The Sentinel

4th Quarter Honor Roll for Unity Junior High School

Last month, Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll status during the fourth quarter. Congratulations to the students who earned the requisite grade point average to celebrate the honor. See the names of UJHS students who made the quarter's High Honor Roll list here.

6th Grade Honor Roll

Lylla Lorene Bennett
Emily Grace Blumer
Mila Marie Lynn Brown
Journie Elizabeth Castle
Liberty Cenzano
Gersey Marie Cler
Avery Brooks Curry
Claire Bronte Davis
Wyatt Michael Deakin
Hayven Corrine Douglas
Kennedy Phoenix Dykeman
Hunter Byron Estes
Odin Jeffrey Evans
Aneela Joy Hagerman
Ezekiel Makai Hastings
Luke Raymond Hottman
Christian Timothy Vincent Johnson
Khloe Nikita Kellogg
Jerzey Lawler
Hunter Reed McIntosh
Brielle Raine Molina
Autumn Polaczek
Brantley Hunter Pugh
Jace Alek Revell
Olivia Ann Ruggieri
Felix Richard Runyan
Nolan Dwight Seidlitz
Jayceon Simmons
Paige Elizabeth Siuts
Elizabeth Ann Stewart
Haven Marie Thomas
Jaylynn Whiteside
Parker James Wilson

7th Grade Honor Roll

Rya Jolee Bialeschki
Liam Aeron Blom
Isaac Mathew Boitnott
Madilynn Botkin
Bradley Roger Bruhn
Rowan Bryant
Wyatt Thomas Burr
Greyson Zachary DeHart
Kenzlee Rae Evans
Natalie May Gumbel-Paeth
Jolene Marie Hartman
Addilynn Mae Hatfield
William Timothy Huntington
Finnegan Samuel Bowie Isberg
Matthew Stephen Kroes
Azaria Christianne Lisanby
Owen Thomas Menacher
Ellie Rose Parker-Johnson
Makena Jade Pruitt
Riker Alan Rogers
Kyle Sean Roosevelt
Jonah Ryan Schriefer
Kataryna Sperry
Daisy Mae Stierwalt
Clementine Lucille Summitt
Silas Richard Swim
Jaycob David Tatman
Levi Nelson White
Jovianna Hilton Wishall
Phoebe Ashlynn Witheft

8th Grade Honor Roll

Sawyer Michael Abrahamson
Grace Bailey
Carter Ryan Bickers
Ella Addyson Bromley
Elizabeth Cazares
Ryker Cenzano
Hadley Marie Cler
Katelyn Dhom
Evan Matthew Donaldson
Jase Charles Eisenmenger
Skippy Followell
Keelie Rae Germano
Jaxson Edward Glad
Samuel Bentley Hollett
Holly Marie Howey
Jauniyah Rosemarie Lisanby
Russell Patrick McCabe
Scarlet Rosemary McCann
Addyson Jo McIntosh
Lane Lucas Meharry
Ellery Merkle
Emma Grace Mohr
Parker William Thomson Owens
Jaxon David Pendleton
Lucas Neal Reinhart
Madelyn Olivia Roth-Robertson
Trevor James Shallenberger
Hayden Dale Smith
Jasper Lee Souza
Abigail Elise Spomer
Tucker Douglas Stierwalt
Cade Robert Styan
Olivia Jane Styan
Jayden Michael Terven
Charles Reider Watson
Hallee Ann Weber Patterson
Za'Brya White-Thompson

Unity Junior High students earn academic high honors

Unity Junior High School announced the names of the students who achieved high honor roll status during the fourth quarter. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point to qualify for honor roll recognition during this period. Honor Roll students that did not qualify for high honors can be found here.

6th Grade High Honor Roll

Madelyn JoAnn Bear
William Terrance Bieser
Jace Boyett
Rachel Elaine Sharples Brooks
Connor John Chesnut
Brielle Mun-Yee Chin
Madisen Diane Coy
Dominic Dees
Finley Douglas
Reid William Edwards
Jackson Carter Elam
Ashlyn Elizabeth Estes
Shirley Arianna Garcier
Liam Thomas Grussing
Aubrey Lou Hartman
Asher Jett
Pyper Rayne Jones
Zaylee Elaine Kohlenberg
Elijiah Cole Lambert
Avalee Susan Little
Landon Robert Little
Lucas James Michels
Logan Alexander Nasser
Peyton Elizabeth Neighbors
Charlotte Rose Ocasio
Zachary David Ruhter
Mallory Mya Schmid
Brody Lee Skibbe
Blake Robert Stierwalt
Giselle Ann Thomas
Jase William Kenneth Wierman
Conor William Zumbahlen

7th Grade High Honor Roll

Ashlyn Nicole Alt
Landon Robert Alt
Maylie Rose Bates
Nora Kristina Blanchard
Brailey Marie Cain
Viola Ayame Carman
Raeann Loucille Cozad
Lydia Grace Crowe
Kylee Paulette Cunningham
Elizabeth Irene Davidson
Bronson Edwin Davis
Savannah Jo Drewes
Quentin Xavier Dykeman
Collin Daniel Eckstein
Beau Richard Eisenmenger
Tinsley Layne Elliott
Alarik Byrum Ellison
Cooper Alexander Fairbanks
Nadia Grace Fairbanks
Hayden Marie Gabbard
Evelyn Anne Gould
Libbey Marlene Ethel Griffin
Jessica Marie Hamilton
Harper Quinn Harris
Dylan Paul Holladay
Mason James Holladay
Aaron Joseph Hood
Gabriel Heinrich Jahnel
Allie Rose Kamradt
Molly Kathryn Lydia Kleiss
John Isaac "Isaac" Leaman
Adeliah June Little
Adelyn Jolene Maxwell
Graham Charles Moore
Ashley Ann Mumm
Nicole Nava Palomares
Caylynn Josie Parker
Raelyn Marie Prosser
Jordan William Pruitt
Avery Elizabeth Remole
Matias Alberto Rios Toro
Camdon Levi Schmid
Layla Marie Scott
Drake Alan Siuts
Colby Aaron Weaver
Lucy Jeane Weaver
William Ross Wetherell
Kadence Ryleigh Wiese
Alexis LeAnn Wolken
Alivia RaeLyn Wolken
Brendan Kurtis Zerrusen

