Illinois lawmakers are signing off on changes to the controversial SAFE-T Act. The
Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly yesterday approved a series of changes to
the criminal justice reform law before some key provisions were set to take effect in January,
including a controversial measure to eliminate cash bail. The new proposal expands the list
of crimes in which someone can be denied pretrial release, now including arson, seconddegree murder and kidnapping. The amended bill now heads to Governor Pritzker’s desk for
his signature.
Fairfield’s annual Christmas parade took place this past weekend. The parade followed the
usual parade route through Fairfield. The family of slain Wayne County Deputy Sean Riley lit
the official Christmas Tree on the courthouse square prior to the parade at 4:45 p.m. Hal
Bryant served as the parade marshal for this year’s parade. Hal is the retired building trades
instructor at Fairfield Community High School.
Illinois House Democrats are proposing a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity
ammunition magazines. Lawmakers also want to take away the ability for most people under
21 to obtain a gun permit in the state. The legislation was filed in response to the deadly
mass shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. The suspected shooter was
using an assault-style rifle and high capacity magazines.
37-year-old Carolyn Hatcher of Sims pled guilty before Judge Molt in Wayne County Circuit
Court last week. Hatcher was originally arrested on a Class 3 felony charge of unlawful
possession of methamphetamine this past February. As part of the guilty plea, a charge of
driving on a suspended license was dismissed. Hatcher was sentenced to two years
probation, and was ordered to pay $1400 in fines and court costs.
A new HIV treatment will be available in Illinois next year. An injectable medication called
Cabenuva is being added to the list of treatments that are available through the State’s AIDS
Drug Assistance Program. Data shows more than 36-thousand people in Illinois are
diagnosed with HIV.
The State of Illinois is being awarded 86-million-dollars in federal funding to strengthen the
state’s public health workforce and infrastructure. The funding from the CDC will support
efforts to recruit, retain, and train the public health workforce. The grant will also support
efforts by the Illinois Department of Public Health and its local health department partners to
promote and protect health and address health disparities in communities throughout
Illinois.
Edwards County Circuit Clerk Margaret Branum has announced that prospective jurors for the
jury trial set to start tomorrow need not appear for jury service. The notice also applies to
those summoned for petit jury service on December 6th and 7th at the Edwards County
Courthouse in Albion. Branum indicated if their presence is required at a later date, they will
be notified at that time.
The number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise in South Central Illinois with all counties moving
into the medium community spread category. In Marion County, the CDC tracker reports 41
new or suspected cases of COVID-19, a 110-percent increase over the prior week. There were
four new hospitalizations. In Wayne County, there were 20 new cases, an 8.2-percent
increase, and two new hospitalizations. In Clinton County, 46 cases were reported, a 39-
percent increase. There were also four new hospitalizations in the county. In Fayette County,
cases increased 7 percent to 16 with two new hospitalizations.
Looking for a way to properly dispose of old, unwanted medications? SSM Health Illinois now
has MedDrop Medication collection kiosks at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt.
Vernon, Illinois, and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia. The kiosks are provided in
partnership with medical waste management company Stericycle. SSM Health Illinois says the
kiosks will help combat the opioid epidemic by serving as a safe way to get rid of unused or
expired medications that could otherwise end up in the wrong hands. Controlled substances
are not the only medications that can be dropped off, though. Even over-the-counter
medications are accepted. SSM Health Illinois says all medications should be contained in a
sealed bottle or jar especially liquids, creams and ointments and people dropping off
medications are advised to remove or obscure labels containing personal information.
For the first time since 1999, Illinois football is bowling in Florida. The Illni were selected to
play in the ReliaQuest Bowl, formerly named the Outback Bowl, against No. 24 Mississippi
State at 11 a.m. on Jan. 2 in Tampa, Florida. It’ll be the third meeting between the two teams,
Illinois winning in 1923 and Mississippi State winning in 1980. The Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 SEC)
ended the season with a win over in-state rival Mississippi and had their best regular season
record in coach Mike Leach’s three-year tenure.