League of Women Voters of Illinois hosting lecture on AI and misinformation
CHICAGO – Diane Chang will give a Zoom talk concerning strategies on how to protect and secure democracy in an age of threats from social media and AI for a virtual meeting of the League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL) on Wednesday, April 17.
Addressing the rise of misinformation and disinformation — and its impact on our elections — the League of Women Voters of Illinois formed the Mis/Disinformation Task Force in January 2024 with their mission to educate the general public on mis/disinformation.
Diane Chang
Chang, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Brown Institute for Media Innovation at Columbia Journalism School and the former head of Election Integrity and Product Strategy at Meta, will discuss her experience building artificial intelligence and consumer technology products that connect people to information, safety, and sustainability. She led Meta’s election strategy integrity and product strategy from 2021–23.
In her current position at the Brown Institute, Ms. Chang is an advisor and consultant to nonprofits in the U.S. and abroad on technology and elections. She has a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School Research Institute at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.
Organized by LWVIL’s Misinformation and Disinformation Task Force, the event is the second in a series of presentations where noted authorities will discuss topics that inform and educate voters starting at 7 p.m. The webinar is free and open to the public. All programs are recorded and made available on the LWVIL website.
Visit lwvil.org/misdis-info for more information or to register.
Park District to host 18 & over egg hunt at Dodds Park
CHAMPAIGN - If the rain holds off, Friday evening will be an eggscellent evening to hunt for grown ups to search for Easter Eggs at the Champaign Park District Nite Lite Egg Pursuit. The adult-only, 18 & over, event starts at 8:10 p.m. at Dodds Park 4-Plex.
A registration fee of $10 is required for each participant. Registration starts at 7:15 p.m. and closes at 8 p.m.
Hunters will need a flashlight and basket or bag to collect eggs. Find one or more of the special colored eggs - bronze, silver, and gold eggs for prizes.
For more information, contact Rober White at robert.white@champaignparks.org or (217) 819-3961.
First inning rally pushes Unity past Oakwood
TOLONO - Good things come in threes, especially for Jenna Adkins on Monday during the Rockets' home game against Oakwood.
Leading off for Unity (3-1) in the bottom of the first inning, Atkins crushed the third pitch, sending it over the right field fence. If it wasn't for the 25 m.p.h.-plus cross wind out of the southeast, the ball could have sailed another 10 yards past the vehicles parked on the other side of the fence.
"It's always a windy day at the Unity HS Softball field! However, last night was so odd," exclaimed Unity head coach Aimee Davis. "When I was hitting ground balls to the infield, the wind even had an influence on those and the direction they went after contact."
She pointed out that "fly balls were hard to read" due to the steady, unrelenting wind. It was amazing there weren't more errors than the one recorded by the Comets in the four-inning affair that ended 14-0 in favor of the Rockets.
"I do not think I have played or coached in a windier game than last night. It was wild," Davis said.
Adkins' homer was just the start. Unity tallied six more runs, the last courtesy of Atkins, whose single put Taylor Drennan across the plate for the final run of the inning.
"When you can start the game with a leadoff homerun, that sets the tone for the rest of the game," Davis said.
Adkins finished the non-conference game with three hits in her three at-bats and booked three RBIs.
"Jenna had another great at-bat and hit the ball square. We need that from her, and she wants to have good outcomes up to bat," Davis said. "She's followed by solid hitters that get their jobs done."
The Rockets scattered a hit from nine different batters in the lineup. Grace Bickers, Sophia Beckett, and Reese Frye had two RBIs each.
"Our offensive lineup is a good one, and we are starting to see more consistency up and down, which is positive to see as a coach," Davis added. "Defensively, we have a solid pitching staff and an infield and outfield that play great supporting roles."
The Comets (1-3) mustered just three hits courtesy of Karleigh Nelson, Gracie Hanner, and Caydence Vermillion. Oakwood's only opportunity to score came in the top of the third inning, loading the bases with Olivia Fegett on third, Nelson on second, and Gracie Hanner on first.
