Laura Nightengale
Journal Star
Peoria City Township, IL, United States
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Past articles by Laura:
Two women change lives, one meal at a time
PEORIA — Kim Keenen, a social worker who was working with teens, and Denise Urycki, a pharmacist and track coach, shared a passion for working with young people and being outdoors.But both knew there was much more they could do and got together to found Gifts in the Moment Foundation, or gitm. In the six years they've worked together, they've provided thousands of families with fresh produce and… → Read More
EMS providers are using in-home visits to prevent 911 calls
EMS providers have forged an industry from responding to emergencies, but a paradigm shift has ambulance providers and fire departments increasingly thinking about preventing calls to 911. "This is where we believe EMS need to go," said Greg Chance, vice president of strategy at Advanced Medical Transport.AMT and the East Peoria Fire Department are among the first responders testing a new way of… → Read More
Delaying baby's first bath can help them stay warm after birth
PEORIA — Waiting to give babies their first baths can dramatically improve their first few hours of life outside of the womb.Babies are often born covered in a white, creamy substance called vernix that, traditionally, has been washed away shortly after birth, but an increasing amount of research has shown that substance is serving an important role in keeping babies warm."They're going from a… → Read More
Collecting 'Liquid Sunshine' to water Peoria's community gardens
PEORIA — One of the challenges faced by organizations trying to boost agriculture on Peoria's south side is irrigation.When vacant lots are converted to community gardens, they often don't have a water source. In some cases, nearby buildings have an accessible water spigot that can be borrowed with hoses trailing to the gardens, but a new pilot project is trying to find a more sustainable… → Read More
Violence in Charlottesville prompts vigil, call to action in Peoria
PEORIA — A day after white nationalists marched carrying torches on Charlottesville, Va., sparking of a day of conflict and violence that killed one woman, hundreds held candles on Peoria's riverfront and sang John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."The time to stand by in silence, several speakers told the predominantly white crowd, has long passed."It's so much easier to be quiet," said the Rev.… → Read More
Man shot multiple times early Sunday in Peoria
PEORIA — A man was taken to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds after a shooting early Sunday morning.Police responded at 2:55 a.m. to the 2200 block of Southwest Washington Street on report of a man who had been shot. The victim was located outside and transported to a local hospital with injuries police described as non-life threatening.Further details, including the condition of the… → Read More
Peoria gas station robbers sought 'hidden money'
PEORIA — A Peoria gas station attendant told police she was robbed at knifepoint early Sunday by two men asking for "hidden money."The employee said she was alone inside Hucks at 3819 W. War Memorial Drive with the door locked when someone knocked a few minutes after 2 a.m. Sunday, according to a report filed with the Peoria Police Department. She let in a man who grabbed her from behind when… → Read More
City-owned, vacant home burned in suspected Peoria arson
PEORIA — The Peoria Fire Department is investigating a fire at a vacant, city-owned house as a possible arson.Fire crews responded at 3:21 a.m. to a fire at 1046 W. Lincoln Ave. Heavy smoke and fire was showing from the second story and roof of the home, according to a news release.Firefighters forced open the front door — all doors and windows on the main floor were secured with plywood — and… → Read More
Q&A with one of Peoria's restaurant inspectors
As a sanitarian with the Peoria City/County Health Department, Justin Dwyer routinely performs health inspections in restaurants in the Peoria area.Dwyer → Read More
State's top hospital rankings include two Peoria hospitals
PEORIA — Two Peoria hospitals were ranked among the top 20 of the state's more than 200 hospitals, with one making the top 10.OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center was placed in a three-way tie for fifth place among the state's best hospitals, according to rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. UnityPoint Health-Methodist tied for the No. 18 spot.Northwestern Memorial Hospital in… → Read More
LISTEN: Health inspections with Peoria sanitarian Justin Dwyer
Justin Dwyer, a sanitarian with the Peoria City/County Health Department, walks us through the process of restaurant health inspections. Dwyer explains how he assesses violations ranging from leaking faucets to mold in the ice machine. For more Journal Star podcasts, visit: → Read More
LISTEN: Restaurant health inspections with Peoria sanitarian Justin Dwyer
Justin Dwyer, a sanitarian with the Peoria City/County Health Department, walks us through the process of restaurant health inspections. Dwyer explains how he assesses violations ranging from leaking faucets to mold in the ice machine. For more Journal Star podcasts, visit: → Read More
OSF HealthCare to take over hospitals in Urbana and Danville
OSF HealthCare announced Tuesday it will add two more hospitals to its network by taking over hospitals in Urbana and Danville.Presence Covenant Medical → Read More
Methodist College, ICC partner on associate-to-bachelor's degree completion program
PEORIA — Working professionals can more seamlessly complete their bachelor's degree under a partnership forged between Illinois Central College and Methodist College.Methodist College is teaming up with ICC to help students with a two-year degree earn a bachelor of science in health science with an emphasis in leadership degree while working full time.With classes offered partly or fully online… → Read More
Firefighters battle large fire at Midwest Fiber in Mossville
MOSSVILLE — Paper, plastics and cardboard inside a recycling facility provided the fuel for a large fire that remained largely contained inside the metal building, though fire crews were expected to remain on the scene through the night Friday to douse the flames and dismantle the building. More than 10 agencies responded Friday afternoon to the fire at Midwest Fiber, 11709 N. Old Galena Road.… → Read More
Darren Brown convicted for 2015 murder of Nikko Smith
PEORIA — In his second trial, 24-year-old Darren Brown was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder for shooting two men, one of them fatally, in July 2015 in the first of a short spree of shootings. A jury took about an hour to find Brown guilty of killing Nikko Smith and shooting another man twice on July 14, 2015. The shooting was the first in a string of shootings that left four dead in… → Read More
Illinois first lady Diana Rauner touts home visits for new moms
PEORIA — New moms in Peoria County can expect an additional visitor as in-home nursing care is expanding on a trial basis. The pilot program, funded through a $650,000 grant of public and private funds, will ensure that every woman who gives birth at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center through the fiscal year will have an opportunity to schedule a home visit with a nurse in the weeks… → Read More
Washington, Illinois, family meets with Trump as 'victims of Obamacare'
A Washington, Ill., family was in Washington, D.C., Monday to urge senators to vote in favor of the impending motion to proceed on yet-to-be-revealed health care legislation.The Witzig family was among four families invited to meet with President Donald Trump and other members of the administration Monday ahead of a looming vote in the Senate to move forward with GOP plans to repeal the… → Read More
Nursing colleges look to be a 'pipeline' to parent hospitals
PEORIA — Facing down a national shortage of nurses, health care organizations are partnering with colleges and universities to beef up their programs to fill increasing demands. For health care organizations that have their own schools or colleges of nursing, the process is streamlined."We have the need here, we can put the dollars in, too, with tuition reimbursement, we can funnel the students… → Read More
Five things to see at UICOMP's upcoming open house
PEORIA — As the University of Illinois College of Medicine prepares to welcome its first batch of first-year medical students, its campus has been upgraded to accommodate the new enrollees. Ahead of students' arrivals, the college is offering self-guided tours next week before the fall semester when some of these facilities will get their first use. The Anatomage Table will offer incoming… → Read More