8th Grade High Honor Roll

Kelsey Marie Adcock
Kenny Wayne Adcock
Lilly Annabelle Bailes
Brooklyn Blair Bates
Ty Craig Benedict
Ethan Earl Bent
Elizabeth Joanne Berkey
Katherine Elaine Berkey
Konnor Lewis Bletscher
Sylvia Lola Cahill
Kale Boden Cowan
Trevor Daniel Coy
Alec Joseph Daly
McKenzie Lynn Deakin
Emma Nicole Denney
Giulietta DiBello
Steven Gambill
Amelia Marie Good
Hayden Bradley Grussing
Aubrie Paige Gumm
Jordan Elizabeth Hamilton
Kynedy Ashlynn Hoel
Alivia Krall
Cora Dee Leonard
Adeline Marie Marinelli
Lilly Madelyn Meharry
Tatum Faith Meharry
Baeden Edward Millsap-Moore
Lillian Calen Mohr
Holden William ONeill
Marley Rae Parks
Carolina Maria Pagaduan Popovics
Luc Sandor Marcelo Popovics
Makaylin Pugh
Maya Alexis Rawdin
Bella Rose Robbins
Skylar Grace Savona
Sophia Isabella Schuckman
Jaylan Serczyk
Austin David Shafer
Vivian Rosalie Shunk
Dylan Robert Stierwalt
Jack Christopher Terven
Nicholas James Thomas
Hayley Olivia Thompson
Cassandra Pearl Thweatt
Quentin Stephen Webber

Bryson Matthew Williams
Lucas Neal Williams
Olivia Lynn Wilson
Ethan Matthew Wishall
Ashton Jace Wolf
Adam Scott Wolken

Area football players to play in all-star football game June 21

Record-setting Taylor, power back Boyd-Meents headline Shrine Game rosters.

ST. JOSEPH - Two of central Illinois’ top high school football talents and other members from the Illini Prairie Conference will join an elite group of players from across the state for one final game in their prep careers.

Coy Taylor of St. Joseph-Ogden and Robert Boyd-Meents of Paxton-Buckley-Loda will take the field June 21 at Tucci Stadium in Bloomington for the 51st Annual Illinois High School Shrine Game. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m., with pregame ceremonies beginning at 10 a.m. Tickets are $10 and available at the gate.

Illinois' leading high school receiver Coy Taylor runs the ball

Robert Boyd-Meents picks up yards against the Spartans

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

RIGHT: Coy Taylor looks for running room on punt return for SJO during their home game against Paxton-Buckley-Loda. Taylor made five catches for 72 yards and rushed for 102 more on Senior Night. LEFT: PBL's Robert Boyd-Meents runs the ball against the Spartans on the same night. Boyd-Meents averaged 5.1 yards per carry and finished the game with 70 all-purpose yards against a stout Spartan defense.

This all-star event, sponsored by the Illinois Coaches Association and the Shriners of Illinois, benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children, with all proceeds supporting pediatric specialty care. Last year’s game raised nearly $13,000 for the cause.

Taylor, who will continue his football career at DuPage College, leaves behind a record-setting legacy. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound receiver holds the IHSA all-time career receptions record with 259 catches, surpassing the previous mark held by Marist’s Nic Weishar. Taylor also ranks fourth in state history in career receiving yards with 3,658 and became only the second receiver in Illinois history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. His senior year included 83 catches for 1,045 yards, highlighted by a postseason performance in which he had seven receptions against Unity in his final game.

Boyd-Meents, meanwhile, anchored PBL’s offense for three seasons. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound running back amassed 4,020 total yards over 31 varsity games, averaging 129 yards per contest. In addition to his ground attack, he hauled in 39 receptions for 747 yards, helping the Panthers reach the playoffs each of the last three seasons.

The Blue Team will feature both Taylor and Boyd-Meents alongside Milford’s Caleb Clutteur, an 8-man football tight end. They’ll be guided by one of their own: St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Shawn Skinner, who joins the Blue Team coaching staff.

Skinner brings a resume full of recent success. He led the Spartans to a 10-1 finish in 2024, including a perfect 8-0 record in Illini Prairie Conference play. Over the past three seasons, Skinner’s teams have gone 25-5 and made deep playoff runs, including a narrow second-round postseason loss last fall to Roxana. In an interesting twist, Skinner will coach alongside Roxana head coach Wade Devries, whose team ended SJO’s 2023 season with a last-minute defensive stand on a 2-point conversion attempt.

The Red Team will also include a solid contingent of area athletes:

George Rouse, QB, Champaign Central
Carter Foran, WR, Monticello
Mason High, NT, Monticello
Evan Parish, ILB, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin
Matt Suaava, OL (G), Paxton-Buckley-Loda
Ryker Grauer, ILB, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
Matt Allen, DE, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley

Monticello's Carter Foran takes a handoff from quarterback Ike Young (left) during their semifinal game against Unity. He will be joined at the All-Star game with teammate Mason High. The two seniors saw action in the Class 3A championship game against Montini after defeating the Rockets last November.

Now in its fifth decade, the Shrine Game continues to celebrate Illinois’ football tradition while raising awareness and support for young patients. This year’s banquet speaker will be Jared Williamson, newly appointed head coach at Illinois Wesleyan University, and a former Shrine Game MVP in his home state of Alaska.

Full rosters and game-day information are available online at IL HS Shrine Game.

Guest Commentary |
It was a terrible idea for Musk to become so heavily involved in government and politics

Is Musk too rich to go broke? Probably, but anyone can fail financially.

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

Elon Musk's wealth mainly comes from his ownership stakes in two companies: 1. Tesla – around 37% of his wealth is from Tesla stock, although it was as high as 75% in 2020. 2. SpaceX – valued contracts include a $20 billion deal with the United States federal government. He also earned money from selling PayPal to eBay for $1.5 billion in stock, receiving $175.8 million personally. His net worth is estimated to be around $424.7 billion but this varies from week to week depending on the stock market.

Other business ventures of Musk’s are Neuralink – brain machine interfaces and neurotechnology, The Boring Company - underground tunnels and infrastructure and

SolarCity which is solar energy, but was sold to Tesla in 2016. In 1995 Musk owned Zip2 which was an online content publishing company that was sold to Compaq. He also owns Starlink which is an internet constellation company.

No doubt Musk is a a true visionary, entrepreneur and one of the greatest geniuses of our era.

Musk is still a young man, born June 28, 1971. The world may be yet to see what he will achieve.

However, anyone can spread himself too thin. Obviously, he has a lot of great people working for him, but anyone can overdo their capabilities or overestimate themselves.

In my opinion, it was a terrible idea for Musk to become so heavily involved in government and politics. He makes billions from the government contracts with SpaceX. I think that is definitely a conflict of interest.

However, he is now out of his leadership role in Washington. After his temper tantrum last week and saying all kinds of dumb stuff about President Trump he probably won’t be returning to any leadership roles. He further over elevated himself and his role in Trump’s election.

This reminds us again of this truth: Intelligent geniuses can do and say stupid things. Throwing mud at President Trump on social media has made Musk look like a spoiled brat who has seemingly always gotten his way. Again, we are reminded, no one always gets his or her way in this life.

Is Musk too rich to go broke? Probably, but anyone can fail financially. Musk’s wealth is mostly tied up in stocks, making him “cash poor,” or having low liquidity. But with SpaceX capturing 70% of the global launch market, his financial downfall is unlikely. Unless, he continues to hurl ill-will at President Trump which could potentially cost Musk a lot.

