•January 12, 2022•
By Capital News Illinois

Illinois lawmakers passed a bill clarifying issues around the massive criminal justice reform bill that passed with the support of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus last year.
On a 67-42 vote, the House voted Wednesday, Jan. 6, to accept a senate amendment to House Bill 3512, clarifying issues relating to pretrial services, detainee phone calls and moving back effective dates in the police decertification system and body camera footage labeling.
Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, the lead House sponsor of the bill, said it’s intended to help facilitate the implementation of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, or SAFE-T Act that was passed in January 2021.
During the debate, Republicans voiced their frustrations regarding language used for detainee phone calls and pretrial services.
The bill outlines that when someone is detained, law enforcement must allow them to make up to three phone calls within three hours of being detained. If the individual is moved from one detention center to the next, the three phone calls and three hours will restart.
But House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, argued that the bill did not provide enough clarification between the words “police custody” and “detention”.
“Police custody means that they’re not free to leave. That means that they’re sitting in a squad car and under the way you’ve drafted your bill, that means that the police have to give that person three phone calls,” Durkin said. Read More

•January 12, 2022•
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is announcing two new COVID-19 oral antivirals, Paxlovid (Pfizer) and Molnupiravir (Merck), will be available in Illinois later this month. The antivirals are for those with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk for becoming severely ill, including hospitalization or death. Both antivirals will be available by prescription only and should be taken as soon as possible after being diagnosed and within five days of the beginning of symptoms. Paxlovid is expected to reduce the risk of hospitalizations by 89% and Molnupiravir by about 30%. Molnupiravir is meant for use when other treatment options are not available. Read More

•January 12, 2022•

The University of Illinois Extension, in cooperating partnership with Decatur Catholic Charities and Windsor School District, will have a mobile food pantry on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 from 4 to 5 pm at Windsor Grade School. Line up not allowed before 3:30 pm. A mobile food pantry delivers a 2 week supply of food per family in rural communities. Any individual or family that does not have a steady food supply qualifies to receive food. No financial information is required. This distribution is open to all, not only residents of Windsor. Sign up by February 9 between the hours of 8 am-Noon and 1 pm to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday by calling 217-774-9546. Once your form is completed by phone, you will be given a number to bring with you on the day of distribution. If you lose your number, you need to bring identification. The food will be distributed according to your household size on February 16 from 4 pm to 5 pm at the Windsor Grade School Cafeteria.

25 Years Ago This Week

After a relatively mild early winter, the season showed it could pack a double punch. A massive snowfall followed by high winds, zero visibility and bone chilling cold closed schools. Then there was a repeat performance when freezing rain and sleet made travel hazardous and closed several area schools.
The Lovington boys’ basketball team won over Villa Grove 58-42. Read More

•January 5, 2022•
New updates to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Vax Verify immunization portal now includes use of the SMART™ Health Card. The SMART™ Health Card allows users to download a QR code, which individuals can use to easily confirm a their COVID-19 vaccination status at businesses, events, and other locations. Vax Verify is an online system that allows Illinois residents 18 years and older to check their COVID-19 vaccination record. Vax Verify can be accessed at https://idphportal.illinois.gov. Read More