Register by July 11 for Illinois and Indiana LICA’s off-road day at the Badlands featuring trails, lunch, and a BBQ dinner.
GALVA - Contractors, thrill-seekers, and off-road enthusiasts are gearing up for a high-octane summer experience at the LICA Off-Road Adventure, set for Saturday, July 26, at the Badlands Off Road Park in Attica, Indiana.
Hosted jointly by the Illinois and Indiana Chapters of the Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA), the all-ages event invites members, families, and friends to explore one of the Midwest’s premier off-road destinations. The Badlands, spanning more than 1,400 acres of diverse terrain, offers trails for every skill level—from casual riders to experienced drivers—featuring sand dunes, gravel pits, wooded paths, rocky climbs, and plenty of mud.
Participants will gather at 9 a.m. EDT in a designated parking area before heading out in groups or as solo riders to tackle the park's multi-directional terrain. All types of off-road vehicles are welcome, including dirt bikes, ATVs, SUVs, 4x4s, and Side x Sides.
Food trucks and on-site concessions offer lunch options throughout the day for when adventurers need to refuel between rides. The event concludes with a catered BBQ dinner at 5 p.m., where attendees can wind down, swap stories, and connect with fellow members and families. The evening will wrap up with a short Illinois LICA members’ meeting.
LICA encourages all interested to register by July 11 at http://illica.net/events or by calling (309) 932-1230.
If Pritzker decide to run for president, an announcement would likely come at some point in 2027 during what would be the first year of his third term if he’s reelected.
by Ben Szalinski
Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - Gov. JB Pritzker began his third campaign for governor on last week, but much of the buzz around his 2026 campaign announcement focused on 2028.
Pritzker made four stops around the state to launch his campaign, fielding questions about any future interest in the presidency and what is driving him to run for what would be a historic third term. In his final stop in Springfield on Thursday evening, he was toasting personally branded “JBeers” – his own craft beer product he unveiled at last year’s Democratic National Convention – with a group of about 100 people at a small event venue just outside the Capitol and talking about his motivations.
“Every day I’m going to wake up going forward thinking about what I am going to do that’s going to help the people of Illinois,” Pritzker told reporters in Springfield when asked how many years of a third term he would serve. “So that’s the reason I’m running for reelection, it’s why I announced today, it’s what I’m going to do every day going forward no matter what decision I make.”
The 60-year-old Democrat’s national profile has grown significantly over the last year. He was a finalist to be former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate last July, and weeks later, introduced himself to the country on the stage of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In the months since President Donald Trump took office, Pritzker has emerged as one of his most vocal critics.
Photo: Capitol News Illinois/Jade Aubrey
Gov. JB Pritzker takes a picture with Mike Lopez, mayor of nearby Jerome, after announcing his reelection campaign in Springfield on Thursday, June 26.
At news conferences throughout the state, Pritzker did not directly commit to serving a full four-year term if he is reelected and sidestepped questions about his rumored White House ambitions.
But while staying tight-lipped about what he thinks about his prospects in the 2028 presidential election, he said any decision he makes about his future would be Illinois-centric.
Speculation shows Pritzker ‘capable and competent’
In the meantime, Pritzker said he believed his inclusion in the national conversation is good for Illinois.
“When I ran for governor in the first place in 2017 and 2018, never, never could I have imagined that anybody would talk about me as the potential vice-presidential nominee or as a candidate for president of the United States,” Pritzker said.
While Republicans have frequently criticized the governor for his tendencies to criticize Trump rather than work with him to Illinois’ benefit, the governor spun his rising national profile as a positive.
“Having the state of Illinois’ leaders viewed as capable and competent and potentially able to run the entire country and being talked about in that way, allows us, I think, to get more for the people of Illinois because there’s an understanding that, you know, maybe in Illinois we’re doing the right things,” he said. “Maybe in Illinois we have leaders that can competently execute on what states really need.”
Pritzker said his experience last summer being vetted for the vice presidency has not played any role in the decisions he has made about his political career.
Should Pritzker decide to run for president, an announcement would likely come at some point in 2027 during what would be the first year of his third term if he’s reelected.
Pritzker’s goal: ‘Protect’ Illinois and his legacy
Pritzker said at his announcement Thursday that his goal in 2026 is to preserve his legacy and “protect” the story of Illinois that’s been written under his leadership. Pritzker didn’t outline a bold vision for his third term but rather pledged to build off what he has already accomplished.
He said his third term would focus on grappling with artificial intelligence, addressing the rising cost of living, continued spending on infrastructure and growing the state’s economy.
Pritzker reflected on his decision to seek reelection despite growing challenges facing the state.
“I don’t shy away from a fight, and we’re going to have to protect the people of Illinois,” Pritzker told reporters in Springfield. “And I feel like we’re in a moment when backing away from public service when things are hard doesn’t feel right. So that’s one of the reasons I chose to run for reelection.”
Pritzker was asked whether he would have run had Trump not been elected last year.
“I think I would, but I have to say that in this moment, it feels like walking away is the wrong thing to do given who is in the White House and given how this administration is attacking people all across this country,” Pritzker said.
The governor must also choose a new running mate as Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has decided to run for U.S. Senate. Pritzker said he will choose one by the end of July so his campaign can start circulating nominating petitions in early August. Pritzker said in Chicago that he is looking for someone with enough experience to take over as governor if required.
Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, may be an early front-runner for the job. Pritzker specifically referred to Gordon-Booth as qualified at a stop in East Peoria on Thursday when asked about potential running mates, WGLT reported. The assistant House majority leader has been in the General Assembly since 2009.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Dear Editor,
I write with deep concern over the unfolding controversy involving Assam’s Cabinet Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, his family’s dairy venture, and a significant ₹50 lakh subsidy meant for dairy farmers. An RTI revelation highlights that 90 state-owned Gir cows reportedly went missing from Rangiya Railway Station, only to seemingly reappear at a private dairy firm run by the minister’s wife in the same region.
