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Doctor diversity saves lives
That’s the finding of a recent study from Harvard. Researchers at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health examined outcomes for over 1.2 million Medicare patients treated by 44,000 internists at American hospitals. Patients treated by foreign medical graduates had better 30-day survival rates than patients treated by U.

When I lost my dog
“Mom, Rosie got out.” He’d been in his bedroom, headphones on, and missed hearing the doorbell the first time it rang. So by the time he got downstairs, the dog had shifted into turbodrive. When my son opened the door, Rosie darted out, and Evan made the understandable mistake of chasing after her.

Workers of America, rejoice!
Two things. First, the economists’ claim about wage growth is a sham, covering up the shame that top corporate executives and major shareholders are grabbing nearly all of the economic gains produced by America’s entire workforce. The so-called nominal wage (i.

LETTERS
CLOSING “THE HOME” Fletcher Farrar’s article last week on the closing of Pleasant Hill Village nursing was excellent. The closing is a big loss for the Girard and Virden communities – both as a final refuge for our elderly and infirm and as a place of employment.

GOP putting some hope in red meat referendums
“Shall the [local county board] pass a resolution that opposes any gun control legislation in the Illinois General Assembly?” most of the Downstate ballot questions will ask. The Illinois State Rifle Association, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign and several Republican legislators have all worked to get the question on ballots in Downstate counties.

New laws streamline mental health and addiction treatments
At a press conference at the Memorial Center for Learning & Innovation in Springfield, Rauner, mental health experts and substance abuse treatment advocates discussed the bills, while stressing the importance of adequate quality in treating patients statewide with mental health and substance use disorders.

Explore the world from Springfield
Springfield-area residents can learn firsthand about U.S. foreign policy and global economic issues through free programs presented by the World Affairs Council of Central Illinois (WACCI). This civic organization hosts a speaker series with experts on a wide range of topics that are important globally and also have a local impact.

Harsh story well told
A sundown town is a town which does not allow blacks on the street or in the town after dark, when the sun goes down. This account of historical fiction has so many actual names, places and events, it reads like an episode of “Dragnet.” This reads like a true story with the names being changed as not to “out” the guilty.

A life in music
In 2005, van der Loo got her wish when she was hired as director of the Springfield Choral Society, where she has remained since. This coming season will be her 13th as well as her last with the society as she plans to retire in May 2019 after 47 years as a professional musician.

Weeknight dinners
I’ve put together a week’s worth of menus that can be prepared in about 30 minutes of active time (some require several hours of hands-off cooking time in a slow cooker), or can be prepared ahead and simply reheated.

Gripping Searching falters at the end
However, instead of going on the run and using a particular set of skills a la Liam Neeson, the dad in question uses his child’s computer to piece together clues that may lead to her abductor.

Round up the music
The first full weekend of September gets us going into the fall mode and mood with an array of outdoor festivals featuring live music, including an Oktoberfest, an Art Spectacular, a Family FunFest, a Traditional Music Fest and a Joe & Jerry Tribute, along with our usual suspects at local venues.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Eddie Korosa & the Boys from Illinois
As the son of “America’s Prince of Polkas,” 7-year-old Eddie Jr. began playing drums for his dad’s world-renowned polka band and on his Emmy-nominated television show.

PUB CRAWL
Danenberger Family Vineyards, New Berlin, 6-9pm..

THE CALENDAR
Decatur Craft Beer Festival VIP Event.

SPORTS & FITNESS | A pre-century celebration
Calling all cycling enthusiasts! The Capital City Century has expanded to provide a whole weekend of fun, including the first-ever Loops-A-Palooza, a community cycling festival featuring music by popular local band The Loops.

FESTIVALS | Have fun while helping children
On Saturday, September 8, show your support for Prevent Child Abuse Illinois by attending the firstever Downtown Springfield Family FunFest.