© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

LaHood Concerned About Low Vaccination Rates in Rural Areas

Congressman Darin LaHood at Macomb City Hall, where he spoke to members of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce
Rich Egger
/
Tri-States Public Radio
Congressman Darin LaHood at Macomb City Hall, where he spoke to members of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce

Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL) said COVID-19 vaccination rates remain low in many rural parts of his district. He said he does not know why rural residents are hesitant to get inoculated.

“I think some of it is not listening to the science, maybe buying into some of the conspiracy theories. There is a distrust of government sometimes. And I think you have to get over that hurdle,” he said during a stop in Macomb.

LaHood urged people to listen to healthcare professionals. He said they will tell you the vaccine works and that they support the science on it.

The congressman also said people have two choices: they either get the vaccination or they will get COVID-19. He said the pandemic won’t be over until vaccination rates are higher.

“There are still pockets around the country where people haven’t gotten vaccinated and you’re seeing outbreaks of COVID,” he said.

LaHood spoke at Macomb City Hall, where he addressed members of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce.

LaHood on Other Topics

The congressman said funding to improve rural broadband service should be included in the national infrastructure bill.

“Broadband, as we saw during the pandemic, has to be upgraded on the healthcare side, on the education side, on the economic side,” LaHood said.

He said rural regions are not alone -- some urban areas also need improved broadband service.

Congressional district maps for the next ten years have yet to be finalized but LaHood anticipates continuing his service in Washington D.C.

“I’m looking forward to running again in whatever district they give me.”

LaHood also said he is optimistic the House will pass and send to the Senate a bill regarding the New Philadelphia site in Pike County.  

“It would basically put it on the path to be a national park under the park service,” LaHood said. “There is a story and a narrative that is real and a part of our history that needs to be solidified. The National Park Service designation will do that.”

He said as a national park, the site could be staffed and marketed.

Frank McWorter founded New Philadelphia in 1836. It was the first town in the U.S. founded, platted, and registered by an African American.

McWorter was a slave who bought his own freedom in 1819.  Over time he also bought freedom for more than a dozen family members.

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

 

Copyright 2021 Tri States Public Radio. To see more, visit Tri States Public Radio.

Rich is the News Director at Tri States Public Radio. Rich grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago but now calls Macomb home. Rich has a B.A in Communication Studies with an Emphasis on Radio, TV, and Film from Northern Illinois University. Rich came to love radio in high school where he developed his “news nerdiness” as he calls it. Rich’s high school had a radio station called WFVH, which he worked at for a couple years. In college, Rich worked at campus station WKDI for three years, spinning tunes and serving at various times as General Manager, Music Director and Operations Manager. Before being hired as Tri States Public Radio’s news director in 1998, Rich worked professionally in news at WRMN-AM/WJKL-FM in Elgin and WJBC-AM in Bloomington. In Rich’s leisure time he loves music, books, cross-country skiing, rooting for the Cubs and Blackhawks, and baking sugar frosted chocolate bombs. His future plans include “getting some tacos.”