In a News Release issued Saturday, the Citizens for Healthcare in Ottawa recently filed a complaint with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the OSF plan to eliminate or significantly reduce certain services now provided at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. More commonly known as CHO, the group of concerned citizens is objecting to OSF’s application before the Illinois Health Facility and Services Review Board seeking to replace the current OSF facility with a smaller facility delivering fewer services. The complaint filed with the DOJ states that “OSF is using its monopoly power to play a dangerous game of chess with the health care facilities and services” in the Ottawa area. With recent acquisitions, OSF is the only provider of hospital services in the Ottawa planning region, which includes the counties of LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam. The group claims in their antitrust complaint that under the OSF plan Ottawa will lose all five of its intensive care beds, and all 14 of its obstetric delivery beds. The plan will further reduce by 78% Ottawa’s medical/surgical beds, from 54 to 12, making Ottawa, one of the smallest, if not the smallest, med/surg units in the state. The complaint filed with the Department of Justice was submitted by Colleen Burns, on behalf of the CHO organization. The complaint can be found in its entirety at the website at saveottawahealthcare.com or on Facebook at the page Save Ottawa Healthcare. The group’s complaint concludes: “We now also took to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate this matter as a true health care monopoly that will undeniably have impacts to patient safety, hospital staff working conditions, and affordable and accessible health care for patients and taxpayers. OSF is making a business decision that supports their financial performance and growth plans to appease their system’s senior leaders and the bond market investors.” This Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at Central Intermediate School in Ottawa, the Illinois Health Facilities Review Board will hold a session, at the request of the CHO group, to take public comment and testimony on the OSF plan, as submitted in a Certificate of Need, to build a replacement for the current St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Ottawa.
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Sunday afternoon, OSF Healthcare announced the passing of Sister Diane Marie McGrew, president of OSF Healthcare. Sister Diane Marie had battled ovarian and uterine cancers for five years.
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The City of Ottawa says curb replacement work on West Prospect Street will require a no-parking restriction in the 100 and 200 blocks today beginning at 7:00 a.m. The work is expected to be completed by 3:00 o’clock this afternoon.
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Governor Pritzker is leading a trade mission to Canada this week. During the trip, the governor will participate in the 2024 U.S.-Canada Summit, where he will be providing a keynote address. Pritzker will also meet with key government leaders as well as business leaders in quantum, finance, electric vehicles, technology, and other growing sectors.
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The leader of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation says he believes Illinois lawmakers will eventually pass a bill granting the tribe title to a 1,500-acre park in DeKalb County, but it may take a few more months. Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick said in a statement this week that a bill granting the tribe ownership of Shabbona Lake and State Park in DeKalb County had bipartisan support in both chambers, but lawmakers simply ran out of time before giving it final passage. Lawmakers will meet again this fall for their annual veto session. Exact dates for that session have not yet been announced. The Prairie Band Potawatomi are now headquartered in northeast Kansas. But they once had a reservation in what is now DeKalb County, a reservation that officials now agree was illegally sold out from under them in 1850. Shabbona Lake and State Park overlap part of the land that once made up the original Potawatomi reservation. Other parts of the original reservation now include county-owned land and about 30 private homes, the titles to which are said to be clouded by the tribe’s legal claims to the land. The proposed land transfer legislation, Senate Bill 867, would make up one part of a larger plan the tribe has to settle its legal claims and reestablish its presence in northern Illinois.
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A bill eliminating the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities failed to pass the General Assembly ahead of its May adjournment, although sponsors say they hope to pass it when lawmakers return in the fall. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established minimum wage law, but created an exemption for businesses, rehabilitation, and residential care facilities to pay workers with disabilities less than minimum wage if they obtain a special certificate permitted in one section of the law. The measure would have given providers more than 5 years to stop using qualifying certificates in Illinois. Although the bill ultimately advanced out of the House 78-30 with bipartisan support, it was never called for a vote in the Senate. The measure could come for a vote during the veto or lame-duck session later this year.