This dairy enterprise, JMB Aqua Agro Pvt. Ltd., registered in Shillong and spanning more than 104 bighas with Gir cattle, poultry, horticulture, and fishery operations, experienced spectacular growth: revenue rose by 13.9%, profit by nearly 500%, and assets by over 1,900% in 2022–23. Notably, the minister’s wife was appointed managing director in March 2020, and their daughter was added as a director in 2023.
While family-run enterprises are not inherently wrong, the opacity here is troubling. Were public subsidies—intended as lifelines for small farmers—diverted to a privately controlled operation aligned with political influence? And how did 90 Gir cows vanish from public inventory, only to surface under the minister’s firm? These gaps demand investigation.
Furthermore, the timing is striking. Minister Baruah has publicly positioned himself as a protector of cattle and rural livelihoods. Yet, the alleged misdirection of funds and livestock undermines that commitment. As RTI activist Dilip Nath has demanded, it is vital to trace the procurement of cows under the Garukhuti project, track the subsidy’s approval to the minister’s wife, and examine declarations of business interest.
In a healthy democracy, public trust hinges on transparency—especially when government schemes are involved. Hence, I urge:
1. A judicial or independent probe into the missing state Gir cows, their procurement, and eventual placement.
2. Full disclosure of the subsidy approval process, including eligibility assessments and any conflict-of-interest disclosures.
3. A review of public asset declarations by the minister and his family to ensure no discrepancies.
The people of Assam deserve accountability, not "cash for curd" schemes serving political families. Let this inquiry affirm that governance is neither opaque nor partisan, but truly public-centered.
The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that equal rights for all people are the foundation for peace in the world.
byTerry Hansen Guest Commentary
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claims that, as a result of the U.S. bombing of Iran, "We have the beginnings of a new era of stability and peace and security in the Middle East."
Similarly, Vice President J.D. Vance stated, " And I think the president really hit the reset button and said, look, let's actually produce long term peace for the region....I actually think when we look back, we will say the twelve day war was an important reset moment."
You can kill 100 Gazans in one night … And nobody in the world cares.
Yet no mention is made of the relentless suffering of Palestinians, who were also excluded from the Abraham Accords, the agreements negotiated during President Trump's first term that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states.
Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently asserted, “We are disassembling Gaza, and leaving it as piles of rubble...And the world isn’t stopping us.” Zvi Sukkot, a member of the Israeli Parliament, went so far as to boast, “Everyone got used to the idea that you can kill 100 Gazans in one night … And nobody in the world cares.”
As Jewish American scholar Judith Butler has observed:
"The Palestinians have been labeled as ungrievable. That is to say, they are not a group of people whose lives are being considered as worthy of value, of persisting, of flourishing in this world. If they are lost, it is not considered to be a true loss."
In his 2006 book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," President Jimmy Carter contends that Israel's construction of illegal settlements in the occupied territories is the primary obstacle to peace in the Middle East. It has long been understood that settlement expansion, which has recently intensified, is a method of "changing the reality on the ground," thereby undermining hope for a two-state solution.
It's important to note that the Arab League has repeatedly offered to normalize relations with Israel, in exchange for ending the occupation and allowing the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders—about 22% of historic Palestine. This offer is embodied in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
In fact, in September 2024, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, representing 57 Arab and Muslim countries, declared:
"I can tell you here, very unequivocally, all of us, right now, are willing to guarantee the security of Israel in the context of Israel ending the occupation and allowing the emergence of a Palestinian state."
Yet, as Smotrich has provocatively stated, "My life’s mission is to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that equal rights for all people are the foundation for peace in the world. True stability in the Middle East cannot be achieved through military victories or diplomatic agreements that ignore the rights and aspirations of Palestinians.
Terry Hansen is an opinion writer who frequently comments on Gaza, focusing on humanitarian issues, U.S. policy and Israel’s actions in the region. He is a retired educator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Editor's note:
June 30, 2025 - Originally, this Viewpoint was published with an inaccurate figure. At the author's request, "57 Arab countries" was updated to "57 Arab and Muslim countries" since there are only 22 Arab countries.
Dear Editor,
On March 22, 1933, Dachau opened as the first concentration camp of the Nazi regime. Initially, it imprisoned political opponents, later incarcerating the undesirables, Jews, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the physically and mentally impaired and others on the margins of society. Few in Germany raised voices of opposition either because of ignorance, indifference or fear of retaliation.
The recent comments of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier would have been applauded by those who supported the ideas of isolating the unwanted of Germany in the 1930’s. Suggesting that alligators, pythons and the vast wetlands of the Everglades are sufficient deterrents to anyone wishing to escape only indicates the level of dystopia to which he has sunk. Obviously, he has never trekked through the jungles of the Darien Gap, crossed the shark infested and storm-tossed waters of the Atlantic, or risked his life and the lives of his family members with smugglers in a search for freedom.
Bill Bullard authored the following, “Opinion is the lowest form of human knowledge because it requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, because it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world.”
I would suggest that Mr. Uthmeier, should apply the moral and mental effort to comprehend what he is condoning? When empathy is absent or viewed as a weakness, then humanity no longer possesses its inherent dignity and value, and we will have devolved backwards into our animal instincts.
Rev. Leo F. Armbrust Glen Ridge, Florida
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CHAMPAIGN - Parkland College announced the names of students whose academic performance landed them a spot on the Spring 2025 Dean's List. One of the highest honors a student can receive for their academic performance, the Dean's List is awarded to Parkland College students who earn a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 grade scale for the semester in 100-level courses or higher.
Below is a list of students in our area who earned academic honors last fall. The complete current list can be found on the Parkland College website.
