Fair Manager
By Jeremy Coumbes on January 3, 2022 at 1:47pm
The Illinois State Fair has a new manager. Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture Jerry Costello II announced that Rebecca Clark has been named the next manager of the Illinois State Fair. Clark is a familiar voice to WLDS/WEAI listeners as she has currently served as the Public Information Officer for the Illinois Emergency […]
Retail Fertilizer Price Rise To Cause Food Cost Inflation in 2022
By Benjamin Cox on January 3, 2022 at 1:17pm
Retail fertilizer prices have risen to record highs, starting in the Fall. According to a DTN survey in November, 7 of 8 major fertilizer prices posted an average cost of $522 a ton in the fourth week of October. According to RFD-TV, a December report showed that recorded prices are starting to slow down some […]
ISP Announces Opt-Out from USPS Letters in Favor of Texts and/or Emails for FOID/CCL Notifications
By Benjamin Cox on January 3, 2022 at 12:09pm
The Illinois State Police Firearms Services Bureau announced today the option for customers to receive correspondence regarding their FOID cards and CCLs from the ISP by email and/or text message instead of by letter through the United States Postal Service. ISP Director Brendan Kelly says this opt-out option from letters will make it easier and […]