Few parents in Illinois opting kids out of required vaccines, data shows
Most Illinois counties have a non-medical exemption rate under one percent. Six counties in northern and southern Illinois have a two percent exemption rate.
-
-
Healthcare costs have more than doubled for many farmers this year, on top of soaring expenses
When Congress allowed Affordable Care Act tax credits to lapse, healthcare premiums spiked for millions of Americans — especially self-employed farmers and ranchers. That added cost is multiplying the stress on their already stretched balance sheets.
-
How exactly did cyclospora infiltrate our food supply? We still don’t know
Food safety experts say contaminated water in farm fields is a likely culprit. But questions still remain about the current outbreak.
-
Bayer won its Roundup case. Where does that leave thousands of pending lawsuits?
Attorneys say cases that claim the popular weedkiller causes cancer will have to change course to move forward in court after the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the agriculture company last month.
-
Top Veterans Affairs official says ‘latest technology’ in health care records coming to Danville
Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence said the Federal Electronic Health Record system will go live in Danville next March.
-
Sen. Lindsey Graham dies after brief illness; Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks publicly after weeks of mystery about his health
Sen. Lindsey Graham likely died after aorta rupture, medical examiner says.
-
Economy | Government | Health | Politics
Addicted to gambling in Illinois: ‘Someone has decided they can make money off you’
People in Illinois lost more than $7.7 billion gambling last year. As lawmakers increasingly bet on gambling to pay the state’s bills, they have only spare change to treat compulsive gamblers.
-
Lawmakers pass bill to shield abortion information from digital medical records
The measure seeks to protect abortion patients in Illinois from out-of-state retaliation.
-
Yankee Ridge students head to Sola Gratia Farm for the last time this spring – with the program’s future uncertain
This week could be the last Friday on the Farm, because the grants supporting Urbana District 116’s Farm to School program run out at the end of June.
-
Public health officials address hantavirus questions on 21st Show
Two local public health officials discussed how people can get exposed to Hantavirus and what protective measures are helpful on the 21st Show.
-
UPDATE: Test results show case in Winnebago County was not Hantavirus
The resident is no longer considered a potential case of Hantavirus and no further public health action is needed.
-
Federal drug discount expansion proposal may cost Illinois millions, agency head says
Memo details how expanding 340B program would impact private health plans and state employee insurance
-
It’s a hard time to be a farmer. Many can struggle, but help is available
Farmers have one of the highest suicide rates in the U.S. of any occupation, and in rural communities, suicide rates tend to be higher than in urban areas. Mental health initiatives, like the statewide Farm Family Resource Center, aim to help.
-
Vaccinations for children in Illinois increased this school year, data shows
The state’s School Vaccination Coverage Dashboard shows that coverage rates for all school-required childhood immunizations are holding steady compared to last year, and all but one of those immunizations is above the state’s 95% coverage goal to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
-
Supreme Court gives abortion pill mifepristone a 1-week reprieve from a major change
The ruling temporarily restores nationwide access to a drug used for most medication abortions in the U.S.
