November 21st is National Rural Health Day. Today, we celebrate the incredible healthcare workers who provide care to rural communities but are also reminded of the struggles that rural Illinoisans currently face when it comes to accessing healthcare. In recent years, rural Illinoisans have seen a massive decline in both access to and quality of healthcare services.

According to the National Rural Healthcare Association, the ratio of physicians to patients in rural areas is far below the rate in urban communities. For every 100,000 patients, there are 263 urban doctors and 30 rural doctors, which is an astounding gap in care for rural communities. 

Outraged at the continuing failures and mismanagement at several Illinois agencies, State Representatives Charlie Meier, Jeff Keicher, Patrick Sheehan, and Brad Fritts called on the Governor to take action to protect the state’s most vulnerable.

Reports of abuse, neglect and improper procedure have spurred an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice that will be conducting an audit of the State-Operated Developmental Centers (SODC), specifically the Choate, Shapiro, and Mabley Centers, for abuse and neglect.

Every year, National Agriculture Day reminds us of the crucial role agriculture plays in our daily lives. From the food on our plates to the clothes we wear, agriculture is the foundation of modern society. This year, as we celebrate National Ag Day on March 18, let’s take a closer look at the significance of agriculture, with a special focus on Illinois, a leader in agricultural production.

November 21st is National Rural Health Day. Today, we celebrate the incredible healthcare workers who provide care to rural communities but are also reminded of the struggles that rural Illinoisans currently face when it comes to accessing healthcare. In recent years, rural Illinoisans have seen a massive decline in both access to and quality of healthcare services.

As electric vehicles (EVs) increase in popularity in Illinois, first responders are facing new challenges in adapting their emergency strategies. Powered by high-voltage batteries, these vehicles present unique risks during accidents, such as battery fires, electric shocks, and structural issues. First responders must quickly adapt to these changes in order to safely manage EV-related incidents.

Welcome to our "3 Things You Didn't Know About" series. Our aim is to help you get to know your legislator a little better.

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If you have a stash of unwanted paint, cleaners, batteries, light bulbs or other household hazardous materials stored in your home, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) wants to help you dispose of them safely.

Household hazardous wastes (HHW) are materials that are residentially generated but potentially have the dangerous properties of hazardous waste when they are no longer used for their intended purpose.

Legislation introduced by State Representative Bradley Fritts earlier this year will benefit taxpayers in small rural towns throughout Illinois. Working with the Illinois Comptroller's office and township officials, Fritts crafted legislation that ensures accountability and reduces burdensome costs for small rural communities.  House Bill 5011 passed out of the House of Representatives with unanimous support on April 18.

Five of the top poultry production states in the U.S. are in the Midwest, led by Minnesota. In Illinois, the turkey industry has a smaller, but still very important footprint. Poultry is big business, contributing nearly $600 billion annually to the U.S. economy. That represents three percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. 

In Illinois, there is a concentration of independent growers in the Peoria and Morton areas, along with a couple of USDA-inspected processing plants. The lack of processing plants is a major impediment in expanding the poultry industry in Illinois. The cost of building a plant is very expensive, and finding enough employees willing to work is another issue. Most Illinois turkey producers are contract growers for large, integrated farms in Iowa and Indiana. 

Well-designed parks and trails are valued parts of the environment. They can promote physical activity and community engagement while providing environmental and mental health benefits. Parks can also help reduce stress. In addition, an important interaction between parks and health is through physical activity, which in turn can improve health outcomes. 

Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) passed his first bill back in 2017, and it involved a bipartisan measure to allow volunteer work to be performed at Illinois State Parks.

Bison once roared some 30 million strong in the Great Plains region and also in Illinois. As the continent’s largest land mammal, bison were crucial in shaping the prairie ecosystem. However, bison nearly vanished in the late 1800s. In Illinois, overhunting and habitat destruction eliminated the bison population, with the last recorded bison being killed in 1837 near Troy Grove. By 1900, most of Illinois’ prairies had been converted to crop agriculture.