Unity's Grarret Richardson avoids a tackle by Althoff's Cordon Charleston on his way to the first of two touchdowns on Friday. The senior finished finished 140 all-purpose yards in the Rockets' 53-52 thriller at Hicks Field.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Brayden Henry hauls in an Althoff pass for a second-quarter interception on 30-yard line with 10:19 to play in the half. The catch stalled the Crusader drive while Unity trailed 21-14 on the scoreboard.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Rockets' Brayden Henry is pulled down from behind during early fourth-quarter action by the Crusaders.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
After going up 51-45 after his 52-yard fourth-quarter touchdown, Unity receiver Tre Hoggard celebrates the score with fans in the west end zone. Hoggard scored four of the Rockets' seven touchdowns, finishing with 266 yards on 12 catches.
The healthcare employee pool is shrinking. A new program for high school students has been created to help address the shortfall in skilled medical professionals.
by Terri Dee Illinois News Connection
CHICAGO - The healthcare employee pool is shrinking - and as the medical profession faces increases in demand for mental health treatment, chronic illness management, and an aging population - a new program hopes high school students can step in.
Competition is tight between healthcare organizations and providers needing accredited and skilled talent.
Online educational provider MedCerts Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development, Jennifer Kolb, said the program is designed to generate students' interest in healthcare fields and get them trained.
"How do we build a pipeline of talent that is certified - a new generation of people interested in healthcare to go into these roles?" said Kolb. "And where do we get the talent from?"
Kolb said since 2019, the average hospital has spent or lost about $24 million - or about $7,000 to $9,000 a day - due to workforce turnover.
The MedCerts program has partnerships with local businesses and eLearning training providers.
Kolb said the goal is to have full-time, entry-level jobs ready for the students when they graduate from high school.
MedCerts partners with Madison County through the Medical Assistant Apprenticeships program with the Health Sisters Hospital System in Illinois.
There are more than 50 training offerings, including sterile processing technicians, surgical technologists, and pharmacy technicians.
Kolb said the certifications can be earned in three to six months, and the program offers a Pay to Career pipeline that allows the student to earn on-the-job college credit.
"Ninety-five percent of healthcare employers have a tuition reimbursement program as an employee benefit," said Kolb, "and they can use their employee benefit to go to college."
The college credit can be applied to a four-year institution for advanced medical careers, such as nursing.
State and federal dollars and employers fund the program, so the student has no financial obligations. According to the state, 13% of Illinois schools offer a health sciences and technology curriculum.
CHICAGO - Rising demands for clean energy efficiency are producing a wealth of work opportunities in Illinois. These in-demand jobs are also promoting a healthier environment. According to the Energy.gov report, Energy Facts: Impact of the Investing in America Agenda on Illinois, The Inflation Reduction Act will contribute to job increases by producing $18 billion of investment in clean power generation and storage by 2030. E2 is a nationwide network of business leaders that focuses on environmental and economic policy.
Michaela Preskill, state director of advocacy for E2, said Illinois' "robust and growing" clean energy jobs are driving economic growth.
"Clean energy jobs grew by over 4% last year, and that's eight times faster than the state's overall economy," she said.
Workers manufacturing Energy Star appliances are using advanced materials for the construction and servicing of homes and commercial buildings. These efforts result in cost-effective lighting and HVAC systems, Preskill noted, which saves consumers and homeowners money. The report also claims the Inflation Reduction Act means commercial building owners can receive up to $5 per square foot in tax credits to support energy efficiency improvements.
Clean energy industry watchers predict an 8% growth of employees in Illinois in 2025. Preskill said there is no indication the trend will slow down, but diversity is an issue. The site 'Save-on-energy-dot-com,' says women represent only 22% of workers in the energy sector and 32% in the renewable energy sector. She admits the field is traditionally male, but is optimistic for change.
"It's about 70% male, 30% female in Illinois. We are seeing that more and more females enter year after year. And I think it will slowly become more inclusive. But we got some work to do for sure," she explained.
The International Energy Agency site reports female employees in the energy sector earn nearly 20% less than male workers.
TULSA, OK. – Illinois tennis player William Mroz advanced to the singles qualifiers at the ITA All-American Championships on Sunday in Tulsa. Mroz won three singles matches in pre-qualifying action to earn a spot among 64 student-athletes in the qualifying round today.
Mroz won in straight sets over Auburn's William Nolan, 6-4, 6-2, in his first match in the quallies. Next, he faced Georgia Tech's Nate Bonetto on Sunday morning, cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 win. The redshirt junior played a second match on Sunday afternoon, finishing with another dominant performance, knocking Duke's Oscar Brown 6-1, 6-4,
Sixty-four student-athletes will compete in the singles qualifying bracket, with 16 players advancing to the singles main draw on Wednesday.
ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden senior Jared Altenbaumer runs through the team tunnel during the pregame introductions before the start of their home game against Unity on September 6. The undefeated Spartans, now two wins away from a guaranteed postseason bid, are back home this Friday for their first home game in two weeks, facing the Lions of Carterville. SJO moved to 4-0 last Friday after defeating Illinois Valley Central on the road, 42-28.
CHICAGO - Anyone age 18 or younger accused of violating Illinois law, who has formal charges filed against them, has historically had their case tried in a courtroom but some judges are choosing another option in hopes of keeping young people out of the system.
Courts in Avondale, Englewood, North Lawndale and Sauk Village in Cook County use restorative justice for nonviolent felony or misdemeanor cases for people ages 18-26. They attend court-appointed conferences or "peace circles" with family, friends and community members to encourage accountability.
