Singles wins and a strong #3 doubles finish give KTC the edge over B4B in a close USTA league match.
URBANA — KTC edged closer to the pinnacle of the USTA Men's 3.5 league standings, clinching a hard-fought 3-2 triumph against B4B at Atkins Tennis Center on Wednesday night. The victory lifts KTC into a tie for first place alongside the Spin Doctors, setting up key matchups in the coming weeks.
Yongjoo Jung set the tone for KTC in singles play, securing his third win of the season with a composed 6-3, 6-4 decision over Lorenzo Vergari at the #1 spot. Jung has shown versatility this year, competing across multiple league levels, including 4.0 and 6.5 Combo action.
Andy Hur followed with a commanding performance at #2 singles, rolling past Robbie Bauer 6-0, 6-3 to give KTC early control. The team sealed its victory at #3 doubles, where Lino Jo and Sung Min Moon turned in a dominant 6-2, 6-1 effort against Tim Ellis and Charles Nerone.
B4B answered back in a pair of tightly contested doubles matches. At #1 doubles, Nitin Bhosale and Joseph Reiter edged Andrew Diep and Kim Junghyun in a comeback, 6-7, 6-3, 1-0. Meanwhile, Steve Mertens and Christopher Stewart secured another point for B4B, rallying past Jaemin Yang and Yoochan Shin 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 in a gritty effort.
Looking ahead, KTC will take on the Smokin’ Aces, who are coming off a 5-0 loss to the Spin Doctors. B4B aims to bounce back against those same Spin Doctors and hand them their first defeat of the season.
The defending champs made an early-season statement with a 5-0 win over the only the team to hand them a loss in their last 10 matches.
CHAMPAIGN — The Spin Doctors opened their USTA Men’s 3.5 league title defense in dominant fashion Wednesday night, sweeping all five matches against the Smokin’ Aces at Atkins Tennis Center. The defending champs made an early-season statement with a 5-0 win that highlighted their depth and adaptability across both singles and doubles play.
At the top of the singles lineup, Gaston Suardiaz rolled past Pete Hoppin 6-1, 6-2, while Doyeon Kim backed him up with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Jay Rafi at No. 2. Both matches were controlled from the baseline, with the Spin Doctors dictating pace and placement early. The Aces, still adjusting to outdoor conditions, couldn’t match the consistency of their counterparts.
Doubles play offered a mix of momentum shifts and strategic battles. At No. 1, the Aces’ Patrick Hammie and Andy Wilke came out hot, taking the opening set 6-3 for the only set win for their team all night. But the Spin Doctors' Paul Cheung and Ben Lee settled in and stole the match in a deciding tiebreak, 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (5). Meanwhile, John Delanois and Christopher Sisson powered past Ryan Lepp and Ryan Grosso 6-1, 6-3. Though Lepp and Grosso began to find their rhythm outdoors in the second set, pairing kept the Aces at arm’s length.
The night closed with Hans Dee and Geoffrey Lin claiming a 6-4, 6-2 win over Dan Maloney and Travis Davis. Aces captain Clark Brooks had hoped the pair’s speed would tilt the match, but the Spin Doctors' adjustments stifled their usual mix of angles and touch.
The Aces face KTC next Wednesday at 7 p.m., while the Spin Doctors take on B4B at 6 p.m. at Atkins Tennis Center.
There are many factors when it comes to bone loss including age, body weight, diet and physical activity. The key to minimizing bone density loss is the inclusion of weight bearing exercises such as lifting weights.
Photo: Robert Anasch/Unsplash
by Matt Sheehan OSF Healthcare
ROCKFORD - There’s always plenty of discussion when it comes to the benefits of diets.
In one recent study in the JAMA Network Open, researchers found the lower-calorie Mediterranean diet combined with exercise, helped older women lose weight with beneficial effects on bone mass density.
The study was completed in hospitals and medical centers across Spain and included more than 900 women who ranged in age from 55 to 75. Half the group was instructed to eat a Mediterranean diet with no calorie restrictions and were not required to exercise. The other half was encouraged to walk for at least 45 minutes a day for six days a week and do strength exercises three days a week. This group saw significant improvement in stronger bones.
A lack of calcium and vitamin D are also major factors in bone density loss.
There are many factors when it comes to bone loss including age, body weight, diet and physical activity. Nicole O’Neill, a dietitian with OSF HealthCare, says the Mediterranean diet and exercise can prevent bone loss, if weight bearing exercise, such as lifting weights, is part of the program.
“This was not studied specifically for the Mediterranean diet and bone loss,” she explains. “It was something they found incidentally and then studied it closer. It's not that it's wrong, it's just that it's inconclusive.”
