News Progress

•January 20, 20201•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guesdt Writer

I had a friend during the 1980s, whose identity I will not divulge, who was fond of the film “Henry V,” starring Kenneth Branagh as Henry, Prince of Wales.
I loved it, too.
Branagh, who cut his teeth on Shakespeare on stage, took on a big, sweeping production for his first Hollywood directorial effort.
My friend was so enthralled by the battle scenes and a young Branagh that she asked me whether we could rent the prequels.
(cough) Read More

Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator

Winter is upon us and those longer hours of darkness coupled with the colder temperatures can make many people experience those “winter blues.” Throw in a pandemic where we are isolating from others, and I’m afraid we are going to see more people experiencing those blues and maybe worse this season. I have become much more aware recently of the signs of mental health issues having just completed Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Trauma-Informed Care trainings, and also co-facilitating a youth mental health awareness program called Your Thoughts Matter. I would highly recommend anyone to complete MHFA as the purpose is to help you recognize when someone is having difficulties and be able to respond in a helpful way. And it is very likely that you will need to be there for someone in that circumstance since according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, one in four American adults is diagnosed with a mental disorder in their lifetime and half of those disorders begin by age 14 and three quarters by age 24.
There are many ways to try and prevent those winter blues from sneaking up on us and to maintain positive mental health. Here are just a few tips to get started: Read More

Indoor dining allowed in Tier 1, but no regions there yet; Vaccine Phase 1B starting Jan. 25

•January 20, 20201•
By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com

Gov. JB Pritzker announced revisions to his COVID-19 mitigation tiers Friday that would allow earlier indoor dining, but no regions have thus far met the requirements.
He also announced that the whole state would move to Phase 1B of vaccination efforts as of Jan. 25, while some counties might already individually have entered that phase. As well, a new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus has been confirmed to be spreading in Illinois.
Per the revisions, indoor dining will be allowed in Phase 1 of the mitigation plan with the lesser of 25 people or 25 percent capacity allowed. An establishment must serve food to be able to offer indoor service, reservations will be required, tables will be limited to four people each, and the establishments must be closed between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Read More

•January 20, 20201•
Impaired visibility can be a safety hazard while driving. Everything from sun glare to hail can affect a driver’s ability to see the road and navigate it effectively. Before drivers get behind the wheel, they should make note of their local forecast and make a plan for what to do if rain, snow or other conditions make it challenging to drive.
The International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences indicates that, based on an examination of crash test data conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the “likelihood of a crash increases during periods of low visibility, despite the tendency for less traffic and for lower speeds to prevail during these times.”
Drivers can take several steps to improve their visibility when driving in poor weather conditions. Read More

•January 20, 20201•
By Tim Kirsininkas
Capitol News Illinois
tkirsininkas @ capitolnewsillinois.com

While there have been no confirmed threats made against the Illinois Capitol, heightened security measures remain in place “out of an abundance of caution” after a quiet weekend in the capital city.
State officials said it will remain that way until sometime after the Wednesday inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Following a riot at the U.S. capitol building on Jan. 6 and an FBI warning about possible armed protests around the nation in the lead-up to Biden’s inauguration, Gov. JB Pritzker activated 250 members of the Illinois National Guard Friday. Their task is to support law enforcement’s efforts to secure the city.
“Following the violent siege at our nation’s Capitol and reports from federal law enforcement on threats to state capitols, I am bringing all resources to bear to protect our residents and our democratic process,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release Friday.
Pritzker said Friday there were no specific threats necessitating the activation, other than the FBI’s Jan. 11 warning about possible armed protests in all 50 states. Read More