The problem is that if the US cancelled its contracts with SpaceX, it could impact our manned missions to the International Space Station. New space projects like NASA’s Artemis moon program could be impacted. Dozens of NASA science programs would be affected plus the impact on national security as SpaceX provides critical space launch and communication services to the US military. These and other consequences could significantly affect the US space program and national security.

Trump, Musk and all the others on Capitol Hill need to work together for the common good of our nation. Musk has proven his genius and capabilities. However, his temper tantrum and verbiage last week make me wonder a bit as to just what he is really capable of doing in a moment of rage?

About the author ~

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

Commentary |
From Holocaust Remembrance to Gaza: Scholars raise genocide alarm

Dorothy Shea, acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN, vetoed a resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza despite unanimous support from other Security Council members. Critics, including international scholars and rights organizations, allege Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide, citing widespread destruction, displacement, and dehumanization of Palestinians.

by Terry Hansen
Guest Commentary

Dorothy Shea, the acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, recently vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza." This veto was issued despite the resolution’s description of the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "catastrophic," and in the face of unanimous support from the council's other 14 members.

Ironically, in a speech on Holocaust Remembrance day, Shea stated that "hatred, dehumanization and apathy can lead to genocide...Atrocities like the Holocaust don't just happen'; they're allowed to happen. It is up to us to stop them."

Yes, it is. In fact, the U.N. Genocide Convention, ratified by the United States in 1988, requires nations to prevent and punish genocide.

... over 55 scholars of the Holocaust, genocide and mass violence released a statement deploring the atrocities committed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as by Israeli forces,...

Notably, on October 13, 2023, less than one week after the start of Israel's intensive bombing campaign in Gaza, Israeli Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies Raz Segal wrote:

"Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza is quite explicit, open, and unashamed....Israel’s goal is to destroy the Palestinians of Gaza. And those of us watching around the world are derelict in our responsibility to prevent them from doing so."

And just a few days later, nearly 800 scholars and international lawyers working in the fields of conflict and genocide issued a public statement titled, "Scholars Warn of Potential Genocide in Gaza." They cite the dehumanization and mass displacement of Palestinians, statements by Israeli officials, as well as the high casualty rate and "obliteration" of neighborhoods and families.

Finally, on December 9, over 55 scholars of the Holocaust, genocide and mass violence released a statement deploring the atrocities committed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as by Israeli forces, and warning of the danger of genocide in Gaza. Particular concern is expressed regarding statements by Israeli leaders holding all Palestinians in Gaza responsible for October 7. These scholars assert:

"Casting an entire civilian population as enemies marks the history of modern genocide, with the Armenian genocide (1915-1918) and the Rwanda genocide (1994) as well-known examples."

Yet the U.S. has repeatedly dismissed evidence of genocide in Gaza. Despite these denials, allegations of genocide have intensified.

Human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch published reports accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, and these organizations are not alone in reaching this determination.

Amos Goldberg, a Holocaust and genocide researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has also concluded that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide. Goldberg asserts:

"What is happening in Gaza is genocide because the level and pace of indiscriminate killing, destruction, mass expulsions, displacement, famine, executions, the wiping out of cultural and religious institutions...and the sweeping dehumanization of the Palestinians — create an overall picture of genocide, of a deliberate conscious crushing of Palestinian existence in Gaza."

Goldberg explains that, historically, most perpetrators of genocide have claimed they were acting in self-defense.

Moreover, the U.S. must advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza, while ensuring that food, water and medicine can reach civilians without restriction.

Significantly, a Dutch investigation published in May in the newspaper NRC interviewed seven internationally known genocide and Holocaust scholars from six countries—including Israel. All found Israel’s actions in Gaza to be acts of genocide. The scholars interviewed include:

Martin Shaw, author of the book, "What is genocide?"
Melanie O'Brien, president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars
Dirk Moses, senior editor of the Journal of Genocide Research

The refusal of the U.S. to act, and its obstruction of efforts to prevent further atrocities, betrays the principle of “never again.” To fulfill its obligations under the Genocide Convention, the U.S. should acknowledge these findings and halt military aid to Israel that could be used to commit genocide.

Moreover, the U.S. must advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza, while ensuring that food, water and medicine can reach civilians without restriction. In addition, the U.S. should support international investigations, including the work of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

If not, history will judge this moment, and the record will be clear: the duty to prevent genocide was willfully ignored.

Terry Hansen is an opinion writer who has contributed multiple articles on Gaza, focusing on humanitarian issues, U.S. policy, and Israel’s actions in the region. He is Terry Hansen is a retired educator from Milwaukee.

Father McGivney win state semifinal baseball game over Pawnee in four innings

Omar Avalos celebrates his first-inning triple with a yell, standing on third — Father McGivney's Omar Avalos celebrates on third base after hitting a line drive to right field. The sophomore collected the team's first RBI, tying the score at 1-all. The Griffins went on to defeat the Indians in four innings 16-1, advancing to the Class 1A title game against Marquette High School. Avalos finished the game 3-for-4 with one run and 2 RBI.

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Left: Freshman Gavin Greer lays down a bunt to third base in the first inning. He scored the team's only run on a Coy Clarke hit to center field later in the frame. Middle: Kannon Kamp is welcomed to home plate after his grand slam shot over the right field wall with Evan Koontz, Ty Etcheson, and Reilly Sutberry. The four-run homer put the Griffins up 5-1 on the scoreboard. Right: Pawnee pitcher Riley McElroy, who took the loss for Pawnee, unloads a pitch in the bottom of the third inning. The senior gave up seven hits in semifinal loss.

See more photos from the game! View contact sheet

Tagged: High School Sports, Baseball, State Baseball, Pawnee Baseball, State Baseball Qualifiers, Father McGivney Baseball

How sweet it is! Cyclones win Class 2A state baseball title in heart-stopping thriller

Sacred Heart-Griffin's Tommy Lauterbach is rushed by teammates after securing their baseball title — **CHAMPAIGN** - The Sacred Heart-Griffin baseball team mug teammate Tommy Lauterbach after he drilled the game-winning RBI deep into left field during their Class 2A championship baseball game against Teutopolis. The Cyclones defeated the Wooden Shoes 5-4 to take home state title for the first time four decades thanks to Lauterbach walk-off heroics in the bottom of the seventh inning. It was SHG's third state baseball title since 1987.

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Left: Sacred Heart-Griffin's Andy Antonacci celebrates his home run at the plate with Mike Groesch and Drew Ward in the first inning. Middle: Tommy Lauterbach poses for a photo with the Cyclone's state trophy. Lauterbach hit the game-winning RBI to break a tie in the seventh inning. Right: Ty Springer celebrates with teammates after piling on Lauterbach. Want to see more Sentinel photos from this game? Let us know by email at sports@oursentinel.com.

