•February 17, 2021•
Gov. JB Pritzker’s office says he will propose a budget with no tax increases for the upcoming fiscal year, and the deficit is now projected at about $2.5 billion less than previously thought.
The governor introduces his proposed budget each year, but lawmakers in the General Assembly have the ultimate say as to what funding gets appropriated. Pritzker is scheduled to outline his full budget proposal on Feb. 17 in a virtual message, although details have not been finalized, according to his office.
In a brief, 250-word outline of the upcoming fiscal year 2022 budget proposal, the governor’s office said the state will keep spending flat from a year ago while closing “corporate tax loopholes” worth $900 million. The outline did not identify any specific loopholes. Read More

•February 17, 2021•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

My wife walked into my ersatz office Tuesday morning while I was between meetings and proffered her spoon.
Is this one I send shuddering down the garbage disposal, I thought?
And then I saw it: a lone, misshapen Cheerio.
“It was the last one in the bowl,” she said. “Look.”
Pareidolia strikes again!
On Wednesday morning, my wife shared with me a Cheerios ad on the TV that announced General Mills had begin adding heart-shaped Cheerios to its boxes to spice things up.
So, it was not an example of pareidolia at all. Read More

•February 17, 2021•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator, U of I Extension
Extension Educator Diane Reinhold recently posted this article about sleep on her blog, and I felt like this would be great information to share. Diane says that adequate, quality sleep is essential for our health and wellbeing. Sleep helps the body to heal and restore itself. It is vital for brain and heart health, mood and physical function, and a healthy immune system. However, as we age, many people report issues related to the amount of time they sleep and their overall sleep quality. Older adults tend to wake more frequently and spend less time in deep sleep. Although total sleep time is decreased only slightly, from 6.5 to 7 hours/night, the perception of sleep time and quality will differ compared to younger adults. Older adults may have difficulties falling and staying asleep, spend more time in light sleep, and frequently wake due to anxiety, pain, discomfort, or the need to use the restroom. Read More

•February 17, 2021•
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and the C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 Program health services are based on the premise that a child must be healthy to be ready to learn and good oral health is essential to a child’s behavioral, speech, language, and overall growth and development. Head Start works to ensure that children receive oral health assessments, follow-up and any needed dental treatment by helping families establish a dental home, as an ongoing source of preventive and primary care. Head Start program activities promote good dental hygiene in the classroom and at home visits. If interested in the C.E.F.S. Head Start 0-5 program, please call/text 217-663-7822.

25 Years Ago This Week

The Sullivan school district announced an open house and dedication ceremony for the new elementary school. The public was encouraged to tour the new school upon the completion of the ceremony.
A much-debated science course finally got a tentative green light from the Bethany school board. Late last year, board members sent a proposal for an introductory science course back to the district’s curriculum committee for consideration. The science course proposal was voted down. The opponent complained that the course was “watered down” and that the science curriculum should be more challenging for students. The introductory physical science/chemical science class—geared more towards application than theory—was back before the board after having been approved again by the district’s curriculum committee. A motion was made that the course be adopted for a year while being evaluated, and that it count as a science credit. Read More