Prairie State Wire

Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission Human Rights Authority North Suburban Region will meet at 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 7

Illinois State Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities, Family Committee met May 1

Illinois State Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities, Family Committee met Wednesday, May 1

Illinois State Board of Education, Teacher Performance Assessment Task Force met March 25

Illinois State Board of Education, Teacher Performance Assessment Task Force met Monday, March 25

Illinois State Board of Education Rural Education Advisory Council met April 30

Illinois State Board of Education Rural Education Advisory Council met Tuesday, April 30

Illinois State Board of Education, Balanced Accountability Measure Committee met April 29

Illinois State Board of Education, Balanced Accountability Measure Committee met Monday, April 29

Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Purchased Care Review Board will meet May 7

Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Purchased Care Review Board will meet at 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 7

Governor Pritzker Issues 35 New Conditional Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary Licenses

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced the issuance of 35 additional Conditional Adult Use Dispensing Organization Licenses, following the Social Equity Criteria Lottery (SECL) in July 2023. All 35 applicants met the social equity criteria. The list of awardees and next steps is available on IDFPR’s Adult Use Cannabis webpage. 13 more licenses are expected soon, totaling 48 new conditional licensees.

3D Archery Range Now Open at Hidden Springs State Forest in Shelby County

A 3D archery range is now open to the public at Hidden Springs State Forest near Strasburg in Shelby County, thanks to students at Stewardson-Strasburg High School. The range, which features 22 targets, is open seven days a week during regular park hours. Hidden Springs had been without a 3D archery range for over a decade, but with the help of the students, the range has been revitalized.

Pritzker Administration Issues Next Round of Conditional Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary Licenses

CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) have announced the issuance of 35 additional Conditional Adult Use Dispensing Organization Licenses to applicants from the Social Equity Criteria Lottery (SECL). The issuance of these licenses is a significant step towards ensuring equity in the cannabis industry in Illinois.Governor JB Pritzker emphasized the importance of equity in the cannabis industry, stating, “Today’s announcement is yet another success story for Illinois placing equity at the forefront of...

Illinois Department of Public Health Urges Residents to ‘Fight the Bite’ During Lyme Disease Awareness Month

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging the public to educate themselves on how to protect against ticks and Lyme disease as National Lyme Disease Awareness Month kicks off. IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra highlighted the importance of being informed, stating, “Lyme disease is an infection that individuals can get from the bite of infected ticks – and it is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States with more than 500,000 people diagnosed and treated each year.”To help raise awareness and educate the public, IDPH has created resources such...

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site to Host Spring Native American Market in Collinsville

By Prairie State Wire | May 2, 2024

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site will be hosting its annual spring Native American Market on May 18-19 at the Collinsville VFW, featuring arts and crafts by more than 30 tribal-affiliated artists from across North America.According to the event announcement, artists will be showcasing and selling authentic Indigenous arts and crafts, including items such as jewelry, ceramics, paintings, drawings, clothing, flutes, and woodcarvings. The public is invited to attend, and both admission and parking are free for the event, which will be held at 1234 Vandalia St. in...

SCOTUS Distributes SAF Gun Ban Challenges for May 16 Conference

By Prairie State Wire | May 2, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court has distributed five cases for conference on May 16, including two Second Amendment Foundation cases challenging bans on "assault weapons" and magazine capacity in Illinois and Maryland. The cases named Harrel v. Raoul and Bianchi v. Frosh, along with Gun Owners of America v. Raoul, Caleb Barnett v. Raoul, and Javier Herrera v. Raoul, were highlighted by SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut and SAF founder Alan M. Gottlieb.Kraut expressed hope that the Supreme Court would grant cert for these cases, stating, "It is time for the Supreme Court to confirm...

Gov. Pritzker: Illinois taxpayers will spend $210M this year on new weight loss drugs for fat state employees

Democrat Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says his new rule requiring state taxpayers to buy weight loss drugs like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic for fat state employees will cost $210 million this year.

Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Ford County, Illinois

Chronic wasting disease has been detected in Ford County in northern Illinois, marking an expansion of the infection in free-ranging deer populations, as announced by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today.According to the IDNR, the always-fatal neurological disease threatens the long-term health of white-tailed deer in Illinois. The detection in Ford County was confirmed in mid-March from a suspect-deer showing symptoms consistent with CWD infection. This adds to the list of affected counties, which now includes a total of 21 counties across northern...

STEAM Newsletter Vol. 41: Summer Fun and Learning Opportunities

The latest STEAM Newsletter Vol. 41 is brimming with exciting summer fun and learning opportunities for students and educators alike. As we approach the end of the school year, the newsletter highlights various programs and events aimed at enhancing knowledge, cultivating interests in STEAM domains, and acquiring new skills. Summer camps and professional development opportunities are on the horizon, with public universities in Illinois offering a diverse array of programs. From kindergarten through 12th grade, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University,...

Top campaign contribution recipients in Illinois for the week of March 10

The following political organizations received the most campaign contributions in Illinois during the week of March 10.

First Bird in Illinois Tests Positive for West Nile Virus in Douglas County

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced that the first bird to test positive for West Nile virus in Illinois for 2024 was found in Douglas County. The specimen was collected in Villa Grove on April 2 by Douglas County Health Department staff. This early detection of the virus comes after a mild winter and spring.IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra emphasized the importance of taking precautions against mosquito-borne diseases, stating, “The news of the first bird with West Nile virus so early in the season is a signal for Illinois residents to begin...

Illinois Announces Change in Motor Fuel Use Tax Rate for Second Half of 2024