Be prepared when disaster strikes
URBANA, Ill. – Disasters don't operate on a schedule, but pre-planning can help families and communities prepare for unexpected emergencies. A series of five workshops by University of Illinois Extension will outline proactive steps to take...
Develop a disaster plan: Be prepared when disaster strikes
URBANA, Ill. – Floods, fire, tornadoes, and storms can put lives at risk, damage property, and shut down power. Building a household emergency plan is an important step to help individuals and families safely cope during emergencies, but knowing where to start can be...
Reduce impact of extreme temperatures on power grid
URBANA, Ill. - The National Weather Service reports that portions of the Midwest have experienced record-breaking, early-season heat, including numerous record highs and heat index values above 105 degrees....
Funds available to districts to replace school buses
URBANA, Ill. – Federal funding is now available for replacing older dirty school buses with cleaner vehicles, including electric school buses. University of Illinois Extension and Prairie Rivers Network are collaborating on a free online webinar...
Addressing inequities to create a vital STEM workforce in Illinois
URBANA, Ill – A collaborative effort between the University of Illinois School of Social Work and Illinois Extension is working to address social inequities that negatively impact the vitality of the...
Illinois alumna Ogwal named new policy director for Illinois Office of Lieutenant Governor
URBANA, Ill – Public policy informs planning, funding, and implementation of solutions to address real-world challenges for Illinois communities and requires motivated leaders whose work amplifies the voices of those most challenged. Susan Ogwal has been named new policy director for...
I-Rural: Helping communities meet increased demand for rural tourism
URBANA, Ill. – Tourism is a multibillion-dollar industry in Illinois. Now, rural Illinois communities are getting help to reimagine the potential for tourism growth and sustainability.
Pandemic restrictions generated renewed interest in rural outdoor activities....
Digging into soil data helps inform green infrastructure design
URBANA, Ill. – Managing stormwater has become more challenging as urban development increases, storms get bigger and sewer systems can’t keep up. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant funded a University of Illinois project to help communities add green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to their strategies...
What will federal policy changes mean for local governments?
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois county governments are responsible for the administration of public policies and funds that impact their communities’ infrastructure, disaster relief measures, environmental health, transportation access, social services, child welfare, workforce and economic development...
New Extension communications director advances mission of community, global outreach
URBANA, Ill. – For more than 100 years, University of Illinois Extension experts have worked in communities around the state providing research-based solutions for life’s everyday problems. In that time, Extension outreach efforts have evolved from community-focused in-person and mail...
Demographic changes result in increasing diversity in Illinois, new data presents
URBANA, Ill. — How do we determine the best ways for community and economic development in Illinois? How do you know what to vote for in the upcoming elections? The best place to start is in understanding demographic composition.
The 2020 decennial census revealed that...
Keep pharmaceuticals out of local waterways with drug take back day
URBANA, Ill. – That expired bottle of pills sitting at the back of the medicine cabinet was once useful, but now it’s just taking up space. The question is – what do you do with it? Flush it? Throw it away?
Either choice puts drugs into nearby rivers or lakes putting the environment,...