Tagged: SHG State Baseball Champions, High School Sports, Baseball, State Baseball, SHG Baseball

Bill allows Illinois highway cameras to be used to investigate other crimes

by Jade Aubrey
Capitol News Illinois

Photo: Milan Malkomes/Unsplash

A bill passed by lawmakers would add to the crimes that highway camera images could be used to investigate.

SPRINGFIELD - A bill passed in this year’s legislative session would rewrite the definition of a “forcible felony” to allow Illinois State Police to use images obtained from automatic license plate readers in cases involving human trafficking and involuntary servitude.

Automatic license plate readers are cameras that capture images of vehicle license plates. After obtaining pictures captured by ALPRs, state police software runs the license plate numbers through other law enforcement databases – including the National Crime Information Center, the Department of Homeland Security, the Illinois Secretary of State and National Amber Alerts. The software then alerts ISP officials when a license plate number matches one in the databases.

Current law allows ISP to use the cameras for the investigation of cases involving vehicular hijacking, aggravated vehicular hijacking, terrorism, motor vehicle theft, or any forcible felony, which includes treason, first- and second-degree murder, sexual assault, robbery, burglary, arson, kidnapping, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm.

House Bill 3339, sponsored by Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, would add the offenses of human trafficking and involuntary servitude to the definition of forcible felony in that section of law.

“It’s very focused on specific types of crime,” ISP Director Brendan Kelly said in a committee hearing on the bill in March. “It’s not for speeding, it’s not for traffic enforcement, this is for serious offenses, and we use it in a limited and focused way and in a highly effective way.”

The bill is an initiative of ISP that acts as an expansion to the Tamara Clayton Expressway Camera Act passed in 2020, which granted ISP the funds to purchase and install automatic license plate readers along highways in Cook County. The act was in response to the expressway shooting of Tamara Clayton, a postal worker who was shot and killed on Interstate 57 on her way to work in 2019. ISP was ultimately unable to obtain any images of the shooting, and the investigation on her case is still ongoing.

Photo of traffic cameras at an intersection — One new update to the current statutes, the law bars images obtained through the ALPRs from being accessible through the Freedom of Information Act.

“This is not just an effective deterrent, it’s also an effective program, in terms of our ability to solve cases,” Kelly said. “In 2023, for every expressway homicide that occurred in Cook County, 100% of those homicide cases were charged. Not solved, not cleared, charged. And every single one of those cases included license plate reader evidence.”

“That type of solve rate is not something you see very often in any category of crime,” Kelly said. “But is a result of this very effective tool.”

After the passage of the Expressway Camera Act, ISP installed approximately 100 ALPRs along I-94 in 2021 and by the end of 2022, 289 ALPRs were installed in the Chicago area.

Lawmakers expanded the program in 2022. In 2023, ISP installed 139 additional ALPRs in Champaign, Cook, Morgan, and St. Clair counties, and in 2024, ALPRs were installed in 19 counties and along with Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.

“Since it was put into place in 2021, we’ve seen a decrease in interstate shootings,” Jones said in the March committee hearing on the bill. “A 31% decrease from 2023 to 2024, a 53% decrease from 2022 to 2024, and an 71% decrease from the initial year that we did this.”

If signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker, the bill also would add cameras in Ogle, Lee and Whiteside counties to those regulated by the Expressway Camera Act. That means cameras in the counties would be subject to existing law’s prohibitions against using them to enforce petty offenses like speeding, and ISP would be allowed to run the licenses plate numbers captured by ALPRs through its software.

The measure also extended the expressway camera program for a second time, to 2028, after it was initially approved on a pilot basis.

Another aspect of the bill requires ISP to delete images obtained from the cameras from ISP databases within 120 days, with exceptions of images used for ongoing investigations or pending criminal trials. It also bars images obtained through the ALPRs from being accessible through the Freedom of Information Act, expanding on the existing expressway camera law.

A U.S. District Judge ruled against the claim, saying that license plate numbers are not private information, and as such, do not fall under the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizures.

“It’s also got protections so that someone can’t try to – if someone is in a divorce case and they want to know where their spouse has been all day, that information cannot be FOIA’d, it cannot be released to them, it cannot be subject to that type of activity either,” Kelly said about the bill. “It’s very limited and very focused.”

It also comes after a lawsuit from two Cook County residents in 2024 on the constitutionality of ALPRs. The residents alleged that the use of ALPRs to cross reference information stored in national databases amounted to a warrantless search of drivers.

On April 2, a U.S. District Judge ruled against the claim, saying that license plate numbers are not private information, and as such, do not fall under the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizures. HB3339 unanimously passed the House in April and passed the Senate on May 30 with only one no vote, by Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville.

The bill is a part of a broader ISP initiative to crack down on human trafficking, as outlined in Senate Bill 2323, which also awaits approval from the governor before becoming law. That bill aims to better educate and coordinate officials across state agencies on how to identify and provide essential services to victims of human trafficking, with a specific focus on the Department of Children and Family Services.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Snoring Could Signal a Hidden Stroke Risk – Here’s Why

Some things to watch for that might prompt you to see a health care provider about sleep apnea.

Girlfriend tries to sleep while boyfriend snores

by Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

URBANA - Here’s another reason to pay attention when your partner complains that you’re snoring or gasping for air at night: sleep apnea – repeated episodes of stopped or slowed breathing during sleep – and stroke go together in more ways than you think.

Leslie Ingold, RN, MSN, a regional stroke navigator at OSF HealthCare, says sleep apnea decreases blood flow to the brain, which can cause a stroke. Conversely, she says people who have suffered a stroke can experience sleep apnea, typically in the first day or two.

Ingold also says people with obstructive sleep apnea (collapse of the upper airway) are twice as likely to have a hole in their heart known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). PFOs can increase your stroke risk.

“One of the tests we do when [stroke] patients come to the hospital is an echocardiogram of the heart. A PFO is what we’re looking for. It’s that hole in your heart that doesn’t close properly when you’re a child,” Ingold says. “It’s actually what they look for in sports physicals when kids are in school. Listening for that extra ‘lub-dub’ in the heartbeat. Sometimes it’s not caught. We’re finding people in their 60s and 70s that have the hole. We can go in and get that closed.”

What to watch for

Some things to watch for that might prompt you to see a health care provider about sleep apnea:

Snoring. Ingold says watch for loud snoring or a pattern of snoring when you didn’t used to.
“When you can hear it through the wall,” she quips.
Waking up and gasping for air
Morning headaches
Excessive sleepiness, difficulty concentrating and irritability throughout the day. For kids, watch for hyperactivity.
Increased blood pressure

For stroke signs, experts want you to remember the acronym BEFAST. If there are irregularities in balance, eyes, face, arms or speech, it’s time to call 9-1-1.

