Illinois
Sip N S’mores offers Labor Day Weekend 2023 fun at Illinois’ only Black-owned summer camp
LEAF RIVER, Ill. (WLS) — Get ready for a one-of-a-kind Labor Day Weekend experience at Sip N S’mores, an adults-only camping extravaganza that promises three days of non-stop fun, camaraderie and unforgettable memories hosted at the only Black-owned summer camp in Illinois.
Held on Labor Day Weekend, Sip N S’mores is gearing up for its third edition, promising attendees an authentic summer camp escape like no other.
Sip N S’mores is a unique camping weekend that aims to promote healthy living by offering a retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Nestled in the picturesque outdoors, attendees can unwind, connect with nature and experience a sense of freedom that is hard to find in the urban jungle.
The event boasts an array of activities to suit every taste.
From a lively pajama party and a wild lake party to serene canoeing on the waters and thrilling archery, kickball and sand volleyball for the competitive spirit, there’s something for everyone.
There’s also karaoke sessions with friends under the starry night sky and a chance to test your limits with crate stacking.
Camp in style and safely near Yosemite National Park
For music lovers, two of Chicago’s top DJs, Craig Elliott and Joe Kollege, will be spinning tracks to keep the energy high.
At Sip N S’mores, attendees have the option to reserve a space in communal cabins or bring their own tents for a more rustic experience.
RVs are also welcome for those who prefer a little more comfort while still enjoying the great outdoors.
All activities are included in the ticket price.
Attendees can choose to bring their own grill to enjoy some personal BBQ delights or visit the food vendors.
Sip N S’mores is all about creating memories with friends and loved ones, organizers said.
The event encourages attendees to invite their friends and form a tight-knit community of adventure-seekers.
Dates: Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1-4
Location: Camp Kupugani – Leaf River, IL
Ticket Prices: Prices start at $329
Illinois
Daywatch: How Illinois hospitals ranked for safety
Good morning, Chicago.
Illinois ranks 30th in the nation for hospital safety, down two spots from the fall, according to new ratings released by the nonprofit Leapfrog Group today.
In all, 22% of Illinois hospitals earned A grades for safety from Leapfrog, compared to nearly 25% in the fall.
Illinois hospitals earning top marks include University of Chicago Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center. Five Endeavor Health hospitals in Evanston, Highland Park, Glenview, Elmhurst and Arlington Heights also earned As, as did six Northwestern Medicine hospitals in Huntley, DeKalb, Winfield, Geneva, Lake Forest and McHenry.
No Illinois hospital got an F grade this spring, though 15 hospitals across the state earned D grades.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Lisa Schencker.
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Illinois
Illinois ranks 30th for hospital safety, down two spots from last year, says Leapfrog report
Illinois ranks 30th in the nation for hospital safety, down two spots from the fall, according to new ratings released by the nonprofit Leapfrog Group on Wednesday.
In all, 22% of Illinois hospitals earned A grades for safety from Leapfrog, compared to nearly 25% in the fall.
Illinois hospitals earning top marks include University of Chicago Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center. Five Endeavor Health hospitals in Evanston, Highland Park, Glenview, Elmhurst and Arlington Heights also earned As, as did six Northwestern Medicine hospitals in Huntley, DeKalb, Winfield, Geneva, Lake Forest and McHenry.
No Illinois hospital got an F grade this spring, though 15 hospitals across the state earned D grades.
The hospital safety grade report is released twice a year by the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit founded by large employers and other organizations that buy health insurance. Leapfrog grades are based on 22 measures of safety, including hand hygiene, falls and trauma, and death rates among surgical patients with serious but treatable complications. Leapfrog gathers its data from the federal government and a survey it sends to hospitals.
Leapfrog is one of a number of organizations that grade or rank hospitals each year — a practice that often sparks debate. Hospitals that earn high marks often advertise those ratings in hopes of gaining an edge over competitors, while hospitals that do poorly sometimes take issue with the methodologies used to judge them.
Four of the 15 Illinois hospitals earning D grades this spring are part of Advocate Health Care, one of the largest hospital systems in the Chicago area. Those hospitals include: Advocate Good Samaritan in Downers Grove; Advocate South Suburban in Hazel Crest; Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn; and Advocate Trinity in Chicago. Five other Advocate hospitals earned Cs. The Advocate hospitals received the same grades in the fall.
Advocate said in a statement that while it believes safety and quality data should be transparent and publicly available, it can be challenging to accurately measure that data because of “varied factors and methodologies that contribute to providing great care.”
“Safety always has been and always will be our top priority, and we have robust plans in place to drive continued improvement,” Advocate said in the statement. “We’re proud of our safety record and the excellent outcomes we achieve for our patients.”
West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park and Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown also notched Ds. The for-profit hospitals underwent several ownership changes in recent years. Hospital chain giant Tenet Health sold the hospitals to California-based Pipeline Health in 2019. Pipeline then sold the hospitals to Resilience Healthcare in 2022, after Pipeline faced backlash from community members and politicians over its closure of Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park.
Attempts to reach Resilience for comment were unsuccessful Monday and Tuesday.
Thorek Memorial and Roseland Community hospitals in Chicago also received Ds. Attempts to reach them for comment were also unsuccessful.
In a bright spot, three Illinois hospitals, including University of Chicago Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield and Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital are among 15 hospitals nationwide that have earned straight As since 2012.
University of Chicago Medical Center has a number of initiatives, such as those focused on reducing patient falls and infections, that help keep patients safe, said Dr. Tom Spiegel, UChicago Medicine chief quality officer.
“The continued As just really highlight the focus our front-line providers put on patient safety and just emphasize the care they use in their daily job,” Spiegel said.
Other large Chicago area hospitals had mixed grades.
Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood earned a C, the same grade as in the fall. Northwestern Memorial Hospital earned a B, up from a C in the fall. Different ratings organizations use different methodologies, often resulting in varying grades for hospitals. In contrast to Leapfrog, U.S. News & World Report ranks Northwestern Memorial as tied with Rush University Medical Center for best hospital in the state.
Illinois
Evansville’s Ben Humrichous commits to Illinois
Illinois needs some size in the worst way, and it picked up a big frontcourt presence.
Evansville’s Ben Humrichous (pronounced Hum-Rick-House) committed to the Illini with one year of eligibility remaining, according to an Instagram post Tuesday night.
The 6-foot-9 forward began his collegiate career at Huntington University (NAIA) in Indiana before transferring to Evansville last season. He’s a native of Tipton, Ind., just north of Indianapolis.
Take a look at some highlights below:
Humrichous averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season for the Purple Aces, finishing 42% from three (on 82 attempts, so not a small sample size). He scored a season-high 29 points in a game against Chattanooga.
Not a high-major prospect, but definitely some upside there, especially once Fletch and Orlando Antigua get a look at him.
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