Category Archives: News Briefs

Pritzker Signs Bills Altering Illinois’ Health Insurance Market

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•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

LLC Part-time Spring Honors List Announced

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•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

Sullivan Students Attend National Vision Conference

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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.

Food Drive for Local Veterans Being Held

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•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

The Ins and Outs of Unnecessary Words

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•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

Facts for Families

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•July 5, 2023•

By Cheri Burcham
Family Life Educator

Three ways to be more mindful this summer

Summer days can often go by so quickly and before you know it, the busy schools days return. Extension Educator Judy Schmidt shares three ways that you can slow down the pace of your summer, spend time in nature, and enjoy the world around you.
Cloud watching: Lay a blanket out on the grass and look at the clouds above you. Look for shapes (animals, food, vehicles) and point them out to see if others can see them too. Notice how the clouds move differently whether it is a windy or calm day. Notice how long it takes before your shape disappears or rearranges into something else. Read More

Damond Boatwright Named Board Chair

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•June 28, 2023•
The Catholic Health Association announced that HSHS President and CEO Damond Boatwright will be inaugurated as chairperson of the association’s Board of Trustees for 2023-24.
Boatwright’s investiture ceremony will take place at CHA’s annual national Assembly in St. Louis on June 13, 2023. His term begins July 1 and he will serve until June 30, 2024.
“I am sincerely honored to serve as the next board chair of the Catholic Health Association, and I pledge to represent the association to the best of my abilities,” said Boatwright. “The opportunity to be a servant leader during these complex and challenging times is truly a blessing.” Read More

Red Cross Volunteers Help 15 People Affected by Home Fires in Past Week

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•June 28, 2023•
American Red Cross volunteers in the South Central Illinois chapter responded to seven home fires in Dalton City, Decatur, Dix, Neoga, Saint Elmo and Springfield in the past week and provided assistance to 15 individuals, through supplying them with items to meet immediate needs after a fire, and additional support in the form of health and mental health services and one-on-one support.
Visit redcross.org/fire for information on setting up your home fire escape drill and to learn more about home fire safety. Download our free Emergency app by searching for “American Red Cross” in app stores or visiting redcross.org/apps.
Please call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) if you or someone you know needs assistance after a home fire or local disaster.
Fourth of July Safety Read More

TK: Why we need to strike jargon onto (cq) the pasteboard (stet)

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•June 28, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

I enjoy writing letters to readers.
Today, I’ll take a crack at writing a letter to our staff and share it with you.
Challenging ourselves to be better is good for the soul, whatever you pursue. In our case, when we’re better you’re the beneficiary.
With that in mind, I offer this up as an open letter to our staff as both the editor of the paper and its self-appointed spokesman for good writing.
Today’s topic: jargon.
You might recall I started my career as a police reporter, and police talk in a code that’s sometimes difficult to decipher.
Eventually, I became a decent translator of copspeak.
However, during my first week on the city staff, I made the mistake of writing about how a village was planning to install French drains.
I didn’t know what a French drain looked like or how it worked, and I didn’t bother to find out (pre-internet) before I turned in my story. Read More