Elizabeth Clarke, founder and executive director of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative, thinks the restorative justice model should be expanded.
"Cook County should be using it, not just in low-level cases, but in really serious felony cases," Clarke contended.
Victims and survivors of crimes may volunteer to participate in the conferences. This Friday, the Juvenile Justice Initiative will host two restorative justice practitioners with the Youth Justice Agency in Belfast, Northern Ireland, speaking at the Adler Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice in Chicago.
The Cook County Circuit Court website said a "Repair of Harm Agreement" lists what a young offender must complete, from performing community service and writing a reflection letter, to attaining a high school equivalency diploma and finishing a substance abuse program.
Joshua Brooks restorative justice hubs coordinator for the Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice at Adler University, said restorative justice is a practice; a way of life borrowed from Indigenous beliefs.
"It's really based on the principle that we belong to each other, and we need to do right by each other," Brooks explained. "There are just several different principles and values that include relationship building, confidentiality, repairing harm, community building, shared power. And the way that it's practiced is usually through circles."
Brooks argued strengthening relationships with community members and bringing them into a place where they can trust one another is also important. If the young person completes the items on their list, criminal charges are dismissed and the case is expunged.
Chicago Appleseed for Fair Courts data show between 2020 and 2023, 100 people completed a restorative justice program. By March 2023, 94% had their charges dropped or dismissed.
BRANDPOINT - Heating and cooling often make up the bulk of utility bills - and the right HVAC system can make a world of difference in both energy bills and home comfort. Recently, heat pumps have become a trending topic in the news for their ability to address both of these needs by providing sustainable home comfort while simultaneously lowering utility bills. But can they really do both?
To answer that question, it's important to first understand how a heat pump works. When the thermostat temperature is raised and heat is needed, the system pulls heat energy from the ambient air outside the home to heat the home. When air conditioning is desired, it does the opposite, removing heat from inside the home and expelling it to make the home cooler.
Because heat energy is moved around rather than being produced directly, heat pumps can provide more sustainable - and more efficient fuel source alternatives. In addition, recent advancements have made heat pumps far more efficient and more reliable than ever before - even in colder climates. As a result, both federal and local agencies are offering money-saving incentives to help more homeowners switch to heat pumps making it an ideal time to invest in a new heat pump.
But even with these benefits, there are still a lot of myths about how heat pumps work. We're debunking some of the top heat pump misconceptions.
Myth 1: Heat pumps won't work in cold climates
Fact: Today's heat pumps can provide efficient heating in colder climates than ever before
In the past, some older heat pumps could struggle to heat a space efficiently when outdoor temperatures were especially cold. However, today's heat pumps are engineered to function as the primary heating source in almost all geographic regions, even when temperatures drop below freezing.
The key to providing sufficient heat capacity in especially cold climates is the compressor - the part of a heat pump that moves heat through the system. In the past, heat pumps typically relied on single-speed compressors that functioned like an on/off switch, making it harder for the system to cope with extreme swings in temperature. Today's more advanced heat pumps leverage variable-speed compressor technology to make incremental adjustments that keep pace with changing temperature more efficiently and more accurately. In addition, many heat pumps rated for cold-climate use now feature vapor injection technology, which further boosts cold-weather heating performance.
Myth 2: Heat pumps don't really save money
Fact: 90% of homeowners can reduce their utility bills with a heat pump
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that almost all homeowners can expect to see cost savings by switching to an energy-efficient electric heat pump. Today's heat pump offerings are wide-ranging and can meet the unique needs of almost any home, comfort level, or budget. Innovations in energy efficiency mean less electricity is used to cut costs in most homes. For example, the newly launched YORK® HH8 Side-Discharge Heat Pump can precisely match a home's changing comfort needs while reducing homeowners' energy bills by up to 50% compared to less efficient HVAC systems.
Myth 3: Heat pumps are noisy
Fact: Many heat pumps are as quiet as a dishwasher
No one wants to hear excessive noise coming from their HVAC system. Premium heat pumps combine insulated cabinets and low-sound fan designs to deliver whisper-quiet performance when operating in both heating and AC modes.
Myth 4: Temperatures will be inconsistent
Fact: Heat pumps seamlessly move between heating and cooling for consistent comfort
We all want to feel comfortable in our homes. Variable-speed heat pumps automatically move between heating and cooling modes throughout operation to maintain precise temperature and humidity levels. These seamless adjustments provide unmatched home comfort while helping to maximize energy efficiency, especially when compared to single-phase heat pumps that simply turn on and off and provide inconsistent inside temperatures.
Myth 5: Heat pumps require a lot of space
Fact: New compact designs are 30% smaller than traditional equipment
Innovative, new heat pump designs like the YORK® HH8 Side-Discharge Heat Pump offer top-tier efficiency and variable-speed performance in a compact size. The side-discharge design allows the heat pump to be stacked, placed under raised decks, or installed in zero-lot-line neighborhoods.
Myth 6: Installing a new heat pump is expensive
Fact: A wide range of rebates and incentives are available now
A historic number of savings programs are available to help offset the cost of installing a high-efficiency home heat pump. Through a combination of immediate discounts, tax rebates, and utility and manufacturers' offers, some qualifying homeowners can offset 100% of the cost of installing a heat pump. Additionally, some manufacturers offer simplified financing options with fixed monthly payments to make the investment more manageable.