With two outs already on the board, Gracie Enos popped out to Rockets' Ruby Tarr at shortstop, erasing the threat.
Lindy Bates earned the pitching win. The senior struck out five batters. Meanwhile, Vermillion took the loss for the Comets.
"This team is fun to watch and hungry to see success," Davis said. "They have worked long and hard to reach this point. They are ready to see what this season has to offer."
With a smile on her face, Jenna Adkins heads to home plate after sending a bomb out to right field in the first inning to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead against visiting Oakwood.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Gracie Enos throws a pitch during the first innning. Despite throwing 25 strikes out of her 38 pitches, the senior suffered eight runs on eight hits against the Rockets.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Water-saving tips for homeowners and apartment dwellers
Photo provided
BPT - Water conservation is a topic oftentimes disregarded. If not prioritized by contractors and tenants equally, the ramifications can be costly. As the U.S. population grows so does the need for water, and according to UNICEF, half of the world's population could be living in areas facing water scarcity by as early as 2025.
Whether you're a self-made developer, working contractor, or simply interested in getting into the business, the suggestions below can help counsel and ensure multifamily units are suitable for adequate living.
Water-saving tips
The average American family spends more than $1,000 per year on water costs. That translates to about an $83 monthly water bill, according to the EPA. Fortunately, there are simple tweaks one can implement to help cut down on consumption and reduce that monthly spend.
Install a new showerhead
The average family could save 2,700 gallons per year by installing WaterSense® labeled showerheads. These types of showerheads can also help alleviate water heater demands and save on energy consumption. Luckily, many of Peerless Faucet's bath fixtures are proudly WaterSense labeled which denotes the fixtures use at least 20% less water than the industry standard without compromising performance. A great option is the brand's 5-Function Showerhead with POWERush technology. This showerhead uses larger water drops in a unique wave pattern for a more drenching sensation. With this technology, contractors can promise tenants a rejuvenating experience without increasing overall water usage.
Monitor for potential leaks
Whenever faucets drip, it could be more than just water going down the drain. Faucet leaks waste environmental resources and cost tenants money, which in turn could be requested as a credit from property management. Experts estimate that even a small drip, once every 10 - 15 seconds, can waste almost 15 gallons a month, or nearly half a gallon in a day. You can easily check for leaks by observing the plumbing. It's important to keep eyes peeled and physically feel exposed pipes to check for any running water. Condensation around pipes can also be a sign of leakage. For toilets, a simple dye test can even verify if the flapper is sealing properly and help prevent silent leaks.
For contractors specifically, ensure all fixtures are installed properly - from the back-of-the-wall pipes to the product itself, each step should be followed with care to avoid future leaks. Most brands will provide an install guide within the packaging, but if that gets lost or misplaced, the brand's website can also be a handy resource to find these materials.
Change your bathroom habits
Daily routines that are often overlooked can also have a significant impact on your water bill. For example, many may not realize that each time one leaves the water running while they brush their teeth, four gallons of water goes down the drain. Simply turning off the water while brushing is a simple way to save. Other easy solutions for conserving water are turning off the shower while lathering or the kitchen faucet while scrubbing dishes.
Both contractors and tenants should prioritize water conservation best practices. Water is universal, and an element shared by all, so making sure it's preserved and filtered adequately can ensure a better quality of life and monthly savings.
Just in time for Easter! Wow guests and family with this easy Spring Surprise Cake
Photo providied
NewsUSA - Hosting an Easter brunch or other spring gathering? What better way to top off an event than with a showstopping dessert! The baking experts at Wesson created a new bundt cake with a twist on the popular surprise cake trend. It’s easy to make, and as delicious as it is impressive.
