By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News
Bobcats are no longer endangered, and a newly signed bill aims to curtail what some downstate lawmakers say is a rapidly growing population. Bobcats were endangered in Illinois from 1977 to 1999, but their numbers have recovered. Some worry a bobcat hunting season will endanger the animals once again. The measure barely passed the house – it got 60 votes, the minimum number required. Bobcat season will run from November 1st to February 15th, hunters will be allowed to kill one animal per season for a fee of no more than $5.
In other state news, the American Red Cross blood and platelet donors can now help save lives in less time by using the new Red Cross RapidPass online health history system.
RapidPass streamlines the donation experience by allowing donors to complete pre-donation reading and health history questions online from the convenience of a computer at home or work. It became available to donors locally on July 13 and is expected to reduce the time donors with a RapidPass spend at blood drives by up to 15 minutes.
To get a RapidPass on the day of a blood donation, donors should visit redcrossblood.org/rapidpass, complete all of the questions, then print their RapidPass or show it on a mobile device when they come to donate.
