Dr Robert Ayers, Occupational Health Physician with OSF Healthcare is overseeing the Vaccine Distribution for the Upper Western Region of Illinois. Dr Ayers joined our Tuned In program to discuss where we stand on vaccine distribution, what is happening with growing variants of the virus and what insights he has into how the distribution is going, the partnership between OSF and local health departments and any concerns he has regarding the variants of the COVID-19 virus.

Illinois State Representative Tony McCombie by Regional Media

Director Ondi Timoner is hoping to change the way we view the opioid crisis with her new documentary Coming Clean. Coming Clean starts at the roots of addiction and flowers out to show us that people do recover from addiction and that the opioid crisis is far from over despite it falling from the headlines as COVID-19 flooded media coverage. The opioid crisis is in many ways a manufactured crisis, one fostered by pharmaceutical companies who benefitted from the tragedy of people becoming addicted to pain medication. The other profiteers were prisons and the prison industrial complex who rallies against efforts to reform the way our system handles drug arrests. Ondi Timoner was our guest on WKEI's Noon Hour on Friday.

The Henry County Board met for their monthly meeting via the Zoom app on Thursday night and their was a lot to talk about. In a lengthy meeting, Sheriff Kerry Loncka and State's Attorney Cathy Runty spoke out against the new Police Reform Bill currently on the desk of Governor J.B Pritzker. The board is sending a letter to the Governor asking him not to sign the bill. The Board also discussed improvements at the Henry County Courthouse, including a new HVAC system. Henry County Administrator Erin Knackstedt joined Board Chairwoman Kippy Breeden on Tuned In with details on the needed improvements at the Henry County Courthouse.

Looking Ahead at The YWCA by Regional Media

The numbers are trending in a good direction when it comes to COVID-19 in Henry and Stark County. RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Department tells WKEI that the latest Recovery Rate Data and Rolling Test Positivity Rate are the lowest they have been in months and that we need to keep this positive trend going. That means continuing mitigation efforts, keep wearing your mask, washing your hands, keeping your distance, covering your cough and avoiding large indoor gatherings. The vaccine clinics are coming soon, especially for those 65 and older. By next week we could have a schedule for those 65 and older to get the vaccine. Be patient, everyone who wants the vaccine will be able to get it but organization takes time and the vaccine needs to get delivered.

On the newest edition of Kewanee Back When Dave Clark and Sean Kernan welcome Larry Lock from the Kewanee Historical Society to discuss the history of Walworths in Kewanee. The next Kewanee Walldogs Mural will be dedicated to Walworths and Larry Lock joined us to talk about why. If you'd like to donate to help bring the Walworths mural to life you can drop off donations at Reiman's Harley Davidson. Make your check out to the Kewanee Arts Council and on the memo line write Kewanee Mural.

Dr Chris Sullens was our guest on Tuned on Wednesday following up on Tuesday's Kewanee School Board Meeting. At that meeting much discussion surrounded High School Sports and what the rules for Sports will be with Region 2 now back to Tier 1 Mitigation? Does that mean practices and games can begin? Which sports are allowed to be played and what may a schedule for Sports look like. Then, talked turned to the COVID-19 vaccine which will be distributed to teachers and support staff at Kewanee Schools on Monday, January 25th.

Church Women United Sterling-Rock Falls by Regional Media

No, kids in Wethersfield Schools are not being vaccinated this week. This clarification from the Henry and Stark County Health Department after a local newspaper wrongly claimed in a headline that kids were receiving the COVID-19 vaccine this week. Currently, there is no vaccine made for children who need a different vaccine than adults. RaeAnn Tucker clarified that Tier 1B vaccinations for front line workers and first responders are being completed this week and that those over the age of 65 will soon begin to be contacted to register to receive the vaccine soon.