Topic: Health

Southern Illinois University's medical school is trying to bring more doctors, physicians and medical students to Carbondale and nearby rural areas where they're desperately needed.

Health care was a big campaign issue across the Midwest, and Tuesday's election results were mixed. Among the winners: medical marijuana.

Across the Midwest, health care has emerged as one of the year’s biggest campaign flash points—in races from U.S. Senate to state attorney general. In Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana, speeches, debates and ads highlighting partisan disputes over major health care issues. Among them: the Affordable Care Act, a single-payer health system and decriminalization of drug use.

Children who grow up in poverty or other adversity are prone to worse health & educational outcomes. But having a stable, nurturing relationship with a parent or caregiver can offer protection. That's where home-visiting nurses can play a role.

Lily Furgeson had a great experience in sex ed in middle school. Furgeson, who is a 17-year-old senior at a Chicago Public Schools high school, said her eighth grade sex ed teacher made sure to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities as part of their curriculum.

UPDATE: The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted Tuesday to approve an application for a Certificate of Need, required by the state for the sale of the Champaign County Nursing Home to companies controlled by William "Avi" Rothner. Champaign County Health Care Consumers executive director Claudia Lennhoff, who spoke at the meeting against the sale, said the Review Board approved the application without asking wuestions.

On the 21st: As Illinois voters head to the polls, we’ve been interviewing candidates for statewide offices. Today, we sat down with Kash Jackson, the Libertarian candidate for governor. Plus, this week we're finding out where all the candidates stand on important issues, starting with health care. And, in this era of policing, the Director of U of I’s Police Training Institute has been thinking about the importance of transparency and empathy for officers. 

On the 21st: Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, who is hoping to unseat incumbent Bruce Rauner in Election Day. And, we're talking Halloween movies with A.V. Club editor Katie Rife. Plus, Northwestern Medicine, Lurie Children's Hospital and the Drug Enforcement Agency are providing safe and convenient option for disposal of unused prescription drugs. Also, Ameren recently brought back its anti-scam public education program to Illinois. We give you more information about how to avoid being a victim to utility scams.

It has stumped doctors and it's worrying parents: Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM). A rare condition that affects the nervous system and results in symptoms similar to polio. Illinois has ten clinically diagnosed cases of the virus that has now been confirmed in 22 states across the country so far in 2018. 

Health care, trade, and the tax overhaul are three of the biggest issues in the race for the 13th Congressional District between incumbent Rodney Davis and challenger Betsy Dirksen Londrigan. Those issues are also where the candidates are getting sloppy with the facts.