by Editorial Board

After a lengthy application process, the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board denied Champaign-based Carle Foundation Hospital's petition to build a surgicenter in Coles County on the basis that there is no sufficient need for the facility. The board voted 0-4 on June 24 to deny Carle Hospital's certificate of need, despite results of surveys of local residents and health care decision makers showing that many residents would like to have a second local health care option.

by Chris Luther/City Editor

Independence Day is the best time of the year to show American pride. It is a pure and everlasting image of American tradition. As July makes its way closer on the calendar year, people prepare to celebrate their country's independence with good barbecue, music, fireworks and friends.

I attended a session of EIU Debut for incoming freshmen (a day for orientation and registration) on July 6. A representative of ROTC on EIU's campus opened the session, welcomed incoming students and their parents and then spoke, using effective marketing strategies, for about ten minutes about the advantages to students of joining ROTC.