News Progress

•January 24, 2024• SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications now for instructors for 2024 summer fishing clinics through the department’s Urban Fishing Program. Fishing instructors are the department’s boots on the ground at free clinics hosted in communities throughout Illinois. These are temporary positions not to exceed six months, making them perfect for teachers, retirees, students, and others who are eager to help people learn about fishing skills and ecology. … Read More

•January 24, 2024• Gardeners across the community can get excited about the 2024 growing season at the 14th annual Spring into Gardening event. The mini-conference offers expert presentations on industry-relevant topics, a silent auction, and a sales booth to get gardeners excited to “Spring” into gardening. This year’s event will be held from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday, March 2 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 4th Street, in Charleston. Check-in will begin at 8 am. The cost of the event is $25 for those who pre-register and $30 at the door. Cost includes door prizes, resources, and … Read More

•January 24, 2024• Bone is living, growing tissue that changes as a person ages. Although healthy bone can naturally diminish as a person gets older, seniors in particular are at elevated risk of osteoporosis, a bone disease marked by rapid bone deterioration.  Osteoporosis occurs when bone mineral density and bone mass decrease, or when the strength and structure of bone changes, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Bone is constantly being broken down and replaced. When a person has osteoporosis, creation of new bone cannot keep up with the loss of old bone. … Read More

•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 … Read More