Wesson oil is the secret ingredient that makes this cake taste like it was made by a professional pastry chef. It creates a light, moist texture that lets the crunch and flavor of the pistachio honey fillings sing. A simple glaze gives it a sweet touch and the gold leaf takes this cake to the next level. Simply fill the open center with spring candies like mini chocolate eggs or jelly beans and you have a beautiful party finale to wow your guests!
3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups granulated sugar
¾ cup Wesson oil
1 ½ cups milk
6 eggs
For the filling:
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups granulated sugar
¾ cup Wesson oil
1 ½ cups milk
6 eggs
1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons chopped, shelled, raw pistachios
¼ cup flour
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Wesson oil
For the glaze:
¼ cup flour
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Wesson oil
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk Edible gold flake, for sprinkling on top Easter candies to fill center of cake when displayed
Directions:
Making the cake:
Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch (12-cup) Bundt pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together, flour, baking powder and salt until well combined.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine sugar, Wesson oil, eggs, and vanilla; mix well.
On medium speed, in four stages, add flour mixture alternating with milk, blending after each addition, ending with flour. Pour half of the batter into the pan and set aside. Next, make the filling.
2 tablespoons milk Edible gold flake, for sprinkling on top Easter candies to fill center of cake when displayed
Adding the filling: In a medium bowl, mix 1 ½ cup pistachios, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 2 tablespoons of Wesson Canola Oil. Combine filling ingredients and mix well. Spoon the filling evenly over the surface of the batter in the pan. Top with remaining batter. Bake the cake in the center of oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a tester inserted in center comes out clean. Remove cake from oven; cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes. Carefully turn cake out onto serving platter and cool completely. TIP: If cake does not turn out easily, gently run a knife around the outside edge of the cake.
Creating the glaze: In medium bowl, combine 1 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar) and 2 tbsp of 3% milk. Stir until smooth. Spoon icing onto top of cooled Bundt cake and allow to glaze to dry for 15 minutes.
The finishing touch: Decorate cake with flakes of gold leaf and chopped pistachios. Fill center of the Bundt with your favorite Easter candies. Cut the cake in front of your guests to wow them with an outpouring of sweet treats and serve. To view the recipe online, visit purewesson.com.
Now might be the time to talk about inheriting wealth
NewsUSA - As a significant portion of the U.S. population ages, a significant transfer of wealth to younger generations is occurring. However, many families have not discussed inheritance plans, and many younger generations may find themselves unprepared, according to new research from Edward Jones, a leading financial services firm.
In fact, 35% of Americans surveyed by Edward Jones said they did not plan to discuss transfer of wealth with their families, despite 48% saying that they planned to leave an inheritance. “We know it can be extremely uncomfortable and nearly impossible to separate emotions from the financial decisions necessary when planning inheritance and wealth transfer, particularly as givers navigate family priorities beyond finances,” said Lena Haas, Head of Wealth Management Advice and Solutions at Edward Jones. “However, the wealth transfer is well underway, so it’s more important than ever to connect as a family, with the experienced guidance of a financial professional to help navigate the emotions and educate on the process.” The so-called “great wealth transfer” from the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers will vary, as people live longer and may delay retirement. Edward Jones’ research revealed four scenarios: Traditional Giving.
Older adults transfer wealth through a combination of assets, cash, equities, and real estate. Giving While Living.
Older adults support their families in the moment, paying for family experiences, contributing to education or purchasing homes. However, this strategy may force younger generations to return the favor and support parents in retirement. Skipping a Generation.
Some older adults skip over their adult children and transfer wealth to grandchildren, often in the form of education or future security, but this can lead to hurt feelings and strained relations with adult children who do not directly benefit from this wealth transfer. No Inheritance.
