On April 8, 2025, Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt was dispatched to a UHaul dealer located at 990 N. US HWY 41 regarding a UHaul vehicle that had not been returned. Deputy Hunt opened an investigation into the incident, and during the investigation, he entered the vehicle in the Indiana Data And Communications System as stolen.
Later in the day at approximately 3:23 p.m., Princeton Officer David Jones located the vehicle on Glendale Street in Princeton. Deputy Wyatt Hunt arrived on scene and, with the assistance of Officer Jones, an investigation was conducted. After the investigation 40-year-old Jennifer Wilkerson, the person on the UHaul Contract, was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail, Ms. Wilkerson was charged with Vehicle Theft and Possession of Paraphernalia.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illinois nursing homes seek Medicaid rate hike
Outdated payment formula forcing facilities around the state to close, industry says
By PETER HANCOCK
Capitol News Illinois
phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com
SPRINGFIELD — Nursing home industry officials are urging Illinois lawmakers to increase the rates they receive from the state’s Medicaid system, arguing the current rates are outdated and are forcing many facilities around the state out of business.
“We've expressed our concerns that closures will happen. We've been saying that for years, and it's actually happening now, and it will continue to get worse,” Jonathan Aaron, co-president of the industry lobby group Health Care Council of Illinois, said during a recent interview.
The Illinois Medicaid program pays for the care of approximately 55,000 residents who live in 738 nursing homes, also known as skilled nursing facilities, according to the state Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
Nursing facilities are paid a flat rate per day for each Medicaid resident. The rate varies for each facility and is based on three components: nursing costs, capital costs and support costs.
In 2022, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation addressing the nursing cost component of the formula. That legislation was expected to provide an additional $700 million a year into nursing homes in the form of incentives for them to raise wages for nursing staff and increase their staffing levels.
The capital component of the formula is intended to reimburse facilities for costs like mortgage interest and asset depreciation.
The legislation now being considered in the General Assembly addresses the support component, which covers non-clinical, administrative costs such as food, laundry, housekeeping, utilities, maintenance, insurance, dietary and general office services.
“The challenge with this is, it is based on a snapshot in time, and the current support portion of the rate is based on 2017 costs,” Aaron said. “It’s no secret that costs have gone up exponentially over the past eight years. We simply can't keep up being that far behind in rightsizing what our reimbursement should be.”
Industry officials say the low reimbursement rates have led to at least 31 facilities in Illinois going out of business in recent years while one of the nation’s largest nursing home operators, Peoria-based Petersen Health Care, which operated facilities in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, filed for bankruptcy last year.
The proposed legislation would give each facility nine years’ worth of inflation adjustment to the support services component of their rate structure, reflecting the increase in the consumer price index from September 2016 through September 2025.
That language is contained in Senate Bill 1606, sponsored by Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, and House Bill 2858, sponsored by Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island. Both bills have attracted bipartisan support.
“It's basically a matter of trying to keep up with the costs,” Koehler said in an interview. “The current rates right now are all based on 2017 pre-pandemic costs. A lot has changed in terms of inflation today. So we're just trying to keep up with that and make sure that the nursing homes are getting what they need so we don't have any more closures.”
Although lawmakers are struggling with tight revenues this year, Koehler said the reimbursement increase can be accomplished without straining state resources. The increase would be paid for, he said, through the state’s nursing home bed tax — a tax levied on each Medicaid-funded resident day in Illinois nursing homes. The money generated by that tax is then used to draw down federal matching funds, which would then be used to fund the higher reimbursement rates.
“So in a sense, it is not really costing the state or DHFS any additional money,” Koehler said.
One question that will be on many lawmakers’ minds, however, is how long those federal matching funds will be available. Last week, the U.S. Senate gave its endorsement to a House-passed budget resolution that calls for potentially hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts over the next 10 years.
Koehler, however, said he doesn’t believe the state should base its decision around concerns about what the federal government might do in the future.
“You know, the federal government under Trump has been so back-and-forth that who knows where it's going to land,” he said. “So I think we have to go forth with our best strategy and say, ‘This is what we think needs to happen.’ And if it doesn't happen, well then, we'll scramble after that. But I don't think we should stand by and just not do anything.”
Lawmakers are working this week to meet a Friday deadline for each chamber to pass most non-budget-related bills and send them to the other chamber.
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.
Nursing homes in Illinois are pressing state lawmakers for an increase in their Medicaid reimbursement rates. (Credit: Shutterstock.com)
City Official Issues Reminder About Safe Driving In Construction Areas
As the weather warms up, you’ll be seeing more crews working on road projects. And, public works director Mike Gidcumb warned motorists to watch for workers…
Mt. Carmel’s big 2025 road project is the repaving of 9th Street.
Jury convicts Marion County drug dealer
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Following a two-day trial, a jury found a Centralia man guilty of federal charges for distributing cocaine and fentanyl in Marion County.
A federal jury convicted Broderick K. Currie, also known as Broderick K. Wooters, 36, of one count of distribution of a controlled substance: cocaine and one count of distribution of a controlled substance: fentanyl.
“As a career offender, this defendant has sold drugs in southern Illinois and caused irrevocable harm to families for many years,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The lethality of fentanyl cannot be understated, and another dealer off the streets is a win for our region.”