Nighttime strokes

Ingold says one in four strokes happens in the early morning when you’re likely asleep. Those so-called “wake up strokes” can make things tricky.

Medicine like tenecteplase (TNK) must be given at the hospital within 4.5 hours of the onset of symptoms. If you suffer a stroke while you’re sleeping, there’s not a good way to know when symptoms started. So, health care providers must go by the last time you were well, which would be when you went to sleep.

“There are some other things that can be done,” Ingold says, if TNK is not an option. “If there’s a clot, we can take care of those up to 24 hours [since symptom onset.] We can see if there are early signs of brain damage and get you on the road to those kinds of procedures if you qualify.”

But a big takeaway message: if you have stroke symptoms like a severe or unexpected headache, don’t sleep it off. See a health care provider. Sleep

Healthy sleep

You may need treatment like a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP) for sleep apnea. But healthy sleep habits will go a long way, too. Ingold says you can try a four-week plan.

Week one: Commit to physical activity, especially if you work at a desk all day. Get up and take a short walk.
“Do some things that will make you ready for bed,” Ingold says.
Week two: Phone tactics. Move it away from your bed to charge overnight. Use an old-fashioned alarm clock instead of your phone’s alarm. Turn your phone over. All of these make you less tempted to look at the device and take in blue light that inhibits sleep.
Week three: Create a morning routine.
“It doesn’t have to be anything fancy,” Ingold says. “Your alarm goes off. You walk over to check the phone you’ve placed on the other side of the room. Maybe grab a cup of coffee and give yourself five to 10 minutes. Read a devotion. Do some meditation.”
Week four: Not just the phone. Ditch all devices as bedtime approaches. Read a book or listen to a podcast instead of clearing the Netflix queue.

Other tips for healthy sleep:

Avoid long naps during the day. If you must nap, experts say to keep it under three hours.

Make your home’s lighting natural: bright during the day, darker as night approaches and dark at night.

Avoid large meals, caffeine and alcohol before bed.

If you are a light sleeper, things like earplugs and an artificial noise machine can help.

State Rep to hold satellite office hours for St. Joseph, stops in Vermilion County also set

Satellite Office Hours Set for St. Joseph, Homer, Fairmount & Georgetown

ST. JOSEPH - State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) is ready to hear from his constituents. Earlier this week, Niemerg announced "Satellite Office Hours" for St. Joseph, Homer, Fairmount and Georgetown on Tuesday, June 10.

This popular program provides opportunities for constituents to meet with legislative staff to receive help and discuss state issues and concerns.

Niemerg, who champions homeschool freedom, protecting the Second Amendment and retaining the state’s original flag, will spend an hour at the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library.

“My satellite office hours provide convenient locations for constituents to get help closer to their home without having to travel to my district office,” said Niemerg. “My legislative staff will be on hand to meet with constituents to help with state programs and concerns.”

Residents are encouraged to schedule an appointment but can stop by if they have a last-minute issue or concern. Constituents may contact Niemerg’s office at (217) 712-2126 or visit RepNiemerg.com.

Mobile satellite office hours

9:30 to 10:30 AM
St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library
201 N. Third Street, St. Joseph

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Homer Village Hall
500 E. Second Street, Homer

12:30 to 1:30 PM
Fairmount Fire Station
403 S. High Street, Fairmount

2:30 to 3:30 PM
Georgetown Senior Center
102 W. West Street, Georgetown

OSF to merge Urbana, Danville hospitals in overhaul for 2026

URBANA - OSF HealthCare announced a major transformation in its east central Illinois operations Tuesday, revealing plans to merge two regional hospitals into a single entity with dual campuses.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026—pending state approval—OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana and OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville will unite under a new model aimed at streamlining services and expanding behavioral health care. The Urbana campus will take the lead in delivering inpatient behavioral health services, while continuing to offer emergency care, inpatient beds, diagnostics, lab work, and additional clinic services.

Photo provided

The decision comes after months of analysis and community feedback, as OSF leadership worked to identify solutions to long-standing challenges such as provider shortages, declining inpatient use, and financial strain. Officials say aligning operations between the two hospitals will eliminate service duplication and make better use of existing resources.

“This change allows us to address critical gaps in care and build a stronger, more sustainable health care system for the region,” OSF said in a public statement.

The transition is expected to bring expanded mental health offerings to Urbana, including programs for young adults, patients with co-occurring medical and psychiatric needs, and seniors requiring geriatric psychiatric care—services the organization says have been in short supply locally.

OSF acquired both hospitals in 2018 and has since invested heavily in infrastructure and community-based services. However, hospital leaders acknowledged that staffing losses and reduced inpatient demand required a rethinking of their care delivery model.

Staff affected by the transition will receive individual support, with OSF pledging to help Mission Partners—its term for employees—explore more than 170 open positions locally, in addition to opportunities throughout its broader network.

OSF emphasized that continuity of patient care remains a top priority throughout the merger process. Patients and care teams will be guided through any transitions, ensuring communication and support at every stage.

The planned merger awaits approval by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board later this year.

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Microplastics: Why you should worry about in our food supply?

Dr. Ovadia says microplastics may have negative effects on testosterone in men and estrogen and progesterone in women. This could mean reduced muscle mass and libido for men.

A turtle sits on a pile of trash on the beach — A turtle makes his way over a mound of decaying plastic bottles on a beach. The byproduct from the decay are called microplastics or nanoplastics, which are incredibly small pieces of plastic that can get into our body. Scientists don’t fully understand microplastics’ impact on the human body. A lot of research is needed to determine the negative impact on our health.

by Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

URBANA - From news reports to social media blurbs to medical studies, they’ve been in the public eye a lot lately. And experts say that likely won’t change.

We’re talking about microplastics or nanoplastics, incredibly small pieces of plastic that can get into our body.

OSF Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Philip Ovadia

Photo provided

Philip Ovadia, MD

So, how concerned should we be? Philip Ovadia, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at OSF HealthCare, says this issue will continue to be studied for years. But there are things you can do now to optimize your health and reduce your risk of problems.

“We’re increasing our understanding of the toxins in our environment. Our environment has become more toxic, and that’s a challenge to our health,” Dr. Ovadia says. “The best thing for people to do is to control what you can control. What are you eating? What are you using on your body? What is your lifestyle like? How active are you?”

Where do microplastics come from? What harm can they do?

Dr. Ovadia says microplastics can be purposefully manufactured as part of a product. Toothpaste and skin exfoliants are examples. Or, microplastics can occur when larger plastic products, like water bottles, break down. The microplastics can then get into our environment, such as ocean water or our foods and drinks.

“There’s even some evidence that these things can spread in the air, and we can breathe them in,” Dr. Ovadia adds.

Dr. Ovadia points to three areas where ingesting microplastics could be cause for concern.

