•March 15, 2023•
The population is growing and so is its demand for food to fuel those extra bodies. Harvard Business Review reports the global population has quadrupled over the last century. It’s predicted that, by 2050, the population will exceed nine billion people.
The world is not able to feed all of its inhabitants, according to Penn State. There are more than one billion people who are estimated to lack sufficient food, and two billion who do not receive adequate nutrition. Researchers from the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota concluded that, to feed the world by 2030, yields on maize, rice, wheat, and soybeans will have to rise by 60 to 110 percent. At the start of 2023, projections show them only increasing by 45 to 60 percent. There are a few reasons why food supply may not meet up with demand. Read More
Category Archives: News Briefs
IL NRCS Announces Acting State Conservationist
•March 15, 2023•
With the retirement of State Conservationist Ivan Dozier, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would like to announce that Tammy Willis has been selected to serve a 120-detail as the Acting State Conservationist for Illinois until the position is filled permanently. Willis began her detail on February 27 and has assumed all duties of the Illinois State Conservationist position. Her bio follows.
Tammy Willis is the NRCS Illinois Acting State Conservationist, headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, and has worked for the agency for 28 years. Read More
Menu 3-15-2023
Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
March 20 - Cowboy Casserole, Corn, Applesauce, Dessert
March 21 - Marinated Pork Loin, Twice Baked Potato, Casserole, Green Beans Italiano, Mixed Tropical Fruit, Roll
March 22 - Beef Stew w/Potatoes and Carrots, Seasoned Cauliflower, Cole Slaw, Biscuit
March 23 - Italian Chicken over Rice, Roasted Root Veggies, Tomatoes w/Basil, Peaches
March 24 - Tuna Noodle Casserole, Peas, Baked Onions, Pineapple, Bread
March 27 - Three Bean Chili, Pickled Beets, Fruit, Cornbread and Crackers
March 28 - Pulled Pork, Corn, Lima Beans, Potato Salad, Bun
March 29 - Taco Salad, Sliced Pears, Whole Grain Chips, Dessert
March 30 - Gnocchi Chicken Bake, Broccoli, Peas & Pearl Onions, Fruit Dessert
March 31 - Vegetable Lasagna, Seasoned Green Beans, Cinnamon Applesauce, Romaine Salad
LLC to Host Open House
•March 15, 2023•
Lake Land College will host a Social Science and Education Open House Friday, March 31 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Read More
Regular or Irregular … It’s Up to You
•March 15, 2023•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
My wife spends her slumbers dreaming up ways to solve complex problems.
I merely dream up situations from which I cannot extricate myself and ridiculous scenarios involving work.
We both wake up exhausted, but at least her dreams are productive. Her sleep-borne solutions actually work in waking life.
She woke the other day and ask me whether she “dreamed” something or “dreamt” it.
She also wanted to know whether it was better to say someone “leaped” or “leapt.”
Those who watch a lot of BBC mysteries on Acorn likely prefer “dreamt” and “leapt,” because they are chiefly British irregular verb forms. Read More
Remember When? 3-15-2023
25 Years Ago This Week
Lois Shuman, a kindergarten teacher in Sullivan, was named Teacher of Excellence by the Sullivan Community Education Foundation at its annual Teacher Recognition Banquet. The award included a $1,000 honorarium from the Foundation which Shuman could use for classroom materials. Major and mini grants were also awarded during the program.
The congregation of the Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan gathered to recognize the Rev. Paul McGhghy for his 30 years in the ministry. He served the local church for 13 of those years. Read More
Illinois Earns Credit Upgrade
•March 8, 2023•
By Peter Hancock
Capitol News Illinois
S&P Global Ratings announced Thursday that it had raised Illinois’ long-term credit rating to A-, up from BBB+, marking the seventh upgrade the state has received from a major rating agency in less than two years.
The rating applies to roughly $27.7 billion in outstanding general obligation, or GO, bonds.
“The upgrade on the GO debt reflects our view that Illinois’ commitment and execution to strengthen its budgetary flexibility and stability, supported by accelerating repayment of its liabilities, rebuilding its budget stabilization fund to decade highs; and a slowing of statutory pension funding growth, will likely continue during the outlook period,” S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Geoff Buswick said in a news release.
Bonds are a tool that governments and businesses use to borrow money, typically for long-term capital projects such as building construction or other kinds of infrastructure. GO bonds are backed by the government’s general taxing authority but other bonds may be backed by more specific revenue sources, such as sales or motor fuel taxes. Higher bond ratings generally mean the borrower – in this case the state – pays lower interest rates. Read More
Greenhill Cemetery Cleanup
•March 8, 2023•
The City of Sullivan will begin its quarterly cleanup of the Greenhill Cemetery on Monday, March 20. Residents with surface flowers, wreaths, grave blankets or any other ground surface decorations should remove them by Sunday, March 18, 2023 if they wish to keep them. The cemetery personnel will not pick up any flowers in vases or on the monuments unless deteriorated. The cemetery does not have a facility to store unclaimed decorations, so if you wish to keep your items, please pick them up by this date. Please allow at least one week before replacing any items due to the excessive amount of items on various graves. All decorations, flowers and benches must be placed in the monument row. No items including mulch are allowed to be placed in the middle, foot, bordering or elsewhere on the grave site. Items that are not placed by the rules and regulations will be removed. Also any landscaping found that was not pre-approved will be removed. Questions or concerns call 217-728-8043.
LLC Spring Enrollment Up
•March 8, 2023•
Lake Land College enrollment in workforce ready and non-degree programs are up by almost 12% at Lake Land College, following a positive Spring Enrollment Report.
The report also indicates Lake Land College remains the top choice for in-district, college-bound seniors.
Enrollment in short-term certificate programs increased by 26% and enrollment in technical/trade degrees increased by 8.64%. Both of these options prepare students to enter the workforce following completion of the program.
Students enrolled in non-degree courses saw a 3% increase. Read More
High Prices, Gaps in Availability Across Illinois Highlight Patchwork Child Care System
As Pritzker makes $250M pitch for child care investment, data show the obstacles to access across Illinois
•March 8, 2023•
By Andrew Adams
Capitol News Illinois
aadams @ capitolnewsillinois.com
In some Illinois communities, finding child care isn’t just a routine task for families to work through, but a seemingly impossible dream.
In some of those places, costs are too high for middle class families to afford. In others, day cares have had to cut staff, limiting the number of available placements. Some areas, especially rural ones, have just one or two licensed day care centers for a population of hundreds of children.
Gov. JB Pritzker has made child care and early childhood education a priority in this year’s proposed budget. Since introducing his budget on Feb. 15, he has visited child care centers in eight cities to promote his “Smart Start” plan, a program of policies aimed at bolstering the child care workforce and making it more affordable for families.
“It is important to us to make sure that every 3- and 4-year-old in Illinois can go to preschool and have child care available to them,” Pritzker said during the Springfield stop on his multi-city tour. Read More