News

News Spotlight

Terrestrial biodiversity grows with tree cover in agricultural landscapes

December 3, 2025

Farmers plant or preserve riparian buffers for various reasons, such as improving water quality, controlling erosion, or maintaining hunting habitat. Now, a new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign underscores the benefits of riparian buffers to terrestrial…

New family resource helps tackle digital challenges at home

December 2, 2025

URBANA, Ill. — The advent of smartphones, social media platforms, streaming video sites, and numerous other technological advancements has led to unprecedented changes throughout society, including changes in daily life at home. This rapid change has raised multiple questions and concerns among…

Discover practical tools for a healthy, inspiring life

December 1, 2025

URBANA, Ill. — As people age, they face various challenges affecting their cognitive abilities, social participation, and overall health. Addressing these issues requires a holistic approach that includes healthcare, social support, and financial planning to ensure a dignified and…

More News

News

By topic

The rotunda at the Illinois state capitol

June 17, 2024

Illinois Extension announces 2025 cohort in program promoting public service careers
URBANA, Ill. — The Illini Science Policy Program, administered by University of Illinois Extension, is excited to name seven University of Illinois graduates to its fifth class of ISPP Scholars. By...

June 12, 2024

Specialist and migratory birds at greater risk under climate change
URBANA, Ill. — Following decades of decline, even fewer birds will darken North American skies by the end of the century, according to a new analysis by scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Their...

A ruby-throated hummingbird visiting a purple blazing prairie star plant.

June 11, 2024

Gardening for a hummingbird's travels
URBANA, Ill. — Hummingbirds are unlike any other bird. Spanning the Americas with over 330 species, hummingbirds belong to Trochilidae, the second-largest bird family in the world. However, only the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) inhabits the Midwest....

A person conducting a neuromarketing test to another person

June 11, 2024

Extension leverages neuromarketing to boost awareness of HPV vaccine in Hispanic communities
URBANA, Ill. — Vaccines are a crucial line of defense in our fight against infectious diseases, acting as a protective barrier for communities. Yet, even with their demonstrated success, false information and doubts have created an unsettling resistance among some individuals. This hesitancy,...

June 10, 2024

Beyond the recipe box: youth event showcases the power of teamwork, improvisation
DECATUR, Ill. —  The Illinois 4-H Food Challenge had its first culminating statewide event on June 1, bringing together talented young chefs from across the state to showcase their culinary skills. This program is designed to help youth develop expertise in nutrition,...

June 10, 2024

Conservation project tracks behavior, migration of Chicago's endangered heron
URBANA, Ill. — Among the snowbirds returning north for the summer, A24 is special. For one thing, A24 is an actual bird: a Black-crowned night heron, to be exact. And it has just returned to Chicago to join hundreds of its kind nesting near Lake Michigan. But unlike the human snowbirds that...

June 10, 2024

Learn how to help others during an emergency with Mental Health First Aid training
URBANA, Ill. — One in five Americans has a mental illness, and depression and anxiety increased following the pandemic. Still, many are reluctant to seek help due to stigma or don't know where to turn for care. Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance use problems can...

a group of people stand in a circle in a field surrounded by trees listening to someone speak from the back of a truck

June 6, 2024

Growing Extension forestry team speaks for the trees
URBANA, Ill. — Oaks, elms, hickories, and other trees cover Illinois in a tapestry of forests and woodlands that shade homes and parks, shelter and feed wildlife, produce oxygen, and stabilize soil. Trees once covered more than a third of Illinois, but now that number is halved and disease,...

Vanilla ice cream sundae topped with strawberries, chocolate syrup, and crushed cicadas.

June 5, 2024

Consider adding periodical cicadas to summer list of favorite ice cream toppings
URBANA, Ill. — “That’s surprisingly delicious!” This is maybe not the phrase first expected to be heard when trying a once-in-a-lifetime lunch menu of cicada pesto pizza, cicada tempura bites with lime aioli, and, for dessert, cicada ice cream sundaes.This spring, a team of...