Intestines: Dr. Ovadia says microplastics can irritate our intestines, leading to inflammation of tissue and a condition called leaky gut.
“That’s when we get a breakdown of the barrier that lines our intestines. That allows some things in our food that aren’t supposed to get across into our bloodstream to get into the bloodstream. Many of these things set off inflammation in the body,” Dr. Ovadia says.
Endocrine system: Dr. Ovadia says microplastics may have negative effects on testosterone in men and estrogen and progesterone in women. This could mean reduced muscle mass and libido for men. For women, it could mean changes in the menstrual cycle, an increased infertility risk and, for young women, earlier start of puberty.
Blood vessels: Dr. Ovadia points to a 2024 study where experts looked at plaque removed from the carotid artery (located in the neck) of study participants.
“For over half of the people, there was evidence of microplastics in those plaques. Furthermore for the people who had those microplastics, over the next three years they had a four-and-a-half times increased risk for a heart attack, a stroke or dying,” Dr. Ovadia says.
“It doesn’t prove that the plastics are causing the problems,” Dr. Ovadia adds. “But it’s certainly concerning data. And I, as a heart surgeon, start to worry. If we see these in plaques in arteries in the neck, are they also in the plaques in arteries of the heart patients I operate on?”

Warming up food in a microwave — Heating food in certain types of plastic containers can be harmful due to the leaching of chemicals into the food. Microwaving food in plastic, especially those not specifically labeled as microwave-safe, can cause chemicals from the plastic to transfer to the food

What should I do?

So, do we need to panic about microplastics? Should the health concerns be akin to smoking?

Not now, Dr. Ovadia says. He reiterates that studies on this topic are in the early stages, and experts don’t fully understand microplastics’ impact on our health.

“It’s an unknown risk at this point,” he says.

But, there are small, everyday steps you can take to reduce the risk of microplastics entering your body.

Drink from a glass or stainless steel bottle, not a plastic bottle.
Use a good water filtration system. That could be built into your home’s water supply, or you could purchase a filter to attach to your faucet or water bottle.
Make food choices that minimize your exposure to plastic wraps and containers. Think the to-go boxes you get at a restaurant. Instead, eat more fresh, non-packaged food. Find these in the outer aisles of the grocery store.
“Eat the things that grow in the ground, and eat the things that eat the things that grow in the ground,” Dr. Ovadia says with a smile. “That’s how I always explain it to people. Try eating more whole, real food. That will minimize your exposure to microplastics.”
Look into the cosmetics and toiletries you use. Dr. Ovadia admits the jargon on a label can be difficult to understand. Instead, research the brands themselves. If, for example, a toothpaste brand is pledging to reduce microplastics in their products, it’s a green flag.

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Guest Commentary |
Bitcoin King: From luxury townhome to jail

The bottom line: Be satisfied with what you have. Don’t covet what belongs to someone else.

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

Would a million dollars make you happy? Would you be satisfied knowing you could eat well and do whatever you wanted? A million dollars isn’t what it used to be, but it’s still a huge sum of money. You could earn about $40,000 a year in interest. But wait—what if you had $100 million? You would be one of the richest people in the world! Can your mind even comprehend having that much money? Would you be satisfied? What about $100 million in bitcoin?

Apparently, it wasn’t enough for John Woeltz of Paducah, Kentucky, known as the “Crypto King of Kentucky.” He wanted \$30 million more in bitcoin—even if it meant stealing it from an acquaintance.

Woeltz and his business partner, William Duplessie, are accused of holding a man from Italy hostage for 17 days. They are alleged to have beaten him, cut him with a chainsaw, dangled him over a staircase, and kept him bound, among other torturous acts.

The victim reportedly owns $30 million in bitcoin, while Woeltz is said to control over $100 million in the cryptocurrency.

According to reports, Woeltz and Duplessie lured the Italian man to the U.S. under the pretense of a bitcoin trading deal, which turned out to be a setup for an attempted robbery. The pair wanted access to the man’s bitcoin password.

Eventually, the man reportedly gave Woeltz the password. When Woeltz left briefly to retrieve his laptop, the victim seized the opportunity and bolted out the door, seeking help from a New York City traffic officer walking down the street.

Woeltz and Duplessie now face the possibility of spending years in prison, paying millions in legal fees, and being sued by the victim—who could ultimately gain a significant portion of their wealth.

The bottom line: Be satisfied with what you have. Don’t covet what belongs to someone else. Trying to obtain another person’s money or property through illegal or immoral means only leads to painful consequences.

Evil never stops at level one or two—it always pushes further into debasement and depravity. A person who starts out stealing pennies may eventually steal dollars, doing whatever it takes to satisfy their growing thirst for more.

Many serial killers began with what seemed like minor crimes, but their actions escalated into hurting people, eventually developing into a thirst for murder.

Sow a thought, reap an act. Sow an act, reap a lifestyle. Sow a lifestyle, reap a destiny.

News sources report that Woeltz owns a jet and a helicopter. He was renting a six-floor luxury townhome in New York City for $30,000 a month—the site of the alleged kidnapping. Today, he and Duplessie sit in a New York City jail.

About the author ~

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Updated: Urbana to host two 'NO KINGS' protests on June 14

Urbana will host a "NO KINGS" on June 14, part of a national day of protest against authoritarianism. Organizers say the protests aim to defend democratic values on Flag Day.

Editor's Note: We just learned there will be only one rally on June 14 in Urbana, starting at 4pm. Originally, this story, as left intact below, noted there would be two separate protests.

URBANA - Two “NO KINGS” rallies are planned in Urbana on June 14, Flag Day, as part of a nationwide protest timed to coincide with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.

Photo: Vivien/Pixabay

The first rally will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Meadowbrook Park, 2808 S. Race St., and is one of more than a dozen events scheduled in downstate Illinois to denounce what organizers describe as a growing threat of authoritarianism in American politics.

“In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings,” reads the event description. “NO KINGS is a national day of action in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies.”

The day of action continues from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana. That protest is organized by Champaign County Indivisible, 50501 Illinois, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation - Central Illinois. Organizers are encouraging participants to bring signs, water, and a shared commitment to democratic values.

“Bring a desire to maintain our democracy,” reads the event post. “We already fought one war to oust a king. The United States does NOT HAVE A KING!!”

After the courthouse protest, a free community dinner will be served at 6 p.m. at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center in Lincoln Square Mall, sponsored by the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

June 14 holds multiple historical ties. It is officially recognized as Flag Day in the United States, commemorating the adoption of the national flag in 1777. The date also marks the death of Revolutionary War traitor Benedict Arnold, 224 years ago. Despite President Trump’s participation in Army birthday celebrations in Washington, which will include a parade and fireworks, the Army told Reuters it has no official plans to recognize the president’s birthday during the observance.

Organizers of the NO KINGS events say they are responding to what they view as attacks on free speech, judicial independence, and democratic institutions. The coordinated rallies seek to affirm public opposition to executive overreach and political repression.

