Working parents are feeling the strain of the school year, as many schools in Illinois began the semester with entirely remote learning. A new survey shows having the kids at home for school is taking a toll on parent’s careers as well.
FlexJobs surveyed more than 2,500 parents and found 40% of working parents had to quit or reduce their hours because of remote learning. Of that number, 25% reduced their hours while 15% resigned their position. Of those who quit entirely, 38% of those do not plan to rejoin the workforce.
“For moms, dads, employers, and the workforce at large, these findings offer insights into what it’s really like to juggle parenting and a career, and how flexible work options (or the lack thereof) can impact decision-making,” said Sara Sutton, founder and CEO of FlexJobs.
Republican State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, is the co-sponsor of a bill that would amend the state’s income tax act to include a remote learning education expanse credit. It notes that it will be “costly and burdensome to the State” if parents leave their jobs because their children cannot attend school in person. In addition to child care, expenditures eligible for the credit include materials necessary for online learning, tutoring, homeschool instruction and other services.
“Our parents are definitely hurting and they’ve definitely got a lot of unexpected costs that were caused as a result of the governor’s shutdown orders and I think we need to be taking some small steps,” Mazzochi said.
On top of some added stressors for parents and students, closing schools for COVID-19 could cost an estimated $700 billion in lost revenue and productivity, according to a report in Barron's.
Brie Weiler-Reynolds, career development manager and coach with FlexJobs said some parents in the survey are having a difficult time dealing with the situation.
“There is a tremendous amount of guilt that you feel because you don’t think you are doing anything well, and so trying to coach yourself through the fact that nobody is doing everything really well right now and this is just how it has to be,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds advises employees to let a supervisor know about parental responsibility for remote learning. Parents should also develop a focused learning space for kids and remember to take breaks.
Not Many Contested Statehouse Races In Illinois
Nearly half of the seats up for grabs at the Illinois statehouse this election are uncontested.
An analysis by The Center Square of statehouse candidate filings to the Illinois State Board of Elections found of the 118 House seats that are up every two years, 52 seats have only one candidate running. That’s 44 percent.
Eight of the 52 House seats are held by Republicans who don’t face an opponent. Democrats hold the rest.
Half (11 of 22) state Senate seats up this cycle only have one candidate. Only two are Republicans uncontested.
A separate analysis of all states by Ballotpedia found Illinois’ statehouse was the fifth-worst state for competitive races in the 2020 election.
Madeleine Doubek, with the group Change Illinois, found similar numbers. Change Illinois advocates for changing how Illinois draws political boundaries.
“In some cases, the election doesn’t exist for far too many people,” Doubek said. “There is no race and there is no choice for them to be making so how is that democracy? It’s not. It’s in essence a form of voter suppression. Gerrymandering like this that results in fewer competitive, contested races, takes away our voices and our choices.”
With this year’s ten-year Census wrapping up next month, Illinois state lawmakers will again have the ability to create legislative maps.
Doubek said it’s too late to do anything about how the maps are drawn in Illinois as lawmakers failed to put the constitutional amendment for an independent map process in front of voters before the next map is drawn. She said there may be some efforts to find legislation to make the process more transparent.
“And we have to have mapping done out in the open, in an accountable process, with input from the people who we are drawing these districts for. The districts are drawn for the people. We own these districts. They are not the property of the politicians.”
Doubek said Gov. J.B. Pritzker needs to be more clear on what he means when he says he will veto “any map that is unfair.”
Three Seriously Injured In Clay County
ISP TRAFFIC CRASH RELEASE
The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by
Illinois State Police District 12
WHAT: Two Unit Traffic Crash with Injury
WHERE: US Route 45 at Finch Lane, Clay County
WHEN: Sept. 27, 2020 at approximately 2:51 p.m.
VEHICLES: UNIT 1 – Gray 2000 Pontiac
UNIT 2 – Black 2006 Toyota
DRIVER: UNIT 1 – Kloey Caldwell, 18-year-old female of Edgewood, Illinois (airlifted to area hospital with serious injuries)
UNIT 2 - Charity Beachy, 43-year-old female of Flora, Illinois (airlifted to area hospital with serious injuries)
PASSENGERS: UNIT 2 – 7-year-old female of Flora, Illinois (airlifted to an area hospital with serious injuries)
PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling southbound on US Route 45 near Finch Lane in Clay County. Unit 2 was traveling northbound on US 45 at the same location. Unit 1 failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line drove into the lane of Unit 2 and struck the Unit 2 vehicle head on.
CHARGES: Pending Investigation
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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High Speed Pursuit Results in an Officer-Involved Shooting
Vermillion County - Detectives from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post have been requested by Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse and Vermillion County Sheriff Mike Phelps to investigate an officer-involved shooting incident that took place on September 27, 2020, at approximately 4:30 a.m. on State Road 63 at US 36, just north of Clinton, IN.
At approximately 4:22 a.m., Deputy Richard Stangle from the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department observed a vehicle that was traveling northbound, and well above the posted speed limit, near Third Street and Margaret Drive. Deputy Stangle activated his emergency lights, on his fully marked police car, to initiate a traffic stop. A pursuit then ensued, continuing northbound onto State Road 63, reaching speeds of 120 miles per hour. Officers from multiple agencies were able to get ahead of the pursuit and successfully deploy a tire deflation device at the intersection of State Road 63 and Hazelbluff Road. The pursued vehicle struck the deflation device, flattening the driver side tires. At that time, the subject in the pursued vehicle began actively shooting at officers through the rear window, striking one officer’s vehicle. The subject continued to flee the officers on deflated tires, until eventually losing control and leaving the roadway at the exit ramp of State Road 63 at US 36. It was at this time that the subject exited the vehicle, brandished a handgun, refused to release the handgun, and fired at officers. Several officers then discharged their service weapons, resulting in the subject being struck and injured.
