Public health officials are highlighting the importance of taking action to "Fight the Bite" during National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which runs from June 18-24.
Photo: Mohamed Nuzrath/Pixabay
by Mark Richardson Illinois News Connection
CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Public Health said the first positive test for West Nile virus in 2025 has been detected in Winnebago County near Rockford.
Health officials warned people in the infected area and elsewhere to take precautions to avoid the mosquito-borne disease, which is expected to spread across the state. Last year, Illinois reported 69 cases of West Nile, with 13 reported human deaths.
Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said evidence of the disease usually emerges this time of year.
Most people who are bitten by infected mosquitoes do not contract the disease.
"In Illinois, we typically see the first environmental positive test for West Nile in mid- to late May," Vohra explained. "Mosquitoes typically emerge in the spring and are active until the first hard frost of the year."
Vohra noted West Nile virus is an endemic disease in Illinois, meaning it is commonly found in the state. Public health officials are highlighting the importance of taking action to "Fight the Bite" during National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which runs from June 18-24.
Vohra pointed out most people who are bitten by infected mosquitoes do not contract the disease but one in five will show symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to a serious and possibly fatal illness.
"Right now, there's no treatment for West Nile virus," Vohra emphasized. "But supportive care is really important, especially if you're developing symptoms or you're that one of 150 people that can develop severe illness."
Public health officials have advised Illinoisians to wear long sleeves and pants outdoors, use Environmental Protection Agency-approved insect repellent and stay indoors during peak mosquito hours at dawn and dusk. They also recommend trying to keep mosquitoes from breeding.
"One way to do that is to dump any standing water," Vohra advised. "Examples of that include flowerpots, children's toys, pet bowls, bird baths, buckets, used tires, abandoned swimming pools, any place where you can get standing water."
New bill would allow a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling or child of any Illinois driver to submit medical information about the driver to the secretary of state if they think the person’s medical condition interferes with their driving abilities.
Photo: Cheng Xiao/Unsplash
Drivers 87 and older will have to take an annual driver’s test says new bill waiting for the Illinois governor's signature. by Jade Aubrey
Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - A bill unanimously passed by the Senate on Thursday and on its way to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk will increase the age that senior drivers in Illinois are required to take an annual driver’s test.
Currently, if a driver renews their driver’s license between the ages of 79 and 80, they are required to take a driving test. Drivers between 81 and 86 are required to take a driving test every two years, and drivers 87 and older have to take the test annually.
If Pritzker signs House Bill 1226, sponsored by Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, only drivers 87 and older will have to take an annual driver’s test. Illinois drivers between 79 and 86 won’t be required to take a driver’s test to renew their license; instead, they’ll only have to take a vision test, and if they have a driving violation, a written test.
The bill would also allow a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling or child of any Illinois driver to submit medical information about the driver to the secretary of state if they think the person’s medical condition interferes with their driving abilities. Currently, only medical officials, police officers and state’s attorneys can submit such information.
HB 1226, also called the Road Safety and Fairness Act, has garnered bipartisan support. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced his support for the bill in January alongside lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The bill was conceived by a constituent of Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, last year.
The bill has 86 cosponsors in the House and 35 in the Senate.
Illinois is the only state that requires seniors to pass a driving test solely due to their age. But state data indicates that older drivers tend to have lower crash rates.
In 2023, the crash rate for drivers aged 75 and older was 24.61 per 1,000 drivers, which was lower than any other age group, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The low crash rate has been consistent since at least 2018, according to the Secretary of State’s Office’s 2023 Study on Age-Related Driving Abilities.
The crash rate is more than double for many of the other age groups.
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. Jade Aubrey contributed to this article.
This hyperconnectivity has profound psychological implications. From an operational standpoint, informal and unregulated communication channels present structural inefficiencies.
byNabajyoti Narzary Guest Commentary
The modern workplace is constantly dynamic, molded and remolded by digital technologies designed to improve communication, coordination, and efficiency. However, beneath the surface of this digital revolution lies a growing concern: the blurring of boundaries between professional obligations and personal time.
What once ended with the office bell has now extended into our evenings, weekends, and even holidays. This erosion of work-life separation is contributing to increased stress, mental fatigue, and the slow but steady loss of personal well-being.
Contemporary professional environments are increasingly defined by their dependence on instant communication technologies. While these platforms promise speed and connectivity, they have introduced a new and less visible cost: the expectation of constant availability. Whether it's group messaging platforms, voice calls, or video conferencing applications, the deluge of notifications and messages promotes an environment where individuals feel perpetually on call.
Photo: StockSnap/Pixabay
The line between work and life has increasingly blurred as new technologies keeps workers in constant communication with employers.
Employees today are frequently integrated into multiple digital groups, ranging from routine administrative updates to emergency response coordination. The volume and frequency of communication—often outside standard working hours—create a digital tether. What was once considered personal time is now frequently invaded by a stream of requests, reminders, and follow-ups. Unlike traditional communication tools such as memos or scheduled emails, real-time platforms simulate an "always-on duty" culture, implicitly demanding prompt responses regardless of the context.
From an operational standpoint, informal and unregulated communication channels present structural inefficiencies.
