Local economy getting better but still a long way to go

The U.S. economy is getting better, but at a slow rate.

A local economist said there is still a way to go before we’re back to pre-pandemic levels.

Kenneth Kriz, an economist professor at the University of Illinois Springfield, said smaller cities and towns tend to have lower unemployment rates

“In terms of where we are at in the economic cycle, we’ve recovered quite a bit of the way from the bottom of the cycle but we’re not all the way back.”

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The neighborhood is going to art

It was a recent weekday afternoon in Springfield when Erin Washington was hanging crystal prisms from a neon-pink geodesic dome. The dome is outside of Springfield Art Association (SAA) in the Enos Park neighborhood.

Washington's work is part of this year's Terrain Biennial, an effort to make art more accessible to the general public and create community-based conversation and celebration. Every two years, artists partner with residents in neighborhoods and create artwork that can be seen outdoors.

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Coach Patrylak, Tyler Pence Show Once Again What Being A Coach Is All About

Teachers and coaches leave such an impact on the lives of their athletes across the U.S. and globe.

Sunday at St. Charles, Mo., 26.2-Mile Cowbell Marathon, Edwardsville High School head girls, and boys cross country coach George Patrylak and University of Illinois Springfield head men’s and women’s cross country coach Tyler Pence, didn’t forget their athletes who are now going on to stardom in post-college events.

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Local experts and community leaders address housing disparities in Springfield

Community leaders and experts held a webinar on Wednesday about the housing challenges in Springfield.

This was part of a series through the University of Illinois Springfield and the Citizens Club of Springfield called Confronting Inequities.

Wednesday's webinar focused on housing disparities within the community.

They touched on the housing issues facing people of color and immigrants to include the access available to stable housing and possible solutions.

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Results of the 2021 Sangamon County Citizen Survey

The University of Illinois Springfield Survey Research Office has released the results of the 2021 Sangamon County Citizen Survey. The survey is funded by the United Way of Central Illinois, the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln and the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership.

The survey aims to establish benchmarks and evaluate changes in residents’ assessments of quality of life in Sangamon County.

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Throne 12th At Prairie Star Invite

The University of Illinois Springfield women’s cross country team was only 10 points from perfection at the Prairie Star Invitational. 

Lexi Throne, a Litchfield graduate and member of the women’s team, was the seventh, and final, UIS varsity team member to finish. She was 12th overall, touring the 5,000-meter course in 21 minutes, 27.0 seconds. 

It was hosted by UIS, who finished with 25 points. Greenville University took second with 51 points. 

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Pence breaks 20-year U.S. drought in controversy-marred marathon

Tyler Pence didn’t come into the TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon thinking he was going to run his fastest time ever.

He also didn’t expect the two runners from Kenya who were far out in front of him through the first half of the race to be disqualified for running the wrong route.

But both things happened Sunday in the 23rd running of the marathon.

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“Bats, monkeys and dogs, oh my!”- UIS webinar on animals’ ability to transmit diseases to humans

The University of Illinois Springfield hosted a webinar Friday regarding animals’ ability to transmit infectious diseases to humans.

The “bats, monkeys and dogs, oh my!” was a free virtual webinar presented by Dr. Connie Austin.

According to Dr. Austin, there have been several cases of animals catching COVID-19 from their close contact with humans. However, there has been no cases of humans getting COVID from animals.

This story appeared on WCIA on Sept. 17, 2021.

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