blog posts In Trump farm bailout, top 1% reaped nearly one-fourth of aid Feb 26, 2021 10:15 am Bloomberg (Feb. 24) 'This certainly adds to the questions about the way that program was designed,' says U of I professor Jonathan Coppess, who ran the federal agency that administers farm subsidies during the Obama administration. Black-owned ad agency reflects on popular 70s TV commercials Mar 1, 2021 11:15 am WLS-TV (Feb. 28) 'In the 1970s if you saw African Americans in a TV advertisement – which is still a relative rarity, but especially for a company like Coca-Cola or McDonald’s – it was done by Burrell advertising agency,' says advertising professor Jason Chambers. FDA approves U of I's saliva COVID-19 test: ‘We’re wasting no time in deploying this' Mar 3, 2021 8:45 am Chicago Tribune (March 1) The U. of I. has relied on the test to keep its three campuses open for in-person learning since the fall, garnering national attention for the innovation and running more than 1.5 million samples to date. The COVID test used on U of I campuses since last summer is going statewide Mar 5, 2021 11:45 am The Center Square (March 4) The FDA has given emergency use authorization of the saliva test, opening the door for broader distribution. 'It works because it lets us see where the virus is by looking at the whole iceberg and not just the tip.' The campus tour for high school students has gone digital Mar 9, 2021 1:00 pm U of I has asked prospective students not to come in person, and instead use online tours. The policy aims to keep current students safe, says admissions director Andy Borst, 'and hopefully we are demonstrating that we prioritize our students.' Why Channel 37 doesn’t exist (and what it has to do with aliens) Mar 10, 2021 10:45 am Vice (March 9) The U. of I.’s interest in protecting its radio astronomy telescope investment in 1960 played a part in the decision to scrub channel 37 from the array of TV channels. Pandemic worsens gendered inequalities in workforce Mar 11, 2021 10:45 am Illinois Times (March 11) 'This could be a ticking time bomb for women in the workforce,' says ecomonics professor Elizabeth Powers. 'There’s a core of women who have all these home responsibilities that actually keep them out of the labor market.' Most journalists' work can be done remotely, but newsrooms still needed Mar 15, 2021 1:15 pm KMUW-FM (March 12) 'Having a place where people can come together to bounce ideas off of each other, discuss issues and concerns, spot those who are struggling... those are all things that come out of being in a newsroom,' says Professor Nikki Usher. U of I anticipates most classes will be face-to-face in fall Mar 17, 2021 12:45 pm 'Barring a marked change in the pandemic’s current trajectory, we intend to welcome students back to a more traditional, more personal campus experience next fall,' U of I system president Tim Killeen says. As Illinois cannabis industry booms, employees want better pay, protection Mar 18, 2021 12:15 pm Illinois Times (March 18) U of I professor Robert Bruno says the cannabis industry is 'one where a labor union is actually well-situated to play an important role as a partner in making sure that rules and regulations are followed.' Criminal defendants still cite a ‘gene for violence.’ It doesn’t exist. Mar 19, 2021 1:45 pm Washington Post (March 18) Professor Gene Robinson, co-author write, '(The court) missed an important opportunity: It did not go nearly far enough in batting down the scientifically suspect claim that there is a gene for violence.' Latinx communities embracing COVID-19 vaccines, seasonal flu shots Mar 22, 2021 11:45 am NPR (March 20) The 2019 flu season vaccination rate of Hispanic Americans was 38%, compared with 53% of white Americans. This flu season, 'Hispanics are actually vaccinating at a higher rate than are whites,' says U of I's Dolores Albarracin. Chicago real estate: ‘There’s just so few homes and so many buyers’ Mar 23, 2021 11:15 am Chicago Tribune (March 22) Why aren't homeowners putting houses on the market? Pandemic uncertainty. Many families who might ordinarily look to move are unsure if they will have a job in six months, says U of I's Geoffrey Hewings NCAA tournament players receive racist messages, death threats after loss Mar 24, 2021 10:15 am Washington Post (March 23) Illinois center Kofi Cockburn became the second college basketball player in recent days to call attention to racist and threatening messages he received after his team suffered an upset loss. Does the pandemic mark the end of the SAT requirement? Mar 25, 2021 11:30 am WGN-AM (march 24) U of I's director of undergraduate admissions explains why the pandemic is causing students to flood applications for ACT- or SAT-optional schools, and whether those standardized tests could become a thing of the past. Combining computer science and medicine Mar 26, 2021 1:30 pm U.S. News and World Report (Mar. 23) Many medical students have some computer science background when they arrive at Carle Illinois College of Medicine, which describes itself as the world's first engineering-based med school. Law Prof Suja Thomas discusses jury selection in the Derek Chauvin case Mar 29, 2021 11:45 am Slate (March 29) What kind of juror views were too toxic, how was it possible to find people who have never seen the video of George Floyd’s death, and why we should believe in the jury system? Illinois college campuses make plans for in-class learning this fall Mar 30, 2021 10:15 am The Center Square (March 29) U. of I. has announced plans to restore in-person learning for the majority of classes. And a paper co-written by U. of I. business faculty shows that rapid bulk-testing for COVID-19 is a key to reopening campuses. The secret to good health is no secret. So why is it so hard to achieve? Mar 31, 2021 2:00 pm HealthDay News (March 31) – 'Most of these steps require a great deal of self-regulation and self-control,' says U of I professor Dolores Albarracín. 