The evidence presented at trial proved Broderick sold nearly 12 grams of cocaine and one gram of fentanyl to a confidential source in February 2024 in Marion County.
“The conviction of the defendant provides an opportunity to remind everyone that the mission of the Springfield Southern Illinois TOC-West Task Force is to relentlessly pursue and destroy drug trafficking organizations operating in the Southern Illinois region,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “If you are distributing controlled substances, especially deadly fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, we will find you and hold you accountable.”
Currie’s distribution charges are punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment per count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12.
The FBI Springfield Field Office’s Southern Illinois TOC-West Task Force led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Carraway and Dan Kapsak prosecuted the case. The TOC-West Task Force has multiple members, this investigation was supported by Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Carlyle Police Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Vandalia man accused of attempting to commit a child sex offense
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Monday in U.S. District Court within the Southern District of Illinois, a magistrate judge ordered a Vandalia man be held in custody without bail after he was charged with attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Trevor W. Yokley, 32, is facing one count of attempting to entice a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment.
“Individuals who prey on children perpetrate vile crimes, which is why identifying child predators is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.
According to the complaint, an undercover FBI agent created an online social media profile for a purported 14-year-old girl. Yokley is accused of contacting the purported minor and trying to meet with her to engage in sexual activity between January and April 2025.
“Due to the tireless pursuit of criminals who would target children, a once faceless online predator has been unmasked and arrested,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “This arrest is one of many to come as FBI Springfield continues to work alongside our partners to identify and bring child predators to justice.”
FBI arrested Yokley in Effingham on April 1, 2025, when he traveled to meet the minor to engage in sexual activity.
A complaint is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The FBI Springfield Field Office is leading the investigation with assistance by the Carlyle Police Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department, and Effingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns is prosecuting the case.
Winslow man arrested for DUI
On April 7, 2025, at 7:02 P.M., Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a traffic stop on a 2007 Silver Pontiac sedan after observing it speeding on State Road 64 near Francisco. Upon approaching the vehicle, Deputy Hunt identified the driver as 34-year-old William Mitchell of Winslow. While speaking with Mr. Mitchell, Deputy Hunt detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver and began a roadside DUI investigation. After his inquiry, Deputy Hunt placed Mr. Mitchell into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail, Mr. Mitchell was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Deputies Shawn Holmes and Bart Wagner assisted Deputy Hunt in his investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
Evansville man arrested for Reckless Driving
On April 4, 2025, at 6:21 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Shawn Holmes conducted a traffic stop on a Black Ford Escape for traveling 85 in a 55 mph zone on State Road 168 East of US 41. Upon conducting the traffic stop on 168 west of the Casey’s General Store Deputy Holmes identified the driver as 18 year old Brock Fetscher of Evansville. While speaking with Mr. Fetscher Deputy Holmes detected multiple clues that drug activity had been conducted inside the vehicle. At that point he began a roadside drug investigation. Once the investigation was concluded Mr. Fetscher was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Reckless Driving, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia.
Assisting Deputy Holmes in his investigation was Deputies Bart Wagner and Jim Tucker.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Allendale 3rd Quarter Honor Roll
The 3rd quarter Honor roll list for Allendale School.
Deadline Monday To Pay 2nd Installment Of Real Estate Taxes
Wabash County Treasurer, Angie Broster, wanted to announce that the 2023 Real Estate second installment due date is Monday, April 7, 2025.
If you have not paid the first installment there is a 1.5% penalty fee added to the first payment amount. Please contact the Treasurer’s office at 262-5262 if you have any questions.
Payments may be made in person at the Treasurer’s office or you may use the drop box in front of the Courthouse. Credit Card payments can be made online at www.govtechtaxpro.com.
You may also make payments at the First Mid Bank, First Bank and First National Bank Allendale & Mt. Carmel branches on Second Installments only.
If you have any questions or concerns about your tax bill, please feel free to contact our office.
Illinois Extension expands with new SNAP-Education Educator
ALBION, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension is expanding the reach of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education by adding a local SNAP-Ed Educator. Alizah Harper will serve as the SNAP-Ed Educator for the five-county unit, including Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, and Wayne counties.
Harper joins a team of three SNAP-Ed community outreach workers within the unit who provide nutrition education in schools, food pantries, and other organizations at the county level. Through policy, system, and environmental initiatives, Harper will collaborate with communities and local organizations to broadly address nutrition, health, and food access.
"I am excited to announce that our five-county unit will be welcoming a new SNAP-Education Educator,” says Extension County Director Tara Buerster. “Mrs. Harper will be a great addition to our team, and her presence will significantly enhance our ability to provide valuable nutrition education and advocate for policy changes in the communities we serve."
Harper’s vast experience in healthcare, work with diverse audiences, and passion for education will be instrumental in expanding SNAP-Ed programming, developing partnerships, and creating action plans to encourage healthier communities.
“I believe that public health interventions should be tailored to the unique needs of each community, ensuring that resources and education are both accessible and effective,” says Harper. “Through my work, I aim to bridge gaps between policy, clinical care, and community-based interventions to create long-term improvements in health outcomes.”
Harper currently serves as the Illinois Extension Wabash County Office Support Assistant and will begin her new position in May. She completes her Master of Public Health from Indiana University in May and received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Indiana University Southeast. Harper will be based out of the Edwards County Extension office and can be reached at alizah@illinois.edu or 618-445-2934.