Here is a list of additional NO KINGS protest in downstate:

NO KINGS Quad Cities IL/IA
Schwiebert Riverfront Park, 101 17th St, Rock Island, IL
June 14, 1 PM - 3 PM CDT
Hosted by Indivisible QC https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/790829/

NO KINGS Macomb, Illinois
Macomb, IL
June 14
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/786088/

NO KINGS Ottawa, IL
Ottawa, IL
June 14
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/790175/

NO KINGS Yorkville
North Bridge Street N Bridge St, Yorkville, IL
June 14 11AM – 3PM
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/792577/

NO KINGS Springfield, IL
401 S 2nd St, Springfield, IL
June 14 11AM – 3PM
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/792965/

NO KINGS Bloomington, IL
600 N East St, Bloomington, IL
June 14 12PM – 1PM
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/793601/

NO KINGS Ogle County
Ogle County Circuit Clerk, 106 S 5th St, Oregon, IL
June 14, 3 PM - 5 PM CDT
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/791484/

NO KINGS MASS PROTEST: ST LOUIS MARCH for DEMOCRACY
Kiener Plaza, Downtown St. Louis, MO
June 14, 2 PM - 5 PM CDT
Hosted by 50501 and Show Me Action https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/793460/

NO KINGS - South County St. Louis
Intersection of S. Lindbergh and Baptist Church, 5330 S Lindbergh Blvd, Sappington, MO
June 14, 11 AM - 1 PM CDT
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/784867/

NO KINGS : Southern Illinois
Carbondale Civic Center, 200 N Illinois Ave, Carbondale, IL
June 14, 1 PM - 3 PM CDT
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/787389/

NO KINGS Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, MO
June 14
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/786583/

NO KINGS Macoupin County Courthouse - Carlinville, IL
Macoupin County Courthouse, 201 E Main St, Carlinville, IL 62626
June 14 2PM – 4PM
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/793360/

NO KINGS Belleville, IL
Downtown Belleville around the Square Fountain, 10 Public Square,
Belleville, IL 62220
June 14 2PM – 4PM
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/789609/

Alton People's United Lovejoy Monument, 1205 E 5th St, Alton, IL 62002
June 14 10AM – 12PM
Volunteer organized https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/791555/

U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Illinois congressman’s appeal of mail-in voting

Lower courts ruled downstate Republican representative Bost lacked standing to sue. It’s not clear when the nation’s high court will hear Bost’s case. The court is scheduled to begin hearing oral arguments in October.

by Ben Szalinski
Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear an appeal on a lawsuit led by Illinois Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost challenging Illinois’ mail-in voting law.

Bost and a pair of Illinois primary delegates for President Donald Trump sued the Illinois State Board of Elections in 2022, arguing that the state’s law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted after Election Day violates the federal law establishing an “Election Day.” Both a lower federal trial court and federal appeals court have ruled Bost lacked standing to sue.

The Supreme Court said its ruling will focus on whether Bost, of Murphysboro, in his role as a political candidate has legal grounds to sue over a state’s election law, rather than if Illinois’ mail-in voting law is legal, because the appeal challenges lower court rulings that Bost did not legal grounds to sue.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost at a photo gaggle in 2024 — U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a Murphysboro Republican, speaks to reporters in Milwaukee following an event with Illinois Republicans during the Republican National Convention in July 2024.

A favorable ruling for Bost by the Supreme Court could force lower courts to issue a ruling about Illinois’ law.

“With the American people’s confidence in our elections at a discouraging low point, it’s more important than ever we work to restore their trust,” Bost said in a statement. “I believe a big part of that effort is ensuring all votes are tallied by Election Day, not days or weeks later. I am thankful the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear my appeal of Illinois’ election law.”

Judicial Watch argues costs for campaigns to monitor ballot counting beyond Election Day constitute harm to candidates for public office that must be addressed by the court.

It’s not clear when the nation’s high court will hear Bost’s case. The court is scheduled to begin hearing oral arguments in October.

Under Illinois law, ballots postmarked by Election Day can be counted as late as 14 days after the election as they arrive at local election offices. Bost’s case argues this violates the federal law establishing Election Day by allowing votes to arrive and be counted for two weeks after the polls close.

After the unfavorable lower court rulings, Judicial Watch kept the fight going to the U.S. Supreme Court after appealing in November. The conservative legal group cited conflicting rulings on mail-in voting in other states and said Bost’s case is “an ideal vehicle” for the nation’s high court to decide whether ballots can be counted after Election Day.

The filing cited numerous cases from 2020 challenging election laws and outcomes, some of which Judicial Watch was a part of, in efforts to block the counting of mail-in ballots.

“It is an injustice that the courts would deny a federal candidate the ability to challenge an election provision that could lead to illegal votes being cast and counted for two weeks after Election Day,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement.

Judicial Watch argues costs for campaigns to monitor ballot counting beyond Election Day constitute harm to candidates for public office that must be addressed by the court. But the Illinois State Board of Elections via the attorney general’s office argued Judicial Watch fails to show Bost negatively suffered because of Illinois’ law, and Bost’s case would not be the right case for the court to use to review mail-in voting laws.

Winning elections has not been a problem for Bost.

“Petitioners have never advanced any allegations that Illinois’s ballot receipt deadline might materially impact their likelihood of prevailing in any election,” the board argued.

In a response filing to the board’s request for the court to dismiss the case, Judicial Watch argued the Board of Elections has warned ahead of elections that apparent leads in vote totals can change as late-arriving ballots are counted, meaning election results can change negatively for Bost.

But the State Board of Elections argued Illinois’ mail-in voting law doesn’t directly regulate candidates.

“Illinois’s ballot receipt deadline does not regulate petitioners directly as political candidates; it simply recognizes the reality that ballots cast by mail may be delayed,” the board argued.

Winning elections has not been a problem for Bost. He has represented the 12th Congressional District in southern Illinois since 2015 and was reelected in 2024 with nearly 75% of the vote. His district did change slightly in redistricting after the 2020 census.

Judicial Watch said it worried “illegal votes could diminish his margin of victory” and make it appear that he is growing more unpopular with his constituents. The organization also argued Bost filed this case to preemptively correct perceived issues with the vote by mail law.

Republicans in Illinois and at the national level embraced mail-in voting in the 2024 election cycle after pushing back against it in recent years. The Illinois Republican Party joined the Republican National Committee’s “bank your vote” initiative, which encouraged reliable Republican voters to vote early or by mail so campaign resources could be focused on turning out people who were on the fence about voting or who were undecided.