'It’s not...like going to get a vaccine, where you can do it and forget about it for a year.' How changing the filibuster could impact bipartisanship Apr 2, 2021 9:45 am WTTW-TV (March 31) 'Before the 1960s, the filibuster was a game of exhaustion,' says Illinois Professor Gisela Sin. 'Whoever could last longer won the game. The filibuster was really onerous on both sides of the aisle.' Robin Fretwell Wilson explains the interpretation of Freedom of Religion Apr 5, 2021 10:15 am WGN-AM (April 4) Robin Fretwell Wilson, the director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs for the University of Illinois, discusses what freedom of religion really means and related issues are that are coming before the courts. Driven by weather rather than earthquakes, meteotsunamis pop up all over the world Apr 6, 2021 4:30 pm Chicago Tribune (April 6) The waves can hit the shore after a storm has cleared, making them particularly dangerous, says David Kristovich, of the U of I. 'By the time the waves reach certain locations... people are coming back to the beaches.' Many of the world’s best wheelchair basketball players (still) come from the U. of I. Apr 8, 2021 2:30 pm Team USA (April 7) Illinois has been at the forefront of the sport since its inception. The program’s founder, National Wheelchair Basketball Association pioneer and Hall of Famer Tim Nugent, passed away in 2015, but his legacy has never been stronger. Why was the ancient city of Cahokia abandoned? New clues rule out one theory. Apr 13, 2021 11:00 am U. of I. archaeologist Caitlin Rankin has likely ruled out the hypothesis that flooding caused by timber overharvesting made the ancient city of Cahokia increasingly uninhabitable. Do college campuses still need COVID-19 surveillance testing? Apr 14, 2021 1:15 pm The Hill (April 13) Professor Sheldon Jacobson: 'Many college students will be vaccinated (by Fall), creating a critical public health layer of protection for everyone on campus. The question then becomes, is COVID-19 surveillance testing still needed?' How the largest animals that could ever fly supported giraffe-like necks Apr 16, 2021 11:15 am New York Times (April 14) Illinois Ph.D. student Cariad Williams used a CT scan to analyze a specimen’s neck. 'We just couldn’t believe the structure that we found inside,' she says. Newsrooms confront the 'police say' problem Apr 19, 2021 3:30 pm CNN (April 16) 'There are ways that journalists are taught to do a story – and to be objective requires marshaling the judgment of other experts,' including police. 'You "have" to quote the authority because they both make and verify the news.' U of I professor investigates abnormal menstrual periods after COVID vaccine Apr 20, 2021 10:30 am Chicago Tribune (April 20) Kate Clancy experienced abnormal menstruation following her inoculation and wanted to document experiences of others. They expected 500 respondents; so far, more than 25,000 people have responded. Agriculture, human health, ecosystems at risk as Illinois’ climate quickly changes Apr 21, 2021 12:15 pm Chicago Tribune (April 20) 'There’s a big message there that we need to be doing everything we can to prevent future climate change by mitigating our use of fossil fuels, particularly,' says atmospheric sciences expert Donald Wuebbles. Affordable, adaptable houses for first-time homeowners Apr 22, 2021 10:30 am Forbes (April 21) The U. of I.’s Solar Decathlon 2020 entry focused on a growing market of young professional homeowners seeking an affordable home that can adapt to their growing needs. It's called the ADAPTHAUS. People report unexpected side effects after COVID vaccination. It's normal Apr 23, 2021 11:45 am Time (April 22) Scientists have not confirmed the vaccines can cause menstrual changes, but stories collected by Professor Kathryn Clancy show that vaccination side effects can be more varied than what’s often discussed. Illinois universities plan in-person commencements — and 2020 grads are invited, too Apr 27, 2021 1:30 pm Chicago Sun-Times (April 27) Annie Czerwinski will travel to Urbana from her home in Homer Glen 'with my parents and sisters and my boyfriend, and they will watch me walk across the stage. Even if it is just for 15 minutes, I am really excited.' Academic libraries led universities into socially distant era. Now they’re planning what’s next Apr 28, 2021 10:15 am The Chronicle of Higher Education (April 27) 'Will we go back to analog first, digital second, or will we remain digitally first with the analog in a complementary...role? I see the potential for this shift to digital-first to be permanent,' says Professor Lisa Hinchliffe. People of color breathe more hazardous air. The sources are everywhere. Apr 29, 2021 2:45 pm The New York Times (April 28) 'We expected to find just a couple of different sources were important for the disparate exposure among racial ethnic groups. But what we found was that almost all source types that we looked at contributed.' U of I plans to end COVID testing requirements for vaccinated students Apr 30, 2021 10:15 am Chicago Tribune (April 29) Those who share proof of vaccination will be exempt from the testing requirement to gain access to campus buildings. 