Illinois Newsroom logo

A regional journalism collaboration focused on expanding access to trusted, timely and relevant information across three key statewide topics: Education, Political Impact and Health/Environment

lonely winter
Pixabay/Silviarita/CC 0

Experts Offer Tips For Coping With Holiday Stress

Stress is a normal part of life. And there’s even such thing as a “good” level of stress that keeps us going, according to psychology researchers Sanda and Florin Dolcos at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. But severe stress can interfere with day-to-day living, and this can be particularly challenging during the holiday season, they say.

The now vacant Walmart lot in Pana, Illinois. December 2018.
Daisy Contreras/NPR Illinois

Illinois Issues: When Walmart Leaves Town

Two small towns in rural Illinois recently lost their Walmart stores -- more than three decades after the retail giant came in and pushed out mom and pop shops. Now, the communities have lost convenience as well as major property and sales tax revenue. Some see it as an opportunity to revitalize main street, while others are not so optimistic.