With thousands of COVID-19 deaths linked to Illinois nursing homes, two top regulators are now gone from a state agency criticized at times for its oversight of the facilities during the pandemic.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

On the same day Illinois reported a record number of coronavirus tests and new cases, Gov. J.B. Pritzker urged state lawmakers to “act expeditiously” on a relief package for families, small businesses and communities across the state, but stopped short of using his power to call them back to Springfield for a special session.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

SPRINGFIELD — Republican members of the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday criticized Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s multi-phase plan to reopen Illinois by region, saying it does not act quickly enough to respond to the economic hardship caused by his stay-at-home order.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Illinoisans finally have a plan for what “getting back to normal” might look like — and how long it will take. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase plan allows for a gradual reopening of businesses, gatherings, events and more — with a strategy that divides the state into regions and takes a careful look at the spread of COVID-19.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday that he wants to work with lawmakers in the General Assembly, but lawmakers have not yet returned to Springfield since March.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Rend Lake – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake is announcing that the Rend Lake Dam/Spillway Bridge will be closed to all through traffic from 7:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13.

In the event of inclement weather the inspection will be moved to May 14. Watch for closure signs at Sugar Creek parking lot and the west entrance to the Rend Lake dam. This closure is necessary for engineers to perform a periodic inspection on the Rend Lake main dam/spillway bridge. Periodic inspections are conducted every two years on all bridges at Rend Lake which are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

For further information feel free to contact the Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center at 618-724-2493.

Join RLC in supporting virtual AHA Heart Walk

INA, Ill. — The annual South Central Illinois Heart Walk is going virtual this year and Team RLC is looking for your support.

Due to ongoing health concerns due to COVID-19, the event organizers changed the annual American Heart Association event to a virtual walk. This means walkers can participate from anywhere they want. All you have to do is walk two miles at any location on April 25 while sharing a photo on social media before and after you walk with the hashtag #VirtualSouthCentralHW.

Join the Rend Lake College team in working to cure heart disease and stroke. Supporters are invited to put on their RLC gear and share photos and videos on social media. To contribute to RLC team members, visit https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/?team_id=566410&pg=team&fr_id=4911. So far, Beth Mandrell, Emily DeForest, Jaron Hubbard and Jo Dick are on the roster.

By participating, you are helping raise funds for lifesaving science and research along with Heart Walk events across the nation. The South Central Illinois Heart Walk is about halfway to its fundraising goal of $70,000. Those looking to participate in the walk can start at any time and any place on April 25. For more information contact (217) 331-6779 or visit https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=4911&pg=entry.

INA, Ill. — There is still time to sign up for eight-week courses at Rend Lake College this spring.

A variety of short-term classes will be offered in the coming weeks through the college and its Community and Corporate Education Division.

RLC is offering three general education courses in an accelerated format including Beginning Microsoft Word, Health Education and Human Relations. All three classes begin April 20. Through Community and Corporate Education, RLC is offering personal and professional development courses including Career Exploration in Health Care, Nursing Aide Skills, Delegation Made Easy, Numbers! Data! Charts, Oh My! and Servant Leadership.

To learn more about the eight-week classes offered this spring at RLC, visit rlc.edu/8week. Virtual advisement and online enrollment are also available for students looking to sign up for classes this semester or for the upcoming summer or fall semesters. To learn more, visit rlc.edu.

A county-by-county look at lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Southern Illinois, updated daily. Last updated: 11:29 a.m. Monday, April 13.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

The Jackson County Health Department announced Monday a fourth resident has died due to COVID-19.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.