Capitol News Illinois,Federal Supreme Court,Supreme Court,Elections,General Election,Voting Laws,Mail-In Voting

Book Review |
Sky High: A Soaring History of Aviation

This large, beautifully illustrated book invites children (and their parents) to discover how humans dreamed, designed, and finally took to the skies. It includes a thoughtful mix of facts, cartoons, and imaginative scenes from aviation history. Moms will appreciate the educational content, while kids will love the pictures and fun facts.

by Esther Aardsma

Humans have dreamed of flying since the beginning of time. Now that transcontinental air travel is common, flight is often taken for granted. Sky High: A Soaring History of Aviation by Jacek Ambrożewski traces the grand story of humanity's pursuit of flight, beginning with ancient legends passed down through cultures and ending with the historic journey of the solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 in 2015–2016. Originally published in Poland in 2022 in Ambrożewski’s native Polish, Sky High was released in the U.S. in 2023 following a translation by Zosia Krasodomska-Jones.

Sky High is a large-format book, approximately fourteen by twenty inches, containing 106 thick, durable pages. Although packed with facts that could easily overwhelm, the book remains engaging through whimsical cartoons and simple diagrams presented in soft, basic color palettes. Ambrożewski’s illustrations strike a balance between informative detail and playful levity—even when exploring topics like warplanes and military technology.

Ambrożewski briefly covers evolution, dinosaurs, and “millions of years.” He also explores various cultural myths and legends about flight, including Camazotz, the Mayan bat god of the underworld; Bladud, a king who allegedly leapt from a tower wearing wings; witches’ broomsticks and magic carpets; and Sumerian King Etana, who is said to have ridden an eagle to gather herbs from the gods.

A few illustrations show a man with his arm around a woman. One section depicts a muscular man working while wearing only shorts. Another frame shows a pilot using a specially designed toilet seat, with a newspaper concealing all but his hairy knees. A separate passage explains how modern flight suits include sponge systems for pilots needing to relieve themselves mid-flight.

Dogfights are mentioned throughout, and the illustrations show smoking planes spiraling to the ground, though they are bloodless and do not show close-ups of pilots. The Hindenburg disaster is briefly addressed, noting that “many people died and the disaster meant the end of the line for giant airships.” The accompanying cartoon shows the burning dirigible in the background behind a distressed man.

Two pages focus on the devastation caused by bombs dropped from planes, especially during World War II. One panel shows an atomic bomb explosion; others depict sorrowful figures amid ruined, smoldering cities. “While the history of aviation has led to an incredible amount of progress,” Ambrożewski writes, “it’s important to remember that it also has a dark side.” This wartime content, however, is a small portion of the overall book, which continues with captivating stories of technological breakthroughs in cargo planes, passenger jets, paragliders, helicopters, ultralight airplanes, and more.

This is a book to get pleasantly lost in for hours. Any child—and many adults—interested in air travel will enjoy Sky High. There is plenty to read for older kids and grown-ups, and pre-readers will find the illustrations fun and engaging. Even readers who aren’t plane enthusiasts may find their imaginations taking flight.

Esther Aardsma, a Champaign County native, currently resides in Thomasboro with her busy family. When she can, she pursues her passion for creativity, especially with words--and shares that love through editing, coaching one-on-one, and teaching classes.

Tagged: children's illustrated aviation history book, Jacek Ambrożewski Sky High review, flight myths and legends for kids, aviation books for curious young readers, translated Polish children's books 2023, books for kids who love airplanes and history

Amid uncertainty in Washington, Illinois lawmakers pass slimmed-down Medicaid package

Lawmakers in Springfield passed a slimmed-down Medicaid omnibus bill this year as state budget constraints and federal funding uncertainties loomed large.

by Peter Hancock
Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state’s Medicaid program, the joint federal and state health care program that covers low-income individuals.

Known as the Medicaid omnibus bill, it sometimes includes bold components, like a 2021 initiative that made millions of dollars available to local communities to help them plan and design their own health care delivery systems. Other packages have focused on smaller changes like guaranteeing coverage for specific conditions and medications or adjusting reimbursement rates for different categories of health care providers.

Illinois state news

And most years, the packages receive bipartisan support because they are negotiated, largely behind closed doors, by an unofficial, bipartisan Medicaid Working Group.

This year, however, lawmakers passed one of the narrowest packages in recent memory, due mainly to the Trump administration’s vows to make sweeping cuts in federal funding for the program while state lawmakers faced their own set of budget constraints.

“There were many, many, very worthy program expansions, rate increases that we considered during this process that we were unable to include because of the uncertainty in Washington,” Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, the current chair of the Medicaid Working Group, said on the House floor Saturday.

The Illinois Medicaid program currently costs about $33.7 billion a year, according to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Of that, $20.9 billion, or about 62%, comes from the federal government while much of the state’s share comes from taxes levied on hospitals, nursing homes and managed care organizations – money the state uses to draw down federal matching funds.

The program covers nearly 3.5 million people in Illinois, or about a quarter of the state’s population. According to the nonpartisan health policy think tank KFF, the program pays for 40% of all child births in Illinois while covering 69% of all nursing home residents.

This year’s Medicaid omnibus bill, a 231-page amendment inserted into Senate Bill 2437, contains items that could be hugely beneficial to many Medicaid enrollees, but which don’t carry large price tags. In fact, the entire package is estimated to cost just under $1 million.

One of this year’s additions would make it easier for family members of medically fragile children who qualify for in-home nursing care to receive training to become certified family health aides, a designation that would enable them to administer medications, help with feeding and perform many of the same tasks as a certified nursing assistant.

Another provision would require all hospitals with licensed obstetric beds and birthing centers to adopt written policies that permit patients to have an Illinois Medicaid certified doula of their choosing to accompany them and provide support before, during and after labor and delivery.

Although those provisions enjoyed bipartisan support, another provision that extends coverage to certain categories of noncitizens drew Republican opposition Saturday, resulting in a partisan roll call vote.

The program covers noncitizens who meet the income requirements for Medicaid and have pending applications for asylum in the United States or for special visas as victims of trafficking, torture or other serious crimes. Those individuals can receive coverage for up to 24 months, provided they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

Moeller said the language was not a new extension of health care benefits to noncitizens, but instead a “technical and administrative fix” to an existing program that had been requested by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

But for Republicans, the programs sounded too similar to the more controversial programs, Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors and Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults, that extend health care to a large category of people who are not U.S. citizens, including some who are in the country illegally.

“For us on this side of the aisle, that is the poison pill,” said Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, the deputy House minority leader. “So in spite of the fact that we have article after article in here, that is very worthy of a yes vote, I would urge a no vote.”

At Gov. JB Pritzker’s request, the budget bill lawmakers passed Saturday night cancels the program for immigrant adults, which had covered about 31,000 noncitizens age 42-64. But it provides $110 million over the next year, all in state funds, for the immigrant seniors program, which covers about 8,900 noncitizens age 65 and over.

The Medicaid bill passed the House late Saturday night, 76-39. It then passed the Senate shortly after midnight, 36-19.

It next goes to Pritzker’s desk for his consideration.