NPR Illinois 91.9 UIS

03/08/2025

"This is really showing that we can change people's trajectories over time," says Jessica Langbaum of the Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix, who was not involved in the research.

A study of more than 2,100 people ages 60 to 79 found that an intensive two-year program of mental and physical activities, along with a heart-healthy diet, improved memory and thinking.

03/08/2025

"Early efforts to establish the origin of OK were imaginative at best, without documentation, and often just foolish," according to a 2011 article in the Dictionaries Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America.

From Buenos Aires to Bangkok, Montreal to Moscow, nearly every taxi driver in the world understands "OK." It's a gift from American English that's spread across the globe in less than 200 years.

02/08/2025

Some children are born with what scientists call a strong food reward drive, says psychologist Ashley Gearhardt. They're hungry often, may eat quickly, and they don't easily feel full or satiated. Kids with a strong food reward drive can regulate their eating with whole or minimally processed foods, she says. But with ultra-processed food, they struggle.

Kids in the U.S. get most of their calories from ultra-processed foods, which are tied to health problems. Now, scientists are finding that kids don't all react to these foods in the same way.

02/08/2025

Whitney Devine, Sangamon County ROSC Program Manager, and Austin Dambacher, Sangamon ROSC Coordinator, spoke with Community Voices about community support, the stigma people in recovery face, and their 2025 Community Survey Findings & Strategic Plan.

Sangamon County ROSC is a group that connects people with the resources they need to address substance use challenges and build a foundation for lasting recovery. They work to identify and reduce barriers and gaps for individuals and families, ensuring they have the support and resources necessary f...

02/08/2025

Some classes of medications — from some beta blockers to diuretics to antidepressants — can affect the way people's bodies react to, or perceive, heat.

Some medicines affect your ability to sweat, stay hydrated, or even to notice if you're overheating. Doctors say keep taking them, but make sure to keep yourself cool.

02/08/2025

As the population ages, more people are living with complex diseases and conditions. That is already putting a strain on the health care industry, including emergency rooms. Listen now to Statewide:

As dementia rates increase, experts warn hospital emergency rooms are underprepared.

02/08/2025

A request came in this week from the Department of Justice.

02/08/2025

State and city pitching in to upgrade security ahead of the big game

01/08/2025

The share of immigrants in the workforce has fallen even more sharply, which could be making it harder for employers to fill the jobs they'd like to.

U.S. employers added just 73,000 jobs in July, according to a report from the Labor Department Friday, as the unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%. Job gains for May and June were also revised sharply lower.

01/08/2025

We say goodbye to Vanessa Ferguson on this episode of Community Voices.

From heartfelt reflections to hilarious heat-induced moments, Vanessa’s send-off was equal parts emotional and entertaining.

01/08/2025

The consensus from the medical establishment on the safety of hormone treatment for menopause has changed dramatically in recent decades.

The FDA may remove the warning labels on hormone replacement therapies used to treat the symptoms of menopause. Doctors say the warning is scaring people who could benefit from these treatments.