Catlin
Joseph B. Kedas Champaign
Andrea C. Abbas
Dalal M. Abudayya
Micaela A. Adams
Philip F. Agbo
Paola DJ. Aguilera Lathulerie
Jonathan V. Alanis
Juliana Nicole G. Albarracin
Michael D. Allen
Megan N. Allen
Ethan J. Alvares
Nathalie H. Amisi
Yolanda E. Anaya
Levi E. Atang
Hiroshi M. Avila
Grace O. Bailey
Shaquita F. Baker
Hans Matthew R. Banaga
Josiah T. Barlow
Jillian R. Barlow
Makenna J. Beaulin
Rebecca A. Benedetti
Robin M. Betka
Jaiden Biggers N. Biggers
Harrison A. Biggs
Gabrielle M. Bilo
Sydney C. Blackwell
Kristine R. Bowe
Thomas R. Bradley Jr.
Joseph J. Brown
Nathan C. Brozak
Hayden T. Bui
Iris Burov
Raquel A. Butts
Cecilia S. Cahoon
Eric M. Campos
Matthew D. Carley
Jasmine D. Catchings
Katrina R. Catizone
Josenia T. Celda
Kara M. Charney
Jierui Chen
Ho Kwan Cheng
Alexis M. Clark
Catherine Clavey
Joshua A. Cleveland
Shapree F. Connley
V. H. Cronenberg
Austin T. Crytzer
Charlotte N. Dalton
Terriiayonna N. Davidson
Ryan A. Delehanty
Jasmine Diep
Gavin D. S. Dorsla
Elana R. Duden
Aaron Dunn
Jacob D. Dupre
Megan R. Eastham
Radwa K. Elrouby
Cameron E. Endsley
Lilian I. Eziefule
Ariadne Fagundes Luiz
Jesse L. Fewkes
Quinn Fisher
Maiyah N. Flemons
Jordan M. Foreman
Julia Foster
Destiny V. Frickensmith
Myah E. Funneman
Dalila C. Garcia
Carrie J. Garner
Victoria L. Garrett
Kylie L. Gerdes
Taylor M. Gladden
Leslie F. Godinez
Nakamoza N. Gondwe
Sloan C. Gordon
Abigail E. Grena
Justin D. Gudeman
Alyssa N. Guzman
Keira J. Hadley
Jonathan S. Hahn
Johnathan A. Haines
Elva Hajialiakbarifini
Capris A. Hale
McKenzie L. Hamer
Nicholas R. Hasty
Miles R. Haug
Leo J B. Havey
Zoey D. Hayes
Kaia A. Helbling
Gabriel T. Helstrom
Isabella Hernandez
Michelle Hernandez-Hernandez
Dylan R. Hill
Tara J. Holycross
Samuel L. Hopkins
Jakob A. Hopper
Jad B. Hreish
Johnnesha L. Hunt
Weddie D. Jackson
Rudolph A. Johnson
Madeline R. Jones
Juana R. Juan Pedro
Nitasha Julka
Yunsoo Jung
Eunjoo Kang
Isaac M. Kanyinda
Shounok Kar
Alper Karakurt
Fefe M. Kayembe
Betty A. Kennerly
Gabriella A. Kiel
Patrick K. Kileya
Laura Kim
Seoyeon Kim
Nasja G. King-McDonald
Mathias J. Kirkland
Jarred M. Koerner
Jialei Kong
Adrian M. Kraut
Gianna M. Kreps
Iver I. Krogstad
Otto Krueger
Logan J. Kurtz
Titus A. Kyles
Angel R. Lambert
Deprice H. Lee
Dohyung Lee
Eunseong Lee
Dorcas D. Lepighe
Marc C. Levi
Michael Li
Evan A. Li
Jackson W. Liong
Bolin Liu
Reyna J. Livengood
Dominic A. Loftus
Joshua R. Loftus
Brynn L. Logsdon
Kristin J. Lopez
Christopher Lopez
Aly A. Lopez-Mendoza
Jason P. Lu
Allison M. Ludolf
Jakob A. Luhrsen
Meme Lukadi-Tshibola
Karen J. Maher
Esther Mambo
Sakeena O. Mansuri
Nusayb N. Mansury
Kenneth R. Mantell
Erica G. Markell
Kim R. Marquie
Emmanuela J. Martinez
Josh A. McCarty
Greyson P. McDonald
Elijah McIlvain
Bailey R. McMahon
Breanna J. McQuinn
Lane K. McVicar
Taryn K. Melvin
Melissa Meza
Joseph D. Middleton
Grace M. Miller
Shaylie G. Miller
Richard H. Miller
Andrew Miranda
Kennadie C. Mitchell
Colin A. Monti
Ian A. Moriarty
Jasmine L. Morris
Daisy M. Mueller
Braden A. Muhlstadt
Michelle Narciso
Jemima N. Ndeni
Ngoc Tran Quang Nguyen
Tommy T. Nguyen
Katelynn N. Nguyen
Adrian Nguyen
Vincent M. Nguyen
Kenny Nham
Arianna M. Nichols
Immanuel C. Nwosu
Jemima N. Nzeza
Roan V. O'Brien
Nathaniel G. O'Connor
Samuel O'Connor-Shoresman
Zoe A. Oates
Lily M. Owen
Folashade F. Owojori
Kristin E. Palazzo
Jessica N. Palmberg
Jion Park
Carleigh D S. Parks
Mahi A Patel
Arthur B. Pawlik
Ashley R. Phillips
Kylia E Pierson
Jude N. Pisarczyk
Emily G. Pitcher
Trevor R. Plattner
Tabitha R. Qualls
Vanessa Ramirez
Joseph Rath
Delaney R. Record
Riley A. Ries
Keaton L. Roberts
Landon T. Robinson
Jaycee E. Ross
Ruthy Rouwet
Jenna N. Royer
Samantha I. Ruggieri
Elijah R. Ruggieri
Sylvan L. Rummenie
Burak Safaker
Michael I. Sage
Estella M. Samii
Jaquonte V. Sanford
Ainmere L. Sangster
Theran N. Schmitt
Finn G. Scott
Lizbeth Serrano-Betanzos
Leo P. Severin
Mahakksh Shah
Grace M. Shanholtzer
Vagish Sivaramakrishnan
Michael I. Skaj
Wyatt M. Small
Avery H. Smith
Noelle R. Smith
Missy L. Smith
Cameron P. Smucker
Gustavo D P Soares
Adrianna N. Spinks
Ria G. Sumitro
Christian M. Swanson
Grace Y. Swiney
Mariana A. Taboada-Reategui
Ben R. Talbott
Madison E. Taylor
Chanh N. Thi
Zoie D. Thomason
Pierce M. Thompson
Raina C. Tongren
Lucius Tran
Johnny J. Tran
Serena J. Tran
Ramsey B. Treadway
Thuan H. Trinh
