The National Covid Center opened at Cass and Eastern Ave. a week ago to provide urgent COVID lab services to the community. The Addison, Il based company has 1 site in Joliet and is affiliated with the Illinois Department of Health, according to Mr. Taki a senior executive for the center. They are CLIA certified and follow the CDC COVID-19 recommendations to provide a safe environment for all patients who wish to get tested. This information was posted on their website. Taki said, “the center is not a pop-up site,” and that they set-up sites in communities that don’t have access to testing.
website
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Homeowners push ahead in fight against truck stop
A plan to bring a largescale truck stop to the southwest corner of Interstate I-80 and Briggs Street in Joliet remains tied up in court despite it being previously approved in 2018 by the City Council – albeit by a somewhat slim majority vote at the time. A Will County Circuit Court Judge has yet to rule on the injunction filed against Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores on behalf of the Neighbors Opposed to Annexation of Parcels (N.O.A.P.) group in 2018. A hearing on the case is scheduled for January 19, 2022. A property at 1314 New Lenox Road, in unincorporated Joliet, which is owned by Jaquenette and Wesley Cottrell would need to be annexed into Joliet for the project to move forward. Both are members of N.O.A.P. and are apposed to annexing into Joliet. Jaquenette has launched a new website (www.neighborsopposedtoannexationofparcels.com) to keep residents and the community updated on progress to the proposed truck stop. Cottrell and other neighbors have been fighting the proposal since 2018.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Nursing shortage hits area hospitals
Across the country and in every state, including Illinois, there is a shortage of nurses. Hospitals are doing everything they can to fill nursing jobs to care for patients.
COVID-19’s latest surge exacerbates long-standing forces driving nursing shortfalls, prompting an all-hands-on-deck scramble to maintain patient care, according to an article posted on the Association of American Medical College’s website.
The article outlines how at a hospital system in Dallas, Texas, doctors were performing duties normally done by nurses and medical assistants, such as turning and bathing patients.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Will County Health Department, local restaurants partner on pop up COVID-19 vaccination sites
In an effort to encourage residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and stop the spread of the deadly virus, the Will County Health Department is partnering with local restaurants to host pop up vaccination sites and give away free food to vaccine recipients. “We are grateful to Golden Corral Buffet & Grill and McDonald’s for the partnership in this important promotion to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Cindy Jackson, Will County Health Department vaccine coordinator. “This is a win-win situation. Receive a free life- saving COVID-19 vaccine and enjoy free food from these restaurants.”
Posted inTimes Weekly News
VVSD, IDPH teaming up to offer community COVID vaccination clinic
Valley View School Community Unit School District 365U and the Illinois Department of Public Health are joining forces to offer a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic open to all members of the
community age 12 and older.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Virtual townhall meeting planned on probe into Joliet PD
A state investigation is underway into possible patterns or practices of unconstitutional or unlawful policing in Joliet and now the public is being asked to weigh in on the matter.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul is inviting members of the public to participate in a virtual town hall meeting discussing the investigation into the Joliet Police Department’s policing practices.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Pritzker announces $327 million in Household Assistance Available for low-income families in Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker today joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and community partners to announce $327 million in Help Illinois Families assistance now available through the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG). The program offers expanded services to support Illinois’ most vulnerable residents with rent, utilities, food and other household expenses regardless of immigration status.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Schumacher Family Farm exhibit on display at Joliet Historical Museum
Hundreds of people visited the Iron Bridge Trailhead at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie over Labor Day weekend, and two of those visitors grew up at the historic site. Alvin (“Al”) and Robert (“Bob”) Schumacher brought together four generations of their extended families to what is now the Iron Bridge Trailhead on Sept. 4 to share their stories of growing up on the Schumacher family farm – “Fairview Farm.” For some of the children, it was the first visit to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie to hear family stories about farm life in Illinois in the 1930s.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Voter access – a priority for Will County
While Senate Democrats edged closer to an agreement this week on new voting rights legislation, 18 states have enacted 30 laws to make it harder for Americans to vote, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Joliet City Manager responds to police department investigation
TTW Staff Report
Attorney General Kwame Raoul last week announced that his office is launching an investigation into possible patterns or practices of unconstitutional or unlawful policing by the Joliet Police Department. The civil investigation follows requests made by the Joliet mayor and members of the Joliet City Council.
