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Can Apps Detect Depression and Suicidal Urges in Teens?

(Chicago--jc)  -Rising suicide rates and depression in U.S. teens and young adults have prompted researchers to ask a provocative question: Could the same devices that some people blame for contributing to tech-age angst also be used to detect it? The idea has sparked a race to develop apps that warn of impending mental health crises. Call it smartphone psychiatry or child psychology 2.0. Studies have linked heavy smartphone use with worsening teen mental health. But as teens scroll through Instagram and Snapchat, tap out texts or watch YouTube videos, they also leave digital footprints that might offer clues to their psychological well-being. Changes in typing speed, voice tone, word choice and how often kids stay home could signal trouble, according to preliminary studies.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A court-appointed expert would guide the overhaul of health care for Illinois prison inmates in a proposed federal consent decree filed Thursday. Lawyers for approximately 40,000 state prison inmates announced that the Illinois Department of Corrections' agreement would settle an eight-year-old federal lawsuit alleging that prison health care is so inadequate it has led to needless deaths. A U.S. District judge in Chicago must approve the consent decree, in which the state admits no wrongdoing. It provides for a court-appointed monitor to oversee the complete reconstruction of prison-system health care. The monitor would assist in creating a plan for adequate staffing of medical and dental professionals and an outline for implementing other system-wide changes.

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- A company that owns two national for-profit college chains said Thursday that it will erase nearly $500 million in debt incurred by former students as part of a settlement with 48 states and the District of Columbia. The deal with Career Education Corporation will resolve allegations that it lied about job placement rates and misled potential students to get them to enroll. State attorneys general began investigating the company in 2014 following complaints from students and a damning report by the U.S. Senate.Company officials on Thursday said they deny any wrongdoing but called the settlement an "important milestone."

 

(Springfield--ab) December was warm and stormy in Illinois. The statewide average temperature last month was 34 degrees…which is more than four degrees above normal. Precipitation was also above normal says State Climatologist Office Spokesperson Brian Kerschner.

 

 

The January forecast calls for below average precipitation for most of Illinois. temperatures are expected to be above average over the next week but then more typical for this time of year for the rest of the month.

 

(Paxton--ab) The Ford County Sheriff's office released the December 2018 action report. Ford County police issued 52 traffic citations . Of those 52, 40 were for speeding. Inmates had 399 mandays at the Ford county jail.

 

 

(Champaign--ab) The Parkland College Foundation and the Parkland College Athletics department have announced the newest members of the Parkland College Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2018 will be honored at festivities Saturday, Jan. 26 in the Dodds Athletic Center, in conjunction with the Cobras Men's Basketball game versus Danville Area Community College. The game begins at 3 p.m. This is the 12th Hall of Fame class chosen since the inaugural induction ceremony in 2007.

The 2018 Parkland College Athletic Hall of Fame class includes:

  • Marty Kirby '76, Baseball

  • Brittany Fallis Perez '09, Volleyball

  • Hannah Ohl Cronk, '11, Basketball

  • Heidi McKean Wlezien '09, Basketball of Cissna Park

  • Lennox Forrester '89, Basketball

  • Denise McGrath '02, Volleyball

  • Rebecca Koets '02, Softball



(Loda--ab) On Sunday January 20th at 7 PM The Loda United Methodist Church will host a free will donation concert featuring a family of singers. The Dysart Family offers Gospel Music fans unique, tight family harmonies, with a diverse and powerful selection of music. The Dysart Family, based out of Macon, Missouri, received several nominations for the Singing News Fan Awards and the Diamond Awards. They saw multiple radio singles do well in the Singing News Charts and other Gospel Music radio charts, reaching the Top 80 and Top 40.

