(SPRINGFIELD) With half the counties in Illinois at a medium or high level for COVID-19 hospitalizations, the Illinois Department of Public Health is advising healthcare facilities to step up mitigation efforts to minimize the spread of respiratory viruses. The DPH has issued a “Health Alert” to hospitals, long-term care facilities, and local health departments outlining various mitigation measures, such as the use of masking & screening, especially in areas where more vulnerable patients are treated. There were 1,225 new COVID-19 hospitalizations reported statewide last week, up 22 percent from the previous week.
(SPRINGFIELD) In less than two weeks, those in Illinois found in possession of banned semi-automatic firearms without registering with the Illinois State Police could face criminal penalties. The law banning the sale and possession of more than 170 types of semi-automatic firearms and ammunition magazines over certain capacities was enacted nearly a year ago and is set to take effect January 1st, 2024. A federal judge has yet to release a ruling on whether to delay the gun ban registry. Since the registry opened on October 1st, the State Police show only 6,141 individuals have disclosed they own a banned firearm, attachment, or ammunition. That’s just a quarter of a percentage point (0.25%) of the more than 2.4 million Firearm Owners ID card holders in the Land of Lincoln.
(SPRINGFIELD) College athletes will now be able to compete in events through the end of the spring sports season without worrying about the NCAA’s policy related to transferring a second time. This comes after the parties in a lawsuit agreed to turn a 14-day temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction that will last after the 2023-2024 sports seasons end. The seven states in the suit include Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, New York, and Illinois.