* 97.9 FM…

St. Rep. Adam Niemerg of Dieterich has been meeting with his local school districts who have been catching some flak from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education because the districts want to make mask-wearing optional in the coming school year.

Niemerg said if you can go to the ballgame and not have to wear a mask, why can’t school children do the same in the classroom this fall?

Hmm. Could it have something to do with the fact that ballgames are outdoors and classes are held indoors in often poorly ventilated classrooms? Also, too, the vaccine hasn’t yet been approved for young kids.

* Earlier…

Niemerg said he was also introducing a bill to end the mask requirements in schools.

“We need to be an example to our children that we no longer need to fear each other,” he said.

Says the guy who sponsored or co-sponsored 18 pro-gun bills this past spring. He also signed on to this resolution…

Urges the United States Congress and President Joe Biden to pass the “Fauci’s Incompetence Requires Early Dismissal” or “FIRED” Act to relieve Dr. Fauci of his role.

* Related…

* Dr. Fauci says children ‘more likely’ to get COVID Delta variant

* New Mexico pushing child vaccinations as Delta variant begins to spread in the state

* Expert shares how we can protect children from coronavirus Delta variant: Given that there’s now a more transmissible and potentially more dangerous variant circulating in the country, the focus has turned to young people 12 and older, who are less likely to get vaccinated, and to children younger than that, who aren’t eligible yet for the COVID-19 vaccines. Experts like former FDA chief Scott Gottlieb are now warning that “we’re going to see that children and schools do become more of a focal point of spread” as schools reopen later this summer.

* COVID May Cause Long-Term Brain Loss, Study Says

*** UPDATE 1 *** Just 38 percent of Schuyler County is vaccinated…

A COVID-19 outbreak at an Illinois summer camp has infected dozens of people, health officials say.

The outbreak stemming from The Crossing Camp in Rushville has led to over 50 people being infected with the virus, the Pike County Health Department said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the health department in nearby Schuyler County said the coronavirus exposure happened during a camp from June 13 to 17. The church camp was designated for students from 8th to 12th grade, according to the camp website.

*** UPDATE 2 *** IDPH…

In mid-June, more than 50 teens and adult staff at a summer youth camp in central Illinois tested positive for COVID-19. At least one person was hospitalized. Although all campers and staff were eligible for vaccination, IDPH is aware of only a handful of campers and staff receiving the vaccine. The camp was not checking vaccination status and masking was not required while indoors. All campers and staff went home and were asked to be tested and told to quarantine. As more transmissible and dangerous COVID-19 variants spread, including the Delta variant, largely among people who have not been vaccinated, IDPH continues to encourage all residents 12 years and older to be vaccinated.