Misconceptions about older adults’ sexuality can cause ageist beliefs. Here’s what one study found

Misconceptions about older adults’ sexuality can cause ageist beliefs. Here’s what one study found

Society’s beliefs about aging and sex are complex and vary widely, but one common belief is that disinterest in sex is a standard part of aging. A recent study explores how misconceptions like these can complicate the acceptance of older adults’ sexual lives. The study surveyed 270 young adults, ages 18 to 35, about their perceptions of…

The IKIDS study is uncovering how prenatal exposure to chemicals can affect a child’s development
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The IKIDS study is uncovering how prenatal exposure to chemicals can affect a child’s development

Chemicals and other environmental exposures are affecting the neurodevelopment of babies and children, according to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign research study IKIDS.  IKIDS, which stands for Illinois Kids Development Study, follows pregnant people from their first trimester and measures their health and exposures to chemicals in consumer products. Researchers then study how those exposures…

Long-delayed ‘Falsettos’ production explores family, Jewish identity, LGBTQ+ history
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Long-delayed ‘Falsettos’ production explores family, Jewish identity, LGBTQ+ history

Two of Illinois Public Media’s very own will take the stage for the opening week of Falsettos at the Station Theatre in Urbana. IPM News Director, Reginald Hardwick spoke with IPM’s hosts and reporters Owen Henderson and Kimberly Schofield about their roles and the significance of this musical. Reginald Hardwick: This is Morning Edition from Illinois…

This farmer’s livelihood was ruined by PFAS-contaminated fertilizer that few Midwest states test for
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This farmer’s livelihood was ruined by PFAS-contaminated fertilizer that few Midwest states test for

Biosolids — a type of treated sewage byproduct from wastewater treatment plants — are used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer on farms across the Midwest. But a group of toxic “forever chemicals” are slipping through the cracks and could be inadvertently contaminating millions of acres of farmland.   Jason Grostic comes from a long line of…

Report finds more than half of rural hospitals no longer deliver babies

Report finds more than half of rural hospitals no longer deliver babies

A new report found a growing number of rural hospitals no longer have labor and delivery services. The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform analyzed federal data and found, as of last month, 55% of the nation’s rural hospitals no longer have obstetric care, and of the rural hospitals still providing care, one-third were…

As more rural hospitals stop delivering babies, some are determined to make it work

As more rural hospitals stop delivering babies, some are determined to make it work

At a time when many rural hospitals continue to make the tough choice to shutter their obstetrics units and stop delivering babies, Iowa Specialty Hospital’s OB unit is thriving. Jenn Mewes steps around construction equipment into Iowa Specialty’s brand new labor and delivery room in Clarion, Iowa. The new room is equipped with a bathtub,…

How one science-backed program helps couples build strong romantic partnerships
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How one science-backed program helps couples build strong romantic partnerships

Emily Stenhoff and Spencer Strunic first met at a Sugar River Pizza in Madison, Wisconsin nearly five years ago. Today, the couple says they’re grateful for an online program that helped them strengthen their relationship and feel more equipped to tackle the challenges of marriage and parenting. Before they met, Emily and Spencer both said…

Are schools prepared to respond if a student’s heart stops? Data shows some aren’t

Are schools prepared to respond if a student’s heart stops? Data shows some aren’t

A 56-year-old football official went into cardiac arrest on the sideline at Jefferson High School in Lafayette in 2006. Then, a teenager who was playing basketball during lunch at the school’s Tecumseh Junior High gym went into cardiac arrest a decade later. Both were in the Lafayette School Corporation. Both survived. The district’s preparation for…

Should Illinois become 11th state to adopt ‘right to die’ legislation?

Should Illinois become 11th state to adopt ‘right to die’ legislation?

A bill filed on Thursday would allow qualified individuals, not medical professionals, to self-administer a medication to end their lives. There is of course opposition to such measures, specifically from the Catholic and evangelical communities. Illinois Senate Democrats are moving forward on legislation that would give mentally capable patients who are terminally ill an option…