The WMOK News Check
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Good Morning Metropolis, Massac County and Beyond!
Coming up today in Metropolis and Massac County.
Sunset this evening in Massac County is 4:52 PM.
Tomorrow’s Sunrise is 7:09 AM.
Community Events & Meetings
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Massac County Historical Society: Meeting tonight at 6:30 PM at the Elijah P. Curtis Home (405 Market St.).
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C.O.P.E. Food Pantry: Distribution is open today from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM at 1013 North Avenue in Metropolis. (Requires photo I.D. and proof of residency).
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Happy Hearts Senior Center: Morning Coffee Time begins at 7:00 AM, followed by lunch at 11:30 AM (7th and Pearl Streets).
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Massac Unit #1 Schools: Students return to class today following the Christmas/New Year’s Break.
On the Radar
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Metropolis City Council: The first meeting of the month is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan 6 (due to the typical schedule of 1st and 3rd Tuesdays).
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Massac County Commissioners: Also scheduled to meet tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan 6, at 1 Superman Square.
On This Day: Pop Culture & History
By U.S. Treasury Department – United States Treasury Department film, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13616319
The Original Superman: A big one for Metropolis! George Reeves, the actor who famously played the Man of Steel in The Adventures of Superman, was born on this day in 1914.
A “Boss” Debut (1973): Bruce Springsteen released his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. *
Hollywood Birthdays: Actors Bradley Cooper (1975), Diane Keaton (1946), and Robert Duvall (1931).
Photo: IMDB
Bozo the Clown: The iconic children’s show premiered on TV on this day in 1949.
Golden Gate Bridge: Construction officially began in San Francisco on January 5, 1933.
Local News & Event Briefs
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School’s Back: Today marks the official return to the classroom for Massac Unit #1 students following the Christmas and New Year’s break. Watch for school zones and buses!
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C.O.P.E. Food Pantry: Distribution is open today from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM at 1013 North Avenue. (Remember to bring your photo I.D. and proof of Massac County residency).
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Happy Hearts Coffee: Start your morning at the Happy Hearts Senior Center with coffee at 7:00 AM and lunch served at 11:30 AM.
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Massac County Historical Society: They meet tonight at 6:30 PM at the Elijah P. Curtis Home.
Illinois & Massac County History
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Lincoln vs. Douglas (1859): On this day, the Illinois General Assembly re-elected Stephen A. Douglas to the U.S. Senate over Abraham Lincoln. At the time, state legislatures chose Senators, not the public.
Wacky, Weird & Wonderful
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National Bird Day: It’s a day to appreciate our feathered friends.
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National Whipped Cream Day: Appropriately falls on the birthday of Reddi-wip founder Aaron Lapin. A perfect excuse for an extra dollop on your morning coffee.
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The $5 Day (1914): Henry Ford shocked the world by doubling his workers’ pay to $5 a day. In today’s money, that’s about $150—an “unheard of” amount at the time that helped create the American middle class.
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The Door Plug Incident: A more modern “weird” anniversary—last year (2025), January 5th was the date a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines flight mid-air!
WMOK News: The New Illinois Laws – Part 18 – Barrier Down: Pharmacists Now Authorized to Dispense Contraceptives Without a Doctor’s Visit
In a major step toward expanding reproductive healthcare access across the state, a new law (HB 3489) takes effect on January 1, 2026, empowering licensed pharmacists to assess patients and dispense a full range of contraceptives, including emergency contraception, without requiring a traditional doctor’s prescription.
This change is particularly vital for residents in rural or underserved areas of Southern Illinois, where access to primary care physicians or OB-GYNs can be limited by distance and appointment wait times.
Key Requirements of Pharmacist Contraceptive Dispensing
This law updates the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act and expands the existing authorization for pharmacists to counsel and dispense birth control:
1. Full Scope of Contraceptives Included
The law broadens the types of contraceptives a pharmacist can dispense under a standing order or protocol, now explicitly covering:
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Hormonal Contraceptives (e.g., birth control pills, patches, rings).
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Non-Hormonal Contraceptives (where applicable under protocol).
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Emergency Contraception (such as Plan B or Ella).
2. Assessment and Consultation Are Required
The pharmacist’s role is not just dispensing. The new law provides that the “practice of pharmacy” now formally includes the assessment and consultation of patients for this purpose.
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To dispense contraceptives, the pharmacist must complete an accredited educational training program and follow a detailed protocol, including a patient self-screening risk assessment (based on the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria) and blood pressure measurement.
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The consultation must occur in a private setting to maintain patient confidentiality.
3. Improving Timeliness and Access
By removing the mandatory intermediate step of a separate doctor’s appointment for prescription renewal or initial consultation, the law addresses a significant barrier to timely care. For emergency contraceptives, this ability to access the medication immediately from a local pharmacy can be critical.
4. Medicaid Coverage Updated
The law also amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to ensure that the medical assistance program (Medicaid) will cover patient care services provided by a pharmacist for contraceptives, ensuring that low-income patients also benefit from this expanded access model.
WMOK's Coffee Break Program:
We invite you to text
questions and topics for our guests to
618-524-9209
WMOK School and Sports News
WMOK Broadcast Schedule:
1/6 Boys vs. Herrin – 7:15 Acee’s Neighborhood Market Pre-Game Show
1/9 Boys vs. Carterville – 7:15 Acee’s Neighborhood Market Pre-Game Show
1/10 girls vs Goreville – 10:45 Acee’s Neighborhood Market Pre-Game Show
1/10 boys vs Hardin – 7:15 Acee’s Neighborhood Market Pre-Game Show
WMOK School and Sports News
Countdown to the Harry Statham Youth Basketball League: Tip-Off on January 10th, 2026!
Job and Career Listings
Send your Job and Career Listings to WMOK Text the information to 618-524-9209
Links to Local Employers:
Massac Memorial Hospital
MMH is hiring! Join a team that puts patients first and supports the health of our community every day. Compassion. Excellence. Local Care. Apply today at www.massachealth.org/careers or by scanning the QR code.
Rural Health, Inc.
Metropolis Big John
Shawnee Community College
City of Metropolis
Southern Seven Health Department
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