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No Spectators for 2021 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Officials say they see no way to properly social distance the thousands that come out to the start.
January 2, 2021
DULUTH, Minn.- The 41st Annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is planned to go on this year, but it will look different as no spectators will be allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings.
Every year thousands of spectators gather at the start of the race at Billy’s Bar in Duluth.
But according to Beargrease spokesperson Monica Hendrickson, organizers saw no way to properly social distance the large crowd this year. “Safety has always been our number one priority for our organization whether it’s a COVID year or non-COVID year,” she said.
PEORIA
Peoria County needs to explain why information regarding restaurants’ possible violations of indoor dining rules aren t being released to the public, said an attorney with the Illinois Press Association.
Don Craven, who has spent years working with the state s Freedom of Information Act, said the burden is not on the media or public to explain why they want the records, but rather on the county itself to say why the records shouldn t be released. And the Springfield attorney explained why there may be a “hodgepodge” of different practices around the state.
His comments come after Peoria County officials earlier this month denied both a Journal Star reporter s request and a Freedom of Information Act filing by the paper seeking the names of restaurants and bars submitted by citizens through the Health Department s complaint process, and whether they have received citations by the Health Department or been referred to State s Attorney Jodi Hoos for enforcement of an