25 Years Ago This Week
Sullivan’s D&B Refuse Service and three Decatur trash services were purchased by American Disposal Services, Inc. The company also named Steve Loveall, former owner of D&B, to oversee central Illinois operations of the company. The hub of American Disposal’s operations was at Loveall’s site in Sullivan. Read More
•July 5, 2023•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki @ capitolnewsillinois.com
A new state fiscal year will begin July 1, ushering in the reinstatement of a 1 percent tax on groceries and a second increase to the state’s motor fuel tax in 2023.
Amid record-high inflation last spring, the General Assembly temporarily waived Illinois’ grocery tax for the coming fiscal year and delayed the annual increase in the state’s motor fuel tax for six months. Democrats introduced both those measures as part of a larger tax relief package that drew criticisms for its proximity to the November general election.
“What we did last year was a temporary measure because we had very high inflation,” Pritzker said when asked at an unrelated news conference Tuesday whether the changes were election-related. “Inflation, you may notice, has come down.”
Inflation was approaching 9 percent when the tax relief plan passed last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but it was 4 percent last month when the fiscal year 2024 was budget passed. Read More
•July 5, 2023•
Many communities across the Midwest have already begun experiencing severe weather as warm, humid air-masses from the Gulf of Mexico have collided with the cooler, dryer air from Canada, resulting in unstable atmospheric conditions.
Although thunderstorms and tornadoes can happen anytime during the year, most occur during the warmer months. April, May, and June are the most active months for tornadoes across the US, and in Illinois, nearly 80% of all tornadoes occur during this time. Thunderstorms are commonly seen from April into the early fall; however, the greatest activity occurs from May through July.
Be prepared Read More
•July 5, 2023•
One of most common health issues in older adults is the leading cause of blindness worldwide but is also safely and easily correctable – cataracts.
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital is drawing attention to Cataract Awareness Month this June to educate the public on the symptoms of cataracts and offer ways to correct this vision issue. According to the National Eye Institute, a cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye (the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light). Cataracts are quite common as we age. In fact, more than half of all Americans will have a cataract by the time they are 80 years old. Read More
•July 5, 2023•
By Peter Hancock
Capitol News Illinois
phancock @ capitolnewsillinois.com
Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday that will dramatically alter the health insurance market in Illinois.
The measures establish a state-based exchange for policies sold under the Affordable Care Act and give the Illinois Department of Insurance the authority to modify or reject proposed rate increases.
“Since day one of my administration, I’ve been committed to making health care more equitable and holistic and accessible,” Pritzker said at a bill signing ceremony in Chicago. “With these bills, we aren’t just increasing access to affordable preventative care, we’re improving the quality of life for millions who call Illinois home.”
Under the Affordable Care Act, people who are not eligible for Medicaid but who do not have access to affordable health insurance through their employer can buy subsidized policies through an online exchange operated by either the federal government or their state government. Read More
•July 5, 2023•
Lake Land College recently announced that more than 700 part-time students earned academic honors for the 2023 Spring semester.
To qualify for the president’s list, a student must have completed six to 11 credit hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.8 – 4.0.
To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must have completed six to 11 credit hours in courses numbered 040 or higher per semester, excluding summer term, with a GPA of 3.65 – 3.79. Read More
Photo furnished
Sullivan Students Attend National Vision Conference
The 2023 National Vision Conference for Student Council took place in Collinsville, IL June 26 thru 28 and the Sullivan High School Student Council sent three students and their advisor, Marsha Kirby. Senior Daniel Downs and Junior Addison Brush both serve on the Illinois Association of Student Councils executive board as public relations director and convention secretary respectively and Junior Katilyn Kirby is the President of the Eastern Illinois District Association of Student Councils. The Sullivan High School Student Council will be the official host of the 2024 Illinois Association of Student Councils conference which will be held in Springfield.
•July 5, 2023•
Lake Land College recently announced that more than 800 full-time students earned academic honors for the 2023 Spring semester.
A grade “A” is four points, a “B” is three points, a “C” is two points, etc. Read More
•July 5, 2023•
The East Central Illinois Red Cross Club, in conjunction with the South-Central Illinois Region of the American Red Cross, is gathering items needed by local veterans.
Their food drive will run from July 3 through July 10 and items may be dropped off at Kirby Foods in Sullivan and at The Houser Agency - Country Financial at 1102 W. Jackson Street in Sullivan. Read More
•July 5, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
Last week we looked at how jargon can create roadblocks in our writing, how it can turn off or confuse readers.
This week, it’s all about ridding our writing of unnecessary words.
Again, this comes in the form of a letter to the staff I’m sharing with you.
As with jargon, unnecessary words make reading a slog. And we know online readers, at least, appreciate it when we get to the point. It’s demoralizing to learn how short readers’ attention spans are. In some cases, the average digital reader moves on before the point of the story is expressed. Read More