Nicole O’Neill, Dietitian
A lack of calcium and vitamin D are also major factors in bone density loss. “The Mediterranean diet overall limits the amount of dairy, so most people get the majority of their calcium and vitamin D from dairy products,” says O’Neill. “So, say you were doing three glasses of milk a day. If you switched to a Mediterranean diet and dropped down to one glass of milk, you could cause bone loss because you're getting less calcium and vitamin D if you're not careful.”
The typical American standard diet includes plenty of processed foods and lacks in fruits and vegetables.
Key Takeaways:
A study found the Mediterranean diet combined with exercise may have some positive effect on bone mass density in older women.
The key is the inclusion of weight bearing exercises such as lifting weights.
The Mediterranean diet is popular because it promotes fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods.
Always consult with your provider before starting any diet.
The Mediterranean diet is popular because it features simple, plant-based cooking, with each meal featuring fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and seeds and an emphasis on extra-virgin olive oil. The diet is rich in nutrients that help bone health. Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables can help support bone cells and vitamin K found in spinach can help with bone formation.
“I really do like the Mediterranean diet,” O’Neill says. “There are a lot of pros. The cons are it’s a little fussy. You have to push and pull things around, and you have to be careful to fill in the gaps with foods that are appropriate. If you're not used to having that bigger load of fruits and vegetables and whole grains, that's a lot of fiber that maybe your guts are not used to. So, a slow, incremental approach might be the best way to start.”
Regarding any study, O’Neill says it’s important to read and do your research before coming to any conclusions. Don’t rely on information from the Internet, she adds. You’re likely to get misleading information. Instead, talk to your provider or a dietitian who can interpret the numbers found in the study.
“There are really a lot of moving parts,” O’Neill says. “When you start a new diet, we don't want a crash course. We want it to be sustainable. We want it to be long term, and we want it to be something that fits for you and that makes sense.”
U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, of the Southern District of New York, issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of an order that Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued on Friday, March 28.
by Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD — A federal judge in New York issued a preliminary order Tuesday blocking the Trump administration from cutting off states’ access to hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds for public schools, including more than $77 million for Illinois.
Capitol News Illinois file photo
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is pictured in a file photo. He was part of a lawsuit securing a temporary injunction to stop the Trump administration from cutting off more than $77 million in education funds to the state.
U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, of the Southern District of New York, issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of an order that Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued on Friday, March 28. That order reversed earlier decisions to grant the states additional time to spend funds they had been allocated.
The effect of McMahon’s order was to immediately cut off access to funds that states said they had already committed to spend but not yet made the actual expenditures.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 17 states in suing the federal government to block McMahon’s order.
“The Trump administration’s shortsighted and illegal decision to attempt to rescind already-appropriated education funding would hurt vulnerable students the most and could wreak havoc on the budgets of school districts throughout Illinois and the nation,” Raoul said in a statement Tuesday.
The lawsuit over pandemic-related education money is one of more than a dozen multistate suits Raoul has joined, in combination with other Democratic state attorneys general, challenging actions Trump has taken since being sworn in for a second term Jan. 20.
In 2020 and 2021, Congress passed several relief and economic stimulus packages totaling trillions of dollars to help individuals, businesses and state and local governments deal with the financial consequences of the pandemic. For schools, that included costs associated with preparing for the safe return to in-person learning, addressing the learning loss students suffered during the extended period of school closures, and addressing some of the unique needs of homeless children that were exacerbated by the pandemic.
According to the complaint, Illinois was awarded just over $5 billion in “education stabilization” funds under the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, which was enacted in March 2021. Of that, $77.2 million remained obligated but not yet spent as of the end of March 2025.
Those funds had been earmarked for such things as teacher mentoring, statewide instructional coaching, new principal mentoring, trauma response initiatives, the creation of social-emotional learning hubs and contracts for technology infrastructure upgrades, according to the complaint.
Under ARPA, those funds were intended to cover expenses incurred through Sept. 30, 2023. Subsequent legislation gave states an additional year, to Sept. 30, 2024, to “obligate” their funds. And under agency regulations, they had another 120 days beyond that to draw down the funds, although they were also given the option of requesting further extensions.
In January 2025, Illinois requested, and later received, permission to extend its deadline for drawing down the remainder of its funds to March 28, 2026. Other states involved in the lawsuit also received extensions.
But on Friday, March 28, 2025, the Department of Education issued a memo rescinding those extensions, effectively cutting off the states’ access to any unspent funds.
“Extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion,” McMahon said in a memo to state education agency heads.