Older adults are living longer, and a combination of more active lifestyles for more years after retirement and/or the expenses of long-term health care means that in some families, little wealth will be left to transfer. The survey, a joint effort between Edward Jones, Morning Consult and NEXT360 Partners, LLC, a global action research and strategy consultancy, was conducted online between December 28-29, 2023, and included a national sample of 2,202 adults. According to the survey, only 25% of individuals who receive an inheritance feel prepared to manage it. Working with an experienced advisor can help, and 57% of those surveyed said that working with a financial professional to guide discussions of wealth transfer and inheritance in advance would facilitate planning and family consensus. Visit www.edwardjones.com/estateplanning for more information about wealth transfer and financial planning.
The so-called “great wealth transfer” from the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers will vary.
In fact, 35% of Americans surveyed by Edward Jones said they did not plan to discuss transfer of wealth with their families, despite 48% saying that they planned to leave an inheritance. “We know it can be extremely uncomfortable and nearly impossible to separate emotions from the financial decisions necessary when planning inheritance and wealth transfer, particularly as givers navigate family priorities beyond finances,” said Lena Haas, Head of Wealth Management Advice and Solutions at Edward Jones. “However, the wealth transfer is well underway, so it’s more important than ever to connect as a family, with the experienced guidance of a financial professional to help navigate the emotions and educate on the process.” The so-called “great wealth transfer” from the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers will vary, as people live longer and may delay retirement. Edward Jones’ research revealed four scenarios: Traditional Giving.
Older adults transfer wealth through a combination of assets, cash, equities, and real estate. Giving While Living.
Older adults support their families in the moment, paying for family experiences, contributing to education or purchasing homes. However, this strategy may force younger generations to return the favor and support parents in retirement. Skipping a Generation.
Some older adults skip over their adult children and transfer wealth to grandchildren, often in the form of education or future security, but this can lead to hurt feelings and strained relations with adult children who do not directly benefit from this wealth transfer. No Inheritance.
Older adults are living longer, and a combination of more active lifestyles for more years after retirement and/or the expenses of long-term health care means that in some families, little wealth will be left to transfer. The survey, a joint effort between Edward Jones, Morning Consult and NEXT360 Partners, LLC, a global action research and strategy consultancy, was conducted online between December 28-29, 2023, and included a national sample of 2,202 adults. According to the survey, only 25% of individuals who receive an inheritance feel prepared to manage it. Working with an experienced advisor can help, and 57% of those surveyed said that working with a financial professional to guide discussions of wealth transfer and inheritance in advance would facilitate planning and family consensus. Visit www.edwardjones.com/estateplanning for more information about wealth transfer and financial planning.
Guest Commentary |
Gain some control over your life
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
Feeling like you have some control over your life is vital for life happiness.
Control is not always easy. It takes planning, sacrifice, work and good fortune.
Lots of things can happen in life that will shake the earth beneath our feet. Illness, weather disaster, a bad accident, and stupid mistakes. We are all vulnerable to any and all of these.
Considering anything can happen in life and chances are it will, we can all still make an effort to be in control of our daily lives.
First, know who you are and build on who you are. There is only one you and there will never be another like you. Chances are you may have become a clone. You started out as an original but became someone else. You may have redesigned your life to be accepted by a certain workforce, group, religious entity, fraternity, sorority, or political party mindset. This works for a while but you won’t be very happy because it requires more work to not be you than it takes to just be you.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t be a better you. We all can and should strive to be better, smarter, and the best we can be. Being a lazy, irresponsible, and ignorant are sure ways to not feel good or very secure in life. Life security and a feeling of having control over our lives requires work and living higher. Living lower will sink you. Build on who you are for success and happiness. Next, you have to work. Yes, we have to work. It’s essential to life security. The person who can work and wants to work will feel better and sleep better. There are all kinds of work and not every kind of work is for everyone. Discover what kind of work you enjoy and can do and learn to do it as well as you can. Working will give you a feeling of well-being. Millions of people in America can’t work for various reasons. Disability happens, millions are handicapped by various health related issues. Our country helps millions with Social Security disability and Medicare. At least with these government assistance programs people have something on which to survive. Keep in mind that a disability income in never a ticket to prosperity. What you can afford will be very limited. However, I do know people who have done well investing in the stock market even on a limited disability income and have done amazingly well financially. Keep in mind if you are going to make a house or car payment it requires a serious income and a paying job. Try to lock into a job that you enjoy and can do. Third, save money and stay out of debt as much as possible. Buy a house you can afford and save some money every month in an IRA or 401k or whatever is available to you. Research index funds and consider buying some stock in an index fund as you can. Index fund fees are typically cheaper. I’m not a stock advisor so do your own investigating. A school teacher friend bought index fund stocks every month for years and ended up with over a million dollars in stock by her retirement. Money isn’t everything but you’ll sleep better if you know you can buy groceries tomorrow and can pay your utility bills. Finally, take a few minutes every morning and at the end of the day to be grateful. Give God thanks for all and anything you have and ask him to give you strength, wisdom and peace for the day or throughout the night.
