State Officials Stress Need for Awareness of Blue-Green Algae in Illinois’ Lakes, Rivers, Streams and Ponds
Each year, Illinois officials work to raise awareness of the dangers of harmful algal blooms through an annual news release and information made available online. Residents are reminded to use caution when recreating on Illinois waterways, especially at this time of year when blue-green algae blooms are most prevalent. When a blue-green algae bloom has been confirmed, local officials are advised to post appropriate signage to warn residents to avoid contact with affected waters; however, not all blooms are reported to state officials. Therefore, residents must be aware and avoid contact with suspicious looking water.
Alan Shepard School gets Canopy
Students who are car riders headed to school at Alan Shepard in Bourbonnais this coming year will be leaving with style on a daily basis with the addition of a brand new canopy! Students can now wait outside and be protected from the elements at the school.
Employers no longer can ask for past salary information
Governor JB Pritzker has signed into law an amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act that bans employers and employment agencies from asking about applicants’ past wage and compensation histories or using such information to screen candidates for a job. The new law takes effect on September 29, 2019.
IDOA Showcases Hemp at State Fair
In June the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) set aside a plot on the Illinois State Fairgrounds to educate fairgoers on hemp. Eight CBD plants and 100 Industrial Hemp plants were planted next to the U of I Master Gardner’s located on 8th Street, behind the Swine Barn.
New Illinois law requires Insurance Companies to cover EpiPens
House Bill 3435, signed last Friday by Governor Pritzker, requires insurance companies to cover epinephrine injectors, most commonly prescribed as EpiPens, for children with severe allergies. The cost of an EpiPen has skyrocketed over the last decade, rising by more than 400% for the two-pen injector pack.
Mayor Wells-Armstrong Participates During the Mayors Innovation Project Summer Meeting
Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong was one of many mayors and local leaders throughout the nation to attend the Mayors Innovation Project Annual Summer Meeting earlier this month. The Mayors Innovation Project is a non-profit, non-partisan learning network specifically created for mayors committed to equity, environmental sustainability and transparent democracy. The Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) is a progressive policy institute housed on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It was founded in 1991 by UW Professor Joel Rogers. The organization says that its core values are democracy, sustainability and equality.