The injunction means the Department of Education cannot enforce the order, at least while the case is still being litigated or until the court issues a different order.
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.
Only 28% of low-income students transfer, compared to 44% of higher-income students. And while Black and Latino students make up 44% of community college enrollment in Illinois, they make up just 31% of those who transfer to public universities.
by Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD — As the cost of higher education continues to rise, many students have turned to local community colleges as a way of holding down the cost of pursuing a degree.
Sometimes referred to as the “2-plus-2” model, the idea is to complete the freshman- and sophomore-level general education requirements at a local community college – where tuition rates may be half to one-third that of a four-year institution – then transfer to a university to finish out a degree.
Photo: PhotoNews Media Archives
Illinois graduates who transferred from a community college take out, on average, 38% more debt than those who start at four-year schools. Transfer students also attempt an average of nine more credits during their college career than those who don’t transfer.
By many measures, Illinois has been a leader in making the transfer process accessible for community college students. A 2020 report from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board noted that Illinois led the nation in bachelor’s degree completion rates among community college transfer students, with nearly 54% completing their degree within six years.
But a new report by a higher education advocacy group says that statistic offers an incomplete picture. While the completion rate may be high for those who succeed in making the transfer to a university, many more community college students never make the transfer, even though that’s their plan when they first enroll.
The report by the Partnership for College Completion says that while 79% of community college students start with the intention of transferring to a university, only 35% of them do.
The success rate is even lower for low-income students and students of color, the report states. Only 28% of low-income students transfer, compared to 44% of higher-income students. And while Black and Latino students make up 44% of community college enrollment in Illinois, they make up just 31% of those who transfer to public universities.
The report also says Illinois graduates who transferred from a community college take out, on average, 38% more debt than those who start at four-year schools. Transfer students also attempt an average of nine more credits during their college career than those who don’t transfer.
“We’re trying to put a bridge between different systems that were not designed to work with each other and aren't honestly designed to work primarily for students,” Mike Abrahamson, associate director of research and policy at PCC and a coauthor of the report, said in an interview. “We’re seeing breakdowns at every part of this pipeline.”
Abrahamson said the 2-plus-2 model works best for the small percentage of students who come into the system knowing what they want to major in and what university they want to transfer to. But for most others, he said, multiple barriers can stand in the way of a student making a seamless transition from community college to a four-year school.
Some universities have prerequisites for their upper-level courses that may not be aligned with the general education core curriculum that a student may have taken in community college.
One of the biggest obstacles, according to the report, is identifying the community college courses for which credits are eligible to be transferred between institutions, a process known as “articulation.”
Illinois has two programs intended to make it easier to transfer credits between schools. The Illinois Articulation Initiative, begun in 1993, sets out a “general education core curriculum” that more than 100 participating institutions have agreed to accept. And the Student Transfer Achievement Reform, or STAR Act, provides that students who graduate from a community college with an associate’s degree can, if they meet other qualifications, automatically be admitted to a public university and enroll as a junior.
But Abrahamson said the process is not as smooth and seamless as it would seem. For example, he said, some universities have prerequisites for their upper-level courses that may not be aligned with the general education core curriculum that a student may have taken in community college.
“We heard from students about, ‘Oh, I took this marketing class, and it didn't transfer for major credit, it transferred for elective credit. I had to take a marketing class, and it was the exact same course and I paid twice for it,’” Abrahamson said.
Another barrier, the report noted, is the direct cost of transferring from one school to another. That can include application fees as well as fees for obtaining copies of transcripts, costs that can multiply if the student applies to multiple four-year institutions.
“In our discussions with students, we found that those could be significant barriers for students,” Abrahamson said. “It's a $30 or $40 application fee, but you multiply that over a couple institutions, and it can be a real barrier for students to apply.”
Recommendations to lawmakers
The report offers several recommendations to make the transfer process easier, some of which are being considered in the General Assembly. Chief among those is to reform the way Illinois funds higher education.
Lawmakers are considering legislation this year to overhaul university funding, one that would distribute new funds using a needs-based formula similar to the Evidence-Based Funding model used in K-12 education. But the Partnership for College Completion report also calls for overhauling community college funding, “to reduce over-reliance on tuition and fee revenue.”
Another proposal under consideration this year is to implement a statewide direct admissions program in which graduating high school seniors and community college students who are eligible to transfer to a university would be automatically admitted to public universities where they are qualified.
The report calls for expanding that program further by coupling it with “guaranteed need-based financial aid.”
“I think almost all of our universities want to serve more transfer students and want to serve their students as best they possibly can,” Abrahamson said. “A lot of this comes down to giving them the resources they need to do that.”
