Aggregator

PEORIA - The omicron variant is loosening its grip on the United States, as COVID-19 cases continue their sharp decline. Mask mandates are lifting and hospitals are getting a much-needed respite from near-capacity inpatient cases. Despite this positive trend, however, health care experts want parents of recently COVID-positive kids to watch for symptoms of an inflammatory syndrome that can manifest weeks after infection. The shock-like syndrome, dubbed "multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children" (MIS-C) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mimics a relatively rare inflammatory illness called Kawasaki disease. MIS-C comes with fever, red eyes, swelling of hands and feet, abdominal pain, and other symptoms. “It looks a little bit like Kawasaki disease or sometimes like Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome or Staph scalded skin syndrome. Some of these children tested positive for coronavirus or tested positive for antibodies to the virus, indicating previous

Continue Reading

URBANA - When I want to get inspired by my work with local small farmers, I make my way to Clara Joyce Flowers . There, farmer Drew Groezinger inevitably has something new going on. My visits have coincided with high tunnels being erected, a field of newly planted hemp, propagation houses busting at the seams with trays ready to be planted, preparation for social media launches, the creation of value-added products, and an innovative evolution of a farmstand. In my years of these ‘drop-ins’, the most dramatic change is the transition from colorful fields of vegetables to cascading seas of dahlias, ranunculus, sunflowers, peonies, and other specialty cut flowers. To understand Clara Joyce Flowers and the work that Drew and his team do is to first understand that it was not “always flowers but it was always going to be flowers.” As a seventh-generation resident of Jo Daviess County in the Driftless Region of Northwest Illinois, Drew grew up surrounded by rolling

Continue Reading

The Conversation — When Russia invaded Ukraine , I responded like many Americans: by making charitable donations . I was able to make my gift with confidence because I’m a scholar of nonprofits who has studied giving during disasters and other crises . Mostly I’ve studied how charities help local communities after events like hurricanes and earthquakes , rather than war zones. But I’m also a human being, with friends and colleagues who are Ukrainian. Empathy and a personal connection to a cause are often what motivates donors to act . You can wisely choose causes with the potential to do the most good in the middle of this humanitarian crisis by giving with your head as well as your heart. Here are the five guidelines I follow in my own giving decisions: 5 guidelines for donors 1) Send money to organizations, not strangers Crowdfunding and social media fundraising campaigns have become so common that when I recently searched GoFundMe, i

Continue Reading

The Center Square – The search is on for the coolest thing made in Illinois. The Illinois Manufacturers' Association is launching its third annual “Makers Madness” contest in which the public will vote which product earns the 2022 title. IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler notes that Illinois manufacturers produce everything from life-saving vaccines to components used for space exploration, and there is no reason why Illinois shouldn’t be the nation’s leader in the manufacturing industry. “We have everything it takes to be successful,” Denzler said. “We have a modern infrastructure system, we have great colleges and universities, we have an educated workforce, we have reliable and low-cost energy, and we are the only state in the nation with all seven Class 1 railroads.” Previous contest winners include a mining truck made by Caterpillar Inc., which is the world’s largest mechanical truck, and a self-regulating traffic

Continue Reading

MT. GREENWOOD - It’s that time of year. Cold winter weather and dry air are here. When you think about the winter season, you can’t help but remember those mornings waking up with a dry mouth, sore throat, and sinus congestion. Of course, we are on high alert for COVID-19 and the flu . Still, other factors play a role in those unpleasant symptoms that are not directly related to infection, particularly when it comes to your sinuses. Environmental allergies and dry winter air can also cause sinus congestion . What happens The nose warms and humidifies the air inhaled with moisture that evaporates from the lining of the nasal passage. When exposed to cold and dry air, the lining of the nose becomes irritated and inflamed, and it produces more mucus, resulting in nasal congestion. The excessive mucus drips into the throat and irritates it, causing a cough . The excess mucus can also obstruct the sinuses and become trapped, encouraging bacteria to grow. If it’s

Continue Reading

URBANA – As prime tornado season approaches, know what a tornado warning means and what to do. The National Weather Service issues a tornado warning under two conditions, says Duane Friend , University of Illinois Extension natural resources educator: rotation is indicated by weather radar, or rotation has been observed by trained spotters. If a warning is issued for the area, it means residents in the warning area are in the projected path. Bulletins often discuss the potential impact damage from the tornado. What to do during a tornado warning "First thing to do when a tornado warning is issued for your area is to take cover immediately," Friend says. "Do not go outside to look for the tornado; it may approach quickly with little time to get to safety." Damage from downed trees and flying debris may also occur. Tornado warnings may include these cautions: "life-threatening situation," "flying debris may be deadly," or “damage is likely to occur to buildings, with

Continue Reading

Behold the strategic genius of Donald Trump: Trump mused to donors that we should take our F-22 planes, "put the Chinese flag on them and bomb the shit out" out of Russia. "And then we say, China did it, we didn't do, China did it, and then they start fighting with each other and we ...continue reading "Donald Trump, master great power strategist, has an idea"

Anti-censorship T-shirts make a statement in the backlash to book challenges in Wentzville School District.

Police said a man and woman were injured early Saturday morning when several men fired shots at a bar on the city's north side.

Hundreds of people gathered to voice their opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that's stretched into its second week.

Ryan Baird walked hours to make it out of Ukraine to Poland. His wife, Anastasia, eventually also made it to the neighboring country before they reunited in Germany.

Affinia Healthcare and dental students from A.T. Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health provided the services.

In Illinois, the statewide average is $4.15, while it stands at $3.56 in Missouri.

The vocal group calling for unity against Russia caught many onlookers in St. Charles by surprise. But some joined in.