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- “We are one Illinois.” This was a refrain from Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker during campaign season. It’s a nice sentiment. The state is short on pride and solidarity. But now that campaign season is over, how can Pritzker actually bring Illinois together?Take Chicago. In parts of Illinois, Chicago bears the brunt of the blame for all the state’s problems. The blame game arises from many factors: cultural, political, economic, racial and historical. Sometimes the criticism is warranted. Other times, 2.7 million Illinoisans near Lake Michigan are just convenient scapegoats.Either way, Illinois does not thrive when its largest city fails.Chicagoans know well the problems they face. Chicago’s homicide rate is the highest among major cities. Its municipal debt per capita is the highest, too. When it comes to the city’s schools, parent and teacher unrest often boils over.But oftentimes, Chicagoans are left powerless to bring about the structural change necessary to fix these problems.

 

Pope Francis is encouraging U.S. bishops meeting near Chicago to unify as the Roman Catholic church deals with a "crisis of credibility" stemming from the clergy sex abuse scandal. In an 7 page letter addressed to the bishops and released to the media Thursday,the pope  acknowledged that "no response or approach seems adequate" to the crisis. Still, he wrote, all church leaders must reckon with parishioners' pain, heal internal divisions and devise specific approaches that go beyond "creating new committees or improving flow charts."

 

BLOOMINGTON — The Jan. 14 bench trial of a Bloomington man charged in a triple homicide was postponed Thursday to May 13 as the state waits for DNA test results and McLean County judges juggle a busy spring calendar of murder cases. Sydney Mays is charged with the murders of two people. Fatally injured were 22 year old Nate Pena and 22 year old Cory Jackson. A small boy was also injured in the shooting in Bloomington.

 

 

 

(Paxton--jc)  One local pharmacy is being sold to a local buyer. Doug’s Compounding Pharmacy is being sold to Jenna Vogel. Vogel is originally from Gibson City. Doug Higgins will remain with the company as an employee. The company will continue to be a locally based business in the downtown area of Paxton.

 

 

(Chicago--jc)  -- The state’s Teachers Retirement System is offering the first round of pension buyout plans for Tier I pensioners as a way to lower the system's unfunded liability, but there’s no money yet, and a public finance watchdog worries things could go south.State lawmakers included pension buyout plans as part of this year’s budget, Lawmakers said the buyouts could save hundreds of millions of dollars over time. The plans would vary, but essentially would give the option to different classes of employees to accelerate some pension payouts in exchange for lesser overall benefits over time.TRS Communications Director Dave Urbanek said the first round of accelerated pension benefits is being offered with a second round later this year, but those opting in after getting all their benefit changes calculated will have to wait for the check.

 

(Springfield--ab) It’s radon awareness month and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is warning the public about the dangers of the gas. Radon is odorless, colorless and tasteless so if your home has it, you’re probably unaware says State Radon Program Manager Pat Daniels. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer…and you should test for it about every two years.

 

 

There are also companies that will perform the test. You can find a list online at: radon dot illinois dot gov.


 

(Springfield--ab) Illinois State Police District 10 Captain Louis Kink wants to remind motorists to drive safely in the new year. In 2019, Illinois State Police in District 10 will be doing their part to keep the roadways safe by continuing to aggressively enforce all Illinois laws with an emphasis on the four most common causes of fatal traffic crashes “The Fatal Four”. “The Fatal Four” includes: DUI, Speeding, Seat Belt, and Distracted Driving. District 10 will begin aggressively enforcing two additional violations that contribute to road rage incidents and traffic crashes: Improper Use of the Left Lane and Following Too Closely. Improper Use of Left Lane  While traveling on an Interstate, vehicles must travel in the right lane, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or when moving over for disabled vehicles parked on the shoulder and all stationary emergency vehicles.

 

(Rantoul-dg)-A fire in Rantoul has caused over $90,000 damage to a home on Kenneth Drive. Rantoul Fire Chief Ken Waters sais crew were called at around 9:30 yesterday morning to the 1400 block of Kenneth Drive where flames were coming from the kitchen. He said the cause was an electrical skillet that was left on in the kitchen.


 

 

 



 

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