Gov. JB Pritzker has also pushed for a bill allowing community colleges to offer four-year bachelor’s degree programs in certain high-demand employment fields. But that measure has stalled thus far, with Democratic leaders recently expressing disagreement on the plan at a committee hearing to discuss the funding bill.
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.
New survey data shows a concerning rise in teen substance abuse in Illinois, including the impact of online alcohol delivery and marijuana trends among Illinois teens in the 2024 Youth Survey.
CHAMPAIGN - A new report on youth substance use in Illinois paints a sobering picture of emerging trends and longstanding challenges as more adolescents experiment with drugs and alcohol—and in some cases, suffer serious consequences.
The 2024 Illinois Youth Survey (IYS), released this spring, revealed that while overall youth substance use has not spiked dramatically, troubling new behaviors and increased accessibility are raising red flags for parents, educators, and policymakers alike.
Photo: R+R Medicinals/Pixabay
Among the most startling findings: Illinois teens are drinking at nearly double the national rate. Thirteen percent of Illinois youth reported consuming alcohol in the past 30 days, compared with just 6.9% nationally. The data, collected by the Center for Prevention Research and Development (CPRD) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, also showed a growing number of youth engaging in binge drinking, acquiring substances online, or misusing prescription drugs.
The IYS, a biennial self-report survey first administered in 1993, is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services and designed to provide both local-level insights and a scientific estimate of health and social behaviors statewide. It surveys eighth, 10th, and 12th graders on a wide range of issues including bullying, school climate, and substance use. This year’s sample included responses from more than 10,490 students.
Doug Smith, CPRD director and a professor of social work at the University of Illinois, said one unexpected pattern to emerge was teens acquiring liquor through home delivery services.
Clinicians are seeing an uptick in cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome—a condition tied to heavy cannabis use that causes extreme nausea and vomiting.
“This is a newer trend that started when retailers moved to online delivery during the pandemic,” Smith told the University of Illinois News Bureau. “It may be time to think about what regulatory approaches, if any, are needed to prevent kids from ordering alcohol online.”
Substance access is also a concern when it comes to marijuana, especially highly potent products such as edibles. Among surveyed students, 1% of eighth graders, 3% of 10th graders, and 5% of 12th graders reported using cannabis 20 or more times a month.
The risks of cannabis products among children were underscored just last month when a 14-year-old was arrested at Urbana Middle School for possessing more than 500 grams of cannabis-infused edibles. Urbana police reported that the child may have been attempting to distribute the edibles, and that another student required medical attention after ingesting one. Experts note these products often contain THC levels up to six times the adult dosage, making them particularly harmful to young users.
Smith said clinicians are seeing an uptick in cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome—a condition tied to heavy cannabis use that causes extreme nausea and vomiting. “We’re getting increasing reports of teens experiencing cyclical vomiting syndrome,” he said. “It’s something we didn’t talk much about even five years ago.”
The IYS data also highlighted the continued presence of more dangerous narcotics among youth. While fewer students reported using illicit drugs like heroin or LSD—just 1% of eighth and 10th graders and 2% of 12th graders—these numbers still translate to thousands of teens across the state. Prescription drug misuse was also flagged, with some students reporting using medications not prescribed to them.
Many students acknowledged that their substance use was not without consequences. Fourteen percent of 12th graders and 8% of sophomores said their use had led to fights, injuries, or poor academic performance. Ten percent of seniors and 6% of sophomores reported experiencing blackouts. Others admitted to riding with or driving under the influence—11% of seniors and 6% of sophomores.
The reality of addiction has already touched some students. About 5% of high school sophomores and seniors said they were in recovery from a substance use problem.
In terms of perception, many teens seem to underestimate the risks of regular alcohol or marijuana use. While most students viewed daily cigarette smoking as dangerous, far fewer expressed concern over marijuana or moderate drinking. Only 61% of seniors thought using marijuana once or twice a week was harmful. And when asked about daily alcohol use, 21% of eighth graders and nearly one in five high schoolers saw little or no risk in having one or two drinks a day.
Still, the survey also found encouraging signs: More than 90% of students reported that their parents or guardians had talked to them about substance use in the past year, and a similar percentage said their families had clear rules around these behaviors.
Cottonbro Studio/PEXELS
Despite these preventative conversations, the reality of addiction has already touched some students. About 5% of high school sophomores and seniors said they were in recovery from a substance use problem. Smith noted this seemingly small percentage represents thousands of young people in Illinois who might benefit from alternative education options like recovery high schools, which offer a structured environment for students overcoming addiction.