Tobias D. Tschetter
Ekaterina Tsytsarina
Ayaan N. Unni
Anthony L. Urquijo
Avery P. Valencia
Jason D. Vassos
Bryan A. Vaughn
Shanley Ross P. Vega
Daniel Villa-Mejia
Anna M. Viser
Scout A. Voyles
Nicole Vozovoy
Jessica L. Wadley
Calvin E. Wetzel
John P. White
Lauren White
Bayleeella Brooke Whitney
Ryan W. Williams
Rachelle D. Winfrey
Robyn D. Wood
John R. Woodard
Micaiah R. Wright
Emma K. Wurl
David L. Yakoub
Joshua S. Young
Syafino Yunalfian
Taohe Zhan
Yixing Zhang
Qiongmei Zhang
Chuyu L. Zhang
Artie K. Zhang
Robert J. Zufall Fithian
Jack E. Nero Homer
Gerhard Alant
Lara D Copass
Gwendolyn M Happ
Jessica A Headley
Robert A Holloman
Melissa R Hudson
Roni N Jones
Kenneth Earl Lindsey
Loran R Tate
Sean J Taylor
Addison G Weisman Oakwood
Jessica E. Boyd
Skylar A. Dillow Ogden
Canyon D. Alwes
Grace A. Osterbur
John M.Taylor
Landon A. Brown
Makennah L. Hamilton
Rylee L. Huson
Tayton G. Gerdes Penfield
Gavin J. Parkerson
Jarrod E. Liffick Pesotum
Jackson L. Grimm Philo
Avery J. Alagna
Bailey E. Rice
Brenlee G. Dalton
Cole J. Newell
Elijah L. Langley
Jocelyn C. Lefaivre
Monica A. Rivas-Parker
Reagan M. Little Royal
Samantha S. Uden Sadorus
Victoria L. Wells St. Joseph
James R. Barron
Rylie J. Barton
Mason P. Behrens
William T. Besson
Taylor E. Burch
Miguel A. Chacon
Preslee C. Christians
Ella M. Dietiker
Addison K. Funk
Grace R. Goldenstein
James A. Harbourt
Robert M. Jeffries
Kendrick D. Johnson
Kya N. Jolley
Sara B. Kearney
Owen T. Knap
Aiden S. Krall
Sophia A. McDade
Gabriel E. Mortlock
Carter A. Nauman
Chayse S. Palmer
Addison E. Roesch
Zachary B. Rubin
Tanner C. Siems
Logan T. Smith
Kyler R Swanson
Collin S. Thomey
Jill C. Uken
Lili A. Wentzloff
Reese M. Wheatley Savoy
Omar M. Abdel-Razaq
Emma Z. Angelo
Emmalee W. Atkins
Sophia M.N. Bengtson
Carter W. Bleakney
Siarah Y. Brown
Zoe L. Bryan
Eva K. Cottrell
Pavel Y. Didenko
Tauliya A. Figures
Ludvig J. Granlund
Makenna N. Gray
Hayat Hadjsaid
Kaitlyn D. Helm
Daniel U. Kang
Moon Su Kang
Kaitlyn L. Kinkelaar
Jazzlyn K. Lynch
Jonathan Manzengo
Leyton G. McGeary
Kendall M. Meredith
Thiziri Mohammed
Isaac D. Molloy
Kyle Moon
Marcos J.W. Park
Josh T. Price
Diamond I. Rainey
Trinity J. Rogers
Jaquelin Salg
Abdelhamid Sammane
Hyunjune Seong
Brando Signorini
Rylee G. Smalley
Matthew R. Sparrow
Aidan T. Williams
Davi J.S. Yoo
Sage O. Young Sidney
August E. Niehaus
Brooklyn M. Haas
Emma D. Fish
Kadence L. Goff
Lauren E. Cooke
Mason J. Perry
Piper M K Steele
Samuel C. Gilbert
Tyler S. Liffick-Worrell Thomasboro
Mason E. Conner
Darian I. Figueroa
Paige L. Johnson
Chase P. Knock
Paige M. Schoonover
Austin J. Seals
Adam G. Wilson Tolono
Eric W. Anderson
Maria G. Buffo
Calli A. Chandler
Shelby R. Hoel
Caleb J. Hoewing
Dallas A. Hollingsworth
Callie M. Lytel
Gracie M. Meharry
Tatum E. Meyer
Connor D. O'Donnell
Meredith K. Reed
Maci M. Richmond
Alexander M. Stahl
Sara J. Steffens
Madelynn Swisher
Luke I. Williamson
Abigail C. Woolcott
Emberly M. Yeazel
Madysen A. York
Logan A. Zumbahlen Urbana
Dilichukwu C. Agu
Khatera Akmal
Adrian Alcazar
Adrian I. Alcazar
Eli M. Allison
Luciana Alvarez
Alex D. Ambrocio
Kiana Amindavar
Urooj Anis
Brenda L. Ascencio
Deanna K. Auxier
Tevi C. Balekita
Juliano L. Baptiste
Galina A. Bello
Karla J. Beltran-Hernandez
Hany Claire P. Bombales
Angel R. Bond
Ebenezer Boti
Audrey J. Boudreau
Montrell X. Brooks
Stacey R. Brown
Evan J. Bullock
Nick D. Burbules
Ryan M. Burns
Taniyah T.I. Burns
Jason W. Carter
Ariana R. Chambers
Kathryn R. Choate
George F. Clancy
Yali Cohen
Dylan A. Cosper
Joshua Hernandez
Desiree A. Devero
Eduardo O. Diego Andres
Nadia R. Eberhardt
Mohannad N. E. Eltinay
Tarynn K. Enghausen
Jake R. Essner
William J. Eubig
Jamira D. Faust
Sofiia Fedina
Antonio K. Flemons
Stephen Folley-Amuzu
Morgan A. Frush
Lisette C. Gasser
Ella C. Gilmore
Santiago Gonzalez Ahuerma
Nicole K. Gremer
Nicholas J. Grove
Changjun Guo
Katherine N. Halbig
Mallie A. Hanner
Skylar C. Hartley
Emily J. Hartsell
Nathaniel J. Herche
Amaya M. Holmes
Holden A. Huisinga
Andrew V. Iffland
Maryam O. Ikhuoriah
Robert M. Jenkins
Marcus E. Johnson
Toby Johnson
Beatrice A. Kennison
Willow I. Keys
Taehoon Kim
Daira A. King
Eleanor R. Klein
Minh K. Le
Ryan J. Lee
Morgan M. Mackert
Sebastian D. Major
Christ Vie N. Makengo
Alondra G. Martinez
Max J. McCracken
Benjamin S. McLeskey
Michael Mendoza-Perez
Lauren M. Miller
