The East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging and the University of Illinois Extension are both leaders in the Bloomington-Normal Dementia-Friendly Task Force. The new group wants to set objectives for supporting those with dementia and their families through a survey which closes June 15.

Following a lengthy transition period, Michelle Conger is embracing her new role as CEO of the OSF HealthCare system. Conger, who joined OSF in 1994, moved into the network’s top leadership position following Bob Sehring’s retirement early this month.

Democratic state Rep. Maura Hirschauer has introduced a bill aimed at reducing hesitation when providing CPR to women.

Normal Citizen of the Year Adam Nielsen is living with early onset Alzheimer's disease. He and his wife Dayna Brown are doing so publicly and intentionally, as support to others who may be going through the same thing and as part of an advocacy effort.

A nonprofit is partnering with a Bloomington family to bring awareness of resources for families navigating autism. Leo Egbers was diagnosed with autism shortly before he drowned in a pond behind his home in 2024.

Jeff Gerald is a member at Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping gym in Bloomington, and recently won their yearlong national body transformation challenge with a grand prize of $10,000.

Senior leadership from the Bloomington-Normal YMCA traveled to Washington, D.C. to join the national coalition's advocacy days. YMCA wants full funding for childcare funding and health promotions, among other priorities. At home, the BN YMCA is hoping to expand its services.

Despite local and national struggles of the health care industry, Dr. Robert Cavagnol, new president of Carle Health's central region, hopes to continue making advances at the Bloomington-Normal health care provider.

In a partnership with the Alzheimer's Association, three ISU professors want to provide community resources surrounding support for caregivers of those with dementia with a screening of the film "Caregiving" at the Normal Theater on Monday night.

Cancer survivor Erica Austin, of Springfield, is Illinois' ambassador for VOICES of Black Women. The nationwide study led by the American Cancer Society aims to address disproportional mortality rates among Black women diagnosed with cancer and other chronic disease.