Home GKW News Releases

Featured stories

A small tick is visible on a human hand

Tick concerns are growing: What Illinois residents need to know

URBANA, Ill. — For some residents, a walk through a park or an afternoon in the backyard brings a new level of anxiety thanks to growing concerns about ticks and the diseases they carry. This fear can lead people to limit outdoor activity out of concern...

Four people hold up a ribbon inside a food pantry room

“You do not have to face hardship alone”: New food pantry opens in Kankakee

KANKAKEE, Ill. — Community leaders gathered outside the Kankakee Area YMCA Child Care Center on Saturday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony as shelves inside the new pantry stood filled with food and household...

A family smile at the camera

Illinois Extension highlights practical ways to support youth mental health

URBANA, Ill. — Many adults feel unprepared to navigate conversations around mental health with the young people in their care. During Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond...

News Releases

Choose perennials that love sun for summer glory
URBANA, Ill. – Planning a perennial garden can be challenging when faced with weather extremes. The Midwest can often be hot and dry throughout August. Drought-proven perennials can provide relief to a stressed summer flower garden.  Silver foliage plants that thrive in full sun...
Don't forget safety as you head to parks and camps
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Camping remains one of the best ways to get away from daily routines while practicing social distancing. Portable generators offer some comforts of home, whether your camping adventure includes tents or recreational vehicles. ...
Lawn rust and why your shoes are turning orange
URBANA, Ill. – The first hint of lawn rust often comes from the bottom of shoes, says Chris Enroth, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. Homeowners may notice some slight discoloration of the lawn, but nothing too...
The sun shining through rows of growing corn in a field.
Corn fields add to muggy, humid Midwestern temps
URBANA, Ill. – It’s not just the heat; it’s the humidity and corn sweat that makes muggy Midwestern summers feel even hotter.In agricultural states, such as Illinois, large-scale fields of corn releasing water through their leaves boost humidity levels,...
Learn what motivates public service employees
URBANA, Ill. – Understanding what motivates public service employees may influence how community leaders recruit, train, retain, and inspire staff to elevate performance, retention, and morale while reducing human resource costs. ...
For showy blooms, pruning hydrangeas is all about the timing
URBANA, Ill. - Hydrangeas are popular shrubs grown for their impressive blooms. Their foliage can also be attractive, particularly oakleaf hydrangeas. "Pruning hydrangeas can be confusing because each species should be pruned at a different time of the year," says...
Teens & Mental Health: Study finds 7 in 10 teens struggle with mental health
JOLIET, IL – Walk into a youth group, a school classroom, or a sporting event and you will likely see normal, everyday health teens.  You can easily count 10 teens who seem reasonably healthy on the outside.  But according to a new study, 7 of those teens could struggle with mental...
Stay safe in pools and hot tubs
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Water is a powerful conductor of electricity. It is especially important to be aware of electrical hazards around water. As temperatures soar this week, University of Illinois Extension provides these safety tips for pools and hot tubs. ...

Keep in touch with news from Illinois Extension