Ronald J. Miller
Emilia H. Muckenhirn
Zenobia D. Mulero
David M. Mushengezi
Kelly Nsenga Mutole
Ian A. Nelson
Noa Nounou
Lucas M. Oldfield
Henry C. Olheiser
Oscar I. Orozco
McKynzie Painter
Claudia E. Paisley
Youngeun Park
Jared D. Peddycoart
Santiago Pinilla Leon
Dragos I. Popa
John A. Powell
Matteo L. Puli
Justin M. Pulver
Tajia R. Ragel
Lula C. Randolph
Bruce E. Rexroad
Grace H. Rice
Emma V. Robben
Natalia Rodriguez
Edwin Rodriguez Barrios
Leire Rodriguez Najera
Noah T. Ruffner
Kayla M. Sabim
Olive K. Salem
Malkah S. Scher
Manuela M. Sebastian Juarez
Kalika E. Shapiro
Adam B. Skousen
Joseph C. Solava
Yang Song
Nathanial Stewart
Janelle J. Tardy
Ashlee K. Thompson
Sumaya Islam Tonney
Chioma P. Ugwu
Quonikka C. Underwood
Stacie L. Vonderheide
Levi A. Walker
Joslyn R. Warfel
Brianne E. Weiss
Alexandria K. Westfall
Maurion Wicks
Gage Dorian Wiggins
Autumn Williams
Chico B. Wilson
Lera L. Wilson
Samantha T. Wiltfong
Qilin Xie
Nathan R. York
Jianbo Zhang
Jacob A. Ziska
Filming day-in-the-life content for social media developments skills for video editing, branding, and audience engagement. Using the summer to learn how to use platforms like TikTok not only for fun but as a tool for a business tool.
Already on Tiktok or Instagram? Teens can get real-world skills by blending business and their social media platforms into a unique venture this summer where they can learn valuable business experience as entrepreneurs.
Summer in central Illinois is finally here.
For many teens, they will have a lot of unstructured time on their hands. With fewer summer jobs available, limited funds for sports camps or travel, and long days stretching ahead, many young people are left looking for purpose, income, or just something to do. But instead of drifting through the break, a growing number of students are learning to turn free time into opportunity by becoming their own bosses and discovering that entrepreneurship is more than just a way to earn extra money, it’s one of the most effective ways to learn.
Teen entrepreneurs are applying what they learn in class or teaching themselves new skills to build businesses that reflect their heritage, passions, and problem-solving instincts. They’re not waiting until college or the workforce to think about leadership, innovation, or financial independence. They’re learning all of it in real time, by doing. For Latino, Asian, and African-American teens, launching a business not only builds confidence and technical skill, but also reinforces cultural pride and community connection.
Some of the most popular ventures among these students are culturally-themed e-commerce shops. These online stores, often built using platforms like Shopify or TikTok Shop, serve as hands-on lessons in design, marketing, budgeting, and logistics. Teens are developing everything from Afro-futurist phone cases to DÃa de los Muertos digital templates, applying their creativity to build brands that resonate with both local and global audiences.
These students aren’t just developing products—they’re mastering the principles of entrepreneurship: identifying a niche, understanding customer needs, pricing goods, and using social media to grow an audience. The act of launching and maintaining a store becomes a real-world business lab where theory and practice intersect.
Photo: Olena Bohovyk/PEXELS
With fewer summer jobs available, limited funds for sports camps or travel, and long days stretching ahead, many teens around town are looking for something to do. Learning to run their own business, be their own boss can be rewarding.
Bilingual content creation and tech tutoring is another space where students are turning learning into leadership. By offering tutorials on AI tools, resume building, and coding in Spanish, Mandarin, or African American Vernacular English, teens are actively teaching others while sharpening their own understanding. These ventures promote not only digital literacy but also communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and empathy—all essential traits in a modern business environment.
Six YouTube channels perfect for a high school content creator
1. Small Town Hustles
Make videos for fellow high school students who have side gigs like lawn mowing, flipping thrift store finds, or selling homemade crafts.