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Our country helps millions with Social Security disability and Medicare.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t be a better you. We all can and should strive to be better, smarter, and the best we can be. Being a lazy, irresponsible, and ignorant are sure ways to not feel good or very secure in life. Life security and a feeling of having control over our lives requires work and living higher. Living lower will sink you. Build on who you are for success and happiness. Next, you have to work. Yes, we have to work. It’s essential to life security. The person who can work and wants to work will feel better and sleep better. There are all kinds of work and not every kind of work is for everyone. Discover what kind of work you enjoy and can do and learn to do it as well as you can. Working will give you a feeling of well-being. Millions of people in America can’t work for various reasons. Disability happens, millions are handicapped by various health related issues. Our country helps millions with Social Security disability and Medicare. At least with these government assistance programs people have something on which to survive. Keep in mind that a disability income in never a ticket to prosperity. What you can afford will be very limited. However, I do know people who have done well investing in the stock market even on a limited disability income and have done amazingly well financially. Keep in mind if you are going to make a house or car payment it requires a serious income and a paying job. Try to lock into a job that you enjoy and can do. Third, save money and stay out of debt as much as possible. Buy a house you can afford and save some money every month in an IRA or 401k or whatever is available to you. Research index funds and consider buying some stock in an index fund as you can. Index fund fees are typically cheaper. I’m not a stock advisor so do your own investigating. A school teacher friend bought index fund stocks every month for years and ended up with over a million dollars in stock by her retirement. Money isn’t everything but you’ll sleep better if you know you can buy groceries tomorrow and can pay your utility bills. Finally, take a few minutes every morning and at the end of the day to be grateful. Give God thanks for all and anything you have and ask him to give you strength, wisdom and peace for the day or throughout the night.
He is the author of 13 books including Uncommon Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
Rockets score seven in the first inning to blank visiting Comets
Unity's Danika Eisenmenger takes a swing at an Oakwood pitch in the bottom of the third of their non-conference game on windy Monday afternoon. Scoring seven runs in the first inning, the Rockets took a commanding lead on the way to 14-0 shutout against the visiting Comets (1-3) despite sustained wind out of the southeast exceeding 25 mph at times.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
A look at St. Joseph-Ogden sports this week
St. Joseph-Ogden student fans storm the floor after the Spartans' overtime win against Unity on February 11.
SJO Athletics this week
This week's Unity Athletics calendar
CHARLESTON - Unity's Briana Ritchie hands the baton off to Jillian Schlittler while running in the preliminary heat for the Class 2A 4x100 at the IHSA Girls' State Track & Field Finals in 2023. Along with lead-off runner Kayla Nelson and anchor Lauren Miller, the Rockets' set a new personal best at 49.17, qualifying for the finals on Saturday. The foursome finished in 8th place in the finals at the state meet at O'Brien Stadium with a time of 49.72.
The girls' track team starts their outdoor season one week from tomorrow at Clinton for a quad meet with Seneca, Argenta-Oreana, and their host. The meet is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
Below is this week's schedule for the Unity High School sports teams.
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