In the Know | 8 headlines from last week you might have missed

A summary of our stories from December 18 through 19. Subscribe to get your daily notification of The Sentinel's latest news and photos here. It's free and unsubscribe any time.

Prep Sports Notebook | Area basketball teams post losses

Junior Aziyaha Davis led all Urbana scorers with six points in loss to Normal Community.

Owen Root and fellow junior Wyatt Eisenmann hauled in four rebounds apiece in win over Horizon Science Academy Southwest.

Addie Brooks came off the bench to post two third-quarter treys for six points for SJO at Pleasant Plains.

Unity snagged 21 rebounds and tallied eight assists in the 2-point overtime loss to Pleasant Plains.

Senior Abbie Piecaynski knocked down six fourth-quarter points, but it wasn't enough to close the gap with the generous Lady Braves' lead.

Recipe | Impress guests at your next wine party with this tasty tapas

Family Features - Pairing an easy, delicious appetizer with the perfect wine doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds. When you’re ready to elevate your home entertaining, turn to a simplistic recipe featuring fresh, bold flavors.

5 ways to celebrate with the holidays and keep your family pet safe

NAPSI - Most pet parents agree: their animals are part of what makes the holiday season so magical. While it’s an excellent opportunity to integrate furry family members into all the special holiday traditions and make memories together, there are a few things you should keep in mind to keep your pet safe and healthy ...

Coping with grief during the holiday season with loved ones, here's how

URBANA - During the holidays, societal norms expect us to be sociable and cheerful. But it can be difficult for people dealing with the loss of a loved one. A normal shopping trip may turn blue when you hear the song you used to dance to. Or the Christmas tradition of baking cookies just seems empty without your friend there.

Sticker shock:
Government to halt footing bill for Covid treatment

Nearly 6 million Americans have taken Paxlovid for free, courtesy of the federal government. The Pfizer pill has helped prevent many people infected with covid-19 from being hospitalized or dying, and it may even

Martinie scores team-high ten in SJO loss

Pleasant Plains - Hoping to extend their 1-game winning streak to two, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team came up short after this afternoon's road game at Pleasant Plains. Addisyn Martinie led the Spartans' in scoring with 10 points in the 55-26 loss to the host Cardinals.

Photo of the Day

December 17, 2022

Kaytlyn Baker dribbles at Turkey Tourney

St. Joseph - SJO's Kaytlyn Baker makes a huge effort to dribble past Mahomet-Seymour's Savannah Orgeron ...

See the photo »

Photo of the Day

December 18, 2022

TOLONO - Players on the bench and Unity fans, even Santa, celebrate a game-tying 3-point shot from Dalton O’Neill with 18 seconds ...

See the photo »

Recipe | Jalapeno Sweetpotato Chowder

Photo provided

Family Features - Colder, shorter days call for a little comfort. Cozying up with a hearty meal on brisk winter evenings can help fight off the chill while savoring favorite flavors alongside the ones you love.

Avoid venturing into the cold for a trip to the store by turning to a pantry staple like sweetpotatoes. As one of the most versatile veggies, they’re easy to add to a variety of recipes while enhancing both flavor and nutrition. Perfectly suitable for both simple and elevated dishes, they can be baked, microwaved, grilled, slow cooked or prepared on the stove so their sweet taste never goes out of style.

Their long shelf life – up to four weeks if stored properly in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat sources – means you can rely on sweetpotatoes throughout the winter as an on-hand ingredient. Additionally, as a "diabetes superfood" according to the American Diabetes Association, they’re rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, all of which are good for overall health and may help prevent disease, making them a key source of nutrients during wintertime.

When your family needs a warm-up on those frosty days, put sweetpotatoes at the center of mealtime (with an added kick) in this Jalapeno Sweetpotato Chowder. Loaded with the flavors of winter comfort, you can breakaway from the store-bought canned soups for a filling meal that makes enough for a crowd so no one goes hungry.

Jalapeno Sweetpotato Chowder

Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission

Servings: 6

2 large North Carolina sweetpotatoes, baked
1 small onion, 1/4-inch diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 quart chicken or vegetable stock
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 1/2 cups whole corn kernels
2 teaspoons minced jalapenos
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
chopped scallions, for garnish

How to make it

Peel baked sweetpotatoes; discard skin and puree.

In soup pot, saute onion in butter until softened. Add pureed sweetpotato and stock, as desired. Bring to boil, reducing liquid slightly.

Add chicken, corn, jalapenos, heavy cream and salt. Simmer 10 minutes.

To serve, ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped scallions.

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Denied a home loan? Steps you can take to avoid it

Good credit demonstrates responsible money management and gives you more purchasing power

StatePoint Media - You have researched the best areas to live within your budget. Spent countless hours visiting homes or viewing them online and talked to seasoned homeowners to ensure you haven't missed anything. You finally make an offer on your dream home that is accepted, and then the worst happens, the bank won't okay your loan.

If you dream of homeownership, having your mortgage application denied can be devastating. If this does happen to you, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Thirteen percent of all purchase mortgage applications -- a total of nearly 650,000 -- were denied in 2020, according to federal government data.

Before quickly reapplying for a loan, it’s important to first understand the reasons your loan was denied. The lender is required to disclose that information to you within 30 days of its decision. You can also call your lender for further explanation. Having this knowledge will help you work toward building your eligibility for a mortgage.

Illustration: Clker-Free-Vector-Images/Pixabay

In some instances, the situation involves a quick fix, such as providing missing or incomplete documentation. However, if the reasons cited for your application denial involve down payment cost, a low credit score, an adverse credit history or a high debt-to-income ratio, here are six steps you can take toward recovery:

1. Consult a Housing Counselor. Consider speaking to a community-based credit counselor or a HUD-certified housing counselor. They can help you create a plan to increase your savings, decrease your debt, improve your credit, access down payment assistance or take advantage of first-time homebuyer programs.

2. Improve Your Credit. In a 2022 Freddie Mac survey of consumers denied a mortgage application in the past four years, three in five cited debt or credit issues as reasons given for their initial denial. If this describes you, take time to improve your credit profile before applying for another loan. Good credit demonstrates responsible money management and gives you more purchasing power, opening doors to better loan terms and products. Visit creditsmart.freddiemac.com to access Freddie Mac’s CreditSmart suite of free financial education resources that can help you understand the fundamentals of credit and prepare you for homeownership.

3. Pay Down Debt. In the application process, lenders will look at your recurring monthly debts, such as car payments, student loans and credit card loans. By lowering or paying down monthly debts, you can build a positive credit history and lower your debt-to-income ratio. Not sure where to start? Tackle your debt with the highest interest rate first.

4. Obtain Gift Funds. If you’re short on money for your down payment, you may be able to use gift funds from a family member to decrease the amount you need to borrow.

5. Find a Co-Signer. A co-signer applies for the loan with you, agreeing to take responsibility for the loan should you default. The co-signer’s credit, income and debts will be evaluated to make sure they can assume payments if necessary. In addition to ensuring your co-signer has good credit, you should make sure they are aware of this responsibility and have sufficient income to cover the payment.

6. Look for a Lower-Cost Home. Remember, you should only borrow an amount you feel comfortable repaying. You may need to look for a lower-cost home than you’re financially prepared to purchase and maintain.

For more information and additional resources, visit myhome.freddiemac.com.

If your home loan application is denied, don’t panic. There are ways to build your eligibility so that next time, your mortgage application is more likely to be approved.