Central Illinois Gazette by Tom Kacich

• No area Dems make the cut for lieutenant governor (Mar. 21, 2010 @ 12:03 pm)
  

  There weren't many applicants from East Central Illinois for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, and the list of 17 who made the cut includes no one from the area.

   

  From the Daily Herald ...

  http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=367502&src=109
  

  The winner of the sweepstakes will be chosen next Saturday in Springfield.

• Progress on the Assembly Hall, 50 years ago (Mar. 19, 2010 @ 2:03 pm)
• THAT'S Illinois Democratic chief Michael Madigan? (Mar. 18, 2010 @ 12:03 pm)

Take Care: All About Your Health by Deb Pressey

• Some help for uncovered medical costs (Mar. 19, 2010 @ 3:03 pm)
  

  United Healthcare Children’s Foundation has grants available for Illinois families needing help paying for children’s health care treatments, services or equipment that isn’t covered (or only partly-covered) by commercial insurance.

  Families who qualify can receive up to $5,000 for such things as wheelchairs, eye glasses, hearing aids, physical and occupational therapy and orthotics.

  To qualify, children must be 16 or younger and families must meet income guidelines and have a commercial health plan.

• Kids, asthma and dinner (Mar. 18, 2010 @ 6:03 am)
• Vanishing health insurance and the middle class (Mar. 17, 2010 @ 6:03 am)

Double Features: N-G Features Online by News-Gazette Features

• Gluten-free seminar in April (Mar. 19, 2010 @ 11:03 am)
  

  As a follow-up to our series on food allergies, people looking for help with gluten-free and dairy-free cooking can get advice at an April seminar.
  The Gluten-Free Cooking Expo will be at the Wyndham Hotel in Lisle April 17 and 18.
  Cooking demonstrations, advice from cook book authors and nutritionists, recipes and a children’s activity area are planned.

• The spectacle of Cirque (Mar. 18, 2010 @ 8:03 am)
• Previewing Cirque: As high-flying as you'd expect — and more (Mar. 17, 2010 @ 3:03 pm)

Are We There Yet? by Julie Wurth

• Spring Break dilemma: where to take the kids? (Mar. 19, 2010 @ 7:03 am)
  

  Wondering what to do with your kids next week, when half of Champaign-Urbana leaves town for Spring Break?

  If it's beautiful, we plan to spend lots of time (at last) outdoors. But given that the forecast looks a bit wet and chilly, I'm compiling a rainy-day list.

• Uni High update (Mar. 18, 2010 @ 3:03 pm)
• From Animals to Zeus: new children's books (Mar. 17, 2010 @ 8:03 am)

Editor's Desk by John Beck

• FOIA law under assault (Mar. 18, 2010 @ 5:03 pm)
  

• Open government resources (Mar. 16, 2010 @ 6:03 pm)
• Sunshine Week coming up (Mar. 12, 2010 @ 12:03 pm)

Paws and Reflect by Mary "Tief" Tiefenbrunn

• Pepper - A Big Lovable Black Lab (who comes with a scholarship) (Mar. 18, 2010 @ 4:03 pm)
  

  I love today!  Not just because when I go outside I feel the warmth of the sun, but because today the Humane Society staff and I felt the warmth of generosity.  The generosity of a caring couple with a soft-spot for big, lovable, black Labs.

• Animal Adventure Camp is Back! (Mar. 17, 2010 @ 5:03 pm)
• Thunder and Ranger - It's Their Turn (Mar. 16, 2010 @ 5:03 pm)

Area Extras by Meg Thilmony

• Better bathroom dilemma (Mar. 18, 2010 @ 9:03 am)
  

  My house is small – less than 700 square feet. It's the perfect size for me and my cat – I have two closets and a bathroom all to myself. I like that it has a small footprint and a huge yard.

• Girl meets grill (Mar. 17, 2010 @ 10:03 am)
• Looking for women who love hats (Mar. 16, 2010 @ 10:03 am)

The Starting Line by Jodi Heckel

• Illinois half-marathon, relay close to being full. (Mar. 18, 2010 @ 7:03 am)
  

  The limit for the number of runners in the Illinois Half-Marathon has been increased, but that race and the marathon relay are likely to be full by the weekend.

  The directors of the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon recently increased the cap for the half-marathon from 6,000 to 6,500 runners. The half-marathon reached 6,000 runners on about March 10.

• Runner/walker profile: Don and Roma Chenoweth (Mar. 17, 2010 @ 7:03 am)
• Friends who get me through the miles. (Mar. 15, 2010 @ 7:03 am)