•October 18, 2017•

By Trudy Lieberman
Rural Health News Service

As annual enrollment for Obamacare insurance approaches on November 1, the law itself and the people who have come to depend on it for health coverage are both facing an uncertain future.

President Trump’s recent executive actions affect the complicated insurance mechanics of the Affordable Care Act, and they haven’t been well explained in the news media. This column will explain how those changes affect you.

Congress has tried but has not been able to “repeal and replace” the law that has brought health insurance to some 10 million Americans who buy insurance on the state shopping exchanges and about 10 million more who gained access through Medicaid expansion.

The failure of Congress to pass the “repeal and replace” legislation did not mean, though, that the law would remain intact.  Read More

•October 11, 2017•

Bring awareness to all types of cancer and join in the fun at Paint the Town 5K Color Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 14, in Mattoon.

Sponsored by Sarah Bush Lincoln, Paint the Town begins at 8 am at KC Summers on Broadway Ave., following an established “Run for the Bagel” route through Lytle Park and ending at the Mattoon Area Family YMCA. The run will feature the opportunity to run through “color” and hosts water stops at two locations. Read More

•October 11, 2017•

Decatur Memorial Hospital and SIU Medicine are hosting Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day Decatur on Wednesday, October 18 in the Classroom Complex at the Hospital at 5:30 p.m. This event focuses on breast reconstruction and life after breast cancer.

This free program will feature the following speakers and topics:

Breast Cancer Treatment- George Liu, M.D., General, Breast Surgeon, DMH Medical Group Read More

Unknown Sullivan Couple Commits Act of Kindness

In a world that is full of anger I was recently blown away by the kindness of a couple from Sullivan I met last Sunday.

I was standing in line at a Stephen King book signing at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. on Sunday, October 1 when I met the couple. We had a good time speaking while in line, and once inside they were in the row behind me. Read More

•October 11, 2017•

Cook County’s penny-per-ounce tax on sweetened beverages, often called the “soda tax,” would be repealed under legislation (SB 2238) filed by State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet).

“Many people just ‘roll their eyes’ at Cook County’s new soda tax as more of the same from the ‘nanny state’ that is Chicago,” Rose said. “But, people need to realize that Chicago’s actions will have a direct negative impact here in Central Illinois as one of the primary ingredients in any sweetened beverage is corn. So, agriculture will take a hit under this tax that is aimed at lowering consumption. Moreover, downstate companies and industries like ADM and Tate & Lyle and the shipping sector are directly engaged in the manufacturing of these ingredients. So make no mistake, Cook County’s actions will negatively impact us.  Read More