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Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

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The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Service on MLK Day Can Lead to a Lifetime of Volunteering

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Monday, January 19, 2015   

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be remembered and honored today through acts of service in Illinois and around the country. The federal holiday became a national day of service in 1994. Samantha Warfield, spokesperson for the Corporation for National & Community Service, says every year more and more people become engaged and want to give back to their community.

"Young people have grown up in school learning about what Dr. King does through the lens of service, whether through service learning projects or through history lessons," Warfield says. "We hope Dr. King would be proud of a day that's named in his honor and the work that's being done."

Schools, universities, businesses, and community organizations are hosting service events all around the state. The variety of projects include sorting donations at food pantries, mentoring, creating care packages for the homeless, and cleaning up neighborhoods.

In Highland Park, Illinois over three dozen service projects and organizations will be on hand at the MLK Day event at the city's recreation center. Event coordinator Cheryl Levi says children and families can find a way to give back to people in their own community.

"They'll see all these agencies that are represented, and they might really like what this agency is doing and then they pay it forward and they can help them throughout the year."

Levi says their MLK Day of Service event has grown over the year, and says many first-time participants develop a lifetime of volunteerism.

"What's more gratifying than helping others," says Levi. "That's the view of so many people today. We've really turned a corner where people want to give back, and this is the perfect opportunity to start that lifetime of giving back."

According to a recent study, Illinoisans contributed over $7 billion through more than 317 million hours of service in 2013.


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