Latest news with #IDOA
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Illinois Department of Agriculture lifts poultry exhibition suspension
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is lifting the temporary suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auction markets. The suspension was initially issued in February in response to the ongoing threat of H5N1 avian flu. 'We have closely monitored the threat posed by avian flu and have taken appropriate measures to ensure biosecurity for the safety of both the public and the poultry industry,' said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. 'Should the situation change, we will re-evaluate, but for now, we feel it is safe to resume poultry exhibition and sales.' Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Avian flu virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock. Poultry flock owners, managers, and veterinarians should report any unusual findings in domestic poultry, such as increase in mortality, decrease in water consumption, decrease in egg production, or respiratory signs, including coughing and sneezing, immediately to IDOA at 217-782-4944 or the United States Department of Agriculture at 866-536-7593. The public is reminded not to handle or attempt to capture wild waterfowl or other birds displaying signs of illness. Due to risk of infection to other animals, cats should be kept away from the carcasses of birds that may have died from avian flu. For more information regarding avian flu, visit the USDA site at
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Disaster Unemployment Assistance available for Hopkins County
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Governor Andy Beshear announced that the state will accept applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from individuals in 13 counties who are out of work as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides that began in Kentucky on April 2 and continuing. Hopkins County was included in this program. Gov. Beshear says individuals – including unemployed and self-employed individuals who were living or working in the affected areas and became unemployed or had work interrupted as a direct result the flooding that occurred in Kentucky – are eligible to apply for DUA benefits through the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance. Officials say Gov. Beshear will request that additional designations and counties be added to the declaration through an amendment as ongoing assessments are completed. IDOA to offer free recycling program for agrichemical containers Officials say DUA is available to individuals who: Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to their place of employment as a direct result of a disaster, which can also include the physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state or local government in immediate response to the disaster Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income Do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state Cannot work or resume self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster As a result of the disaster, became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of the household. Gov. Beshear's office notes farmers and other self-employed individuals who traditionally are ineligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits may qualify for DUA. Evansville resident to compete in finals of national grilling competition Officials say to receive DUA benefits, the federal program requires individuals to provide documents, including a copy of their most recent federal or state income tax forms or check stubs, a bill showing their physical address at the time of the disaster and a photo ID. All required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the individual's DUA application is filed. DUA is available for up to 29 weeks of unemployment beginning April 6 until October 25, as long as the individual's unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster. Gov. Beshear says affected individuals should visit the Kentucky Career Center website or call 502-564-2900 to file their initial claim. The deadline to apply for assistance is June 23. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indianapolis Star
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Micah Beckwith's $87K SUV started with a request for 'all the bells and whistles'
When Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith was criticized for buying a top-trim, $87,000 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country, his office justified the purchase by saying its former SUV "had been in multiple accidents and was suffering from mechanical issues." But that 2022 Dodge Durango was in good enough shape to be recently reassigned to an agency head in the Braun administration, Indiana Department of Corrections Commissioner Lloyd Arnold. Public records recently obtained by IndyStar reveal more context behind Beckwith's controversial Tahoe purchase, which along with Secretary of State Diego Morales' new $91,000 SUV, recently inspired legislation at the Indiana Statehouse banning future purchases of top-trim and premium brand vehicles by state officials. Braun recently signed the bill into law. The records show Beckwith, also a pastor at Life Church in Noblesville, wanted something "newer and larger" than outgoing Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch's Durango, according to a Jan. 2 request from the Lieutenant Governor's Office to the Indiana Department of Administration, which handles the state's vehicle fleet. The car had over 150,000 miles on it. "Can you tell me what is available - he is looking for a black SUV like a Yukon with all the bells and whistles," according to the request to IDOA from the office's operations director, which came in via Teams message over a week before Beckwith was sworn into the role alongside Gov. Mike Braun. A Black Yukon would have matched the one used by Morales, who drives around in a taxpayer funded, $91,000 2024 GMC Yukon Denali. Instead, the IDOA presented Beckwith with two options: a Chevrolet Tahoe Premium, which starts at about $73,000, and the top-trim Chevrolet Tahoe High Country, which Beckwith ultimately selected. The original cost of the vehicle was nearly $91,000, but the state got a $3,000 discount, leading to the final price of $87,672, according to the purchase order for the SUV. "IDOA contacted several