Skip to main content
You are the owner of this article.
Edit Article Add New Article
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit

Weather Alert

Weather Alert

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT...

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has called for an
Air Quality Action Day for high levels of Ozone or in the air for
today, Monday, June 5th for the following Southwest Indiana
counties,


Vanderburgh, Posey, Warrick, Spencer, Gibson, and Pike.

This alert is in effect from midnight tonight to midnight CDT Monday
night.

An Ozone Alert is issued when a combination of high temperatures,
light winds and other factors are expected to produce conditions
where high levels of ozone emissions may exceed federally mandated
standards.

Here are some recommended actions that the public can take to reduce
Ozone emissions:

* Walk, bike, carpool, or use public transportation
* Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one
trip
* Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn
equipment until after 7 pm
* Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds
* Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air
conditioner to 75 degrees or above.

Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when
Ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly, and anyone with heart
or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work
outdoors.

Illinois House Bill allows K-12 students to receive free school lunches

  • 0

CARMI, Ill. (WEVV) — Lawmakers in Illinois have passed a new law that will allow K-12 students to get free school lunches.

HB2471, also known as the "Healthy School Meals for All Program" was passed after a federal program for free school meals for the COVID-19 pandemic was set to expire.

The bill passed the Illinois House of Representatives by a vote of 88 to 24 and the Illinois Senate by a vote of 52 to 1.

A growing concern amongst families and educators, was whether or not the expiring federal program for free school meals would force students to once again pay for meals and risk going hungry at school.

44News spoke to Jarrod Newell, Superintendent of Carmi-White County Unit 5 Schools, who says the schools feel relieved that the burden is coming to an end.

"Not having to worry about that moving forward and for our entire state to have free meals is extremely beneficial to our school district" said Newell.

"Kids are going to get a healthy breakfast, and a healthy lunch, some of which could be the only meals that those kids are able to get" he continued

Studies show that students that are not adequately fed can have a difficult time concentrating and it can affect their mood and behavior.

Newell says the district has already been providing free meals since the COVID-19 pandemic, but that administrators believe the new bill will permanently make everyone’s lives a lot easier.

"To go through all the hoops that you have to jump through, we’re excited for that change. And for our community, making sure that our kids have always had healthy meals has been a priority."

Schools can now apply to the state for reimbursement. 

The bill now heads to Governor J.B. Pritzker's desk, where it awaits to be signed into law.

Recommended for you