2. Country Life Challenges
Make a series of funny videos about the struggles - no Uber Eats, slow internet, or "cows escaped AGAIN" - of life in a small town.
3. Small Town Mystery Stories
Make videos about local urban legends, abandoned places, or interview elders about town history.
4. Small Town Food Reviews
Create a video series rating local restaurant and gas station food and establishments. Include a few neighboring towns, too.
5. AI for Boomers
Teach 40 and 60-year-old people all the tricks you know on how to use AI.
6. Small Town Music & Bands
Interview local musicians, make hype videos, or teach someone how to play an instrument.
Running a YouTube channel or Zoom class requires planning, problem-solving, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Teens learn to navigate technical platforms, script engaging lessons, and respond to feedback from viewers. These aren’t just hobbies; they’re dynamic, evolving learning environments that prepare students for more complex challenges ahead.
In the food space, entrepreneurship is a blend of tradition, creativity, and real-world economics. Teens who launch cloud kitchens or Instagram-based snack shops—featuring dishes like Filipino turon or Jamaican beef patties—learn the value of budgeting ingredients, tracking orders, setting price points, and managing digital storefronts. These ventures require a deep understanding of time management and customer service, and they offer repeated opportunities to assess what works and what doesn’t.
Filming “day-in-the-life” content for social media adds another layer of skill development. Students gain practice in video editing, branding, and audience engagement, learning how to use platforms like TikTok not just for fun but as a tool for growth and reach.
Financial education is also coming from within. Some teens are taking it upon themselves to become "finfluencers", young content creators who break down money topics for their peers in a way that’s relevant, digestible, and culturally attuned. They explore topics like credit building for first-generation immigrants or affordable side hustles that align with family values. In the process, they’re not only absorbing financial literacy but translating it into relatable lessons for others.
Creating content on platforms like Reels or TikTok teaches these young entrepreneurs how to research, communicate clearly, and build trust. They learn what it means to be responsible with information, how to comply with platform guidelines, and how to manage affiliate partnerships or brand sponsorships. These are transferable, career-ready skills being developed years ahead of traditional job training.
Photo: Ionut Roman/Unsplash
As a content creator teens can build a loyal community of followers and get paid for it. There are no limits, dress codes or an overbearing boss to make a workday miserable.
Even event planning—a complex, often underestimated form of entrepreneurship—is becoming a learning platform for teens. By organizing cultural expos, college prep fairs, or K-pop dance battles, students gain experience in logistics, team coordination, sponsorship outreach, and digital promotion. These experiences teach project management, negotiation, and community engagement, all of which are vital in both business and civic life.
To support these ventures, students are also learning to seek funding and resources through identity-based organizations like the Latino Startup Alliance, Asian Hustle Network, and Black Founders. Applying for grants and mentorships teaches them to craft persuasive proposals, outline business plans, and articulate their mission and value. These experiences provide an early introduction to professional networks and expectations.
The process of starting and sustaining a business introduces students to one of entrepreneurship’s most important lessons: learning through failure. A product that doesn’t sell, a campaign that flops, or a cost that exceeds the budget—these aren’t dead ends; they’re opportunities to regroup and rethink. For young entrepreneurs, mistakes are data points. They’re the foundation of growth.
Tools like BizKids and Greenlight, along with old-fashioned piggy banks or play money ledgers, help students of all ages track revenue, analyze spending, and see where adjustments are needed. By engaging with these tools, students come to understand complex financial concepts through firsthand experience. Success is no longer abstract—it’s measured in saved allowances, sold hoodies, or repeat customers.
Even those who don’t end up pursuing entrepreneurship long-term walk away with a toolkit that applies to nearly every profession. They’ve developed problem-solving instincts, built resilience, practiced communication, and cultivated the confidence to try again after setbacks. These are not just business skills, they’re life skills.
Photo: Tung Lam/Pixabay
Event planning is fun business for teens to learn critical skills they can build on as they get older and establish their careers.
Parents and educators can support this learning journey in many ways. Encouraging students to select electives like marketing, computer science, or psychology gives them foundational knowledge. Helping them connect with part-time jobs at local businesses adds context and responsibility. And pointing them toward national youth programs like Junior Achievement’s Company Program or the Future Bound competition provides platforms where they can test and present their ideas.
Mentorship also plays a critical role. Students benefit from regular contact with adults who model entrepreneurial thinking and provide honest feedback. Even the act of building a vision board—laying out aspirations and breaking them into smaller goals—teaches strategic planning and long-term thinking.
Entrepreneurship isn’t just a business pursuit for today’s students. It’s an immersive, student-driven form of education. It teaches by doing, sharpens through failing, and empowers through creating. It’s a method as much as a mindset—and one more young people are embracing as they prepare for a fast-changing future where adaptability, creativity, and self-direction will matter more than ever.
Jun 11, 2025 10:58 pm .::. Area football players to play in all-star football game June 21ST. JOSEPH - Two of central Illinois’ top high school football talents and other members from the Illini Prairie Conference will join an elite group of players from across the state for one final game in their prep careers.
Coy Taylor of St. Joseph-Ogden and Robert Boyd-Meents of Paxton-Buckley-Loda will take the field June 21 at Tucci Stadium in Bloomington for the 51st Annual Illinois High School Shrine Game. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m., with pregame ceremonies beginning at 10 a.m. Tickets are $10 and available at the gate.
Jun 11, 2025 06:49 pm .::. Commentary |From Holocaust Remembrance to Gaza: Scholars raise genocide alarm
Dorothy Shea, the acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, recently vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza." This veto was issued despite the resolution’s description of the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "catastrophic," and in the face of unanimous support from the council's other 14 members.
Jun 09, 2025 12:45 pm .::. Bill allows Illinois highway cameras to be used to investigate other crimesSPRINGFIELD - A bill passed in this year’s legislative session would rewrite the definition of a “forcible felony” to allow Illinois State Police to use images obtained from automatic license plate readers in cases involving human trafficking and involuntary servitude.