A group of people holding a sign that says: We are no longer a food desert

June 4, 2024

Illinois Extension's health equity project recognized at National Health Outcomes Conference
URBANA, Ill. — Picture a world where everyone enjoys equal access to optimal health, regardless of where they were born or their identity. Sadly, reality diverges from this ideal. Health disparities disproportionately impact many Illinois residents due to factors such as race, nationality, and...

A single green plant emerging from the sunlit soil.

May 31, 2024

Keep agriculture safety a priority with tips from Cultivating Caution webinar series
URBANA, Ill. — Taking the extra time to plan safety precautions into daily routines can save a life when accidents occur, and they will. The agriculture industry is filled with risk, injury, and danger at about every turn. Cultivating Caution is a monthly webinar series that explores...

4-H campers enjoy water activities in row boat

May 28, 2024

4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello earns spot on Newsweek’s America’s Best Summer Camps 2024
MONTICELLO, Ill. — 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello has recently been included in Newsweek's list of America's Best Summer Camps 2024, earning a full 5-star rating. This recognition is especially meaningful as the camp celebrates its 75th anniversary this summer, marking decades of dedication to...

Margarita Teran with another person receiving an award

May 24, 2024

Abriendo Caminos ‘Opening Pathways’: Pioneering Extension initiative receives nationwide recognition
URBANA, Ill. — In Illinois, a committed group of researchers and educators confronted a sobering truth: Latino children were experiencing notable health inequalities, especially evident in the high rates of childhood obesity. This concerning pattern not only jeopardized their current health but...

A farmer wearing a hearing aid while doing outdoor chores at a chicken coop.

May 23, 2024

Illinois AgrAbility provides assistive technology to farmers statewide
URBANA, Ill. — Stepping in to assist farmers through research, conversation, knowledge, and assistance devices is how Illinois AgrAbility continues to work alongside farmers across the state of Illinois. Together, the two work together to...

May 21, 2024

Discover strategies for addressing mental health challenges in the agricultural community
URBANA, Ill. — Mental health and substance use issues are widespread. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with a mental illness. In addition, over the past 20 years, an...

Person outside in the hot sun gardening while wiping forehead of sweat.

May 20, 2024

Recognizing heat-related warning signs for gardeners and landscapers
URBANA, Ill. — Landscaping and gardening are great physical exercises, and studies show they are good for emotional well-being. But those working outside must remain aware of the dangers associated with heat stress on their bodies. “When I was working as a landscaper, we had to sod a...

May 20, 2024

Local solutions to global challenges: Illinois 4-H tree planting program celebrates third year with 3,000 trees planted
URBANA, Ill. — Carbon neutrality and nutrient runoff are complex issues, but University of Illinois Extension 4-H specialist Curt Sinclair has a simple solution: plant trees.The 4-H Green Communities Tree Program...

May 17, 2024

USDA grants advance urban agriculture possibilities for Chicago farmers
URBANA, Ill. — The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency Outreach Office and Illinois FSA Office, in cooperation...

Tie dye yellow and green background with Four Seasons Gardening text.

May 17, 2024

Spend summer days growing, supporting gardens with webinar series
URBANA, Ill. — Get ready to spend summer days outdoors gardening, exploring, and enjoying the growing season by adding in Four Seasons Gardening webinars beginning June 11. University of...

A collection of small Asian longhorned ticks on a leaf

May 17, 2024

Report Asian longhorned ticks to help track invasive pest that threatens livestock
URBANA, Ill. — The invasive Asian longhorned tick, which can pose a health risk for humans, animals, and livestock, has been found in Illinois for the first time. Residents of west central Illinois are advised to watch out for and report sightings of this new pest. The Asian...

News

Terrestrial biodiversity grows with tree cover in agricultural landscapes

New family resource helps tackle digital challenges at home

Discover practical tools for a healthy, inspiring life

News

Find local progams