News

Illinois corn maturing ahead of pace

The USDA says the Illinois corn crop is maturing ahead of pace.

Gallatin County farmer Jeff Scates says his early harvest results are below expectations.

“Not quite as good as we had hoped for on the corn front.”  He says, “We also have cut some beans and we’re kind of up and down a little bit there too. They’ve tended to be drier as well as we get into them.”

The latest weekly crop progress and condition report shows 24% of the corn crop is mature, 13% ahead of normal.  Scates tells Brownfield moisture would still help the late planted crops.

“June corn still has a lot of green in it.”  He says, “It still has a lot of growing to do, at least filling out the kernels. It would definitely help that out a lot.”

The corn crop remains in good condition with 71% rated good to excellent.  Seventy percent is dented compared to 63% normally. 

Sixty eight percent of soybeans are in good to excellent condition and 14% are dropping leaves, which is 11% ahead of average.

Pasture conditions are 52% good to excellent.

Thirty one percent of Illinois topsoil moistures are rated short or very short, while only 2% are rated surplus.

To help relieve the financial burden on Illinois families, Aetna Better Health of Illinois, a CVS Health company, has donated more than $72,000 to support back-to-school initiatives and 24,000-plus school supplies to community organizations throughout Illinois.

By collaborating with community partners, Aetna supplied thousands of children in need with backpacks, pencils, pens, folders, notebooks, crayons and color pencils. This funding will help alleviate some of the financial challenges students and their families face on a day-to-day basis. Almost 40% of shoppers report trimming their budgets in other areas to afford the higher costs for back-to-school supplies.

“We look forward each year to partnering with schools and community organizations across the state to help parents and students get ready for the new school year,” said Rushil Desai, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Illinois. 

[Read more: Aetna CVS Health co-branded ACA exchange products to be offered in 17 states

Desai added, “We provide school supplies and education on resources available to them in their communities to make their lives a bit easier this time of year. Aetna is committed to building healthier communities and we understand wellness extends beyond physical health. That’s why this school year we’ve joined forces with new partners to offer digital behavioral health platforms to provide students with not only school supplies, but online support to help them excel in and outside of the classroom.”

Aetna has hosted and participated in more than 35 back-to-school events across the state. Among the recipients of the donations and sponsorships include:

• Back 2 School Alliance
• Chicago Defender’s Bud Billiken Parade
• Chicago Public Schools
• In His Hands Resource Center
• TCA Health
• The Kindness Campaign
• Youth Hope

[Read more: CVS Health’s Aetna to expand access to fertility services]

In addition to these community donations and initiatives, Aetna Better Health of Illinois offers free school clothes to help members.

A migrant who had been previously deported was arrested after allegedly stabbing a 14-year-old girl at a baseball game in unincorporated Lowell, Illinois. The incident occurred around 3:45 pm local time as the girl and her mother were watching her brother play, reported the Daily Mail.
Attack details and arrest
Dimas Gabriel Yanez, 26, reportedly used a “butcher-style knife” to stab the teenager in the hand and attempted to attack her mother.Following the assault, Yanez fled into nearby woods. Authorities launched an “extensive” manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies, K9 units, and aviation support. Yanez, who had chopped off his hair in an attempt to disguise himself, was eventually found hiding in a cornfield on Sunday afternoon. After a brief foot chase, he was apprehended.

Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. expressed gratitude for the efforts of law enforcement and the public’s cooperation in the investigation. “I would like to extend my most heartfelt gratitude to each and every Lake County police officer and to all law enforcement agencies working tirelessly on the investigation and search in this case,” Martinez was quoted as saying. The Department of Homeland Security has been informed of Yanez’s arrest.
Victim’s condition and ongoing investigation
The 14-year-old victim received treatment for her injuries at a local hospital and was released. The investigation into Yanez’s actions is ongoing, with authorities exploring the possibility of other crimes he may have committed since returning to the US illegally.
Political and immigration controversies
The arrest has sparked renewed debate over immigration policies and the handling of asylum seekers. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, recently labeled by the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) as America’s “worst sanctuary mayor,” faces criticism for his handling of migrant issues. The IRLI argues that progressive policies, including those supported by Johnson, Adams, and other mayors, have contributed to increased criminal activity and overcrowding in communities.
In contrast, studies indicate that immigrants, including those without legal status, do not commit crimes at a higher rate than native-born Americans. Johnson, who won office on a platform promising progressive change, has struggled with managing an influx of asylum seekers, which has strained city resources and led to dissatisfaction among local residents.
As Johnson faces mounting challenges, his popularity has dwindled. A recent poll revealed that only 9 percent of Chicagoans rated his performance as “above average,” reflecting growing frustration with his administration’s approach to handling the migrant crisis and other pressing issues.