Jun 06, 2025 12:15 pm .::. Snoring Could Signal a Hidden Stroke Risk – Here’s WhyURBANA - Here’s another reason to pay attention when your partner complains that you’re snoring or gasping for air at night: sleep apnea – repeated episodes of stopped or slowed breathing during sleep – and stroke go together in more ways than you think.
Jun 05, 2025 07:50 pm .::. State Rep to hold satellite office hours for St. Joseph, stops in Vermilion County also setST. JOSEPH - State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) is ready to hear from his constituents. Earlier this week, Niemerg announced "Satellite Office Hours" for St. Joseph, Homer, Fairmount and Georgetown on Tuesday, June 10.
This popular program provides opportunities for constituents to meet with legislative staff to receive help and discuss state issues and concerns.
Jun 05, 2025 01:06 pm .::. OSF to merge Urbana, Danville hospitals in overhaul for 2026URBANA - OSF HealthCare announced a major transformation in its east central Illinois operations Tuesday, revealing plans to merge two regional hospitals into a single entity with dual campuses.
Jun 05, 2025 11:26 am .::. Microplastics: Why you should worry about in our food supply?URBANA - From news reports to social media blurbs to medical studies, they’ve been in the public eye a lot lately. And experts say that likely won’t change.
We’re talking about microplastics or nanoplastics, incredibly small pieces of plastic that can get into our body.
Jun 05, 2025 03:48 am .::. Guest Commentary |Bitcoin King: From luxury townhome to jail
Would a million dollars make you happy? Would you be satisfied knowing you could eat well and do whatever you wanted? A million dollars isn’t what it used to be, but it’s still a huge sum of money. You could earn about $40,000 a year in interest. But wait—what if you had $100 million? You would be one of the richest people in the world! Can your mind even comprehend having that much money? Would you be satisfied? What about $100 million in bitcoin?
Jun 05, 2025 02:23 am .::. Updated: Urbana to host two 'NO KINGS' protests on June 14
After the courthouse protest, a free community dinner will be served at 6 p.m. at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center in Lincoln Square Mall, sponsored by the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Jun 04, 2025 11:43 pm .::. U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Illinois congressman’s appeal of mail-in votingSPRINGFIELD - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear an appeal on a lawsuit led by Illinois Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost challenging Illinois’ mail-in voting law.
Bost and a pair of Illinois primary delegates for President Donald Trump sued the Illinois State Board of Elections in 2022, arguing that the state’s law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted after Election Day violates the federal law establishing an “Election Day.” Both a lower federal trial court and federal appeals court have ruled Bost lacked standing to sue.
Jun 04, 2025 10:58 pm .::. Book Review |Sky High: A Soaring History of Aviation
Humans have dreamed of flying since the beginning of time. Now that transcontinental air travel is common, flight is often taken for granted. Sky High: A Soaring History of Aviation by Jacek Ambrożewski traces the grand story of humanity's pursuit of flight, beginning with ancient legends passed down through cultures and ending with the historic journey of the solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 in 2015–2016.
Jun 04, 2025 09:27 pm .::. Amid uncertainty in Washington, Illinois lawmakers pass slimmed-down Medicaid packageSPRINGFIELD - Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state’s Medicaid program, the joint federal and state health care program that covers low-income individuals.
Known as the Medicaid omnibus bill, it sometimes includes bold components, like a 2021 initiative that made millions of dollars available to local communities to help them plan and design their own health care delivery systems. Other packages have focused on smaller changes like guaranteeing coverage for specific conditions and medications or adjusting reimbursement rates for different categories of health care providers.
Jun 04, 2025 02:14 pm .::. Opening your home, opening your world: Families invited to host exchange students this fall
As families across the country plan for the school year ahead, one nonprofit is inviting them to take part in a cultural exchange that reaches far beyond the classroom. World Heritage International Student Exchange Programs is currently seeking host families willing to welcome international students into their homes for the upcoming school year.
Jun 04, 2025 01:24 pm .::. Don't forget the tip: Why your hotel housekeeper deserves a little extra during your stay
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Other notable performances include the Hot Club of Urbana jazz combo, who will take the stage at 7:25 PM, and Rory Book & The Volumes, closing out the night at 9 PM. The full lineup includes Roseli, Kevin Elliott, Flapjaques, TV Blues Band, Tessa Turner, DJ Froztbyte, The K-Tels, Paul Kotheimer, 94 Cove, Broadmoor Quartet, Jules Rose, Curb Service, and gravefruit.
Donations accepted at the Rose Bowl on Sunday will go directly towards the repair expenses. Fans can also make donations online at weft.org/support or through PayPal.
WEFT, a non-commercial radio station locally owned by Prairie Air, Incorporated, has been serving the diverse communities of East Central Illinois and worldwide since 1981. The benefit concert is a testament to the community's support for the station and its mission to provide an accessible, responsible, and responsive radio alternative.
Here is Sunday's lineup:
It’s important that we remain vigilant — and important that we not let violence or intimidation keep us from the duty we owe ourselves, each other, and our country.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
In the largest demonstration this year against President Trump's immigration and social program policies, nearly 3,000 people filled the streets for the Urbana 'No Kings' rally. Massive crowds across the country took part in peaceful, simultaneous protests on Flag Day.
byPeter Montgomery OtherWords
What a hopeful sight! My social media on June 14 and 15 was filled with people sharing pictures from “No Kings” gatherings.
Aerial photos of massive crowds in big cities. Snapshots of surprisingly large turnouts in small conservative communities. Sidewalk gatherings by residents of an assisted living center.
Millions of Americans signed up, made funny and serious signs, and came together around a basic principle: No Kings.
No Kings means no one-person rule. Our president must abide by the Constitution, follow the law, and respect the other branches of government.
