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.
Related articles:
ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden's Tyler Hess is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal in the first half. The junior led the team to a 5-3 win over University High on Wednesday at Dick Duval Field. Hess, who is the top finisher in the area with a hat trick in the team's first three matches this season, will try to make it four in a row in the undefeated Spartans' road game against the Vermilion Valley Conference's Hoopeston Area Cornjerkers on Friday. More photos and a game recap coming soon.
Peter Montgomery is a Senior Fellow at People for the American Way. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.
