Vaping, Medicaid and Opioids — Top Health Stories Of 2019
A wide range of healthcare issues drew headlines in 2019, affecting the lives of millions of Americans. Here are some highlights from Side Effects…
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Why This Free Health Clinic Is Pushing To Expand Medicaid
On a chilly afternoon, Terry Cox has come to Mountain View, Mo., to see a dentist. He’s waiting on a bench outside a converted rectory. “Came to get a…
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State Minimum Wage Increases January 1
SPRINGFIELD – The minimum wage in Illinois is about to go up by a dollar. According to the Illinois Department of Labor, it will be $9.25 per hour on January 1, 2020. It will rise to $10 per hour on July 1, 2020. State lawmakers approved the wage hike in February, and it’s the first…
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What Employers And Workers Need To Know About Legal Recreational Marijuana In Illinois
BELLEVILLE — Ahead of the new year, local businesses and employers across Illinois are trying to determine how legal recreational marijuana will impact them. The law change, which came only six months ago, is forcing many employers to rethink how their workplaces handle drug policy and testing. Lawmakers in Springfield wrote parts of the Cannabis…
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U of I Law Professor Remains On Leave Instead Of Returning
A University of Illinois law professor accused of sexual misconduct had been slated to return to teach in January. But he will instead be placed on “university-sanctioned leave.” In fall of last year, details of a U of I investigation into claims of sexual misconduct against Jay Kesan were made public by the media. Amid…
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New Year, New Illinois Laws: What’s Coming In 2020
The more than 255 new Illinois laws taking effect on New Year’s Day may affect everything from your car to your paycheck. We took a look at some of the biggest changes coming in 2020. Higher Wages, Tip Ownership Illinois minimum wage is going up by a dollar, from $8.25 to $9.25, starting New Year’s Day…
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Local TV Stations Changing Frequencies To Accommodate Wireless Carriers
Television stations around the country are moving to different broadcast frequencies including multiple stations throughout Illinois. An important note: even though stations are changing how they send out broadcasts, the channels viewers use to reach them on their TVs will still be the same. For example, WCIA-TV, the CBS affiliate based in Champaign will remain…
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News Around Illinois – December 27, 2019
Students Serve Ex-Prof With Sexual Assault Suit Via Email URBANA – The alleged victims of a former University of Illinois associate professor turned to email to finally serve him with their federal lawsuit accusing him of sexually and emotionally exploiting them. The civil lawsuit filed by some of Gary Xu’s former students had been held…
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More People Returning Christmas Trees To Nature
It’s after Christmas and maybe you’re wondering what to do with the wilting, live tree in your living room. You might think about re-purposing the tree after the ornaments come down. More people are recycling Christmas trees versus throwing them in a landfill, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. For some trees, that means being…
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Legal Recreational Cannabis In Illinois May Be In Short Supply, At First
BELLEVILLE — Supplies of recreational marijuana in Illinois will likely be tight when the drug is fully legalized on Jan 1. A group of state lawmakers wrote a joint letter this month expressing their concerns. “Each state that has implemented an adult-use cannabis program has had issues related to supply shortages,” wrote the group, including…
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News Around Illinois – December 26, 2019
Illinois Boy Charged In Fatal Fire To Be Evaluated By Expert EUREKA — A 9-year-old boy charged in a central Illinois fire that killed five people will be evaluated by a child trauma expert to determine if he’s fit to stand trial. The Chicago Tribune reports that the boy’s attorney, Peter Dluski, said in a…
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Dept. of Natural Resources Encourages More Plants At Solar Farms
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is encouraging owners of solar energy fields to be more pollinator-friendly. Across the planet, bees and other pollinating insect species are disappearing at an alarming rate. That’s due in part to a loss of natural habitat space to humans. Now, as part of the 2018 Pollinator-Friendly Solar Site Act,…
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News Around Illinois – December 24, 2019
Rantoul Votes To Acquire Land For Sports Complex RANTOUL – An agreement for the village of Rantoul to acquire 65-acres of land from the Warner farming family for use as a new sports complex won unanimous approval from village trustees Monday night. The resolution calls for the village to lease the land south of the…
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Illinois Officials Review State Ethics Laws
A group of Illinois officials met Monday to begin a review of the state’s ethics laws for lobbyists and elected office holders. The meeting comes in the wake of a remarkable year for corruption allegations, even by Illinois standards. Several state and local lawmakers, lobbyists, and municipalities have either been charged with crimes, had their…
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UPDATE: Univ. of Illinois Police Officer Pleads Not Guilty To Misconduct
MONDAY 4:00 p.m. update: The News-Gazette reports that a University of Illinois police officer pleaded not guilty to seven charges of misconduct in court today. Jerald Sandage is accused of misusing law enforcement databases and security cameras to find personal information about women on and off the U of I’s Urbana campus. Sandage has been…
