•January 20, 20201•
Remote working has become popular in recent years, but the “working-from-home” economy bloomed exponentially as the world was forced to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom, as of summer 2020, 42 percent of the United States labor force was working from home full-time.
The need for home office spaces has increased as more people work from home. Many people have retrofitted various spaces around their homes into areas to get work done. More organized home work spaces can increase productivity. Individuals can follow these guidelines to create effective, organized home offices.
Begin with the desk Read More
Heightened Security Measures Remain in Place at Illinois Capitol After Quiet Weekend
•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
Remember When? 1-20-2021
25 Years Ago This Week
Don Foster of Bethany established a recording studio behind his white, two-story farmhouse called Studio 121. The studio is a 24 track digital recording facility.
The Sullivan City Council was presented with a $175,000 to $200,000 preliminary estimate for an environmental control system at the Civic Center.
Michael Clark, a fifth grade student at Lovington Grade School won the school-level compettion of the National Geography Bee and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. Read More
Mindful Eating and Health Management
•January 20, 20201•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
I have talked a lot about mindfulness in this column and I wanted to share this article by U of I diabetic intern Andrew Dinsmoor, which focuses on mindful eating. Andrew says: Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, known for founding the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course, defines mindfulness as “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” Mindfulness may be practiced anytime, including while eating. Mindful eating means paying attention to the body and the senses when eating, in the present moment and without judgment. To read more about the principles behind mindful eating, visit www.thecenterformindfuleating.org/Principles-Mindful-Eating/ TCME also offers webinars and teachings on mindful eating. A popular hands-on way to learn about mindful eating is through the “eating a raisin meditation.” Duke Integrative Medicine provides a mindful eating exercise, where one can use a raisin or food item of their choice. After trying a mindful eating exercise, you may notice that mindful eating invites you to slow down and take more joy in your food. The practice suggests taking an attitude of beginner’s mind. Meaning, even if you have already eaten thousands of raisins before, you eat this one raisin as if it is for the first time—and without judgment. Unlike most things we do in life, there is no goal to attain when eating mindfully. However, mindful eating may naturally provide benefits. Since mindful eating allows you to become more aware of when you are full or hungry, you may eat more in sync with your body’s needs. For example, a 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis, which uses agreed upon scientific methods to report findings from a group of studies on a topic, suggests that mindful eating is effective for weight loss and is as effective as dieting strategies aimed at caloric restriction. Read More
Tips and Tricks For Savory Slow-Cooked Meals
•January 20, 20201•
Kitchen gadgets come and go, but one mainstay continues to deliver tasty meals with ease.
The Crock-Pot®, dubbed the original slow cooker, was invented in 1940 by Irving Nachumsohn. This slow cooker was created to cook a traditional stew eaten on the Jewish sabbath. Because faithful Jews are forbidden from cooking on the sabbath, Nachumsohn found the stew could easily be prepared prior and allowed to cook unattended, then carried to dinner, meeting the sabbath requirements. It was another 30 years before the slow cooker garnered widespread acclaim. That newfound popularity developed when more women entered the workforce and needed convenient ways to prepare meals at home without affecting their work schedules. Read More
Virtual Writing Workshop Offered
•January 20, 20201•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
Do you have treasured memories from your past you would like to record? Have you written down the special moments of your life to share with your family? Everyone has a unique and individual story to tell. Start writing yours with a little help and guidance. University of Illinois Extension is hosting an 8-week online workshop called Life’s Moments: From Memory to Legacy. Classes will be held via Zoom every Tuesday starting January 19th - March 9th from 11 a.m. - noon CST. Read More
3 Simple Ways to Eat Healthier Every Day
•January 20, 20201•
Diets can be difficult to navigate. Since no two people are the same, a healthy diet that satisfies one person won’t necessarily satisfy another. Vegetarians might be perfectly happy without chicken or steak, while some people might shudder at the notion of never indulging in the occasional filet mignon.
While the most effective diets tend to be those that emphasize nutrition while still allowing individuals to indulge in some of their favorite dishes in moderation, the following are three ways that everyone, regardless of their personal preference, can eat healthy every day.
1. Eat lots of whole-grain carbohydrates. Read More
Menu 1-20-2021
Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
Monday, January 25 - Breakfast Casserole, Warm Fruit Compote, Fruit Juice, Cinnamon Roll, Craisins
Tuesday, January 26 - Shepherd’s Pie, Harvard Beets, Dinner Roll, Fresh Fruit
Wednesday, January 27 - Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Spinach, Whole Grain Wheat, Pears
Thursday, January 28 - Beef Stew w/Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions, Tangy Cole Slaw, Dinner Roll, Warm Bread Pudding w/Fruit
Friday, January 29 - Ham Loaf, Frosted Sweet Potatoes, Buttered Midori Vegetables, Whole Grain Wheat, Chunky Applesauce
LLC Board of Trustees Approves ERCA Intergovernmental Agreement
•January 13, 20201•
At the January Lake Land College Board meeting, trustees approved an intergovernmental agreement with 14 area school districts to formalize the role of the Effingham Regional Career Academy (ERCA) in providing specialized career and technical educational programs for students residing within the member districts.
The intergovernmental agreement demonstrates the commitment of all involved to propel the Effingham Regional Career Academy forward and outlines the roles and responsibilities involved in delivering the programs. Lake Land College will administer career and technical education programs that allow students at the member districts to earn high school and college credit simultaneously.
As part of Lake Land’s commitment to the agreement, the director of the Effingham Education Center will serve as the vocational/technical director of the ERCA program. Read More
Madigan Suspends Speaker Campaign; Veterans Affairs Director Resigns
•January 13, 20201•
By Capitol News Illinois
House Speaker Michael Madigan announced he would suspend his campaign for House Speaker of the 102nd General Assembly on Monday, Jan. 11, but his statement made clear he was not withdrawing from the race.
“This is not a withdrawal. I have suspended my campaign for speaker,” Madigan said in a statement released by his office Monday morning. “As I have said many times in the past, I have always put the best interest of the House Democratic Caucus and our members first. The House Democratic Caucus can work to find someone, other than me, to get 60 votes for Speaker.”
The last sentence of the brief statement is indicative of the uphill battle Madigan’s challengers will have to climb – they will need 60 votes, or 42 more than any challenger appeared to have Sunday night.
The House speaker is chosen by House members, and can receive both Republican and Democratic votes. There are 73 Democrats and 45 Republicans who will be seated in the 102nd General Assembly.
Traditionally, however, a majority party speaker receives votes from members of their own party.
In the first closed-door unofficial ballot conducted between Democrats in a private room at the Bank of Springfield Center on Sunday night, Madigan received 51 votes, according to several reports confirmed by Capitol News Illinois.
The speaker also has the endorsement of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus – two key voting blocs that make up the majority of his support, although some individual members of those caucuses have said they would not vote for Madigan. Read More