FEATURED
Op-Ed: The Media Has A Long History Of Disrupting Our Elections
“The general election is not an organizational exercise. It’s a mass media exercise.” – Roger Stone All aspects of our
BUSINESS
Defiant Illinois Business Owner: ‘If Everybody Would Open Up, They Would Have To Give In’
Some business owners are taking a stand.
SPECIAL REPORTS
Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission To Dissolve At End Of Month
The commission issued its first report this summer without the panel of lawmakers making up the commission even meeting.
HEALTH
Research Examines Alcohol Consumption In Illinois Amid Pandemic
Haslem found social distancing along with the elimination of many team sports and organizations has had a negative effect on the mental health of students.
Social News
Great night for pizza. Logan's in Freeport. 1805 S West Ave. 815-541-4980 or 815-232-4592
— Delivery
— Drive Thru Pick Up
— Dine Inside
Pritzker loosens some COVID-19 restrictions, but indoor dining won't return immediately
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday that three regions of the state will be allowed to move out of Tier 3 mitigations in a move that will allow those regions to loosen restrictions, but the indoor dining won't return right away, further frustrating business owners hit hard by the pandemic.
The areas going back to Tier 2 mitigations are Region 1 (northern Illinois), Region 2 (north-central Illinois) and Region 5 (southern Illinois).
Under the state’s guidelines, a region can move to Tier 2 mitigations if it has a test positivity rate of less than 12% for three straight days, and more than 20% of ICU and hospital beds are available, as well as a declining number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in 7 of the previous 10 days.
The move to Tier 2 will mean the return of group fitness classes, and the reopening of casinos and museums with capacity limits, but still no indoor service at bars and restaurants.
“Things are heading in the right direction, and bars and restaurants and other businesses will be able to reopen even more as we move down back toward Phase 4,” Pritzker said.
The Illinois Restaurant Association said it was disappointed with the governor's decision.
"While every step towards reopening helps, today’s announcement falls short of the restaurant industry's critical needs and expectations," Illinois Restaurant Association President and CEO Sam Toia said in a statement. "As outlined, restaurants in all of our state’s regions will remain closed for indoor dining until they reach Tier 1 – adding to growing debt, devastating job loss, and business closures."
Toia said once indoor service is allowed to resume, the governor's capacity limits will put a damper on business.
"Additionally, the restaurants located in Tier 1 regions able to offer limited indoor dining can do so only at the lesser of 25% capacity, or 25 total guests per room. No restaurant can break even at that volume, let alone hire back their team members," he said. "As one of the most highly regulated industries in terms of health and safety – and with enhanced measures introduced during COVID-19 – Illinois restaurants know how to protect the wellbeing of their guests and team members."
Pritzker also announced that the next phase of COVID-19 vaccinations will begin on Jan. 25. Phase 1B, which will center on residents 65 and older and frontline essential workers, including first responders, teachers and child care workers, grocery store employees and postal workers. This comes as state health officials announced that a highly contagious strain of the coronavirus has made its way to Illinois.
“We have now formally identified the first Illinois case of the more contagious British variant, and top of that there are new variants from Japan, South Africa Nigeria and Brazil” Pritzker said.
Chicago public health officials reported the person with the variant had traveled to the United Kingdom prior to being diagnosed with COVID-19.
The new variant was first identified in the United States in Colorado and has found in 12 states.
China still laughing.
He needs to go. We need to replace him. Destroyed to many businesses
Numbers surge...New Strain hits Illinois...123 Deaths Today and 1 dying every 20 seconds in USA....Are reason enough not to open indoor dining yet...However many in this area have not mandate the guidelines and have remained open risking the safety of their workers and their patrons....And there are some who still refuse to wear Mask...Unreal!!! My heart goes out to all the families and friends who have loss a dear one to this deadly terrible Virus.....and all those suffering from the side effects after having Covid....And shame on those who do not respect the fact...
You dipshits who buy this mask/close everything bullshit are brainwashed useful idiots. We have had many more viruses and diseases floating around that are farrrr worse than this and never have we been so used by politicians and forced into fear like this. Its not a deadly plague. We need Herd immunity. You got your fake president elected ( fraudulently) so drop the bullshit.
News reported 2 million people have died worldwide.
FHN Holding Virtual Hiring Event
FREEPORT — FHN is accepting applications and holding virtual interviews for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs), experienced Registered Nurses (RNs), and Behavioral Health Technicians through January 28.
Interested candidates can apply online at any time; qualified candidates will be contacted to arrange a virtual interview beginning Monday, Jan. 18.
All positions offer a competitive salary, day-one benefits, tuition assistance and opportunities for career advancement. Commitment awards are available for all positions.
Candidates must complete a formal application online before the interview is conducted. For more information or to apply online, visit www.fhn.org/virtualhiring. Information is also available through FHN Human Resources at 815-599-6706.
FHN, a not-for-profit organization with nearly 1,200 employees, is an award-winning regional healthcare system committed to the health and well-being of the people of northwest Illinois and southern Wisconsin. FHN Memorial Hospital has been recognized as one of the state’s top hospitals for safety by the Leapfrog group and Healthgrades as well as by the world’s largest, completely independent, non-profit product- and service-testing organization. FHN caregivers serve an average of 1,500 people each day across FHN’s 19 locations in 5 counties spanning northwest Illinois. Organized in 1995 as an integrated healthcare delivery system, FHN is comprised of FHN Memorial Hospital, the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital, 13 family healthcare centers offering primary and specialty medical care, hospice, and outpatient mental health services. For more information about FHN, please visit www.fhn.org.
Winter Weather Advisory
FREEPORT - The City of Freeport said they anticipate adverse winter weather conditions on the evening of Thursday, January 14th, 2021. Likely conditions include ice, freezing rain, and snow beginning on Thursday at 3:00 PM and up to 4" of total snow accumulation by 4:00 AM Friday, January 15th. The snow has started as we make this report.
The City is requesting residents park vehicles in driveways by 8:00 PM Thursday, January 14, 2021 and observe even/odd parking protocols until the morning of Sunday, January 17th, 2021 at 8:00 AM.
The City said all Central Business district residents (downtown area) are requested to remove vehicles from the street and municipal parking lots from 8:00 PM Thursday until Monday, January 18th at 8:00 AM.
Parking in driveways, observing even/odd parking protocols and removing vehicles from downtown streets and parking lots significantly contribute to City Crew's ability to safely and effectively conduct snow removal operations.
Rite-Way Furniture & Appliance's January Clearance Sale is a great way to celebrate a brand new year! All of their bedroom items, dining room sets, and appliances are sale-priced. Check out bar stools, headboards, dressers, microwaves, and more all on sale. And you can buy now and pay later with your tax refund. So hurry while these deals are still here! 20 E. Stephenson Street in downtown Freeport. 815-235-4911.
