Health and Safety

Susan Rush, a crisis counselor at PATH, looks back on her job a year after the national suicide and crisis lifeline became operational nationally.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says 2023 could be the hottest year to date. Meanwhile, researchers are finding that as the temperature rises, people’s mental health might be worsening.

Illinois State University police are implementing a co-responder policing program where mental health professionals and law enforcement make joint responses to 911 calls.

The Normal Public Library board has taken the next step in the project to remove asbestos from the library. Workers discovered asbestos fireproofing flaking off structural beams in 2020 during a bathroom renovation.

Shortages of nurses, McLean County jail workers, and police officers are well known. The looming national shortage of firefighters is less known, but no less significant. That is true in Bloomington-Normal, too.

A recent study that tied the use of gas stoves in homes to rates of childhood asthma — especially in Illinois — inadvertently brought gas stoves to the forefront of the culture wars.

A scathing report from the State Executive Inspector General shows a climate of hazing and sexual discrimination created a hostile work environment at the state prison in Pontiac, including stating there is reason for disciplinary action against 10 employees for discriminating against a guard who was perceived to be gay.

McLean County has its first positive test for West Nile virus this year. The county health department said a dead bird tested positive for the virus in the 61705 area code west of Bloomington.

The Normal Public Library is trying to decide what to do about asbestos in the old section of the building. Interim Director John Fischer said there are several options, including temporarily moving part of the library and its programs to another site while work to remove the asbestos is done.

Since the masks came off most of society, a lot of people have been coughing, sneezing and getting aches and fever. And that's not counting those who get COVID-19. Last year, flu was almost non-existent. Lockdowns, masks, and other pandemic precautions meant people didn't make each other sick.