Medical assistance was immediately rendered at the scene. The subject was subsequently transported to Union Hospital in Clinton by ambulance, and then transported to Indianapolis by air ambulance for further care.
The subject involved has been positively identified as Omaree Shay Roby, age 23, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Further investigation by detectives revealed that Roby was driving a stolen vehicle from Evansville, Indiana, where he had allegedly committed a carjacking, forcing an individual out of the vehicle with a gun, by shooting it into the air.
All officers involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is customary in officer-involved shootings. Vigo County Sheriff's deputies involved in the shooting are Deputy Richard Stangle, nine years of service, and Deputy Derek DeHart, two years of service. Vermillion County deputies involved are Deputy Joe Wilson, two years of service, and Deputy John Hawkins, 12 years of service, as well as Cayuga Town Marshal Keith Warner, three years of service.
Agencies involved in this incident are Vigo County Sheriff's Department, Vermillion County Sheriff's Department, Parke County Sheriff’s Department, Cayuga Town Marshall, West Terre Haute Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Rockville Police Department, and Clinton Police Department.
The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police detectives, Don Curtis, Mike Featherling, Jason Schoffstall, and Tim Rader with assistance of Lieutenant Jeff Hearon, Sergeant Sam Stearley, CSI Sergeant Brandon Mullen and CSI Sergeant Michael Organ of the Putnamville State Police Post.
This is an active and ongoing Indiana State Police investigation. There is no further information to release at this time. Upon completion of their investigation, Indiana State Police detectives will submit a full report of the incident to the Vermillion County Prosecutor’s Office for review and determination of charges filed.
West Salem Man Dead Following Saturday Wreck
ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT
WHAT: Single Unit Fatal Traffic Crash
WHERE: County Road 16 East of County Road 1100 E, Wayne County
WHEN: Sept. 26, 2020 at 7:22 p.m.
VEHICLE: Unit 1- 2011 Black Nissan
DRIVER: Unit 1- 69-year-old male of West Salem, IL (Deceased) Pending Next of Kin Notification
PRELIMINARY: A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling eastbound on County Road 16, East of County Road 1100 East. Unit 1 entered a ditch on the South side of the roadway. Unit 1 traveled through the ditch eastbound. Unit 1 exited the ditch and traveled northeast across County Highway 16. Unit 1 then entered the ditch on the northside of County Highway 16, striking a culvert on the other side and came to rest in to a corn field.
CHARGES: N/A.
Fairfield Man Killed In Saturday Crash
ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT
WHAT: Two Unit Fatal Traffic Crash
WHERE: US 45 Northbound at CR 1125N, Wayne County
WHEN: Sept. 26, 2020 at 3:52 p.m.
VEHICLE: Unit 1- 2005 White Mack Truck Tractor Semi Trailer Combination
Unit 2- 1996 Green Oldsmobile
DRIVER: Unit 1- Todd Bosler, 57-year-old male of Sandoval, IL
Unit 2- Jonathan Stanley, 36-year-old male of Fairfield, IL (Deceased)
PRELIMINARY: A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Units 1, 2 were traveling northbound on US Highway 45 at CR 1125 N. Unit 1, who was traveling directly behind Unit 2, struck Unit 2 in the rear. The roadway was reopened at 8:05 p.m.
CHARGES: Unit 1 driver was issued a citation for Driving Too Fast for Conditions.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Work Set To Begin October 5th On Wabash River Bridge
The Illinois Department of Transportation will issue a press release next week, but IDOT Project Implementation Engineer Tim Hemmen tells us the project on the Wabash River bridge at Mt. Carmel consists of bridge deck and structural steel cleaning. Traffic will be directed by flaggers with day time work only. Again, more details will be released next week.
Witsman Reports On Remote Learning To School Board
Brianna Witsman, District #348 Instructional Technology Coach, presented a report to the school board Monday night outlining her role in facilitating the district’s remote learning plan.
Brianna Witsman -District #348 Instructional Technology Coach
Fall Fix Up/Clean Up Week Approaching In Mt. Carmel
If you have some extra time this weekend, it might be a good idea to start cleaning out the garage, shed, house, or wherever because Fall Fix up/Clean up week is quickly approaching in Mt. Carmel. The week is set for October 5th through 9th and City Commissioner Chandler Madden outlines the items Republic Services won't pick up....
Madden recently travelled to Springfield with Mayor Joe Judge where the city purchased a backhoe at a steep discount. The backhoe will be used by the city's brush pickup crew. On a related subject, City Clerk Rudy Witsman said city crews will not pick up large tree trunks that homeowners are leaving alongside the street.
Farming Still One Of Most Dangerous Occupations
It’s Farm safety and health week as the spotlight is on keeping everyone safe during this busy harvest season. Farming and agriculture consistently rank as one of the most dangerous occupations in the US and Mike Wilson of Wabash Valley Service outlines some reasons why that is…
Wilson’s comments came during this past Wednesday’s Valley Update.