No Kings means no government by edict or tweet. No president can unilaterally rewrite the law, take away due process, and impose his will on the rest of us.
No Kings means no king. Other government officials, including those who serve in our armed forces, do not swear loyalty to a ruler but to the Constitution.
These aren’t radical ideas. They are foundational American ideals. They are being severely tested right now. But research from around the world shows that autocracies do not survive sustained nonviolent resistance.
The rallies came after a week in which the president mobilized the military against American protesters in Los Angeles. Americans declared “No Kings” on the same weekend as a military parade demanded by the president and held on his birthday rumbled through our capital city.
The parade was resisted by military leaders during the president’s first term. It came after a political purge of generals and military lawyers who might say no. And it came after the president made intensely partisan speeches at West Point and Fort Bragg that suggested he views the American military as an arm of his political movement. That’s scary.
If the president hoped the military parade would provide some kind of boost to his strongman self-image, he was sorely disappointed. Despite the millions of dollars wasted shipping tanks and troops to Washington, D.C., the crowd fell far short of expectations. It was a stark contrast with the energized turnout for No Kings.
That energy must be sustained.
Corruption and abuse of power continue to threaten American families and communities as politicians vote to cut people’s access to food, education, and healthcare so they can give tax breaks to influential billionaires.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Urbana protestors joined millions around the US in No Kings rallies around the country.
The president is surrounded by people urging him to ignore our checks and balances. His worst impulses are being enabled by too many members of Congress who fear his wrath more than they respect the Constitution and their oath to uphold it.
The president’s habit of demeaning and dehumanizing his opponents and political targets makes violence more likely. So did his decision to pardon people who attacked Capitol Police on January 6.
The danger posed by our poisoned political climate became horrifyingly clear with the assassination and attempted assassination of Democratic leaders in Minnesota by a gunman with a list of pro-choice politicians, Planned Parenthood locations, and a flyer for local No Kings events.
A rally goer in Utah was killed accidentally when a security guard opened fire to stop a man moving toward the crowd with a rifle. That same day, police arrested a man with a concealed handgun and two full ammunition magazines as he tried to get past security at a Pride event in Florida.
It’s important that we remain vigilant — and important that we not let violence or intimidation keep us from the duty we owe ourselves, each other, and our country. If we want to keep “No Kings” a reality as well as a rallying cry, that will require ongoing commitment and action from “We, the people.”
Peter Montgomery is a Senior Fellow at People for the American Way. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.
There are long-term benefits to taking regular vacations, including better sleep, improved mood and greater productivity.
Photo: Jill Wellington/PEXELS
Getting away can have lasting, positive effects, lasting as long as six weeks. Taking regular vacations helps lower stress, improves mood, and promotes overall mental well-being.
by Paul Arco OSF Healthcare
ROCKFORD - A beach vacation. A site-seeing excursion. A long weekend curled up on the backyard deck reading your favorite author. No matter how you slice it, taking time away from the hustle and bustle of life is good for your health.
Finding time to unwind, relax and recharge your batteries is important at any time of the year, but especially now, as people start heading to their summer break destinations. Victor Mendoza, a behavioral health provider with OSF HealthCare, says vacations keep us grounded as we grind through the hectic times in life.
“There’re times that we just need to break the routine, do something different,” he says. “Vacations, they do that. They help us break the routine. We need to do something we enjoy, travel to new places and explore areas that we’ve never been to before.”
According to some studies, the positive effects after returning from a successful vacation can last as long as six weeks. There are long-term benefits too, including better sleep, improved mood and greater productivity.
Mendoza says your vacation destination should have meaning, whether it’s a favorite locale or an area that is ripe with the activities you enjoy. That might mean a relaxing stay at a fancy resort or a physical vacation that includes hiking, biking or fishing at a popular lake.
“Some people like to stay active. They like to catch up on exercise,” he says. “Some other people are just tired of going, going, and they just want to sit down on a beach and do nothing. And that’s OK.”
Photo: Daniel Frank/PEXELS
It is beneficial to take trips in both the summer and winter seasons. Even taking the time to plan for a vacation, long or short, will improve your mood.
While some people skip taking vacation – due to time, finances or maybe health reasons – Mendoza says it’s still important to get out of the office from time to time to avoid burn out. “We have this sense of responsibility to always be there,” he says. “’You know you can still call me and text me if something happens.’ I think we need to really take into consideration that we do need to take this time away.”
If traveling across the country isn’t your thing, consider planning a staycation or two. Take some local day trips, visit some cool parks or museums in your area, or just stay home and get some household items checked off your to-do list.
Taking a vacation or even just planning for it can improve your mood. “It doesn't always have to be this extravagant, five-star luxury hotel or taking a plane and flying across the world,” Mendoza says. “It can be something small. Just staying home and doing things around where you live.”
Mendoza recommends taking at least two vacations a year – summer and winter – with smaller breaks in between. And don’t forget to unplug. Set expectations with your boss or co-workers before you hit the road. Leave your laptop at home and respond to work calls or emails only in an emergency. “Because it's like you're trying to be in two places at one time, and you're not going to get the full benefit from time away,” he says.
The best advice, Mendoza adds, is to give yourself plenty of time when planning that next trip. While you don’t have to schedule every detail at once, develop a solid plan so that you’re not scrambling at the last minute, causing added stress or anxiety. After all, vacation is supposed to be a time to enjoy and not feel like another day at work.
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“Every day I’m going to wake up going forward thinking about what I am going to do that’s going to help the people of Illinois,” Pritzker told reporters in Springfield when asked how many years of a third term he would serve. “So that’s the reason I’m running for reelection, it’s why I announced today, it’s what I’m going to do every day going forward no matter what decision I make.”
The 60-year-old Democrat’s national profile has grown significantly over the last year. He was a finalist to be former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate last July, and weeks later, 
Peter Montgomery is a Senior Fellow at People for the American Way. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.
