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KFC removes trans fats – will other fast food chains follow?
Manabu “Mani” Nakamura, a professor of biochemical and molecular nutrition, earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree at the University of Tokyo. After practicing in veterinary medicine for several years, he began graduate study in nutrition at the University of California at Davis, where he earned his doctorate. He joined the faculty at Illinois in […]
Looking ahead after congressional, state elections
James D. Nowlan is a senior fellow at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois and has been a participant and observer in government and politics on many levels. Nowlan was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1968 at age 26. He also was a candidate for lieutenant […]
How more immigrants might save Social Security
Joseph Finnerty has been teaching at the College of Business since 1984. His research focuses on the management of stock markets and other financial institutions, and he recently wrote about the future of Social Security. He was interviewed by business and law editor Mark Reutter. Some experts argue that Social Security is at a crossroads […]
What does ‘fair’ mean when it comes to redistricting?
Brian J. Gaines is an associate professor of political science at Illinois and is a faculty member at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs. His research interests are elections, political behavior, and political institutions and he is widely quoted in news media on elections and politics. How unhappy with the GOP-controlled Congress are voters? […]
Does the Hawaiian quake make volcanic eruptions more likely?
Amr Elnashai, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the United Kingdom, is the first recipient of the William J. & Elaine F. Hall Endowed Professorship at Illinois and is the director of both the Mid-America Earthquake Center and the George E. Brown Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Laboratory at Illinois. Was the […]
Watching, planning key to avoiding soybean rust in Illinois
Soybean rust has been detected in three Southern Illinois counties: Massac, Pope and White. Samples from adjacent counties are being incubated for diagnosis. The finding of soybean rust was not unexpected, because Kentucky recently reported soybean rust in eight counties adjacent to Southern Illinois. Since 1992, Dr. Suzanne Bissonnette has been an Integrated Pest Management […]
Educational challenges for Illinois’ growing Latino population
Latinos are the fastest-growing segment of the population in Illinois, as well as in the U.S. as a whole. They make up 14 percent of the state’s population, and about a quarter of the population in the Chicago metropolitan area. Yet despite notable progress, Latino students continue to lag behind the general population in educational […]
Ramifications of North Korea’s nuke test
On Oct. 9, North Korea announced it had conducted an underground test of a nuclear device. The claim triggered renewed speculation about how a successful test might affect the balance of power in Asia and throughout the world. Julian Palmore, director of the UI’s Program in Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security, discussed the situation […]
Facebook, ‘soft surveillance,’ and the Millennial Generation
Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Friendster and countless other online communication forums have become the new town hall (amusement arcade) for tech-savvy young people. On Sept. 26, Facebook – previously open only to individuals associated with academic communities, major companies and high school students – opened membership to anyone with an e-mail address. […]
On politics, access to health care, and longterm financial liabilities
The political campaigns are heating up and health care is once again a major issue for the candidates to debate. Nationally, the director of Medicare and Medicaid is resigning and in Illinois, debate rages over the advisability of importing prescription drugs from Canada and the cost of a new program that guarantees health insurance for […]
You mean people still try to ban books they don’t like?!
Sept. 23 to 30 has been designated as this year’s Banned Books Week. According to the American Library Association, more than one book a day faces expulsion from open public access in U.S. schools and libraries every year. Christine Jenkins teaches in the areas of youth services librarianship, children’s and young adult literature and literacy […]
Are insect populations rising with Earth’s temperature?
U. of I. Extension entomologist Phil Nixon has degrees from Lincoln Land Community College, Southern Illinois University, and Kansas State University. He has statewide responsibilities for pesticide safety education and the integrated pest management of landscape and household insect pests. Given the weather we’ve experienced this summer in Central Illinois, is there any way to […]