dealerships, and at the time of the request, only two in-stock models met both the color and feature preferences" requested by the office, IDOA said in a statement. The 2022 Dodge Durango used by Crouch was returned to the state's fleet for a trade-in value of $25,000, and the lieutenant governor's office then reimbursed the IDOA an additional nearly $63,000 for the rest of the cost of the car, according to IDOA. Beckwith's office did not respond to a request for comment about the office's request for a vehicle with "all the bells and whistles." SUV now used by IDOC commissioner Since Beckwith traded the Durango back into the state's fleet to help pay for the new Tahoe, it has been reassigned and is now being used by Arnold, who leads the state's correctional system. As head of the IDOC, Arnold makes $190,000 annually, slightly less than Beckwith who makes just under $194,000. The IDOA told IndyStar the vehicle had demonstrated no mechanical problems. A CarFax report on the vehicle shows that there were two accidents reported on the vehicle back in 2022. One was a "sideswipe collision" with another car, and another incident caused damage to the front right hand side of the car. Airbags did not deploy in either incident, according to the CarFax report. IDOA said the SUV had been involved in a previous fender bender in which the former lieutenant governor "hit a yellow post at a gas station," which was repaired by IDOA. It did not respond to IndyStar's request for information about a second accident. Two manufacturer recalls affecting the car's software are associated with the SUV; remedies are available for both, according to the CarFax, which showed the current retail value of the Durango as $35,610. Beckwith's office referred to the CarFax report as evidence that the SUV had issues as he previously described. However, Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis, said the information from IDOA proved "waste and deception" on Beckwith's part. He's previously called on Morales and Beckwith to return their SUVs for something more modest. "His previous vehicle wasn't malfunctioning - it's in perfect working order and is currently being used by a state agency head," Gore said. "His top-of-the-line Tahoe wasn't thrust upon him like he said. In fact, he originally asked for something even more expensive." The debate over CarGate, as it was dubbed, resulted in a dayslong back-and-forth on social media spawning memes and political debate. Beckwith at one point swapped out the Tahoe for a borrowed Tesla Cybertruck, described by a social media user as an "A+ in trolling." An IDOA official later confirmed that the state didn't own, and wasn't renting, the Tesla. The following day, the Tahoe was back in Beckwith's parking spot.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration cuts funding for Illinois food assistance programs
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced that two programs were being discontinued after the Trump administration cut funding. According to the IDOA, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) would be shut down. Funded through the American Rescue Plan, the LFPA reimbursed local governments for buying food from farmers and distributing it, via food pantries, at no cost. More than 170 farmers have supplied food to 883 locations through the supported Illinois-EATS program. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved $43 million for Illinois to fund the program for several years, starting in 2022, but the state is still missing $17.8 million, according to the IDOA. The RFSI program provided grants to strengthen mid-supply chain infrastructure, like processing and distribution. Illinois received $5 million in 2024. The IDOA said the USDA notified states that invoices would be processed only for costs incurred on or prior to January 19th, 2025. 'Cutting funds for these programs is a slap in the face to Illinois farmers and the communities they feed,' said Gov. JB Pritzker. 'The Trump Administration's refusal to release grant funds doesn't just hurt farmers in the program, it devastates our most vulnerable, food-insecure communities relying on meat, fresh produce and other nutritious donations.' No reason was given for the cuts, but the Trump administration has made it a priority to reduce taxpayer spending within the federal government, utilizing recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to trim redundancy and waste. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Illinois halts poultry exhibitions, sales events due to bird flu concerns
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Effective immediately, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is suspending the exhibition or sale of poultry amid growing concerns about the H5N1 bird flu. The 30-day suspension, issued on Tuesday, Feb. 11, prohibits the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets, and auction markets. According to IDOA, the action aims to reduce and prevent the spread of the disease, which has been detected in Illinois. Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA state veterinarian, said prevention is the state's most effective tool to mitigate the spread of the H5N1 bird flu. Dozens of ducks found dead along shoreline of Northwest Indiana beach 'By being proactive in biosecurity and limiting poultry movement and exposure, we are protecting the public as well as the poultry industry,' Ernst said. Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus, which can infect poultry such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl and wild birds (especially waterfowl. IDOA reminded poultry flock owners, managers, and veterinarians to immediately report any unusual findings in domestic poultry, such as an increase in mortality, decrease in water consumption, decrease in egg production, or respiratory signs, including coughing and sneezing. Officials also warned locals who encountered a dead bird to call Animal Control or the Health Department. No human H5N1 bird flu cases have been confirmed in Illinois, IDPH director Dr. Sameer Vohra said. Second type of bird flu detected in US dairy cows 'IDPH continues to monitor human exposures very closely,' Vohra said. 'We are committed to using every tool at our disposal to enhance our preparation, communication, and education to help combat H5N1.' Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN's Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