'We are simply following science and CDC guidance,' says spokeswoman Robin Kaler. SpaceX Crew-1 NASA astronauts splash down in the Gulf of Mexico May 3, 2021 12:15 pm The Washington Post (May 2) The four astronauts returned to Earth after a six-month stay on the International Space Station. First out was Mike Hopkins, a U. of I. alumnus and the commander of the mission. He waved his arms, like doing a little dance. Book feeds climate doubters, but scientists say its outdated conclusions mislead May 5, 2021 10:45 am Inside Climate News (May 4) '(Author Steven Koonin) just takes potshots. He pulls one figure out of context and then makes a whole chapter on it,' says Don Wuebbles, a world renowned atmospheric scientist at the U. of I. Almost half of working mothers in Illinois have lost jobs, hours during COVID May 6, 2021 10:00 am WFLD-TV (May 5) 'While working women – especially working mothers – already faced labor force participation and pay gaps relative to men before COVID-19, survey data makes clear that the pandemic has almost certainly worsened those disparities.' Will companies reduce salaries as working remotely becomes more common? May 7, 2021 11:15 am Marketplace (May 6) Cutting an employee’s compensation would be difficult to do without alienating your employees, says Professor Elizabeth Carla Forsythe. 'Employers have been asking a lot of their employees.' U of I researchers use dogs to sniff out threatened turtles May 11, 2021 2:45 pm Associated Press (May 10) A team paced through the Nachusa Grasslands in Lee County trying to spot the small turtles, aided by a group of Boykin spaniels that can sniff out the turtles’ trail. Average gas prices in the U.S. top $3, first time in seven years May 14, 2021 11:15 am WHAM-TV (May 13) Illinois Professor Don Fullerton, a former deputy assistant Treasury secretary, says gas prices would likely remain elevated for some time because of the increase in demand and changes in worldwide oil supply Why aren’t there mammals in super-vivid colors like there are birds and bugs? May 17, 2021 10:00 am Gizmodo (May 17) There are, says Illinois Professor Mark Hauber. 'These vary from the blue-red-yellow facial and anal regions of male mandrills to...the deep orange pelage of the golden lion tamarins and the algal-green fur of long-lived sloths.' Legislation would add Asian American history to Illinois school code May 18, 2021 3:45 pm Patch (May 17) 'There’s really not a systematic way in which public schools incorporate Asian American history into their curriculum,' says Yoon Pak, an Asian American studies professor who teaches about the history of education, race and immigration. Illinois will need more nuclear to meet climate goals: study May 19, 2021 11:45 am World Nuclear News (May 18) Operating the state’s existing nuclear plants while also investing in advanced nuclear technology, renewable energy is the most economical path to zero carbon emissions, researchers found. No, HIPAA doesn't apply to employers, businesses asking for vaccination status May 21, 2021 11:15 am WKRC-TV (May 20) 'There’s nothing preventing a business to say, "We’re not going to allow you to come in if you don’t have a vaccine,” but that raises the issue of what the proof is,' says U. of I. law professor Rummana Alam. Could the biology of naked mole rats help prevent the ravages of age in people? May 24, 2021 1:00 pm Wired (May 24) 'They do age very well,' says Martha Delaney, a veterinary pathologist at Illinois. 'They’re very well adapted, just kind of like a physiological marvel.' Not all STEM students discouraged by online classes May 26, 2021 1:15 pm Inside Higher Ed (May 26) Undergrads studying STEM fields and who are often at higher risk of dropping out were not significantly demotivated academically by the shift to online instruction during the coronavirus pandemic, U of I researchers found. IBM joins effort to build $200M AI, cloud, quantum discovery accelerator at U of I May 27, 2021 11:00 am 'These technologies are going to change the future. We want to be at the forefront of that with a world leader like IBM and making that impact,' said Grainger College of Engineering Dean Rashid Bashir. New Illinois gambling bill would legalize wagering on college sports Jun 1, 2021 11:15 am WBEZ-FM (June 1) U. of I. AD Josh Whitman stressed the mental health of athletes who are subject to online ridicule. 'The commentary is vile, it’s abusive, it’s threatening and in some cases it directly references gambling losses,' Whitman said. Proceed with caution on central bank digital currency Jun 2, 2021 10:15 am Washington Post (June 1) 'There is a legitimate market for privacy of transactions,' says U. of I. economist Charles Kahn. 'Bitcoin is in this market. The providers of stored value cards are in this market. To a certain extent, PayPal is in this market...'