INCREASE

Despite the covid confinement, dance artists found many ways to unleash their creativity.

As holidays approach, COVID-19 cases rising in Illinois

Biden’s plan for a temporary increase in the production of fossil fuels is smart long-term climate policy.

Get ready for higher natural gas bills in 2022.

Boris Johnson will set out plans on Tuesday, amid a Tory backlash to tax rises to cover costs.

The average 5-year old (around 40 pounds) saw a 12.5 percent weight gain during the pandemic. The average 11-year-old (around 82 pounds) saw a more than 6 percent weight gain, according to the study. Before the pandemic, about 36 percent of 5- to 11-year-olds were considered overweight or obesity, and that increased to 45.7 percent.

The July increase in spending was down sharply from a 1.1% rise in June.

Naperville School District 203 and the union that represents about 1,500 teachers have reached a tentative multiyear contract agreement that will avert a strike.

Arkansas reported its largest single-day increase in hospitalizations from COVID.

The Delta variant has become even more dominant, but vaccines are making a difference.

Most economists back Fed’s patient stance, but prices are rising on everything from used cars to cigarettes.

Homebuyers, builders, and even DIYers are shocked and stuck with crazy-high lumber prices. The price of lumber has increased about 180% since last year.

Coronavirus cases in Chicago and Illinois are inching upward again, part of a nationwide pattern that is causing experts and officials to worry about another surge of the virus while cities and states race to vaccinate people as quickly as possible.

The Grafton Police Department said the former Advocate Aurora Health pharmacist was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment, adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property. The department said in a news release that he was in jail. Police did not identify the pharmacist, saying he has not yet been formally charged. Read more here. — Associated Press

With a 58 percent increase in concussions between the 2014 and 2015 seasons, the NFL is studying how to deal with the rise in concussions. This increase came after the league cracked down on helmet-to-helmet hits. John Blackstone has more.