The pandemic has forced us all to spend a lot of time at home, which has forced many teachers to get creative with their e-learning curriculums. What started off as a homework assignment at Carl Sandburg Middle School led one 7th grader to go viral.

Here in Illinois, we mean business—and engineering, and law.

U.S. News & World Report released its latest graduate school rankings, which rated Illinois business, law and engineering programs among the best in the country.

In the magazine’s ranking of business schools, two Illinois institutions share the #3 spot: Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Both schools have consistently ranked among the top five business programs in the U.S.

Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. Today, March 2^nd Read Across America Day which promotes reading, particularly for children and young adults. This nationwide observance also coincides with the birthday of Dr. Seuss (Geisel), an American writer best known for writing children’s books, Texas Independence day and Casimir Pulaski Day.

Many schools, libraries and community centers across the United States participate by bringing people together to read books. Various reading activities and events are held across the country on this day. Some students take part in a Read Across America channel designed to showcase student and educator videos around the country. Others make reading pledges, organize book fairs or read aloud to groups of people.

Donna Zarbin-Byrne is our February artist of the month, representing both Evanston and Chicago. Since childhood Donna has wanted to be an artist. Today, her work can be found not only in Illinois but Honolulu, Hawaii, too.

What does being able to live and work in Illinois mean to you?

Living and working in Evanston and Chicago has afforded access to a multitude of art venues throughout my life. Additionally, the many cultural experiences also inspire and encourage my practice in the arts.

Just 25 miles north of St. Louis, Alton is small city with more than its fair share of vibrant history. Founded in 1837, Alton was the site of the final debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858. It was the home town of Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, and it is where legendary jazz musician Miles Davis was born, just to name a few facts. But what the city of Alton is famous (or perhaps infamous) for is that it’s considered to be one of the most haunted towns in the United States.

There are many locations around the city associated with reports of paranormal activity, such as a school, local cemeteries, and a prison. First opened in 1833, the Alton Prison was the first Illinois State Penitentiary. It was closed in 1860 and reopened two years later as a military prison during the Civil War. The majority of the prison’s population were Confederate prisoners and it is estimated that over 11,000 of them were brought to the jail in just three years.