While Illinois currently has no such schools, other states have implemented them with promising results.
“This data tells a much bigger story than just who’s using what,” Smith said. “It’s about the environments young people are navigating, the access they have to substances, and the types of supports they need to move toward healthier choices.”
The survey’s findings underscore the need for continued investment in prevention, education, and recovery programs for youth. The research was supported by the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery through funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The League of Women Voters of Illinois meets with lawmakers on Lobby Day to address key social and environmental issues.
Photo courtesy League of Women Voters of Illinois
League of Women Voters of Illinois members gather in Springfield for their annual Lobby Day on Wednesday. Experienced League members and members of the new Volunteer Lobby Corps met face-to-face with state legislators.
SPRINGFIELD - The League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL) returned to the Illinois State Capitol on Wednesday, May 8, for its annual Lobby Day, engaging with lawmakers across the political spectrum to advocate for a range of policy issues.
This year’s event marked the debut of the organization’s newly established Volunteer Lobby Corps, a group of trained advocates who joined experienced League members in meeting face-to-face with legislators. Prior to their Capitol meetings, the volunteers underwent orientation led by seasoned members to prepare for discussions with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan group, bases its advocacy on positions it has thoroughly studied and reached consensus on. According to LWVIL President Becky Simon, the group continues to press for voting rights protections and initiatives aimed at building a more equitable democratic system.
“LWVIL advocates to protect voting rights and advance a more equitable democracy,” Simon stated. “The League stands up for social justice issues because systemic inequities prohibit people from participating equally in our democracy.”
This year’s lobbying priorities included the defense of Constitutional rights and efforts to ensure equity in both education and housing. Local chapters of the League were also encouraged to raise district-specific issues with their representatives. These included managing environmental waste and safeguarding aquifers from potential contaminants.
The organization’s Capitol visit is part of a broader effort to maintain a visible presence in public policy discussions and to empower volunteers to take active roles in civic engagement.
Amid a competitive pool of applicants statewide, three individuals emerged as the distinguished recipients of $1,500 scholarships.
GALVA - Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to fostering educational pursuits among its members and their families, Illinois LICA proudly announced the recipients of its inaugural scholarship program for 2025. Amid a competitive pool of applicants statewide, the selection committee faced the formidable task of choosing from a multitude of exceptional candidates. After meticulous deliberation, three individuals emerged as the distinguished recipients of $1,500 scholarships.
Paige Kocher of Flat Rock, IL, currently a junior at the University of Evansville pursuing Biology, garnered recognition for her exemplary academic achievements. Paige, daughter of Jeff & Holly Kocher and granddaughter of Norm & Mary Jane Kocher, has consistently earned Dean’s List honors throughout her academic career. Her dedication to the field of medicine and forensic pathology is evidenced by her practical experience as a lab phlebotomist across multiple hospitals and her involvement in local autopsies alongside coroners. Beyond academics, Paige is an active volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, Ark Children’s Crisis Center, Mesker Zoo, and the Arthritis Foundation.
Isabella Bunting, a senior at Dwight Township High School hailing from Emington, IL, embodies a multifaceted approach to leadership and academic excellence. Maintaining a stellar 4.045 GPA, Isabella has excelled in various sports and extracurricular activities, including volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Her leadership roles extend to serving as class President, President of the Dwight FFA Chapter, President of the Tractor Wheels 4-H Club, and Co-President of the Spanish Club. Isabella plans to commence her higher education journey at Joliet Junior College, with aspirations to contribute to the agricultural sector by bridging gaps between producers and consumers.
Briley McDowell, a senior at Hardin County High School from Elizabethtown, IL, distinguished herself with an outstanding academic record. Maintaining an impressive 5.42 GPA while dual-enrolled in high school and college credit courses, Briley’s commitment to excellence extends beyond academics to include active participation in volleyball, basketball, and leadership roles within the FFA. Inspired by her personal journey overcoming a sports injury, Briley plans to pursue Biomedical Sciences at Southern Illinois University and subsequently attend Physician’s Assistant school, focusing on orthopedic medicine.
Illinois LICA expressed profound pride in supporting these exceptional scholars in their educational pursuits. The recipients’ passion and dedication resonate deeply with the association’s core values, promising a bright future of accomplishments and contributions.
Illinois LICA is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to the professional conservation of soil & water resources. For over 65 years, ILICA has been providing contractors construction & conservation education, business & legislative resources, and industry discounts. For more information about Illinois LICA and its commitment to fostering educational excellence, visit www.illica.net.
by Matt Sheehan
