•May 12, 2021•
By Capitol News Illinois

Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday that Illinois will enter the “bridge” phase to full reopening on Friday, May 14. And barring any reversal of current trends, Phase 5, or full reopening, will begin on June 11.
He also announced that residents can now obtain COVID-19 vaccines from their physicians’ offices, rather than just designated vaccine sites, as public health officials continue to confront hesitancy within many communities to accept the vaccines.
Thursday’s announcement came as the state reached a new benchmark of having 55 percent of adults age 16 and over, and 80 percent of people age 65 and over, having received at least one dose of vaccine, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, the daily number of new cases, hospitalization rates and intensive care unit usage have all been falling or leveling off.
Under the bridge phase – a transition phase between the current Phase 4 mitigations and the virtually complete reopening of Phase 5 – certain capacity limits will be eased at various kinds of events. Restaurants, for example, will be allowed to increase from 25 to 30 percent of capacity, as long as people maintain six feet of distance from one another, while offices, personal care facilities and retail service counters can increase from 50 to 60 percent of capacity. Read More

25 Years Ago This Week

Spring storms turned streets into rivers, toasted electrical equipment and made two flood rescues necessary in Moultrie County. A lightning bolt struck Sullivan’s tallest building, the Moultrie County Courthouse, damaging phones throughout the building as well as computers with phone modems and the courtroom security system. Lovington schools were dismissed early on two days because of the flooding. Bethany schools were dismissed early on Friday. Read More

•May 12, 2021•
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville and Friends of Lake Shelbyville is hosting a free fishing tournament for children 12 and under on Saturday, June 5 at Opossum Pond. The pond is located near the entrance to the Opossum Creek Recreation Area. Participants must pre-register by calling (217) 774-3951 ext. 2, or email lakeshelbyville@usace.army.mil. Information needed: name of participant, age of participant on event day, name of parent/guardian, and phone number for parent/guardian. Registration check in begins at 8:30 a.m. for the age 6 and under category, and participants will fish from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. Registration check in begins at 9:30 a.m. for the age 7-9 and 10-12 category, and participants will fish from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for biggest fish, smallest fish, and most fish in each age division. Read More

•May 5, 2021•
Every year, 1,000 people die, and 30,000 people are injured in electrical accidents. While electricity typically transmits without incident, there are times when the electrical path becomes disrupted. When this happens, the current can flow through anything or anyone in its path, causing electrical shock, internal and externals burns, and other serious injuries, including electrocution.
“Electricity is referred to as the silent killer since it is often undetectable, that is, it typically cannot be seen, heard or smelled,” says Erin Hollinshead, executive director of Safe Electricity. “While you might notice some electrical hazards — electrical outlets that are discolored and warm to the touch for example — many others are invisible and imperceptible.”
May is Electrical Safety Month. Hollinshead says to err on the side of caution and always respect electricity and the potential danger that comes with it.
While there are precautions people can take inside and outside their homes, many people are less familiar with potential electrical hazards in the great outdoors. Read More

•May 5, 2021•
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is reminding the public that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023. With the extended federal deadline of REAL ID, current Illinois driver’s licenses and ID cards will continue to be accepted at airports until May 3, 2023. Read More