The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang South Korea start today and a dozen athletes from Illinois will be competing.

Representing Illinois are:

Abraham Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809 in a one-room log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. He came to be the 16^th president of the United States and is regarded for his preservation of the Union during the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves.

Before becoming president, Lincoln worked to support his family, which limited his ability to go to school. After settling in New Salem, Illinois, Lincoln worked as both a shopkeeper and postmaster while teaching himself law. He passed the bar examination in 1836 and moved to Springfield to begin his career as a lawyer and later a politician.

Maddie Kogelis, a Washington Community High School student won first place in a national video contest spreading awareness about the dangers of radon.

The contest is sponsored each year by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the American Lung Association in Illinois.

Kogelis, a Washington, Illinois resident, finished first in the state contest and her 60-second video was then entered into the national contest, where she took home the prize. Her video shows creativity and demonstrates the importance of testing your home for radioactive gases like radon that are known to cause lung cancer.

Planning family outings during the unpredictable winter weather can be daunting, but below are a variety of different events happening that can make planning easier.

Admission to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry will be free until Feb. 27. With a variety of educational and interactive exhibits and events geared toward children and adults, it’s a great time to experience one of the largest science museums in the world with the entire family.

In the Lisel area, the Morton Arboretum’s Enchanted Railroad brings life to 10 miniature model trains from around the world that wind through captivating scenery. The two-story display can be enjoyed by children of all ages.

Eastern Illinois University’s continuous work to better the institution is paying off. The university announced this week that it has seen a five percent increase in enrollment over the past year, the first increase in more than 10 years.

Although freshman, graduate students and online students are to thank for this influx in enrollment, the strongest increase came from undergraduate transfer students.

EIU’s Vitalization Project may have contributed to the rise in enrollment. This project was created to advance EIU on its “Pathway to Success” mission and to craft a vision for EIU’s vitalized future. Built as a task force and working groups, the main goal of the Vitalization Project is to better the institution, attract higher enrollments and distinguish EIU in the competitive marketplace.