Pritzker signs bills allowing state to review insurance rate hikes
byPeter Hancock Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday, August 4, that will give the Illinois Department of Insurance authority to review and approve rate changes for homeowners and automobile policies. “It’s not asking too much to say to insurance companies, if you’re telling your customers that rate hikes are necessary, you should be able to…
Read MoreState to lay off hundreds at troubled southern Illinois mental health facility
byJackson BrandhorstandSaluki Local Reporting Lab ANNA — The Illinois Department of Human Services announced that the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna will lay off staff and undergo several operational changes in the coming months, including the elimination of the state-run facility’s entire general residential program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.…
Read MorePritzker signs school cellphone ban to avoid student distractions
byPeter Hancock Students in all Illinois public schools will soon have to abide by rules barring them from using cellphones or other personal electronic communication devices during school hours unless they have been given specific permission to use them. Although many districts already have similar policies in place, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday, July…
Read MoreAviation budget proposal could threaten airline service at downstate airports
byBen Szalinski Funding for commercial flights to small airports around the country, including to three communities in Illinois, could be reduced under President Donald Trump’s budget proposal. Congress is evaluating the budget proposal, which calls for reducing funding for the Essential Air Service program at the U.S. Department of Transportation by $372 million. The program,…
Read MoreState Rep. Carol Ammons, husband, plead not guilty to corruption charges
byPeter Hancock URBANA — State Rep. Carol Ammons and her husband, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, entered not guilty pleas to federal corruption charges Thursday, July 16, while their supporters claimed their prosecutions were racially motivated. The two were charged in an indictment handed down July 7 in the Central District of Illinois. They made…
Read MorePritzker says he doesn’t know details of deadly Jan. 4 shooting by Illinois State Police
byJerry Nowicki Gov. JB Pritzker said he has not seen the video of an Illinois State Police trooper shooting an unarmed woman to death in January, though he reiterated trust in the department’s leadership on Wednesday, July 22. “So, I have to admit that the details of the decision about that, I do not know.…
Read MoreFor Your Health — Can Your Breakfast Help Lower Cancer Risk?
By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center Don’t sleep on the cancer prevention benefits of a healthy breakfast. Whether it’s oatmeal, whole-wheat toast, berries in Greek yogurt or other healthy combinations, starting the morning with simple, whole foods is a great way to help lower the risk of cancer while also energizing your day…
Read MoreIn the Shawnee: Alpha-gal syndrome poses threat to southern Illinoisans as tick population surges
By Kristin Borchers & Riley Sembler | Saluki Local Reporting Lab for Capitol News Illinois MURPHYSBORO — Amanda Allen Hall meticulously plans every meal. She avoids restaurants. Spending time outdoors requires careful consideration, a painful reality for the former hiking enthusiast since she developed alpha-gal syndrome eight years ago. A mere step outside leaves her…
Read MoreFor Your Health — Health and Wellness Tips for Cancer Survivors
By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center Most of us have been touched by cancer in some way. Maybe we have friends or family who’ve been diagnosed, or maybe you’re one of the 18 million people in the U.S. living as a cancer survivor. Given cancer’s seriousness, its extent can certainly feel concerning, especially…
Read MoreFor Your Health — At Any Age, We Can Cut the Risk of Colorectal Cancer
By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center Recent headlines have pushed colorectal cancer back to the top of news feeds with the unfortunate passing of actor James Van Der Beek. Like Chadwick Bozeman, who died of the disease in 2020, Van Der Beek was diagnosed at a relatively young age, part of a troubling…
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