Category: Health

State representative Hernandez thankful in return to health

State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, had an extended absence from the State General Assembly due to a health issue that has since abated. She publicly thanks representative Paul Jacobs, a practicing optometric physician, who consulted with Hernandez and advised her to seek medical attention, a move that may have saved

Reader’s Commentary: Questions on diseases and vaccinations

By Mary GoetschAurora, Ill. This commentary is addressed to pharmacist Larry Frieders who writes a health column each month in The Voice. Your columns make more sense to me than most medical doctors, including the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Presentation), FDA (Food and Drug Administration, and even WHO

Vote makes masks optional in State House meetings

By Grace Kinnicutt The Illinois House amended COVID-19 protocols Tuesday, March 8 to lift face covering requirements following weeks of pushback from Republican Party members who sometimes refused to wear masks and delayed the start of session on several occasions. In a 104-1 vote, the House passed House Resolution 717

Resignation for Illinois Department of Public Health director, Dr. Ngozi Ezike

By Jerry Nowicki Illinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike will resign on March 14 after three years leading the agency and two years navigating a deadly pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 32,000 Illinoisans. Ezike, who was appointed IDPH director in 2019, became a

Reader’s Commentary: Alliance seeks to address suicide

By Fran BriggsYuma, Ariz. In response to the rise in suicide rates, Dr. Robert Renteria of North Aurora and Mariela Narvaez have formed an alliance to address suicide prevention education, Renteria’s publicist announced recently. “It’s important to be a partner with those who are serving the community and share core

Governor seeks to ‘ratchet back’ mask mandates

By Jerry Nowicki Illinoisans should stay tuned for an announcement on the State’s indoor mask mandate, governor JB Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference Tuesday, although he declined to say specifically what changes might be coming. “I think I’ve said over the last few press conferences that I really