News Progress

•January 24, 2024•

by Daniel Grant

FarmWeek

Illinois once again produced some of the largest crops of any state in the nation despite drought and other weather challenges last year, according to USDA’s crop production report re-leased Jan. 12.

Prairie State farmers produced 648 million bushels of soybeans in 2023 (down from 2022 but the most of any state nationwide) and 2.27 billion bushels of corn (up slightly from the previ-ous year and the second-most nationwide behind Iowa).

Statewide, yields averaged 206 bushels per acre for corn in 2023 (up 3 bushels from the No-vember estimate but down 8 bushels from the 2022 record) and 63 bushels for beans (up 2 bushels from November and even with last year). Read More

2014

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond held an 18-9 lead at the end of the first quarter against Cerro Gordo-Bement and sprang to a 62-55 win and third place title.

Okaw Valley had its second consecutive victory, a 63-41 blowout of Atwood-Hammond. 

The Arthur-Lovington Knights overtook Okaw Valley in the LOVC tourney opener. The Knights rolled to a 61-37 finish after beating OV 60-25 two weeks prior.  Read More

•January 17, 2024•

By Ileana Saveley

Social Security District 

Manager in Decatur, IL

When your child turns 18 years old, they legally become an adult. This is an important time to consider their financial future – especially if they need additional care into adulthood. Here are 5 things that may help you prepare for this milestone:

1. Health and Welfare Decision-making

When your child legally becomes an adult, you can no longer make certain decisions for them about their health and welfare. However, you can stay involved through:

· A Representative Payee: Social Security will determine who best serves as a Representative Payee for your child’s benefits. To learn more about the Representative Payee program, read our webpage at www.ssa.gov/payee/index.htm. Read More

•January 17, 2024•

Cheri Burcham

Extension Educator University of Illinois Extension

Have you ever tried coming up with the name of an animal starting with the letter “a” and going through the whole alphabet?? What about coming up with the names of all the states that do not have the letter “o” in them? Or list the states that share a border with Canada? Do you like trivia questions? Riddles? Finding hidden pictures? If you do, congratulations, you are utilizing your brain in a variety of ways that is very beneficial for cognition! Also, if you do, you would love the Wits Fitness brain health classes that I have been facilitating in Coles and the surrounding counties since 2015! The purpose of these classes has been to educate participants on healthy brain contributors, and to present cognitive or mental challenges to participants in a highly social setting. Participants are not tested for Alzheimer’s Disease, and we make no claims that memory will be regained or that the classes prevent the onset of dementia. Wits Fitness classes simply engage participants in interactive activities that challenge thinking and therefore help them stay mentally active – which can contribute to maintaining and improving brain function. Read More

•January 17, 2024•

Big games dot the college and professional football landscapes each year beginning in late summer and ending in mid-winter. But no games are bigger than those that take place once the calendar turns to a new year. That’s when the postseason begins in both college and professional football. Read More