This hyperconnectivity has profound psychological implications. The inability to detach from work-related communications intrudes on mental space, affecting emotional well-being and leading to symptoms of burnout. Employees may experience persistent anxiety, irritability, and even sleep disorders. The stress caused by this round-the-clock expectation chips away at personal relationships, physical health, and the time needed for introspection and rejuvenation.
Younger professionals, especially those early in their careers, are disproportionately affected. In an attempt to prove diligence and reliability, many adopt an overly responsive approach, answering late-night messages or reacting to non-urgent communications during personal moments. This leads to heightened anxiety, as the line between dedication and overextension becomes dangerously blurred. Rather than being a tool for empowerment, communication technology becomes a mechanism for silent coercion.
From an operational standpoint, informal and unregulated communication channels present structural inefficiencies. Unlike traditional office systems that ensured accountability and order—through file tracking, documented instructions, and formalized hierarchies—instant messaging platforms lack structured workflows. Communication is often fragmented, imprecise, and susceptible to misinterpretation. Critical tasks can become obscured by trivial updates, resulting in oversight and duplication of effort.
Moreover, the absence of features like digital signatures, formal timestamping, and archival functionality poses significant challenges in authenticating instructions or referring back to communication trails. In environments where compliance and auditability are crucial, such informal exchanges fall short. What begins as a tool for convenience often morphs into a source of administrative confusion and inefficiency.
The overreliance on informal digital communication also deteriorates professional decorum. The casual tone often adopted in such platforms undermines the seriousness of official discourse. Important matters may be conveyed in fragmented or unclear messages, leading to misalignment and errors in execution. The erosion of formality in communication affects organizational discipline, creating a culture where urgency and clarity are constantly compromised.
There is a pressing need for a cultural and systemic shift in how organizations approach communication.
The broader implication is a workplace culture drifting toward toxicity. When employees feel scrutinized for their responsiveness or judged by their online visibility, a competitive and anxious atmosphere emerges. Surveillance replaces trust, and performance anxiety replaces teamwork. The result is a fragmented workforce where genuine productivity takes a back seat to the mere performance of connectivity.
This phenomenon cannot be resolved through technological intervention alone. There is a pressing need for a cultural and systemic shift in how organizations approach communication. Organizations must promote respect for individual time and distinguish between routine and urgent communications. Communication protocols should be standardized and aligned with realistic expectations.
A potential alternative is the development and adoption of dedicated platforms designed to cater to professional needs—systems that incorporate both the agility of instant messaging and the structure of formal communication. These platforms should enable features such as categorizing messages by priority, setting communication windows, archiving conversations systematically, and ensuring data security through encrypted and government-controlled servers where applicable.
In addition, leadership behavior plays a critical role. Managers and senior officials should set an example of responsible digital behavior by refraining from after-hours messaging unless absolutely required. This not only establishes a standard but also signals that the organization values the well-being of its employees. Establishing formal policies that define communication boundaries is vital in reinforcing these values.
The challenge lies in ensuring that technology serves us, not consumes us.
Training programs can also be instrumental. Sessions on digital etiquette, managing notifications, and setting boundaries can empower employees to engage more mindfully. Emphasis should be placed on time management, prioritization, and mental wellness. Organizations must actively cultivate an environment where boundaries are respected and employees feel secure in disconnecting without fear of judgment or professional disadvantage.
Furthermore, promoting trust-based work cultures over output surveillance will help dismantle the toxicity emerging from hyperconnectivity. By encouraging outcome-based evaluation rather than input visibility, organizations can allow professionals to work with autonomy and dignity.
That said, it is important to acknowledge that this very connectivity has brought significant advantages, particularly in sectors where rapid response and real-time coordination are critical. For emergency workers, disaster response teams, healthcare professionals, district administration, and law enforcement agencies, the ability to remain connected at all times has often meant the difference between life and death.
Real-time surveillance, instant data sharing, and continuous communication have enhanced situational awareness, streamlined coordination, and accelerated decision-making in high-stakes scenarios. In such contexts, the digital tether becomes an enabler, not a burden—ensuring that help is never too far away and that collective action can be mobilized swiftly in times of need.
Therefore, the modern workplace must recognize that digital connectivity is a double-edged sword. When harnessed wisely, it can effectively drive efficiency and collaboration. However, when left unchecked, it can lead to overwhelming pressure and a decline in quality of life. The challenge lies in ensuring that technology serves us, not consumes us.
Nabajyoti Narzary works in administration, where he explore the intersection of people and institutional systems at the grassroots level, uncovering untold stories of governance and everyday resilience. Writing is his sanctuary, flowing from daily observations and reflective moments, often captured in a personal diary and complemented by long evening walks with their dog, Nia. A college trip to Serbia sparked a lasting interest in Eastern European culture and history, inspiring a deep appreciation for the region’s complex tapestry shaped by centuries of conflict, coexistence, and cultural evolution.
Tagged:Digital Workplace Boundaries, Work-Life Balance in Tech Era, Always-On Work Culture, Workplace Mental Health, Employee Burnout and Technology, Hyperconnectivity and Productivity
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by Mark Richardson