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A group of graduating Northwestern students continue to protest the Israel-Hamas war. Dozens of pro-Palestinian students walked out of Northwestern’s commencement ceremony yesterday at the United Center, claiming their degrees are “stained with blood.” The graduate activists gathered outside the arena to continue their demonstration. The pro-Palestinian protesters have demanded that Northwestern divest from financial assets with ties to Israel.
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The Sunrise Rotary Club of Ottawa recently recognized Rotarian Karen Nussbaum for her continuing contributions to The Rotary Foundation. District 6420 Foundation Chair Laura Kann presented Nussbaum with a pin in honor of her achieving the Major Donor level. The Rotary Foundation is dedicated to causes that build international relationships, improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever. The Sunrise Rotary Club of Ottawa last week celebrated the group’s 35th anniversary.
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Streator Police picked up a juvenile at 3:00 a.m. Monday in Northpoint Plaza on charges of curfew violation, possession of burglary tools, criminal damage to property, and burglary. The underage offender was released with a court date.
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20-year-old Jamaria D. Cole-Smith of Mendota, 29-year-old Erin Joy M. Henry of Triumph, and 37-year-old Tanishia I. Davis of Mendota were all charged with battery after a Mendota Police investigation into an incident Saturday afternoon just after 4:00 o’clock near 6th Avenue and 5th Street. 21-year-old Joseph W. Turner of Mendota was also arrested on a charge of aggravated assault. All four were released with notices to appear in court.
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WEATHER:
Monday
Mostly cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 72. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
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OBITUARIES:
Mary Bower, 96, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, June 3rd, at The Pavilion of Ottawa with her family by her side. Visitation for Mary Bower will be today from 9:30 am until 11:30 am at Ottawa Funeral Home. A rosary will be said for Mary Bower at 9:15 am before the visitation. Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Bower will take place at noon, today at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery.
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Mary (Janke) Shute, 63, of Ottawa, passed away on Wednesday, June 5th, at her home. Funeral services for Mary (Janke) Shute will be held at 11 a.m. today, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial for Mary (Janke) Shute will take place at Deer Park Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. today at the funeral home.
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SPORTS:
White Sox Falter Late
The Chicago White Sox weren’t able to hold onto a late lead during a 6-4 ten-inning loss to the Boston Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Gavin Sheets hit a go-ahead single in the bottom of the seventh to give the Southsiders a 4-3 lead, but Tanner Banks surrendered a game-tying sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth. Mike Soroka gave up two runs in the tenth and was charged with his seventh loss. Paul DeJong had a home run and three RBI in the losing effort. The Southsiders remain in last place in the NL Central at 17-and-49. Erick Fedde starts for Chicago against Seattle tonight, we will have an 8 pm pre-game and an 8:40 pm first pitch.
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Cubs Salvage Series With Reds
The Chicago Cubs avoided being swept in four games by beating the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 at Great American Ball Park. Ian Happ hit a three-run double in the top of the first to give the Cubs an early lead never relinquished. Mike Tauchman also drove in a run during the victory. Shota Imanaga earned his sixth win after holding Cincy to two runs on five hits in six-and-two-thirds innings, while Hector Neris picked up his ninth save. The Northsiders snapped a three-game losing streak. Chicago is in second place in the NL Central at 32-and-34. The Cubs visit the Rays tomorrow night.
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Sky Lose To Dream
The Chicago Sky dug into an early hole during an 89-80 loss to the Atlanta Dream at Wintrust Arena on Saturday. The Sky trailed by 18 points in the second quarter. They got within a possession in the fourth before Atlanta pulled away. Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and Dana Evans scored 13 points in the losing effort. The 4-and-6 Sky host the Sun on Wednesday.
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Bulls Legend Chet Walker Passes Away
A Chicago Bulls legend has passed away. The NBA Players Association said on Saturday that Chet Walker died. He was 84. The seven-time All-Star was selected by the Syracuse Nationals in the 1962 draft before eventually ending up with the Bulls in 1969. Walker spent six seasons with Chicago and averaged 20-point-six points in 474 games with the team.